As far as command and control regulations to control pollution go, the greenback as always been the weapon of choice. For instance, a failure of a regulated entity to not adequately control storm water runoff can result in a $25,000 per day fine – for each infraction of the regulations. Such a huge amount would seem adequate to compensate for the damage polluted runoff can cause. But that’s not the case. The consequences of ignored pollution for any source to air, water or ground can result in millions of dollars in costs to human health and welfare. In light of this fact, I think it’s appropriate to compare such costs in terms of failed compliance. That being said, however, I believe the problem is not entirely the fault of the regulated entity, but instead, it’s also the fault of the very environmental regulatory agencies who enacted the rules in the first place. They simply do not do an adequate job of enforcement. They need more money, and they only way they can effectively frame that argument is to speak in terms of the cost of non compliance.

Happy trails.

Swubirds last blog post..THE PROGERIA SISTERS

I grew up on Lake Okeechobee in South Florida in a small redneck town where the idea of sorting the recyclables out of your trash would have been laughed out of a city council meeting as a radical environmentalist plot. However, the lake and its approaches from town were kept clean and unpolluted.

This was not a result of regulation as much as it was self interest by the citizenry. Much of the towns income came from tourism – bass fisherman in particular – and pollution was bad for business.

Techfuns last blog post..Computer Room Critters