This also gets to the point of needing good regulation and good regulators to enforce them. I am not for government waste, but paying the DEQ staff according to their worth would make the position much more appealing. We want very intelligent and capable people in those positions. That's not to say there are not great mine managers and environmental engineers in industry that care deeply for the environment, but they are hemmed in by investors and executives that eye profit. We also need elected legislatures that will staff DEQ accordingly and keep their eye on the long term impact which ultimately falls to each of us as voters to keep them accountable.