Synopses & Reviews
Congress empowered the Environmental Protection Agency on the theory that only a national agency that is insulated from accountability to voters could produce the scientifically grounded pollution rules needed to save a careless public from its own filth. In this provocative book, David Schoenbrod explains how his experience as an environmental advocate brought him to this startling realization: letting EPA dictate to the nation is a mistake.
Through a series of gripping and illuminating anecdotes from his own career, the author reveals the EPA to be an agency that, under Democrats and Republicans alike, delays good rules, imposes bad ones, and is so big, muscle-bound, and remote that it does unnecessary damage to our society. EPA stays in power, he says, because it enables elected legislators to evade responsibility by hiding behind appointed bureaucrats. The best environmental rulesand#151;those that have done the most goodand#151;have come when Congress had to take responsibility or from states and localities rather than the EPA.
With the passion of an authentic environmentalist, Schoenbrod makes a sensible plea for and#147;bottom-upand#8221; environmental protection now. The responsibility for pollution control belongs not in agencies but in legislatures, and usually not at the federal level but rather closer to home.
Review
"This insider's voyage through the history of environmental protection is filled with surprise and human interest. After exposing the failures of this opaque regulatory world, Schoenbrod argues for local input and control to achieve better environmental stewardship."and#8212;Philip K. Howard
Review
"A terrific, albeit disturbing, read. Only someone with Schoenbrodand#8217;s unique combination of legal, political and practical expertise could write so insightfully about environmental politics."and#8212;Morris P. Fiorina, Wendt Family Professor of Political Science, Stanford Universityandnbsp;
Review
and#8220;Schoenbrod succeeds admirably in presenting a provocative analysis of the contemporary state of environmental law and policy. He makes a strong challenge to conventional wisdom.and#8221;and#8212;Richard B. Stewart, School of Law, Center on Environment and Land Use Law, New York University and former chairman of the board, Environmental Defense Fund
Review
and#8220;This engaging book brings environmental policy analysis alive with personal experiences, pithy examples, and human interest stories. It challenges blithe acceptance of the status quo.and#8221;and#8212;Terry L. Anderson, executive director, PERC, and senior fellow, Hoover Institution
Review
and#8220;Schoenbrod fills the void between extreme arguments on both sides of environmental policy debates. His book advances the cause of more reasoned discussion in the nearly empty middle.and#8221;and#8212;James L. Huffman, Dean, Lewis and Clark Law School
Review
"David Schoenbrodand#8217;s vivid writing has made a difficult subject come alive. Regardless of your position on the environmentand#8212;and I am not in total accord with himand#8212;his supporting arguments deserve extended discussion."and#8212;Edward I. Koch, former mayor, New York City
Review
and#8220;An important and original contribution to the national debate on environmental policy. Schoenbrodand#8217;s rich and varied personal experience in the field powerfully brings home the policy issues he addresses.and#8221;and#8212;Gary Marchant, Center for the Study of Law, Science, and Technology, Arizona State University
Review
"Schoenbrod argues that power should flow away from environmental regulators in Washington and toward state legislators. Even where I disagree with him, his arguments are elegant and forced me to think hard. This is what good books do, of course!"and#8212;Paul Portney, President, Resources for the Futureandnbsp;
Review
"A powerful and far-reaching indictment of the nation's efforts at environmental regulation and the protection of the environment. What makes this book so significant and separates it from many critiques of the environmental movement is that author David Schoenbrod is an insider's insider. . . . Simply put, the nation would be better served if every journalist on the environmental beat and every TV talking head were required to read this book before turning the next environmental press release into another breathless scare story about the latest environmental or public health crisis. . . . It also happens to be accessible for anyone interested in the subject."and#8212;R.J. Smith,
New York Postandnbsp;
Review
and#8220;A scorching brief against the EPA and Congressand#8217;s capitulation to it.and#8221;and#8212;Nicholas Thompson,
New York SunSynopsis
Congress empowered the Environmental Protection Agency on the theory that only a national agency that is insulated from accountability to voters could produce the scientifically grounded pollution rules needed to save a careless public from its own filth. In this provocative book, David Schoenbrod explains how his experience as an environmental advocate brought him to this startling realization: letting EPA dictate to the nation is a mistake.
Synopsis
A veteran environmentalist tells vivid tales of the environmental wars and arrives at a surprising conclusion.
Synopsis
Through vivid tales of the pollution wars, a veteran environmental advocate shows that the Environmental Protection Agency is so big and remote that it must fail the environment and our society. David Schoenbrod reaches the surprising conclusion that we should strip the EPA of its power to dictate to the nation and replace it with and#147;bottom-upand#8221; environmental protection now.
About the Author
David Schoenbrod is trustee professor, New York Law School, and adjunct scholar, Cato Institute. During his tenure as an attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council, he initiated litigation to force the EPA to reduce lead in gasoline and other environmental cases of particular importance to minorities and the poor.