Press Release

More than 400 people, including representatives of environmental groups, businesses, landowners and government, attended an Environmental Summit in December to comment on the eight Enlibra principles. Numerous summit participants and others who have reviewed the doctrine also submitted written comments. The governors will ask the advisory committee to review all the comments.

"After the advisory group has reached consensus on changes, they will be asked to provide advice on next steps for Enlibra," a charter for the advisory committee states. "Specifically, they may be asked to suggest ways that the Western Governors can empower people to solve environmental problems and make progress on environmental conservation and restoration using Enlibra."

"We have received invaluable feedback from a very diverse group of people who are open to and, in many cases, anxious to find new ways to resolve environmental disputes that incorporate these common sense principles," said Wyoming Gov. Jim Geringer, WGA Chairman. "As an example, when national standards are involved, communities, states and those affected by the standards should be allowed to come up with innovative solutions that meet the goal. The focus needs to be on results, not prescribing a specific process that inhibits innovation."

Governors Mike Leavitt of Utah and John Kitzhaber of Oregon have taken the lead in developing the principles and guiding their development. They began developing the principles based on the experiences of Western governors in trying to resolve environmental disputes within their states and with multi-state problems such as air quality.

"This is not a rejection of federal environmental goals or environmental laws or sovereignty," Kitzhaber said. "It is a recognition of the fact that we need additional tools to address many environmental challenges that require long, sustained efforts to resolve."

"Enlibra will not end disputes, but it will accelerate the velocity of environmental progress," Leavitt said. "It is a framework and a philosophy that small and large groups can use to come together and reach agreement."

The eight principles of Enlibra are:

* National Standards, Neighborhood Solutions --The federal government has responsibility for setting environmental standards for national efforts. States should be able to develop plans to meet those standards and to ensure that the standards are met.

* Collaboration, Not Polarization --Stakeholders should use collaborative processes to break down barriers and find solutions.

* Reward Results, Not Programs --To achieve a clean and safe environment, government actions should focus on outcomes, not programs.

* Science for Facts, Process for Priorities --Decision makers should use credible, independent scientists to help reduce the problem of "competing science" from opposite sides of the issue.

* Markets Before Mandates --Command-and-control enforcement should, when appropriate, be replaced with economic incentives.

* Change a Heart, Change a Nation --The success of environmental policies depend on a citizenry that understands its relationship with the environment and stewardship responsibilities.

* Recognition of Benefits and Costs --The implementation of environmental policies and programs should be guided by an assessment of the costs and benefits of different options and a determination of the feasibility of implementing the options.

* Solutions Transcend Political Boundaries --Appropriate geographic boundaries, such as an airshed or watershed should be used in addressing environmental problems.

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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