Press Release

Gov. Geringer was the keynote speaker at the summit, which showcases innovative management practices from federal, state and local environmental programs. More than 200 representatives of the environmental and natural resources community also spent the past two days devising new and enhanced methodologies for measuring and improving results of key programs for clean air, clean water, healthy oceans, quality communities, protected species and healthy lands.

Geringer said a key test of how partnerships should work to improve environmental management will occur in the coming months as state, federal and local governments develop proposals for responding to this year’s catastrophic wildfires and for preventing future fires.

"Out West we recognize no one has sole responsibility over a problem or resource. We need to transcend boundaries and work together," Geringer said. "We should be developing strategic plans together. We want a full partnership, not just a close relationship."

Western governors and the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture recently agreed to form a partnership where they will share decision-making for this year’s recovery efforts and in developing a 10-year comprehensive strategy to prevent future fires and improve forest ecosystem health.

Geringer said as Western Governors have struggled with forest health issues and a range of other environmental problems, it became evident that there were common principles underlying the most promising approaches and successful solutions. Those principles for environmental management are now collectively known as Enlibra, which represents balance and stewardship. The principles call for greater participation and collaboration in decision-making, focus on outcomes rather than just programs, and recognize the need for a variety of tools beyond regulation that will improve environmental management.

The 2000 National Environmental Performance Summit marks the second annual meeting hosted by the Environmental Performance Institute and is dedicated to measuring and improving the results of environmental and natural resources programs. The summit is cosponsored by the Western Governors’ Association, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Interior, Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Council of States and the Environmental Performance Institute.

A copy of WGA’s wildfire and forest health policies and the Enlibra principles are available on WGA’s Web site at The Western Governors’ Association is an independent, nonprofit organization representing the governors of 18 states, American Samoa, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. Through their Association, the Western governors identify and address key policy and governance issues in natural resources, the environment, human services, economic development, international relations and public management.

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