One of the most popular recent trends in the environmental arena is reinvention. The groups recommending changes to our system of environmental management are notable by their breadth, their high level of credibility, and the consistency of their message.¹ Yet, despite the consistent message, it seems "the system" is resistant to change, with the entrenched interests it supports being the first to defend the status quo despite the downsides for the environment and management efficiencies.

This Dialogue explores one of the most consistent recommendations from the various reinvention initiatives—that of "alternative compliance" or, more appropriately given its breadth of application, "alternative path environmental management." Specifically, this Dialogue will examine the issue from two perspectives: first, from the perspective of a company that has volunteered and successfully completed the Clinton Administration initiative known as Project XL; and second, from the broader perspective of the ongoing debate over this issue and what it could mean for reinventing our environmental management systems.