Closed parks will likely be reopened.
Direction of the Department of Natural Resources will be reviewed.
And $16 million in federal funding for conservation that hangs in limbo will be promptly addressed.
Those are among the reasons many members of Illinois’ conservation community is optimistic about Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn replacing Rod Blagojevich as governor.
“I think given Quinn’s past performance over the last six years conservation will finally have a friend in the governor’s office,” said Claudia Emken, associate director of conservation for The Nature Conservancy in Illinois. “That’s something we haven’t had in six years.
Quinn has said he will immediately review the status of 11 state parks and 13 historic sites that were closed under Blagojevich Nov. 30. Senior policy adviser Marc Miller said Quinn plans to open those parks and historic sites “as soon as possible.”
In regards to the DNR, Quinn said he would “promptly review the DNR director’s position.” That may be bad news for former representative Kurt Granberg, whom Blagojevich appointed as DNR director on Jan. 16.After Granberg’s appointment, Quinn said: “We have had a long line of professional politicians in the DNR and the agency needs someone with a natural resources background. Someone who understands hunting, fishing, hiking, camping bird-watching and being a good steward of natural resources.”
Quinn also has taken an active role in attempting to head off the possible loss of $16 million in federal funds for fish and wildlife projects. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said it will withhold money if Illinois does not restore $9.25 million to six funds that receive money from hunting and fishing licenses and related fees.The deadline is Feb. 1. Quinn recently wrote to the USFWS seeking a 90-day extension to “finalize a remedy.”
The Illinois House and Senate have passed supplemental appropriation bills that have not yet been sent to the governor’s office for a signature. Quinn has said he will sign the bill upon taking office.
