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One of the problem-making tendencies in environmental policymaking has been an incremental approach to regulation and control. Either because the full dimensions of an environmental problem are not perceived or because political resistance compels step-by-step action, environmental controls tend to be applied progressively, beginning with nominal, largely ineffectual, retroactive declarations. Failing to meet objectives, laws are toughened and extended year by year until the severity of sanctions begins to defeat their intended effects. The fractionized state of environmental law, focusing on specific problems of pollution and subject to changes in interpretation, makes observance and enforcement difficult. The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 could have facilitated the unification of environmental policy; unfortunately presidents and congresses have not chosen to use it for this purpose. Meanwhile, because environmental protection per se is relatively new to public law and policy and has few roots in the common law, private citizens aggrieved by political obstruction of their expectations have appealed to the courts for relief and compensation. Conservative courts have granted this relief under the "taking" clause of the Constitution. Extraordinary measures in constitutional law may be necessary to resolve an impasse in public policy resulting from conflict between public interests and private rights as interpreted by the judiciary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the unforeseen problems of the new industrial age has been the disposal of increasing quantities of wastes many hazardous and toxic. Industrial chemistry has produced numerous products that, while useful, are alien to nature and resistant to biodegradation or detoxification. Growing public awareness of the possible hazards and risks involved in disposal of the residuals of industrial activities is arousing a popular demand for environmental protection. But this popular awareness depends upon public information and a degree of scientific literacy--conditions which vary widely among nations. Initial consequences are environmental regulations and restrictions respecting waste disposal in scientifically developed countries, and vulnerability among less developed countries to the export of hazardous wastes from the countries of their origin. A secondary consequence is the emergence of international waste trade as a national and international multidimensional policy problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The politics of the environment may not be unique, but they present some distinctive characteristics. In undertaking policy analyses and administrative strategies an appreciation of concepts, assumptions and circumstances, and underlying environmental policy issues is needed. To ignore these fundamentals is to risk superficiality in analysis, and error in findings and conclusions. Yet getting down to basics is often rejected as diversion from the goal of analysis. It deviates from a "straight to the point" approach, adds cost and time to investigation, and seldom interests practical-minded analysts. Even so, this paper will be prefaced by a concise reminder of some basic factors that make environmental policy problematic. Among these are: (1) incompatible concepts of man-nature relationships notably conflict between perceived facts and values, (2) inadequate comprehension of the complexities of nature, (3) sectoral subdivisions of knowledge, (4) assumptions, situations and motivations in environmental politics, (5) fractionated structure of laws and administration, and (6) short-range perception of time. In addition to these conceptual factors the widely varied subject-matter of environmental politics narrows the scope of generalization for policy purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on intergovernmental and intersectoral tensions which are generated in the policy implementation process in the U.S. In this article, the concept of "tension" is the analytical device used for interpreting policy implementation events. The focus of the article is upon Superfund, legislative response to growing public concern over the potential environmental damage and health risks posed by uncontrolled toxic waste sites. Superfund is designed to promote cooperative interaction among government units and private sector.

This article proposes an approach that recognizes the primary function of environmental protection as one of planning, rather than legal battling. It therefore derives much of its conceptual base from state-of-the-art planning theories, including resiliency, adaptive systems and evolutionary thinking. Its central theme is that of planning as an adaptive-learning process and of environmental regulation as a means of correcting or avoiding "social errors." Such a conceptual reformulation should promote strategies which enhance the level of environmental concern in corporate and governmental policy.

This article presents brief introduction on various essays, published in August 1993 issue of the journal "Policy Studies Review," which were based on 16 sources of environmental policy problems in the 21st century, identified by researcher Joseph F. Coates. The purpose of these essays, reportedly, is to provide a cross-sectional view of a variety of environmental issues that create policy problems. They should help to clarify why the attempt of Congress to adopt a basic environment statute, that is, the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, dealt with principles, qualitative goals and action-forcing procedures. This Act was intended to provide a template for evaluating specific environmental policies and decisions.