Don't Worry! Firing Top TN Environment Agency Officials, Laying Off Dozens Will "Streamline" Things

[hatrack]

The Haslam administration’s firings of two top leaders and proposal to cut dozens of positions at the state’s environmental agency have raised questions about whether the goal is efficiency or erosion of its powers.

Environmental advocates say the department already is stretched thin and paring down the staff further could bode poorly for the quality of the state’s waterways, air and land.

Department of Environment and Conservation Commissioner Bob Martineau has said that the moves are designed to streamline and improve operations, not undermine environmental protection.

Much remains to be seen, including who will make up the department’s full management team and what the eventual structure will be. Martineau declined to be interviewed for this report but has said before that regulations must and will be enforced.

EDIT

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120219/NEWS11/302190043/TDEC-shake-up-worries-allies

[Vincardog]

1. Make no mistake the regressive party wants to gut all environmental regs

[Lint Head]

2. Drip, drip, drip. Eliminating the EPA and anything related to environmental science

is one of the major goals for right wingers. TN has gone to the dogs of ignorance.

[niyad]

3. well, of course it will streamline things--no worries about those pesky regulations, just a bare-

bones staff that will do absolutely nothing.