During the public work group process, concerns were expressed that environmental regulatory programs should be based upon sound science and that governmental functions should be cost-effective. Quantitive measures were sought for measuring damages and improvements to natural resources.

Several state legislative enactments were referenced in this chapter which include concepts such as cost-benefit analyses. These enactments seemingly have in common that none provide standards for assessing particular positive or negative impacts to the environment. A guidance document or documents could be developed within particular regulatory programs to identify how concepts such as "cummulative impacts" and "cost-benefit" analyses would be implemented.

One model for action is presented by the law review note directed to the Indiana Environmental Policy Act. Legislative amendments could be pursued which would extend the application of IEPA to licensing activities, to define its terminology, and to provide for judicial review of state agency decisions concerning environmental impacts.

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