Building a performance-based environmental management system: EPA's reinvention efforts revisited

Abstract

A new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report recommends the Agency do more to help well-meaning companies comply with the law and encourage those that are willing and able to do even more. Since 1996, major stakeholders have achieved consensus on the need and desire to create a ‘performance-base’ environmental managemeny system. Whereas most agree that a performance-based system is necessary for the future, few agree on when or how the EPA should design and implement it. The design of a new performance track, one developed and operated in parallel with the existing regulatory system, utilizing emerging environmental management techniques and complementary policy developments, is close at hand, but needs reinvigorated support to be applied on a greater scale and with more confidence. In this article, the first in a two part series, Monsma and Mazurek show why the design and implementation of a new, federal performance-based environmental management track should not be deterred. Drawing from the lessons of prominent EPA pilot programs such as 33/50, the Common Sense Initiative, and Project XL, the authors identify a set of lessons for a performance-based system. In part two of the series (to appear next issue) the authors will discuss the political economics of reinvention and try to determine the best means out of the current maze.