Environmental Management: An Integrated Approach Could Reduce Pollution and Increase Regulatory Efficiency.

The Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 established the national policy that pollution prevention, as opposed to pollution control, is the preferred method of addressing the nations pollution problems. The act also specified that reduction of pollution at its source source reduction is the preferred method to prevent pollution and should be used whenever possible. Source reduction includes modifying equipment, technology, processes, or procedures reformulating or redesigning products substituting raw materials and improving operations and maintenance. EPA generally delegates responsibility for the day-to-day implementation of environmental programs to state agencies that perform a variety of regulatory functions. Examples of regulatory functions include issuing permits to limit facilities emissions, conducting inspections, and taking enforcement actions against violators. States may also provide nonregulatory technical assistance, public education, and outreach activities to industry. Because many of the nations environmental statutes are medium-specific, state environmental agencies and EPA have traditionally been organized around separate medium-specific program offices.