CCP 11-12-1996 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

I , " "1 SD-4. Environmental Protection I 2 Issue: State and federal environmental programs are improperly designed to meet their stated I 3 goals, and impose an undue burden on local governments because of a lack of federal or state 4 financial assistance. The refusal to finance these programs by the governments which pass them I 5 has eliminated an essential restraining feature in program design and implementation. I 6 Specific problems include: 7 . New programs or standards are continually adopted without regard to the existence, I 8 attainability, or cost of existing programs and standards. I 9 . Fragmented program adoption and implementation does not ensure. prioritization of I 10 environmental matters or the establishment of comprehensive environmental protection 11 strategies. "2 . "One size fits all" implementation programs force remedial efforts by local governments for I 13 nonexistent environmental problems. 14 . Permit fees and other cost transfer elements of federal and state programs do not provide an I 15 incentive for environmental agency efficiency, policy prioritization, or risk assessment. I 16 Response: I 17 . A comprehensive effort to consolidate, reorganize, and manage state and federal 18 environmental agencies and programs should be undertaken and a partial or full I 19 moratorium on new programs or requirements should be considered. I 20 . Permit fees should be limited to fifty perce,,: of the agency's direct operating costs in 21 order to promote efficient agency operation and sufficient legislative oversight. "2 . Sufficient state and federal financial assistance should be provided to comply with state I 23 and federal infrastructure requirements, particularly wiril regard to sewer and water I 1997 City Policies 31 ,