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Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Secretary Cathy Stepp is leaving the agency to become deputy administrator in a regional office of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

During Stepp's six-year tenure at DNR, fines for environmental violations dwindled, and the EPA twice stepped in to spur department action after residents complained of problems like manure-contaminated drinking water.

Gov. Scott Walker, a Republican who appointed Stepp six years ago to instill a "chamber of commerce mentality" in the agency, said she used common sense while protecting the environment.

"Cathy is a strong, trusted reformer, who will serve the country well at the EPA," Walker said. "We will miss her optimism and energy at the DNR."

But conservationists said Stepp's DNR went too far to accommodate businesses.