AN EMPIRICAL-ANALYSIS OF ENVIRONMENTAL MEDIATION

The use of mediation for resolving environmental disputes has grown ra pidly over the past several decades. This is due, in part, to claims m ade by advocates of the mediation process chat it is superior to litig ation and administrative hearings For the resolution of public policy disputes. However, there has been little empirical research to test th ese claims. This Five-year study of the Florida Department of Environm ental Protection tests two of these claims. First, does mediation resu lt in higher settlement rates, as compared to traditional dispute reso lution processes? Second, are mediation settlements carried out more o ften than are the settlements reached through traditional processes?