Kenosha---A former secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources told sports fishermen in Kenosha Monday night that they may no longer be able to rely on the DNR and the federal government’s E-P-A to protect their interests. And that means that fishermen—and other environmentalists—will need to carry the torch themselves.
George Meyer addressed members of the Kenosha Sport-fishing and Conservation Association at the Moose Lodge. Meyer, who now serves as executive director of the Wisconsin Wildlife Association, also gave a ‘legislator-of-the-year’ award to State Senator Bob Wirch.
In his comments to the group, Meyer cited several cases in which the Walker administration's DNR was forced to become more vigilante in dealing with pollution after citizens petitioned the E-P-A for help. With the Trump administration’s E-P-A pulling back on enforcement, Meyer said, that assistance may not always be there.
Meyer said these days he needs more help than ever in presenting the views of his membership at various public hearings. "You just can't sit back and let George do it," he said. "When citizens appear it has a lot of credibility and strength."
Trump’s E-P-A is headed by a former Oklahoma attorney general who is proud to boast that he sued the E-P-A 14 times.
In accepting his award last night, Wirch echoed some of Meyer’s comments. "You have the leadership and you have the members to fight for our environment," Wirch told the group. "And believe me we're going to have some big fights ahead in their state without the E-P-A in there."
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