Styrning av miljötillsynen - reformbehov och förslag i ljuset av den förvaltningspolitiska utvecklingen

The article investigates the topic of state control over a decentralized administration. The environmental regulation carried out by local and regional administrative bodies is fundamental in Swedish environmental management. At the same time it has continuously been subject of criticism and calls for stronger regulation and control from the central government and administration. This article contains a critical analysis of currently discussed suggestions for such central regulation and control, in light of the general development and topical debate on state steering after New Public Management. It is argued that the development of decentralized and goal steered administration suits regulation in environmental matters well, and that this parallels environmental management theories on socio-ecological resilience, ecosystem approach and sustainable development. Centralization and detail regulation of environmental management should therefore be avoided, and detailed regulation of how an environmental regulator should organize, prioritize and carry out their administrative duties is not appropriate. It is also argued that measures or models for stronger central steering and control over the administration must be relevant in view of the problems observed. They should moreover be appropriate in respect of constitutional functions and principles, and in light of the critique and experiences from the development of New Public Management. Thus, suggestions to regulate minimum standards for the rganisation of regulatory bodies, such as number and competence of staff relevantly meets the quite well founded critique of variations in resources around the country. Other critique against decentralized regulation is not very clear or specific, and often not supported by clear evidence. Therefore, suggestions to develop central review and assessment of the activities of the decentralized aministration are topical. We need to know more about how the administration works. It is nev