Environmental Regulations - Is the sky falling?
Posted on Fri, Jan 20, 2012 @ 05:10 PM
This past week, I was involved in an environmental regulation situation where it seemed like I was dealing with chicken little - the sky is falling! While no one likes environmental regulations, they are here to stay. But are they getting worse, are things falling apart - is the sky truly falling?
I don't think so.
Maybe when it comes to environmental regulations, and get and stay in compliance with environmental regulations (isn't that really what this is all about?), perhaps a better analogy would be the tortoise and hare.
The hare is like chicken little. Reactionary. Fast, perhaps too fast. Not built for the long haul.
We all know who one the race - the tortoise. No chicken little type attitude here, nothing but slow and steady. Not reactionary. Not flashy. But not acting hysterical either, or in this case, that the sky is falling.
Yeah, I guess I'm mixing my stories up a bit, but I think there's elements of both in the style of a lot of folks when it comes to environmental regulation.
- The reactionary type - the hare / chicken little type - gets real excited about the latest news or rumors, and doesn't follow through. Probably has a very poor compliance rate in the long run. Like the hare, may start off with bang, but can't see the program through. In terms of environmental regulations, maybe gets the necessary permit, but doesn't then bother to learn what is required, or what is needed to get into and stay in compliance. Not a smart move.
- The tortoise - not flashy, but slow and steady. Gets the necessary permits, gets in compliance, knows what has to be done to stay there. Not flashy, not real exciting, but gets the job done.
So, when it comes to environmental regulations, is the sky falling? I still don't think so. Slight changes in our existing regulatory situation come and go, but the bottom line for most of them remains the same. And for most of us in industry, the regulations and what's needed to get into compliance is not that difficult.
But many of us don't want to go the slow and steady course, or we can't be bothered. We'd rather think the sky is falling.
I think you can guess which path I think is the best one when it comes to environmental regulations and compliance. But how about you - are you chicken little / the hare, or are you the tortoise?
Follow us online...