Research Reports

This report presents and synthesizes current research regarding the Porter hypothesis that theorizes the cost of implementing environmental regulations may be significantly reduced by low-cost processes and other innovations. The report offers various perspectives on the hypothesis, drawing from economics, organizational, and legal theory. An appendix to the report presents the summary of a workshop held on April 30th, 1999 that brought together some of the leading researchers on the subject.

This report is intended as a handbook for all those working to conserve and protect New Mexico`s wealth of biodiversity and rich natural heritage. The goal of the report is to describe the state`s current laws and policies, identify gaps and opportunities for change, and encourage a dialogue about what the laws that affect our natural heritage should look like.

The best way to regulate the release of mercury to our environment is through pollution prevention — placing a declining cap on the use of mercury in products and processes. Such a cap could limit mercury releases to 10% of current levels from intentional uses, and 50% of process emissions by 2010. This approach would be far more effective than EPA`s current strategy based on emissions controls, because it achieves dramatically greater reductions in total mercury releases, and reduces the problems of re-releases of mercury from wastes.

This report provides a state-by-state summary, including Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, of enforcement-based laws that are potentially applicable to nonpoint source water pollution. This study discusses the diversity and ubiquity of state legal mechanisms as well as the inconsistent treatment of similar problems from one state to the next.

This report examines the Superfund cleanup programs of all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. The Study provides a snapshot of state statutes, program organizations, staffing, funding, expenditures, cleanup standards and cleanup activities.