If the referee throws a flag but no yards are penalized, why would a team ever worry about breaking the rules?
Corporate interests and their political allies have increasingly promoted “compliance assistance programs,” which include everything from voluntary guidelines to educational outreach to technical assistance, . . . while at the same time trimming regulatory agency budgets and staff. These activities have, over time, gutted the vast majority of states’ enforcement of environmental regulations. In addition, with the decline in “deterrence-based enforcement” that actually punishes environmental polluters with penalties, violators often receive little or no disincentive for putting the public at risk. It is often more profitable to pay fines than to quit polluting.
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While state regulatory agencies are typically staffed with dedicated professionals, the lack of money, time, resources, and authority have taken their toll and resulted in dramatic declines in environmental regulation and enforcement. It is essential that these public servants be given the tools to do their job adequately, while also giving the public and legislators the ability to chart how effective current programs are in achieving compliance. While taking a cooperative approach to achieving compliance is a laudable goal, it becomes laughable if such efforts are not backed with tough and reliable penalties for noncompliance. A good regulatory policy employs carrots and sticks. |
This website offers the tools necessary for you to improve environmental enforcement and monitoring in your state. It includes a sample bill, talking points, press and information links, a fact pack, research, and other background information.
We have other useful materials not yet posted, so please contact us by email at info@serconline.org or call us at 608-252-9800 for more information.
106 East Doty Street, Suite 200 § Madison, Wisconsin 53703
Phone: 608-252-9800 § Fax: 608-252-9828
Email: info@serconline.org