Building Consensus for Risk-Based Decision Making: Developing and Implementing Sound Environmental Policies and Programs. Michael Barainca, U.S. Department of Energy/EM-6, 1000 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, D.C. 20585; Gale Carlson, Missouri Department of Health, Jefferson City, MO 65102; and Margaret MacDonell, Debbie Elcock, and Loren Habegger, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 S. Cass Ave., EAD/900, Argonne, IL 60439
Recent legislative proposals have identified increasingly prescriptive requirements for risk assessments and cost-benefit analyses within the areas of environmental, health, and safety regulations. These requirements have grown, in part, from concerns about the high cost of cleanup programs. In view of this trend, a number of parties involved in environmental decision making felt it would be very beneficial to bring together individuals responsible for developing and implementing environmental policies and programs to share ideas on how limited resources could be effectively allocated. A primary objective of this gathering was to showcase state and Native American applications of risk-based decision making and provide an opportunity for technical practitioners and policy advisors from a number of different organizations across the country to discuss approaches being used to assess, rank, manage, and communicate risks within the evolving legislative climate. Applications to problems associated with contaminated sites were the primary emphasis. The forum was developed in a collaborative fashion by a steering group composed of more than 30 representatives of various parties, including states, Indian Nations and organizations, federal agencies (U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Air Force and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency), local governments, industry, national laboratories, public interest and environmental groups, and academia. Forum discussions included how nonquantifiable elements (such as cultural values) and long-term, intergenerational benefits, effects, and costs could be incorporated into policy decisions, as well as how these concepts could be articulated to federal agencies, environmental and other organizations, and members of the public who interact with states and tribes on risk issues. The use of this information to balance key factors such as health and ecological risks and impacts to other environmental resources was also discussed, as were the implications of proposed risk legislation and specific ways of facing the limitations associated with technical risk assessment issues. One of the solutions offered at the forum was the development of partnerships among stakeholders to share tools and other resources. The forum was successful in initiating and enhancing collaborative relationships that will benefit the ongoing development and implementation of strong environmental programs at the local, regional, and national levels. This paper will highlight key issues and solutions discussed at the forum, as well as future directions.
Work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management, under contract W31-109-Eng-38.