These standards should be developed in consultation with the states and in the form of scientifically justified outcomes. National standards for delegated programs should not include prescriptive measures on how they are to be met. States should have the option of developing plans to meet those standards and ensuring that the standards are met. Planning at the state level is preferable because it allows for greater consideration of ecological, economic, social and political differences that exist across the nation. A state can tailor its plans to meet local conditions and priorities, thereby ensuring broad community support and ownership of the plans.
States can also work together to address conditions and issues that cross their boundaries.
It is appropriate for the federal government to provide funds and technical assistance within the context of a state plan to achieve national standards. In the event that states do not want to develop their own plans the federal government should become more actively involved in meeting the standards. The old model of command and control, enforcement based programs is reaching the point of diminishing returns. It now frequently leads to highly polarized constituencies that force traditional actions by governmental authorities without first determining if they are the most effective ways to protect environmental values. Successful environmental policy implementation is best accomplished through balanced, open and inclusive approaches at the ground level, where interested public and private stakeholders work together to formulate critical issue statements and develop locally based solutions to those issues.