State officials are asking for the public’s comments on ways to eliminate duplication in the agencies that oversee Maine’s woods, waters, farms and overall environmental health.

Last spring, the Legislature passed a supplemental budget bill creating a task force to examine ways to reduce overlap and increase collaboration among the state departments that handle natural resources issues.

The biggest question facing the task force is whether to consolidate some or all of the agencies into a single natural resources bureaucracy. The agencies involved in merger talks are the departments of conservation, marine resources, agriculture, environmental protection, and inland fisheries and wildlife.

“All ideas and organizational configurations are on the table,” said Karin Tilburg, senior policy adviser to Gov. John Baldacci and task force co-chairwoman.

“People are looking at it from the perspective of what will work and will it help,” Tilburg said. “I think people are open to the fact that what might have been an effective approach 30 years ago might not work as well now.”

The task force, which has more than 30 members, has held three meetings. The group is seeking feedback from the public on what works in the agencies and how things can be improved.

The written comments, which will be accepted through Aug. 22, will help guide the task force as it drafts its report this fall. Substantive changes would be submitted to the Legislature for consideration next year.

Consolidation is not a fait accompli, Tilburg said. However, task force members have called attention to areas where they believe there is overlap between departments, such as in law enforcement, monitoring and management of public lands. Other areas of potential duplication include licensing and registration, use of facilities and administration.

“One of the things I’ll be curious to learn about is why Maine has two departments for fish,” reads one task force member’s comment, posted in documents on the task force Web site. The individual authors of each comment are not identified.

“If the fish is salty, it’s DMR; if it’s not salty, it’s IFW; if it’s both, we argue. Also, I’ll be curious to hear why agriculture is a separate department but forestry is under [Department of Conservation]. Arguably, forestry is no less important to Maine’s economy.”

At the same time, a report on reorganization of executive state agencies done for the task force concluded there is little evidence that restructuring will save the state money. Poorly planned consolidations also can make the situation worse, states the report by Andy DesPres, who is not a task force member.

Task force member Rep. Bob Duchesne, D-Hudson, said he believes there is considerable support for having the Department of Conservation manage DIF&W lands. Members also are questioning whether marine resources and inland fisheries need to be in separate agencies.

But with such a large group representing so many stakeholders, Duchesne said he isn’t expecting any surprises or dramatic recommendations in the final report.

Comments can be e-mailed to sbaez@umext.maine.edu or faxed to 667-2003. Written comments should be sent to: Natural Resources Agency Task Force, c/o Suzanne Baez, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, 63 Boggy Brook Road, Ellsworth 04605.

kmiller@bangordailynews.net

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