REGULATORY REFORM PROPOSALS AND THE PUBLIC-HEALTH

The U.S. Congress is considering legislation that would change policy for environmental health in important ways. Current approaches have be en criticized for addressing the wrong set of priorities and consuming too many resources. The legislation requires additional analyses and sets new decision criteria to be applied to federal agency actions tak en to protect the environment and public health. Close review of the l egislation suggests that, though it is intended to address identified problems, it is unlikely to lead to an improved basis for public polic y and is likely to paralyze the regulatory process. Reform proposals t hat reduce rather than increase fragmentation of decision-mating and t hat address problems comprehensively rather than selectively are neede d.