SCOPe was a community-based initiative to engage elected officials and staff of local governments in discussions contributing to early regulatory development. SCOPe was created to bridge the gap between small entities and federal regulators, and findings are widely disseminated to policy makers, rule writers and other interested organizations. SCOPe meetings and discussions were led by faculty in NASPAA graduate programs of public affairs and administration and/or local government institutes. These programs and institutes regularly provide development, training, and evaluation services to local governments. The SCOPe outreach network was built on this extraordinary resource and the trusted relationships that exist between local governments and NASPAA programs. As neutral experts with a public service mission SCOPe teams brought the highest caliber of professional expertise to the early consultation process.

From 1998 until 2004, SCOPe was funded through a cooperative agreement between the U.S. EPA’s Office of Policy, Economics, and Innovation and NASPAA. Current SCOPe activity is funded by a contract between the EPA’s Office of Policy, Economics, and Innovation, and NASPAA, and focuses on e-rulemaking capabilities in small communities.

• Small Communities and E-Rulemaking (2005)


• Small Communities and E-Rulemaking (2004) 


• Lead-Bridges and Structures Rulemaking (2002)


• Miscellaneous Metals Coating Rule (2000)


• Wood Building Products Surface Coating NESHAP (1999)