Another year passed at the state Department of Environmental Management
and with it another DEM director resigned.
Citing a lack of political support, Andrew H. McLeod stepped down as
Rhode Island’s top environmental official in November, making him the
second person to do so in two years.
McLeod’s departure and the ongoing effort to attract a replacement to
stabilize the troubled department was among the top environmental
stories of the year. The state’s settlement with the company responsible
for the North Cape oil spill and the streamlining of environmental
permitting were also news in 1998.
McLeod resigned after the re-election of Gov. Lincoln Almond. He was the
second Almond cabinet member to quit following the November election.
Barry G. Hittner resigned as director of the Department of Business
Regulation.
In a letter of resignation, McLeod referred to an “appalling lack of
support for DEM” from the politicians of Rhode Island.
“Leading the DEM is a very challenging proposition under the best of
circumstances – circumstances that, regrettably, have not existed during
my tenure,” McLeod wrote.
He joined the state in September of 1997, filling the vacancy left by
Timothy R. E. Keeney, who took a job in the private sector.
The governor’s office has started searching for a new DEM director,
understanding the need to find someone to provide a long-term
commitment.
“We want someone who will give us a four-year commitment and serve out
the governor’s term. The DEM is one department that, yes, we have seen
two directors come through in short periods of time. It’s a department
that has many challenges,” said Lisa Pelosi, the governor’s
spokesperson.
Those challenges can be corrected, said Providence lawyer J. William W.
Harsch.
Harsch is the former director of the Department of Natural Resources,
the agency that preceded the DEM, and was a key figure in creating the
legislation that formed the DEM.
“What is wrong with the DEM? That is the $64,000 question,” he said.
“Well I think the department has been starved and neglected over a
period of time. It is also a very tempting target for special interest
groups and they have had an inordinate amount of influence through the
General Assembly, mostly for bad rather than good.”
Harsch said the DEM appears to be faulting in terms of meeting the needs
of its constituency, like organized environmental groups. He also said
the department should be less interested in economic issues.
“The mission of the DEM is to deal with environmental issues that is not
an unreasonable mission. The economy and development should not be in
the picture,” he added.
He believes a strong leader will need to be selected in 1999 to turn the
DEM around.
“I don’t want to take anything away from Mr. McLeod, but I think this is
entirely a leadership issue. A good strong leader, working hard within
the department and working with other departments, combined with the
support of the governor can make things change,” he added.
In other environmental news, the DEM unveiled its plan to restore the
millions of lobsters and fish that were killed as a result of the 1996
oil spill in Block Island Sound.
Highlights of the proposal include releasing 1.5 million adult lobsters
into the sound, stocking shellfish in coastal ponds and buying land to
enhance the breeding habitat of loons and other marine birds.
The restoration project is estimated to cost $28.3 million. Eklof
Marine, owners of the North Cape barge, will be asked to pay for it.
Retrieval of the money is expected to end up in court.
The planned cleanup has not been without its critics.
Members of the fishing community were particularly upset over the
spending of an estimated $9 million to buy up waterfront property in
northern New England to protect where the loons nest.
“This plan shows absolutely no understanding of the people who make a
living fishing,” said Ralph Boragine, executive director of the Rhode
Island Seafood Council.
DEM officials said what critics don’t understand is the $9 million, for
example, is not being taken away from lobster restoration.
“(Critics) think that it is a pie. We have this much money and we are
dividing the pie among the different animals, which isn’t true,” said
Steven Morin of the DEM. “Instead, we have reached a certain amount of
money on each group of animals by figuring out how much it would take to
restore their population.”
A public hearing was held on the matter in November and a final plan
should be ready to go in 1999.
Meanwhile, the DEM has been busy streamlining its permitting process.
The DEM has received recommended changes from an advisory committee as
well as a consultant. The focus this year will be developing those
recommendations and implementing them.
“Our goal is to make the permitting process more user-friendly,” said
Frederick Vincent, assistant director of the DEM and head of the
advisory committee.
Recommendations being reviewed include:
Consolidating review requirements to one entity.
Considering a uniform Coastal Resources Management Council/DEM permit
application form that eliminates repetition of common elements yet
addresses specific program needs.
Developing a centralized database of permitting and compliance
information.
Developing a system for on-line (Internet) distribution and submission
of permit applications, reporting information and guidance.
