The Environmental Protection System in Transition: Toward a More Desirable Future : Final Report of the Enterprise for the Environment Project (Csis Panel Report)

This final report of the Enterprise for the Environment breaks new ground in the ongoing environmental debate. The culmination of two years of work by a bipartisan and consensus-building group that includes former EPA administrators, members of Congress from both sides of the aisle, governors, mayors, state regulators, environmental groups, and representatives of U.S. business, the report argues persuasively that the environmental protection system: (1) should become more performance based, information rich, flexible, and accountable; (2) make greater use of economic incentives; and (3) should be bolstered with strong stewardship by the private sector. The report concludes that the United States needs such a system to confront and manage tough environmental issues in a less polarized and more reasonable manner. This important consensus document will be of interest to all concerned with the protection of our environment.

The Environmental Protection System in Transition is published by CSIS in cooperation with the Keystone Center and the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA), all three of which organizations provided support for the Enterprise for the Environment.

William D. Ruckelshaus is chairman of the board of Browning-Ferris Industries, Inc., and he has twice served as administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, from 1970 to 1973 and again from 1983 to 1985.

Karl Hausker is project director and senior fellow in environmental studies at CSIS in Washington, D.C. From 1993 to 1995, he served as deputy assistant administrator for policy at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and, from 1987 to 1992, as chief economist for the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.