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Martin: DEP Programs “temporarily put on hold … in order to staff  two major [Sandy] initiatives”

Last week, during the DEP budget hearing, DEP Commissioner  Martin was asked point blank about how he managed to perform a lot of new Sandy response and recovery work, with a smaller staff and lower budget, without cutbacks in other environmental programs.

“How do you do it?” incredulous legislators asked. What DEP work is not getting done?

But Martin insisted that he had maintained existing DEP programs and was able to do more with less. Martin attributed this alleged huge productivity increase  to his “transformation” initiative and various technology and streamlined permit processing reforms.

Listening to this bullshit led me to question Marin’s honesty  (see “DEP Delivers Enron Testimony on Budget”)

Well, just days after that testimony, Martin wrote the following memo to his DEP staff – which expose the lies in his testimony.

Has it now become acceptable to mislead legislators?

Here’s the smoking gun memo by Martin, laying out his plan to transfer staff (emphasis in boldface are mine).

Legislators should call him back for additional testimony on what programs will suffer from Martin’s staff transfers – how many transfers, from what programs? What will be the environmental impacts? Are staff qualified for the new work?

What legislative authority and budget allocations are being used to justify this “rebuilding” work? 

From:
Sent: Tuesday, May 14, 2013
To: DEP Commissioner
Subject: DEP’s Role in Rebuilding New Jersey

As you all know, the number one priority of Governor Christie and this entire Administration is the recovery and rebuilding of New Jersey in the wake of Superstorm Sandy. Many of you have contributed by assisting within your current programs or in different programs that needed more help. Together we have overseen the removal of more than 8 million tons of household and vegetative debris and sand from our streets. Our waterway debris contractors are currently removing everything from pieces of buildings and household debris to boats, docks, boardwalks and trees—working seven days a week to get the job done. We have developed guidelines for the demolition of Sandy-damaged houses to ensure that towns are eligible for FEMA reimbursement. We have worked closely with towns to provide interim shore protection for damaged beaches while we continue to work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to create a statewide shore protection system. We have expedited our permitting processes so homes and boardwalks could be rebuilt. We have been providing expertise and working hand-in-hand with municipal leaders to help guide their towns to recovery.

Many of you are not aware of the fact that we have two additional recovery activities that are about to begin: the buyout of properties for homeowners that do not wish to rebuild, and performing federally required environmental and historic reviews so that our sister State agencies can release HUD dollars for rebuilding, small business assistance, reconstruction, assistance to blighted communities, resettlement, elevation of homes and flood risk mitigation.  These are two very important projects that are beginning in the next week, and they address some of the pain and personal challenges that have impacted our residents, businesses and vacationers.

In order to ensure we can process the 10,000-plus applications that DEP will be responsible for during the period within which the State is required to spend the $1.8 billion of HUD funding, I will transfer staff to assist Fawn McGee, who will head up the acquisition program; to Donna Mahon, who will head up the environmental assessment program; and to Scott Brubaker, who will head up the hazardous mitigation grant program.

As part of our transformation process, Deputy Commissioner Kropp and the Assistant Commissioners have had multiple discussions about how we can streamline, make more efficient or temporarily put on hold certain operations in certain programs in order to staff these two major initiatives. The Assistant Commissioners will be reaching out to those program managers and staff who will be transferred to help implement these critical programs.

I understand that every person in DEP is dedicated to the job he or she is currently performing. However, we all must focus on the families, individuals and small businesses that need our help during this second phase of New Jersey’s long-term recovery. I am proud of the work that DEP has accomplished already in our response, recovery and rebuilding efforts. We must continue to put all of our time, experience, expertise and resources to use in meeting this priority.

Thank you for your continued efforts.

Bob Martin
Commissioner