Building a Foundation for Sound Environmental Decisions (1997) / Chapter Skim
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3 Achieving a Focused Research Agenda
3 Achieving a Focused Research Agenda
Pages 37-48
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From page 37... ...
While a strong program to develop core capabilities is essential for anticipating some problems and better preparing the nation to solve whatever problems arise, problem-driven research (the focus of this chapter) that directly assists the agency in carrying out its regulatory mission will continue to be a necessary component of EPA's research program.
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From page 39... ...
re-emergence of infectious diseases once thought to be under control. Figure 3-2 illustrates some of the impacts of human population growth on global environmental change.
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From page 40... ...
The SAB recommended that EPA incorporate "futures research and analysis" into its programs and activities and establish an "early warning system" to identify potential future environmental risks. The SAB suggested that EPA stimulate "coordinated national efforts to anticipate and respond to environmental change" and identified five areas worthy of focused attention: (1)
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From page 41... ...
Attention to all of these seemingly pressing issues of the day can quickly overwhelm a limited environmental research budget. Commitment, discipline, and a clear understanding of the value of maintaining both core and problem-driven research will be required for EPA to achieve an appropriately balanced, focused research program.
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From page 43... ...
Two recent documents in particular (EPA/SAB, 1995; EPA, 1996) lay out useful criteria and processes for selecting among many environmental issues that appear to demand attention.
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From page 45... ...
A research agenda based on risk assessment must compare the magnitudes of various risks, but there are currently no well-developed consensus methods for such comparative risk assessment. Application of a credible method for comparative risk would allow EPA to focus its research efforts on those problems whose solution is likely to bring the greatest benefit to human and/or environmental health.
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From page 46... ...
In the absence of reliable risk assessment, enormous sums of money that might be better spent elsewhere may be allocated to dealing with perceived risks. While it is essential to ensure public health and environmental integrity, limited resources reinforce the need to assess risks as accurately as possible (see Box 35~.
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From page 47... ...
: ~ : : :: WN~ISP~ ~ entwine :~ ~ ~1 as other p~atly Axis 4/ United States will total between $171 and $185 billion by the year 2000 (Carlin et al., 1992~. Compliance with air pollution control regulations will cost an estimated $94 billion per year by the year 2000 (Carlin et al., 19921.
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From page 48... ...
Although independent oversight and advice is valuable for any organization, no external advisory group can substitute for the value of having an experienced, in-house, issue selection team to complement the issue-identification function described above. RETAINING FLEXIBILITY The discussion of core research in Chapter 2 emphasized the importance of "staying the course" the fundamental processes in need of elucidation, the research tools required, and the kinds of data needed do not change much from year to year.
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