ABSTRACT
This chapter analyses the industrial air pollution regime which preceded integrated pollution control. It demonstrates that a policy community was responsible for industrial air pollution control. The chapter examines how the policy community’s dominion over industrial air pollution policy was criticised by a short-lived issue network in the early 1970s. It outlines the long-standing regulatory framework operated by the Inspectorate, and also demonstrates how the administration of this framework fitted the policy community model of policy making. The Inspectorate considered best practicable means (BPM) an ‘elastic band’, providing them with the flexibility to alter their standards to reflect developments in pollution control techniques. The legislation for industrial air pollution left the Inspectorate with considerable discretion concerning the operationalisation of BPM. From the outset, industrial air pollution control became a partnership between the Inspectorate and industry. The Inspectorate used its field experience as a check against complete dependence upon industry for information.
