ENLIBRA PRINCIPLES

Reward Results, Not Programs- Move to a Performance Based System

A clean and safe environment will be best achieved when government actions are focused on outcomes, not programs, and when innovative approaches to achieving desired outcomes are rewarded. Federal, state and local policies should encourage "outside the box" thinking in the development of strategies to achieve desired outcomes. Solving problems rather than just complying with programs should be rewarded.

National Standards, Neighborhood Solutions- Assign Responsibilities at the Right Level

There is a full acknowledgement that there are environmental issues of national interest ranging from management of public lands to air and water quality protection. Public processes are used to identify and protect the collective values of the nation's public. No existing laws or identified legal rights and responsibilities are rejected. The role of the federal government is supported in passing laws that protect these values as well as setting national standards and objectives that identify the appropriate uses and levels of protection to be achieved. As the federal government sets national standards, they should consult with the states, tribes and local governments as well as other concerned stakeholders in order to access data and other important information. When environmental standards have not been historically within the federal jurisdiction, non-federal governments retain their standard setting and enforcing functions to ensure consideration of unique, local-level circumstances and to en sure community involvement.

With standards and objectives identified, there should be flexibility for non-federal governments to develop their own plans to achieve them, and to provide accountability. Plans that consider more localized ecological, economic, social and political factors can have the advantage of having more public support and involvement and therefore can reach national standards more efficiently and effectively.

Solutions Transcend Political Boundaries- Use Appropriate Geographic Boundaries for Environmental Problems

Many of the environmental challenges in the West cross political boundaries. For example, environmental management issues often fall within natural basins. These are often transboundary water or air sheds. Focusing on the natural boundaries of the problem helps identify the appropriate science, possible markets, cross-border issues, and the full range of affected interests and governments that should participate and facilitate solutions. Voluntary interstate strategies as well as other partnerships are important tools as well.

Collaboration, Not Polarization- Use Collaborative Processes to Break Down Barriers and Find Solutions

The regulatory tools we have been relying on over the last quarter of a century are reaching the point of diminishing returns. In addition, environmental issues tend to be highly polarizing, leading to destructive battles that do not necessarily achieve environmental goals. Successful environmental policy implementation is best accomplished through balanced, open and inclusive approaches at the ground level, where interested stakeholders work together to formulate critical issue statements and develop locally based solutions to those issues. Collaborative approaches often result in greater satisfaction with outcomes and broader public support, and can increase the chances of involved parties staying committed over time to the solutions and its implementation. Additionally, collaborative mechanisms may save costs when compared with traditional means of policy development. Given the often local nature of collaborative processes, it may be necessary for the public and private interests to provide re sources to ensure these processes are transparent, have broad participation and are supported with good technical information.

Markets Before Mandates- Pursue Economic Incentives Whenever Appropriate

While most individuals, business, and institutions want to protect the environment and achieve desired environmental outcomes at the lowest cost to society, many environmental programs require the use of specific technologies and processes to achieve these outcomes. Reliance on the threat of enforcement action to force compliance with technology or process requirements may result in adequate environmental protection. However, market-based approaches and economic incentives often result on more efficient and cost-effective results and may lead to more rapid compliance. These approaches also reward environmental performance, promote economic health, encourage innovation and increase trust among government, industry and the public.

Science for Facts, Process for Priorities- Separate subjective Choices from Objective Data Gathering

Environmental science is complex and uncertainties exist in the most scientific findings. In addressing scientific uncertainties that underlie most environmental issues and decisions, competing interests usually point to scientific conclusions supporting their view and ignore or attack conflicting or insufficient information. This situation allows interests to hold polarized positions, and interferes with reconciling the problems at hand. It may also leave stakeholders in denial over readily perceived environmental problems. This in turn reduces public confidence and raises stridency of debate. Critical, preventive steps may never be taken as a result, and this may lead to more costly environmental protection than would otherwise be required.

A better approach is to reach agreement on the underlying facts as well as the range of uncertainty surrounding the environmental question at hand before trying to frame the choices to be made. This approach should use a public, balanced and inclusive collaborative process and a range of respected scientists and peer-reviewed science. Such a process promotes quality assurance and quality control mechanisms to evaluate the credibility of scientific conclusions. It can also help stakeholders and decision-makers understand the underlying science and its limitations before decisions are made. If a collaborative process among the stakeholders does not resolve scientific disagreements, decision-makers must evaluate the differing scientific information and make the difficult policy choices. Decision-makers should use ongoing scientific monitoring information to adapt their management decisions as necessary.

Recognition of Benefits and Costs- Make Sure All Decisions Affecting Infrastructure, Development and Environment are Fully Informed

The implementation of environmental policies and programs should be guided by an assessment of the costs and benefits of different options across the affected geographic range. To best understand opportunities for win-win solutions, cost and benefit assessments should look at life-cycle costs and economic externalities imposed on those who do not participate in key transactions. These assessments can illustrate the relative advantages of various methods of achieving common public goals. However, not all benefits and costs can easily be quantified or translated into dollars. There may be other non-economic factors such as equity within and across generations that should also be fully considered and integrated into every assessment of options. The assessment of options should consider all of the social, legal, economic and political factors while ensuring that neither quantitative nor qualitative factors dominate.

Change a Heart, Change a Nation- Environmental Understanding is Crucial

Governments at all levels can develop policies, programs and procedures for protecting the environment. Yet the success of these policies ultimately depends on the daily choices of our citizens. Beginning with the nation's youth, people need to understand their relationship with the environment. They need to understand the importance of sustaining and enhancing their surroundings for themselves and future generations. If we are able to achieve a healthy environment, it will be because citizens understand that a healthy environment is critical to the social and economic health of the nation. Government has a role in educating people about the stewardship of natural resources. One important way for government to promote individual responsibility is by rewarding those who meet their stewardship responsibilities.