Remember the popular business tactic earlier this century called Managing by Storytelling? Bob Martin, the man that Gov. Chris Christie has picked to lead New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), is testing its effectiveness.
The retired Accenture executive has been recounting for members of his DEP team some of the stories he’s heard, both on the Christie for Governor campaign trail and as a member of the Administration’s Red Tape Review Group.
The stories come from scores of business people and their consultants. They’re about frustrating encounters with the DEP-- its rules and regulations, procedures and, sometimes, personnel.
The stories vary but share a common theme: DEP is hostile to business. It’s the place where development plans go to die, or be held hostage for indefinite periods, a place where applicants are assumed to be guilty until they can prove otherwise. It’s a place that seems to reflect an ingrained bias: Business and development are bad. Stopping them is good.
Bob Martin says he’s retelling these stories because it’s necessary for DEP folks to understand how the agency is perceived and because, to the extent that the culture is biased against business, it must be changed.
Yesterday, we reported in Getting to know NJDEP Chief Bob Martin on some of the remarks he delivered on Tuesday at a luncheon meeting of the Environmental Business Council of the Commerce & Industry Association of NJ.
Today, we pick up with some of his ideas on engaging the DEP in the Christie Administration's efforts to jumpstart the state’s economy and regain some of the business and jobs that fled over the last decade to more business-friendly states, including Pennsylvania and New York.
Acting Commissioner Martin says the DEP will:
Encourage the development of wind and solar – New Jersey will push offshore wind developers to use state ports and manufacturing resources to assemble the turbines and other equipment necessary for offshore wind turbines. This will create new jobs for state residents. Martin also wants to expedite permit approvals for companies interested in developing solar farms on landfills.
Support Contaminated Site Remediation Cleaning up the more than 20,000 properties that have languished in New Jersey not only benefits the environment but will stimulate economic activity an return many of the properties to productive new uses. Martin said that New Jersey’s new Licensed Site Remediation Professional (LSRP) program “will be successful” because it is “absolutely essential.”
Reactivate the Department’s Alternative Dispute Office which had helped expedite settlements and reduced the number of disputes referred to the courts. When the office was disbanded, Martin said, the number of cases that went to the Attorney General’s office “went through the roof.”
Implement an external science advisory panel – Martin said that good science should not be rejected just because it comes from outside the DEP.
Regulatory Reform – Martin is requiring a new review of all existing and developing DEP regulations to insure that they are based on common sense and are subject to cost/benefit analyses. Standards that exceed those set by the federal government will be similarly reviewed to assure that there is a justifiable basis for exceeding the federal limits.
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The Legislature weighs in - Martin’s nomination to lead the DEP must be approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee and by a vote of the full Senate. He will make his first of what likely will be at least two appearances before the committee on Monday, March 15. The meeting begins at noon. Two other nominees for cabinet positions also will be interviewed.
Click here to listen to a live broadcast of the proceeding.
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Fairly tales, Frank.
ReplyDeleteYou've stooped to regurgitating fairly tales.
Not even an attempt to validate Martin;s "stories" (i.e. claims) with evidence.
Really pathetic. Total abdication of professional responsibility.
ps - start with what caused the economic collapse
Frank - I went to last Christie DEP rule "stakeholder" meeting today on water pollution enforcement.
ReplyDeleteThe BATTLESHIP WORKS! See:
Water Pollution Enforcement Put Under the Gun of Christie Moratorium
http://www.wolfenotes.com/2010/03/water-pollution-enforcement-put-under-the-gun-of-christie-moratorium/
I've had many experiences working with (and sometimes against) NJDEP; the good, the bad and the ugly. Some of Martin's ideas are really great, others . It would not so much. It would take too many pages to elaborate! Although I didn't think so at the time, the move to break up PADER (now DEP)and split out parks (now DCNR) by Ridge was a beneficial. Wonder if this is under consideration?
ReplyDeleteJohn B.
ReplyDeleteThe question of splitting out the parks and wildllife side of the DEP and putting it elsewhere, i.e. under the Department of Agriculture, was asked during a Q&A segment of the lunch meeting.
Mr. Martin said he didn't think much would be gained from such a split. I think we can conclude that the proposal is DOA.
Frank Brill
Editor
Frank's focus is now on regurgitating DEP talking points and covering the Sierra Club. Limited and biased. Take on state agencies and challenge them. And cover more environmental groups than the insider-track, no-work-but-all-about-media-coverage Sierra Club. PLEASE! We need a strong, independent voice to cover environmental issues in NJ. Recently, you've chosen to parrot administration talking points and chase Sierra's tale. You can do better. We need better.
ReplyDelete