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Project creates models to eliminate regulatory delays, overlap, and duplication
APWA has joined together with 54 other national public and private sector organizations and federal agencies in a five-year initiative to "Streamline the Nation's Building Regulatory Process."
The project's objective is to enhance economic development, public safety, and environmental quality by bringing better management and practices to the regulation of the siting, design, and construction of all types of buildings throughout the United States. This will be accomplished by identifying, developing, and working with each level of government to adopt and implement model processes which eliminate areas of regulatory delays, overlap, and duplication. The project is being conducted in conjunction with several other national regulatory reform initiatives including the United States Technology Initiative, National Partners in Home Ownership project, the Construction and Building Program of the National Science and Technology Council, and the American Planning Association's "Growing Smart" project.
Initiated in September 1996 by the National Conference of States on Building Codes and Standards, Inc. (NCSBCS), with a mix of funding from grants and in-kind services from each of the participating sector organizations, the project in its first year completed its organizational and process development phase. In January 1997, the Streamlining Project issued a national call for the public and private sector to submit case studies of existing streamlined processes and procedures which reduce regulatory overlap. To date, 75 such case studies have been received. These include four case studies provided by the members of APWA.
During its first year, the nonpartisan project received national attention from both Congress and the White House. President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore referred to the project in several national forums, and the initiative was described in the President's biannual Office of Science and Technology Report to Congress, "Science and Technology-Shaping the Twenty-first Century."
The Streamlining Project Committee has implemented a system through which case studies of good processes and procedures are turned into models. These models can then be used by other governmental agencies at the local, state, regional, or federal level to reduce costly and confusing areas of regulatory duplication and overlap.
The Streamlining project is also in the stages of developing a National Forum for Improving Regulatory and Building Construction Processes through Uses of Computer Technology. The goal of the forum is to bring together the construction industry, hardware and software suppliers, and state and local enforcement personnel to discuss the application of information technology and how it can be used to enhance the regulatory process. Information Technology was one of the major themes at the NCSBCS 32nd Annual Conference. Attendees participated in forums focusing on how the construction industry can keep pace with the "new economy" by offering more services over the Internet, and how state and local governments can use Information Technology to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the regulatory process. This conference facilitated the creation of an action agenda to explore Information Technology and changes to the way we do business.
Analysis reform models, case study submission forms, and background information on the Streamlining Project is available by visiting the NCSBCS website at www.ncsbcs.org/Streamline/welcomestream.htm. APWA promotes the same ideals of enhanced safety and productivity and has been proud to be represented in this important national project.
For additional information on APWA's involvement in this national program, contact Allen Largent, City of Houston, via e-mail at Allen.Largent@cityofhouston.net.
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