Introducing the Environmental Policy Process

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Introducing the Environmental Policy Process

• Historic policy records (considering
• both policy substance and processes)
• Basic definitions
• Stages of the policy process
• The game of environmental policy

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Overview of Environmental Policy History in the
U.S.

• The first wave emphasis on the protection and
  efficient management of the natural environment
• Reclamation Service (1902)
• U.S. Forest Service (1905)
• National Park Service (1916)

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• The second wave focus on the cleanup and
  control of pollution
• Establishment of the Environmental Protection
  Agency (1970)
• National Environmental Policy Act (1970)
• Clean Air Act Amendments of 1970
• Federal Water Pollution Control Act (1972)
• Coastal Zone Management Act (1972)
• Ocean Dumping Act (1972)
• Marine Mammal Protection Act (1972)
• Federal Insecticide, Fungcide, Rodenticide Act
  (1972)
• Toxic Substances Control Act (1972)
• Review of key events in the history of the
  environmental movement
• http//www.radford.edu/wkovarik/envhist/9seventie
  s.html

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The evolution of public opinion and the rise of a
movement

• pre-problem stage
• Public may be aware of a problem but assumes no
  solution possible
• alarmed discovery
• Identification of a problem as serious,
  somebody is responsible, and it can be solved
• capture on the policy agenda
• Bringing the issue to the attention of
  policymakers for a solution and decision
• institutionalization of policy
• Public acceptance, backing down, losing interest

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Definition of Politics

• The authoritative allocation of goods, services,
  and values.
• David Easton (1965)

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Defining Characteristics of Politics

• Politics involves the making of common decisions
  for a group of people that is, a uniform
  decision applying in the same way to all members
  of the group.
• Politics involves the use of power by one person
  or a group of people to affect the behavior of
  another person or group of people.

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Definition of Public Policy

• A system of laws, regulatory measures, courses
  of action, and funding priorities concerning a
  given topic promulgated by a governmental entity
  or its representatives.

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The Political System

• The means for resolving conflict over values.

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Political-Social Environment
1. Problem perception
2. Policy conception
3. Agenda
setting
4. Decision-
making
5. Political

execution
6.
Political
impact

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Problem perception phasePeople need to perceive
that a problem exists and that government has a
role in addressing that problem.
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Policy conception phaseProposing solutions to
identified problems.
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3. Agenda settingCommunicating the proposed
solution to decision-makers and gaining access
for influence.
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4. Decision-making phaseInstitutional
processes for making policy decisions.
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5. Political execution phaseThe
implementation of policies, or putting policy
decisions into effect.
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6. Political impact phaseAssessment of both
positive and negative impacts of a policy,
including feedback into problem perception.
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Problem
Policy Agenda Decision-
Political Political
perception conception
setting making
execution impact