Perceptions of the Regulated Community in Environmental Policy: The View from Below

Rinfret

2011

J Environ Stud Sci

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Although about 90% of environmental policy is delegated to the states for implementation, the individuals responsible for implementing a majority of that policy are largely understudied. Existing acknowledgment of these regulators typically extends only to the regulatory enforcement strategy their agency employs. Missing in these conversations is a focused study on the regulators themselves and their perceptions of the regulated community that they interact with daily. Understanding these perceptions will provide insights into how regulators approach their interactions and how they ensure regulatory compliance. This paper uses an exploratory case study approach to focus on front-line regulators with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources via agencywide surveys. Findings from the surveys reveal generally positive perceptions of the regulated community in both states and experiences with them. The findings call attention to a neglected population and emphasize the importance of regulators' perceptions in their regulatory approach.

Section: Evaluating Interactions With the Regulated Communitymentioning

confidence: 98%

Making sense of the front lines: environmental regulators in Ohio and Wisconsin

Rinfret

2011

J Environ Stud Sci

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“…Three-quarters, or 75%, identified as white males 9 is unsurprising given that the environmental science and engineering fields are dominated by men, both on the regulator side and regulatee side of the interaction, as others have found (cf. Pautz, 2009a;Pautz & Rinfret, 2013). Survey respondents typically have a high school degree or some college education, and are within the age range of 55-74.…”

Section: Overview Of Survey Respondentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

On the Front Lines of Implementing Environmental Regulation: The Perspective of the Regulated Community in Montana

Rinfret

Review of Policy Research

2018

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Although discussions about environmental policy often focus on the federal level of decision making and action in the United States, implementation occurs predominately at the state level. The individuals largely responsible for implementation are the state regulators and members of the regulated community as they constitute the front lines in environmental regulation. Much of the existing research on regulatory interactions investigates the regulatory enforcement styles of regulators and the compliance motivations of firms. It is equally important to consider the perceptions and actual experiences of regulated community members. To examine this perspective, this exploratory study utilizes a mail survey to investigate the perceptions and experiences of members of the regulated community in Montana. The survey respondents report positive and cooperative interactions with environmental regulators. This survey provides much‐needed insight into the perspectives of some members of the regulated community, challenging traditional viewpoints that the regulated community is hostile toward regulation, and promotes adversarial relationships with regulators. Accordingly, this research encourages debate about the fundamental assumptions surrounding the interactions of regulators and the regulated community in U.S. environmental policy.

“…At this juncture, we might make sense of these results by saying regulators are fairly positive of their interactions with the regulated community, but are also cautious in their assessments of the regulated community because their job in the existing regulatory regime is to verify compliance and enforce the regulations when needed. Pautz (2009a, 2010) concludes that the interactions between regulators and the regulated community are far more positive than commonly presumed and May (2005) and Pautz (2009b) reach similar conclusions from the perspective of the regulated community. Nevertheless, further research is undoubtedly needed to more fully understand regulators' perceptions.…”

Section: Categorization Of Frontline Regulators' Perceptionsmentioning

confidence: 59%

“…However, at least in this limited sample, these perceptions appear to have evolved and OEPA regulators seem to think that the regulated community has at least the intention to comply, albeit for varying motives. Pautz (2009b) found that facility personnel in Virginia sought compliance as well and were far less resistant to the demands of environmental regulation as may have been thought initially. The motives for compliance may not be environmental—further study is needed—but compliance is the goal according to these regulators.…”

Section: Perceptions Of Frontline Regulators In Ohiomentioning

confidence: 99%

Their Views Matter: Frontline Regulators' Perceptions of the Regulated Community in Ohio

2012

Policy Studies Journal

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Frontline regulators are largely responsible for the implementation and ongoing compliance with environmental laws. Yet, as with other frontline worker populations, environmental regulators are routinely overlooked. Existing acknowledgment of these regulators typically only extends to the regulatory enforcement strategy their agency employs. Missing in these conversations is a focused study on regulators themselves and their perceptions of the regulated community that they interact with daily. Understanding these perceptions will provide insights into how regulators approach their interactions and how they ensure regulatory compliance. This research reports on one‐on‐one interviews and a statewide survey of Ohio Environmental Protection Agency frontline regulators and their perceptions of the regulated community. Findings from this survey reveal generally positive perceptions of the regulated community in Ohio and experiences with them. These findings call attention to a neglected population and emphasize the importance of regulators' perceptions in their regulatory approach.