Regulatory Improvement in the Air & Waste Division - Smart Regulation

"Regulatory Improvement" is a strategic initiative of the Department of Natural Resources´ Leadership Team. The overall goal of this initiative is to "protect the environment and public health through efficient, effective and consistent processes that yield measurable environmental results, generate superior performance and build customer driven solutions."

• Air & Waste Division Annual Report [PDF 337KB]
• Air & Waste Division Success Stories [PDF 65KB]

Our regulatory improvement initiative stems from Governor Doyle´s "Grow Wisconsin" economic plan published in September, 2003 [PDF exit DNR]. The Governor´s Grow Wisconsin plan has four areas of focus:

• Fostering a competitive business climate, to create fertile conditions for growth.
• Investing in people, to help families climb the economic ladder.
• Investing in Wisconsin businesses, to encourage job creation.
• Making government responsive, to reform regulations and unleash the economic power of our companies without sacrificing our shared values.

According to the plan, regulatory reform means "lowering regulatory barriers to business growth. But it also means keeping sensible protections in place to protect our environment and keep our high quality of life."

In December of 2003 WDNR’s Air & Waste Division launched its regulatory improvement effort to maintain environmental standards and protect public health while improving service.

Smart Regulation

The theme of the Air & Waste Division regulatory improvement effort is "Smart Regulation." Our attitudes and our actions will reflect the following attributes and our Division managers and staff will be accountable for assuring that these attributes are reflected in our programs.

• Responsive - We understand the needs of our internal and external partners and stakeholders. We listen and we respond to changing needs and circumstances.
• Efficient - We embrace innovation and avoid waste. We establish priorities to get the job done in the most efficient manner possible.
• Timely - Our programs meet or exceed expectations for timeliness. We establish realistic expectations and we are accountable for those expectations.
• Effective - Our mission is to protect and restore Wisconsin's environment. We take that responsibility seriously and emphasize environmental results.
• Consistent - Our regulations are administered fairly and consistently. When inconsistency is identified, we correct it.

These five attributes are not something entirely new to our Air & Waste Division programs—they´re attributes that DNR programs have always strived for. However, in these times of budgetary crisis and regulatory improvement, "Smart Regulation" requires a renewed emphasis, visibility and accountability for these attributes.

Regulatory Improvement Objectives

Consistent with Smart Regulation, the Air & Waste Division has established four regulatory improvement objectives. Our regulatory improvement attributes (responsive, efficient, timely, effective and consistent) will be reflected in our efforts to implement these objectives.

1. To fully and efficiently deliver services under the Clean Air Act, including eliminating permit backlogs, streamlining permitting processes, and improving regulations.
2. To streamline our processes and reviews that prevent adverse impacts to public health and the environment related to management of waste materials.
3. To respond to environmental emergencies and to restore contaminated land and water to levels that protect public health and the environment in a manner that promotes redevelopment.
4. In cooperation with our stakeholders, promote innovation, pollution prevention, education and technological advances that achieve superior environmental results.