QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
[Source: Western Governor's Association]
What is the name of the new shared doctrine for environmental management?
Enlibra, a newly created word meaning balance and stewardship. The authors of the new doctrine believe Enlibra will become a symbol for a balanced approach to successful environmental management.
What is the history of the new shared environmental doctrine Enlibra?
As Western governors have struggled with a range of environmental problems, it has become evident that there are common principles underlying the most promising approaches and successful solutions they have developed. These principles form the basis of a new shared doctrine for environmental management. The doctrine speaks to greater participation and collaboration in decision making, focuses on outcomes rather than just programs, and recognizes the need for a variety of tools beyond regulation that will improve environmental management. Utah Governor Mike Leavitt (R) and Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber (D) took the lead in developing this shared set of principles that were agreed upon as policy of the Western Governors' Association.
The Governors gravitated to this new doctrine because they rarely see environmental improvements coming out of polarized situations. However, when communities, states or regions are able to identify shared goals, progress is made.
They believe the principles can help the West successfully deal with increasingly complex environmental problems. This complexity is a function of both the global economy we are a part of and its ability to dramatically influence our economy and communities, as well as the many dimensions to environmental problems that were not well understood or anticipated when many of the environmental laws were written nearly 25 years ago.
The Governors recognize that to succeed at environmental management we need to empower people to do the right thing. This requires good information; inclusive processes that respect different values and provide individuals a role in designing and implementing solutions; and meaningful incentives to complement existing laws.
The Governors believe the principles that they came up with, when taken together, offer the best promise for solving environmental problems today and tomorrow.
What is the purpose of the new shared environmental doctrine Enlibra?
While the last 25 years of environmental management have seen some major environmental successes, the easy targets are gone and there is a growing emotion and polarization among interested parties. People generally agree about the need to protect the environment and its natural resources. Unfortunately groups representing extreme positions have largely shaped environmental management and the environmental debate. Today there is no symbol for the middle, for the majority of citizens who believe that the environment and its natural resources can be protected while at the same time providing recreational and employment opportunities for citizens. Enlibra will be that symbol for the middle.
The governors believe that the principles espoused in this shared doctrine, developed through their personal experiences and the collective experiences of others over the past 25 years, provide a collection of tools that, if employed, will result in improved and expedited environmental decision-making and implementation. They believe that the doctrine, though created largely based on experiences in the West, can serve as a tool for environmental management across the nation.
What Enlibra is not:
1. Enlibra does not represent a rejection of the goals and objectives of Federal environmental laws such as the Endangered Species Act or Clean Water Act.
2. It is not a rejection of the need for national environmental standards.
3. This shared doctrine does not represent a rejection of the legitimate role of the federal government in regulation and enforcement.
What are the principles that form the doctrine Enlibra?
National Standards, Neighborhood Solutions -- Assign Responsibilities at the Right Level
Collaboration, Not Polarization -- Use Collaborative Processes to Break Down Barriers and Find Solutions
Reward Results, Not Programs -- Move to a Performance-Based System
Science for Facts, Process for Priorities -- Separate Subjective Choices from Objective Data Gathering
Markets Before Mandates -- Replace Command and Control with Economic Incentives
Change a Heart, Change a Nation -- Environmental Understanding is Crucial
Recognition of Costs and Benefits -- Make Sure Environmental Decisions are Fully Informed
Solutions Transcend Political Boundaries -- Use Appropriate Geographic Boundaries for Environmental Problems
What do the governors hope will come of the new shared doctrine Enlibra?
1. It becomes part of the American political lexicon, giving people a symbol for balance and stewardship in environmental management.
2. It becomes a widely used framework for solving difficult environmental problems.
3. It becomes a philosophic foundation for balanced environmental legislation.
4. It becomes a road map for discussions between regulators and stakeholders.
What are some examples of the new shared doctrine Enlibra?
There are numerous excellent examples from Western states, some of which were highlighted during the Western Governors' Association's Annual Meeting in Alaska. A few examples, listed by type of issue, are included.
Air Quality -- Grand Canyon Visibility Transport Commission
Species Protection -- Oregon Coastal Salmon Restoration Initiative, Desert
Tortoise Habitat Conservation Planning
Land Issues -- Utah Schools and Federal Land Exchange
Species Protection -- High Plains Partnership
Water Planning -- Texas Regional Water Supply Planning Process
Recreation -- Trails and Recreational Access for Alaska
Open Lands -- Wyoming Open Lands Initiative
Western Governors' Association, 600 17th Street, Suite 1705 South
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Phone: (303) 623-9378; Fax: (303) 534-7309
10/19/98
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