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State of
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JENNIFER M. GRANHOLM governor |
DEPARTMENT
OF NATURAL RESOURCES |
REBECCA A. HUMPHRIES director |
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State of
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JENNIFER M. GRANHOLM governor |
DEPARTMENT
OF NATURAL RESOURCES |
REBECCA A. HUMPHRIES director |
BILL NUMBER: HB 5867 AS INTRODUCED
TOPIC: Requires DNR and DEQ
collaborate on the creation of a web site to receive complaints from the public
and to post the resolution of the complaint.
SPONSOR: Representative Pastor
CO-SPONSORS: Representatives Drolet,
COMMITTEE: Land Use and Environment
Analysis Done:
POSITION
The
Department opposes this bill.
PROBLEM/BACKGROUND
We
are not aware of the problem being addressed by the bill.
DESCRIPTION OF BILL
The bill would create a single web site which would
allow the public to write in complaints regarding the actions of either the
Department of Natural Resources (DNR) or the Department of Environmental
Quality (DEQ). The complaint would be
posted in a public forum and the bill would require the target Department to
post the resolution to the complaint in a public forum within 30 days.
SUMMARY OF ARGUMENTS
Pro
Citizens would have a single place to post complaints
regarding these two agencies and would also see the complaints and their
resolutions registered by others.
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Con
The system would be redundant considering other
Department public contact efforts. The DNR
already hosts a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) link on its web site. Issues of concern and complaints, as well as
general questions about the Department, are submitted here and receive a
response from the appropriate Department staff person. The responses are then available to others
logging into the FAQ. The Department web
site also includes a DNR Contact area where phone numbers and e-mail addresses
are listed so people can direct specific issues to the appropriate persons
within the DNR.
In addition to these electronic, public contact systems,
the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) holds monthly meetings with a public
comment period as part of the agenda. In
addition to the meetings of the Committee of the Whole, the NRC also holds
subcommittee meetings on specific topics.
Many of the Department’s programs that have significant public impact,
like the snowmobile and ORV trail programs, have public advisory panels that
meet regularly and provide the public an opportunity for input.
These systems provide the public with significant
opportunity to address their issues with the DNR.
Another issue related to this bill is that it links
the DNR and the DEQ in a common forum.
These agencies have separate jurisdictions and programmatic
responsibilities. Although the two
Departments were separated in 1995, there is still some confusion among the
public regarding that separation.
Creating a combined web site will likely promote additional confusion
with the public between these agencies.
FISCAL/ECONOMIC
IMPACT
Are there revenue or budgetary
implications in the bill to the --
Budgetary:
This bill would cause the Department to incur costs
related to the development, maintenance and operation of the site.
Revenue:
None.
Comments:
The costs related to web development are a concern to
all state agencies. It is difficult to
estimate the total costs of developing and maintaining this site at this
time. It would also cause the agency to
assign additional staff to reviewing and responding to issues raised on this
forum.
Budgetary:
None.
Revenue:
None.
Comments:
None.
Comments:
None.
OTHER STATE DEPARTMENTS
This bill would also impact the Department of
Environmental Quality and the Department of Information Technology.
ANY OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION
None.
ADMINISTRATIVE
RULES IMPACT
None.
_______________________________
Rebecca A. Humphries
Director
_______________________________
Date
GCACS
