Suchergebnisse

THIS ARTICLE EXAMINES THE EXPERIENCES OF THREE IMPORTANT PARTIAL-PREEMPTION PROGRAMS-THE SURFACE MINING CONTROL AND RECLAMATION ACT OF 1977 (SMCRA), THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ACT OF 1970 (OSCH ACT), AND THE RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND RECOVERY ACT OF 1976 (RCRA)-OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES TO IMPROVE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF HOW FEDERAL-STATE INTERACTIONS HAVE SHAPED THE REGULATORY PARTNERSHIP. THE EVIDENCE THE AUTHORS GATHER SUGGESTS THAT THE CONTROL OF REGULATORY PROGRAMS HAS SHIFTED OVER TIME BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE STATES. IN THE INITIAL YEARS OF THESE PROGRAMS, WHAT THE CONGRESS INTENDED TO BE A REGULATORY PARTNERSHIP WAS, IN EFFECT, ALMOST TOTAL FEDERAL PREEMPTION OF STATE AUTHORITY. UNDER THE RONALD REAGAN ADMINISTRATION, THE OPPOSITE OCCURRED; FEDERAL REGULATION IN MANY CASES BECAME DE FACTO STATE REGULATION AS FEDERAL OFFICIALS ESSENTIALLY ABDICATED THEIR OVERSIGHT RESPONSIBILITY. BY THE END OF THE 1980S, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BEGAN AGAIN TO ASSERT GREATER CONTROL OVER INTERGOVERNMENTAL REGULATORY PROGRAMS. THE REGULATORY RELATIONSHIP THAT EMERGED IS ONE IN WHICH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE STATES SHARE RESPONSIBILITY AND AUTHORITY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE PROGRAMS.

One of the major legacies of the Reagan administration was its devolution of regulatory authority to the states, particularly in the area of environmental protection. The article descr&es how federal officials at EPA and the OfFce of Surface Mining (Department of the Interior) transferred regulatory responsibility to the states and how state officials initially responded to devolution. In a number of states, regulatory officials clwse to vigorously enforcefederal environmental standards despite the administration's desire for a more relaxed approach to regulation. Haoever, euidence generated by the GAO and others suggest that many of the states lacked the willingness and ability to effectively shoulder their new responsibilities. By the end of the Reagan administration, opposition to devolution had emergedfrom a number of quarters and administration officials were faced with, once again, refashioning the regulatory partnership.

As more women attempt to enter the private labor market &, more particularly, find themselves without employment, information on how they fare in various governmental job programs becomes especially important. An analysis of data gathered through interviews in 1978/79 of Comprehensive Employment & Training Act VI participants (N = 443) in Milwaukee, Wisc, indicates that women, especially blacks, often experience greater need but less placement activity on their behalf, & receive lower quality employment than their M counterparts. To the extent that the findings hold elsewhere, there is a need to develop policies that eliminate the obstacles women encounter in participating in public jobs programs. 9 Tables. Modified HA.