History Continued - Page 33 From our interviews certain criticisms were noted. Criticism of the Commission falls into two categories: 1)The composition and structure of the Commission, including the representation of special interests and the role of staff: 2) the failure of the Commission to assert its powers more aggressively. Critics charge that: There are too many representatives of government agencies on the Commission and not enough public representatives;

The heads of government agencies, who account for a majority of Commission members, represent the special concerns of their department's constituents rather than the public interest; Public members of the Commission are appointed without reference to environmental credentials or interests but, rather, because they represent particular industries or commercial interests; Because of the composition of the commission, special interests have played an influential role out of keeping with the Commission's mandate;

The Commission lacks representation from the environmental activist community, such as the Sierra Club; There is insufficient representation from Southern Nevada on the Commission; There are not enough women on the Commission; Business interests, or a business point of view, are not sufficiently represented on the Commission; The Commission rubber stamps the determinations of the staff of the Department of Environmental Protection; Next Page