SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, April 30, 2002 (ENS) - Western governors gathered last week in Utah to develop recommendations on a variety of environmental issues, including conserving open lands, reducing wildfire risks and restoring forest ecosystem health.

Almost 500 legislators, Bush administration officials and environmental leaders participated in the Environmental Summit on the West II, cosponsored by the Western Governors' Association (WGA) and White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ).

Governor Jane Hull of Arizona, chair of the Western Governors' Association, discusses wildfire management with Interior Secretary Gale Norton (right) at the Environmental Summit on the West II. (Photo courtesy WGA)

The summit promoted the use of the Enlibra principles for environmental management. Enlibra, a term coined by the WGA, refers to an evolving set of principles that emphasizes local participation in environmental decisions and mechanisms other than governmental regulation and enforcement of environmental laws.

Among the concepts promoted by Enlibra are voluntary conservation programs, market incentives and performance based rewards for environmental improvements, and cost benefit analyses of all environmental decisions.

"Enlibra is not a process. Enlibra is a philosophy," said Governor Mike Leavitt of Utah, a Republican. "Our goals should be to double our environmental progress at half the cost. Our economic survival rests on that progress."

Governor John Kitzhaber of Oregon, a Democrat, said the use of the Enlibra principles by communities, watersheds and regional organizations is growing.

Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber leads WGA's Enlibra development with Utah Governor Mike Leavitt. (Photo courtesy Office of the Governor)

On Thursday, participants heard from Interior Secretary Gale Norton, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Christie Whitman, and CEQ chair Jim Connaughton.

Norton discussed local conservation efforts by "citizen conservationists," and President George W. Bush's proposal to provide $100 million in grants under his Cooperative Conservation Initiative.

"Whether we call the concept cooperative conservation, or new environmentalism, or Enlibra - we are all recognizing that we can accomplish more through cooperation than conflict," Norton said.

Connaughton told Summit participants that his office was created at the same time as the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and "CEQ will work on numerous collaborative approaches to improve our environmental stewardship in line with the eight Enlibra principles." As an example, he said NEPA should be a "living process."

Governor Mike Leavitt, shown here with Faux Paw, the "first cat" of Utah, helps lead the WGA's development of the Enlibra principles. (Photo courtesy State of Utah)

"Second, banish the trickster of polarization," Krupp added, "and third, open the frontiers of innovation. Not only technology, but public policy needs innovation."

Among the recommendations offered at the Summit were calls for more study of the controversy surrounding coalbed methane leases on western lands, and for the promotion of better environmental practices in methane drilling.

A discussion of proposed legislation that would cap emissions of several power plant air pollutants raised questions about the most appropriate emissions control programs for western states, and about other sources of air pollution that the legislation would not cover.

Renewable energy sources were a major topic at the summit. Participants called for flexible renewables credits that could benefit companies who voluntarily opt to increase their use of green power sources like solar and wind energy.

The Chippewa Tribe at Turtle Mountain in Belcourt, North Dakota hopes to build a whole farm of wind turbines like this one used to power a waste treatment plant on tribal lands. (Photo by Clarence Council)

Public lands were discussed as appropriate sites for renewable power plants such as wind farms, and participants recommended opening some military lands for geothermal development.

Regarding conservation of threatened and endangered species, a concept that sometimes conflicts with western land uses such as cattle grazing, mining and logging, summit participants said that environmental managers should act sooner rather than later to address species issues, and not wait until conflicts arise.

Multiple species conservation plans should be encouraged, participants agreed, and so called Safe Harbor agreements, in which landowners pledge species protections to avoid restrictions on land uses, should be promoted.

Water supplies, a traditional flashpoint in the West, were the topic of several sessions at the summit. Participants recommended that water use planning cover entire watersheds, and involve local authorities and other interested parties.

Indian water rights settlements should be supported, the participants said, and funding provided for local projects, scientific investigations and drought preparedness.

The summit participants called for creative approaches to land conservation, including conservation easements, land trades and tax credits, along with legislation, to address ill planned development and sprawl and avoid land use conflicts.

Secretary Norton and Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman look on as Governor Dirk Kempthorne of Idaho discusses a wildland fire strategy agreement endorsed in August 2001. (Photo courtesy WGA)

Earlier this month, the western governors wrote Congressional appropriators urging them to fully fund a broad based fire plan that includes prevention, restoration and suppression.

Other summit topics included innovative environmental technologies, interstate electricity transmission, and the siting of power plants and other power infrastructure.

More information on the recommendations issued after the Environmental Summit on the West II is available at: http://www.westgov.org/wga/initiatives/enlibra/summit2_rec.htm

More information on Enlibra principles is available at: http://www.westgov.org/wga/initiatives/enlibra/default.htm#principles