Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: A substantial body of legislation has emerged at all levels of government which installs procedural mechanisms designed to promote public involvement in administrative rulemaking. Depending upon the literature one consults, one could come to the conclusion that these procedures should enhance regulatory stringency by fostering access by previously underrepresented groups, reduce regulatory stringency by institutionalizing access by regulated industries, or have no effect. Using pooled cross-sectional time-series analysis of state environmental compliance costs, this study investigates whether a variety of mechanisms designed to promote public access to administrative rulemaking affect the stringency of environmental regulation. The results suggest that mechanisms which provide direct access to rulemaking processes tend to decrease the aggressiveness of environmental regulation, but that this impact may be mitigated somewhat by increased public notification of agency rulemaking actions.