Press Release

"All of us in the West want a better quality of life with better jobs, a cleaner environment, open spaces, recreational opportunities, strong and safe communities, and a brighter future for our children," Geringer said. "People are moving into our Western states with new businesses, and new values. That changes the political dynamics for our states. Policy-making will be more complex and difficult. We need new ways to give our citizens policies that protect our heritage and our quality of life."

The Western Governors' Association recently adopted a set of principles called A Shared Environmental Doctrine for the West, and at their annual meeting in Girdwood, Alaska, they agreed to explore how these principles can be implemented at the local, state and regional level. Governors Mike Leavitt of Utah and John Kitzhaber of Oregon have taken the lead on developing the principles. The principles recognize a federal role in setting standards, but they give states and communities greater responsibility in developing the plans to meet those standards.

"These principles do not represent a rejection of the goals of federal environmental laws nor do they reject the federal role in regulation and enforcement as a tool to achieve those objectives. But they do represent a realization that there is a need for new tools to solve increasingly complex environmental problems," Kitzhaber said. "We need to empower people to do the right thing, and it won't work if it's done with a big stick and no carrot. As environmental problems become more complex, they require sustained efforts that can't be solved with just legislation."

Leavitt said balance and stewardship are at the heart of this policy.

"Westerners need to go about resolving these problems through greater collaboration, innovation and economic incentives," Leavitt said. "Federal agencies should be participants, not taskmasters, and the people most involved--those who live, work and play on the lands involved--should play a more enhanced role."

"As this doctrine begins to take shape, we will be able to make some significant changes within our states and our work will be reflected in national policy," said WGA Chairman, Gov. Tony Knowles.

The governors noted that the doctrine will be refined and developed further over the next several months. They will seek feedback to learn what efforts are working, what obstacles have been encountered and whether new tools need to be developed.

The governors heard from participants in four public/private partnerships that already are tackling such thorny issues as regional air quality, restoration of the coho salmon in Oregon, watershed management and forestry. Jim Martin, the project leader for the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds, said flexibility is key if such efforts are to work and monitoring is needed for accountability.

Bill Auberle, who chaired the Public Advisory Committee for the Grand Canyon Visibility Transport Commission, said he wholeheartedly endorses the principles. The commission brought together all levels of government, environmental groups, industry and academia to make ground-breaking recommendations for improving visibility in national parks and wilderness areas on the Colorado Plateau.

The eight principles are:

* National Standards, Neighborhood Strategies--The federal government has responsibility for setting environmental standards for national efforts. States should have the option of developing, plans to meet those standards and ensuring that the standards are met.

* Collaboration, Not Polarization--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--Use credible, independent scientists to help reduce the problem of "competing science" from opposite sides of the issue.

* Markets Before Mandates--Replace command-and-control enforcement with economic incentives whenever appropriate.

* 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 air shed or watershed should be used in addressing environmental problems.

A complete description of the principles can be found on WGA's Web site (www.westgov.org).

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