ERIC Number: EJ759282
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2004
Pages: 18
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0276-8739
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Big Field, Small Potatoes: An Empirical Assessment of EPA's Self-Audit Policy
Pfaff, Alexander; Sanchirico, Chris William
Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, v23 n3 p415-432 Sum 2004
Environmental self-auditing is said to deserve and require encouragement. Although firms can audit themselves more cheaply and effectively than regulators, they are deterred for fear that information they uncover will be used against them. To reduce this disincentive, the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Audit Policy lowers punitive fines when firms promptly disclose and correct self-discovered violations. While some contend that the Audit Policy is inadequate, EPA touts its success based on the policy's track record. Our examination of that track record leads us to question EPA's claim. Comparing the violations in these cases with those detected by standard EPA enforcement suggests that the typical self-audited violation is relatively minor. Cases arising under the Policy are more likely to concern reporting violations and less likely to concern emissions. The relative insignificance of self-audited violations raises a number of policy questions, including whether the Audit Policy should be revised to play a larger role in enforcement.
Descriptors: Pollution, Policy Analysis, Environmental Standards, Audits (Verification), Program Effectiveness, Self Evaluation (Groups), Negative Reinforcement, Compliance (Psychology)
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Subscription Department, 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774. Tel: 800-825-7550; Tel: 201-748-6645; Fax: 201-748-6021; e-mail: subinfo@wiley.com; Web site: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/browse/?type=JOURNAL
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A