Correspondence between

Hi Dan, Of course the flint water crisis is one which should never have happened, and it did occur on your watch, but | can’t imagine you had any part whatsoever in the decisions leading up to it, and I’m sure you felt assured that you had able staff to handle flint’s water source changes. Sure there will be folks who will never be satisfied, but | really think it would be much better if you were to remain a part of the solution. But of course you've offered your resignation already and it’s then up to the Governor who has already made a decision. . .but | can only hope that with enough support for you and your work that the Governor might reverse his decision. To that end | wrote the following on the Governor's website in the “Share Your Opinion” spot. | was limited to 1,000 characters and that was not enough to fully express my support for your work. Please if you get a chance, reconsider and lead on. “Hi Governor Snyder, | work in the DEQ, and the last time | spoke directly with you was when you were first elected and you came around to talk with many of your new employees. | haven't needed to talk with you so much since then because I've been happy with your balanced approach to governing. This feeling has not changed, but | just read your press release about your taking action on the findings from the Flint Water Task Force. With all due respect, | strongly feel that accepting DEQ Director Dan Wyant's resignation is not a positive action for Michigan, and | hope you still have a choice here. In my 25 years working for the DEQ | have never worked with a more knowledgeable, capable, engaged and engaging leader than Director Wyant. | cannot imagine that any decisions made that contributed to this crisis were made by this Director, but rather they were certainly made within the division, because at the time they seemed like less important, lower-level decisions. The DEQ will be greatly harmed by a shakeup of this magnitude, and we do not need, especially now, a weakening of the agency which Director Wyant has so ably brought to cohesion. With the task force, your other initial actions, and with your continued vigorous work and leadership in fixing this crisis you are on the right track. Those asking for more action and who are demanding the heads of those at the top may well never be satisfied with your response to the crisis. Please do not compromise chances for success be releasing a Director who has always shown strong management, and found prompt, effective solutions. | trust | will not be the only person who feels strongly that you should ask Director Wyant to stay on. | hope an up-welling of support will give you reason to reconsider. Thank you Governor Snyder for your time, and for your service to Michigan, | hope | get to shake your hand again sometime :) Keep up the good work!!! Happy 2016!!! Bruce VanOtteren, PEAS Administrator, DNR/DEQ.” Thanks Dan, xxxEND_PAGE:deq19_b01_0001_0036_33 No matter what happens, in my mind your legacy of inclusion, information-sharing, positive diplomacy, strong advocacy, and sound management within the perennial confines of state government will be one | hold as inalienable. Thanks so much Dan, Bruce Bruce VanOtteren Pollution Emergency Alerting System (PEAS) Administrator Communications, Emergency Management & Homeland Security Section Law Enforcement Division DNR/DEQ Tel.: (517) 284-6232, FAX: (517) 241-8549 PEAS hotline: 800-292-4706 xxxEND_PAGE:deq19_b01_0001_0036_34