Research Reports

The Environmental Law Institute convened a one-day workshop on May 6, 1997 to allow citizens in the Washington, DC area to discuss the new community right-to-know amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act. The objectives of the workshop were to: (1) develop citizen awareness about drinking water quality issues; (2) help state and local governments understand the information needs of citizens who want to learn more about the quality of their drinking water; and (3) help water companies prepare user-friendly information about the quality of drinking water.

The Environmental Law Institute surveyed existing AIJ projects under the United States Initiative on Joint Implementation (USIJI) and AIJ projects initiated from other countries. The survey looked for evidence of transparent mechanisms and public involvement in decision-making. In addition, ELI examined development projects analogous to the AIJ framework, such as multilateral development bank investments and environmental fund investments, that included participatory elements.

This report discusses a broad range of programs implemented by California, Florida, Minnesota, Vermont and Montgomery County (Maryland) -to address Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) issues. This report describes the types of agencies that implement IAQ programs; mechanisms for coordinating IAQ activities the nature of program activities; the relationship between state and local governments; and key factors affecting the development of IAQ programs.

This study examined the laws of the fifty states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia to identify and analyze enforceable mechanisms for the control of nonpoint source water pollution. An enforceable mechanism consists of a standard applicable to an identified entity or entities; a sanction such as a civil, criminal, or administrative penalty, loss of a license, and performance of required remedial action, but not mere loss of an incentive; and a process, either explicit or implied, for applying the standard and imposing the sanction.

This report discusses specific lessons learned from the Acid Rain Program, contained in Title IV of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 (CAAA), that apply to an emissions cap and allowance trading system for greenhouse gases (GHGs). Chapter II discusses the basic design features in applying an emissions cap and allowance trading system to emissions of CO2, methane and other GHGs. Chapter III evaluates lessons from Title IV, and discusses specific issues in establishing a similar regulatory system for GHGs.