Journal Times editorial: DNR permit changes must be fully vetted

Department of Natural Resources Secretary Cathy Stepp has rolled out a far-reaching plan to streamline the environmental permit processing of the state agency charged with protecting Wisconsin’s land, air and water quality and it has, understandably raised eyebrows and opposition.

Under Stepp’s plan, a year-and-a-half in the making, the DNR would rely heavily on the work of consultants and engineers hired by those being regulated to work up the draft environmental permits for their projects — including those for manure handling practices of large-scale farms.