Locke embraces regulation study

Environmental processes get close attention from blue-ribbon panel

JOHN DODGE, THE OLYMPIAN

OLYMPIA -- When a special panel of business and community leaders issued a report to Gov. Gary Locke last month on how the state can maintain a competitive economic edge, 35 of the 100 recommendations involved streamlining environmental regulations.

"The days of endless process in the permitting of projects -- projects we need to create jobs in our community -- must end," Locke said, vowing to enact many of the recommendations.

Locke and the 24-member Competitiveness Council suggested that red tape can be trimmed without compromising state environmental laws.

Ideas embodied in the report include:

-Reinventing the state Department of Ecology so it processes permits more quickly.

-Appointing a cabinet- level position for regulatory improvements.

-Creating more of a one-stop shopping plan for project permits.

-Establishing benchmarks for timely permit decision-making.

Environmentalists accused the council of using environmental laws and Ecology as a partial scapegoat for the state's economic downturn.

"There's no evidence that environmental programs have had a negative effect on the economy," said Bruce Wishart, policy director for People for Puget Sound. "Their recommendations look like a list of the 10 worst bills aimed at environmental laws in the past 10 years."

The governor wants to reduce some of the tension between regulators and the business community, said Ron Shultz, natural resources adviser to Locke.

And the governor has appointed former chief of staff Paul Isaki to identify ways to streamline the permitting process and better measure the performance of Ecology.

"We can make regulatory improvements without weakening environmental protection," Shultz said.

"We need to look at overlapping layers of environmental law that have occurred over the past 30 years," Shultz said.

"Reforming the regulatory process is vital," said Don Brunell, president of the Association of Washington Business.

"People don't trust government and feel it is not user-friendly," he said. "We need to fund government appropriately, but at the same time not overburden employers with regulations, inspections and fees."

Federal regulations

There's nothing wrong with creating new performance measures for Ecology or shining a light on how long it takes to get a permit, said former Ecology deputy director Dan Silver.

However, Silver said many of the laws that drive the review of projects and permits land in the lap of Ecology, handed down by the federal government and state lawmakers.

And often, project delays are brought on by the developer asking for time extensions to complete the necessary environmental review.

"Ecology is inherently in a conflicted spot," Silver said. "They're being asked to help businesses and protect the environment at the same time."

Silver said the state agency does use performance measures and has offered regulatory reform initiatives in the past.

"In general, regulatory reform is a fine idea that is rarely executed well," he said.

Rule changes

Issuing the Competitiveness Council report is one thing -- putting the words into action is another, said Doug DeForest, executive director of the Olympia Master Builders.

"It's all nice-sounding, hollow words," he said. "We've heard this story before, but the devil is in the details of the permit process and eliminating regulations."

For its part, the environmental community will be watching the 2002 Legislature closely for any bills that would weaken environmental laws, Wishart said.

The governor doesn't intend to offer a legislative package on regulatory changes, Shultz said.

"We're looking largely at administrative things we can do, he said, referring to the Ecology performance review.

Few, if any, bills have been dropped in the hopper to deal with streamlining permits and regulations.

"We are looking at some things, but nothing has been drafted yet," said state Sen. Tim Sheldon, D-Potlatch.

John Dodge covers the environment and energy for The Olympian. He can be reached at 360-754-5444.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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