Pollution Control in the United States Evaluating the System

About this book

&i;`An illuminating and important study that should be on the bookshelf of anyone interested in environmental policy. Davies and Mazurek provide a careful and detailed analysis of the costs and benefits of environmental regulations designed to reduce pollution from various sources. Their expanded criteria for evaluating the current program broadens our horizons by focusing on such goals as equity and public participation in addition to the traditional standards of efficiency and effectiveness.'&o; Howard Kunreuther, University of Pennsylvania

Contents

Foreword Paul R. Portney Preface J. Clarence Davies and Jan Mazurek 1. Introduction The Need for Evaluation The Pollution Control Regulatory System Criteria for Evaluation Structure of the Book References PART I: EVALUATING THE PROCESS 2. Federal Legislation Description History Command and Control Fragmentation Overlaps and Inconsistencies Disparity between Resources and Responsibility Court Review of EPA Decisions References 3. Administrative Decisionmaking Scope and Limitations Use of Scientific Information Risk Assessment and Comparative Risk Economic Analysis Fragmentation within EPA Absence of Feedback and Evaluation Roles of OMB, OSTP, and CEQ References 4 The Federal-State Division of Labor Evolution of Federal-State Responsibilities Current State Capabilities Criteria for Division of Labor Unfunded Mandates References PART II: EVALUATING THE REGULATORY SYSTEM 5. Reducing Pollution Levels Overview Air Pollution Water Pollution Municipal Solid Waste Hazardous Waste Toxics Pesticides Regulatory system and Pollution Levels Conclusion References 6. Targeting the Most Important Problems The Need to Set Priorities Priorities Total Cost of Pollution Control to EPA Methods for Evaluating EPA's Priorities Evaluating EPAi? s Priorities References 7. Efficiency Economics and Environmental Protection Benefits and Costs of the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act Cost-effectiveness of Pollution Control Regulations Macroeconomic Effects Conclusions References 8. Social Values Public Involvement Nonintrusiveness Environmental Justice Other Social Values Conclusions References 9. Comparison with Other Countries Pollution Levels Pollution Control Provisions and Implementation Control Measures: Waste and Toxics Integrated Pollution Control International Competitiveness and Trade Summary References 10. Ability to Meet Future Problems Forecasting and Uncertainty Air Pollution Water Pollution Municipal Solid Waste Hazardous Waste Heavy Metals New Items on the Agenda Summary Endnotes References PART III: CONCLUSIONS 11. Conclusions Reducing Pollution Levels Targeting the Most Important Problems Efficiency Social Values Comparison with Other Countries Ability to Meet Future Problems Towards a Better System References Acronyms Index

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Biography

J. Clarence Davies is a senior fellow at Resources for the Future. He is a former assistant administrator for policy with the U.S. EPA and has published widely on environmental issues. Jan Mazurek is a former researcher with CRM and author of Making Microchips: Policy, Globalization, and Economic Restructuring in the Semi-conductor Industry.Mazurek was a researcher at the center.