The regulation of actions that may harm or threaten the environment has moved into a second generation that places more emphasis on market mechanisms and seeks to limit discretion for government agencies. This shift corresponds with a change in the targets of environmental protection regulation—with the focus moving from point to non-point sources. The principal actor in our efforts to protect the environment is the Environmental Protection Agency, which administers a bewildering number of laws and regulations. The EPA, given its central position, has been at the forefront of a several basic questions about environmental protection, including should we regulate and at what level. In addition, the EPA has been challenged by the four basic problems inherent in environmental policy—complexity, monitoring and enforcement, false expectations, redistributive politics. The best example of these four problems is the Superfund clean-up program, which epitomizes the good and bad of American environmental policy.


Objectives

After completing this week’s web-lectures, assignment, readings, and participating in the on-line discussions you will have a more solid appreciation of problems inherent in the making of environmental policy and role and importance of the EPA.