Wetlands expert cleared by investigation, returns to DEP

By Bruce Ritchie

A Department of Environmental Protection wetlands expert who last month was placed on paid administrative leave after issuing a memo objecting to a permit returned to work on Tuesday after being cleared in an investigation by the department's inspector general.

The case of Connie Bersok, involving a proposed permit for a wetlands mitigation bank in Clay County, drew criticism in an editorial in the Tampa Bay Times, which broke the story, and from some environmental groups including Environment Florida.

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