Fed/CA Enviro-Partnership?

[Environmental Law Institute <eli@igc.org>]

January 30, 1996 For Immediate Release

Federal, State Environmental Leaders To Discuss Their New
Partnership

On February 23, the Environmental Law Institute will convene an
ELI Associates Seminar in San Francisco, California, to examine
"Federal Oversight of State Environmental Programs." Please join
Shelley Metzenbaum (Associate Administrator for Regional, State
and Local Relations, U.S. EPA), James Strock (Secretary,
California Environmental Protection Agency), and John Pendergrass
(Director, ELI State Center) as they discuss EPA's experimentation
with the oversight of environmental programs implemented by the
various states.

The approach to federal-state relationships on environmental
programs has not changed significantly since the birth of modern
environmental law 25 years ago, but the recent formation of a
coalition of state program directors -- the Environmental Council
of the States -- and the passage of the 1995 Unfunded Mandates
Reform Act has changed the situation. Few of the methods that EPA
currently uses to oversee approved state programs are statutorily
mandated, and EPA Administrator Carol Browner has agreed with
state agency directors to begin reshaping the roles and
relationships between EPA and the states in administering the
major environmental statutes.

A number of state environmental programs have matured considerably
in recent years, and many argue that the time has come for
devolution -- granting greater autonomy and authority to state
government and environmental agencies. It is well known that many
of the best and most innovative ideas in environmental and natural
resource protection have come from the states, and that many state
laws and programs have served as models for federal action.

At the same time, however, some states and their environmental
programs lack such essentials as stable funding, capable staffs,
effective laws, and adequate public participation procedures.
Almost half of the states have passed laws that prohibit their
environmental agencies from regulating more strictly than required
under federal law, even though federal standards were often
designed as a "floor"meant to be raised when local conditions
warrant.

The seminar is free and is open to the public, but the courtesy of
reservation is requested. To assure that you will have a seat,
call the ELI RSVP line at (202) 939-3858. You are welcome to bring
a "brown bag lunch" to this midday event.

Where: The Meeting Room, 685 Market Street, San Francisco, CA,
94105

When: February 23, 1996, Noon to 2 pm

For More Information about ELI`, Call Eric Eckl at (202) 939-3248