August 17, 2004

Department of Environmental Quality Director Steven E. Chester has announced plans to reorganize the agency in an effort to streamline operations. The current organization structure, implemented in September 2002, created many unintended consequences that staff felt hindered their ability to provide service to the public.

In September 2003, a DEQ Task Force was formed to consider changes to the organizational structure of the DEQ. These proposals were discussed and modified to create a final plan that would bring about many of the needed changes to the department, while remaining budget neutral.

Highlights of the plan include:

• Creation of the Office of Civil Enforcement Coordination (OCEC) – OCEC
  will be charged with ensuring statewide enforcement consistency, and 
  overseeing development of the training of DEQ enforcement and regulatory
  staff.

• Make Changes to the Water Division Consistent with Its Status as a
  Bureau – The Water Division will become the Water Bureau (WB), housing
  two divisions, the Lansing Division and the Field Division. Due to the size
  and complexity of programs within the WB, including drinking water, ground
  water and surface water programs, this change will allow field staff a greater
  opportunity to ensure that Michigan’s waters are kept safe and healthy.

• Split the Geological and Land Management Division, Creating an Office of
  Geological Survey (OGS) and a Land and Water Management Division
  (LWMD) – As these programs have distinctly different missions and goals,
  separating them will allow staff to focus their efforts on their areas of
  expertise and provide better service to the public on oil, gas, lakes, streams,
  and wetland issues.

“These changes reflect what is minimally necessary to more effectively and efficiently carry out the mission of the department,” said Director Chester. “While we remain an extremely lean organization, we are creating solutions that will allow the DEQ staff to fulfill our environmental mission.”

The announced changes have immediate effect, and implementation will occur within the coming months.

Editor’s note: DEQ news releases are available on the department’s Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

Revised August 17, 2004 by Pat Watson