Over the past decades, environmental problems have attracted enormous attention and public concern. Many actions have been taken by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and others to protect human health and ecosystems from particular threats. Despite some successes, many problems remain unsolved and new ones are emerging. Increasing population and related pressures, combined with a realization of the interconnectedness and complexity of environmental systems, present new challenges to policymakers and regulators.
Scientific research has played, and will continue to play, an essential part in solving environmental problems. Decisions based on incorrect or incomplete understanding of environmental systems will not achieve the greatest reduction of risk at the lowest cost.
This volume describes a framework for acquiring the knowledge needed both to solve current recognized problems and to be prepared for the kinds of problems likely to emerge in the future. Many case examples are included to illustrate why some environmental control strategies have succeeded where others have fallen short and how we can do better in the future.
- BUILDING A FOUNDATION FOR SOUND ENVIRONMENTAL DECISIONS
- Copyright
- Preface
- Contents
- BUILDING A FOUNDATION FOR SOUND ENVIRONMENTAL DECISIONS
- Executive Summary
- 1 Environmental Challenges
- SOLVING PROBLEMS
- RECOGNIZING LIMITATIONS
- COMPLEXITY, UNPREDICTABILITY, AND SURPRISE
- EPA'S RESEARCH CHALLENGE
- HISTORY AND PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY
- SCOPE OF THIS REPORT
- 2 Improving Our Understanding of Environmental Issues
- IDENTIFYING CURRENT AND EMERGING PROBLEMS
- A FRAMEWORK FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
- CORE RESEARCH
- Understanding Underlying Processes
- Development of Innovative Tools
- Acquisition and Dissemination of Data
- IMPLEMENTING A CORE RESEARCH PROGRAM
- 3 Achieving a Focused Research Agenda
- ANTICIPATING EMERGING ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS
- IDENTIFYING ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS IN NEED OF FOCUSED ATTENTION
- CRITERIA FOR PRIORITIZING AMONG IDENTIFIED ISSUES
- DEVELOPING AND MAINTAINING RISK ASSESSMENT CAPABILITIES AT EPA
- RETAINING FLEXIBILITY
- 4 EPA's Position in the Broader Environmental Research Enterprise
- EPA'S ROLE IN RESEARCH
- PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR
- STRENGTHENING SCIENTIFIC CAPACITY AT EPA
- IMPROVING COOPERATIVE DATA COLLECTION AND EVALUATION
- 5 Summary, Conclusions, and Recommendations
- SUMMARY
- CONCLUSIONS
- RECOMMENDATIONS
- Approach to Research
- Core Research Themes
- Problem-Driven Research Themes
- References
- APPENDIXES
- APPENDIX 1 Interim Report of the Committee on Research Opportunities and Priorities for EPA
- INTRODUCTION
- ROLE OF THE NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
- SCOPE OF INTERIM REPORT
- FUTURE GOALS FOR THIS STUDY
- ASSESSMENT OF ORD'S ''NEW BEGINNING" AND STRATEGIC PLAN
- Balance Between Long-term and Short-term Research
- Working With Others
- The Risk Paradigm
- Risk Assessment Methodology
- Near-Term Research Priorities
- Emerging Issues
- Remaining Questions
- CONCLUSION
- REFERENCES
- APPENDIX 2 Reports Analyzed to Identify Priority Environmental Issues
- APPENDIX 3 Biographical Sketches of Committee Members
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