Press Release

The summit will be held in conjunction with the Western Governors' Association Winter Meeting at the Pointe Hilton December 3 - 5. Arizona Gov. Jane Dee Hull is hosting the three day meeting with 14 governors and governors-elect expected to attend.

Nearly 300 leaders representing government, business, environmental groups and landowners will join the governors to review eight principles adopted by the WGA called, Enlibra: A New Shared Doctrine for Environmental Management. The governors are seeking feedback on the principles and how they could be used not only to resolve environmental conflicts more efficiently and effectively but also to head off emerging problems.

"We all want a clean environment and to protect our unique quality of life. But to do that, we need to find ways to reach environmental goals that will help sustain the region's agricultural and community vitality," said Wyoming Gov. Jim Geringer, WGA Chairman.

Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber and Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt have taken the lead for WGA in developing the principles. Gov. Kitzhaber will deliver a keynote address on the state of the system we currently rely on to protect and restore the environment and why the governors are supporting new, innovative approaches.

"Environmental problems are becoming increasingly complex and require sustained efforts that go beyond legislative measures," Kitzhaber said. "The principles are not a rejection of federal environmental laws, rather they're a recognition that we need to develop additional tools that will empower people to do the right thing."

Gov. Leavitt, who will deliver opening remarks on Dec. 4, said another key aspect of the Enlibra principles centers on encouraging good stewardship and promoting individual responsibility for a healthy environment.

"Many environmental problems revolve around individual behavior and personal decisions that are hard to regulate," Leavitt said. "We want to learn from those attending the Summit how education and incentives, for example, could bolster efforts to achieve clean air and water, to improve watersheds or to restore habitat for wildlife."

The eight principles of Enlibra, which stands for balance and stewardship, 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 air shed or watershed should be used in addressing environmental problems.

During the summit, governors will lead breakout sessions in which participants will offer their advice on the principles and how they might be implemented.

Prior to the summit, governors and governors-elect will meet to discuss a number of regional issues, including many that may come before the new Congress. George Frampton, acting chairman of the president's Council on Environmental Quality, and Jamie Rappaport Clark, director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have been invited to discuss reform of the Endangered Species Act and implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act. Also on the agenda is a discussion of Western water policy and the various challenges associated with increasing demands for water. Other likely topics are a Western Presidential Primary, open lands initiatives and essential air service.

Copies of the agendas for the summit and the regular winter meeting and additional meeting materials can be found on WGA's Web site at www.westgov.org or by calling WGA at (303) 623-9378.

The Western Governors' Association is an independent, nonprofit organization representing the governors of 18 states, two territories and one commonwealth. 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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