The hope is that by bringing frequently adversarial groups together, consensus can be reached on ways to set cleaner goals for the industries while allowing them greater flexibility to achieve those targets than is the case now. The recommendations are to tailor requirements to the way a specific industry works in order to achieve better results, and to emphasize pollution prevention over pollution control. The industries involved include auto manufacturing, computers and electronics, iron and steel, metal finishing and plating, petroleum refining, and printing. Together, they employ almost 4 million workers, and represent nearly 14 percent of the Gross Domestic Product. In 1992, they reported releases of 395 million pounds of toxic substances, 12.4 percent of all reported emissions nationwide.
Teams are to make recommendations by next summer.
Review regulations for opportunities to get better environmental results at less cost. Improve new rules through increased coordination. Actively promote pollution prevention as a standard business practice and a central ethic of environmental protection. Make it easier to provide, use and publicly disseminate relevant pollution and environmental information. Assist companies that seek to obey and exceed legal requirements while consistently enforcing the law against those that don't.