Using 21st Century Science To Improve Risk Related Evaluations

Download Using 21st Century Science To Improve Risk Related Evaluations full books in PDF, epub, and Kindle. Read online Using 21st Century Science To Improve Risk Related Evaluations ebook anywhere anytime directly on your device. Fast Download speed and no annoying ads. We cannot guarantee that every ebooks is available!

Using 21st Century Science to Improve Risk-Related Evaluations

Author : National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309453518
Total Pages : 201 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (94 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Using 21st Century Science to Improve Risk-Related Evaluations by : National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Download or read book Using 21st Century Science to Improve Risk-Related Evaluations written by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2017-02-16 with total page 201 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Over the last decade, several large-scale United States and international programs have been initiated to incorporate advances in molecular and cellular biology, -omics technologies, analytical methods, bioinformatics, and computational tools and methods into the field of toxicology. Similar efforts are being pursued in the field of exposure science with the goals of obtaining more accurate and complete exposure data on individuals and populations for thousands of chemicals over the lifespan; predicting exposures from use data and chemical-property information; and translating exposures between test systems and humans. Using 21st Century Science to Improve Risk-Related Evaluations makes recommendations for integrating new scientific approaches into risk-based evaluations. This study considers the scientific advances that have occurred following the publication of the NRC reports Toxicity Testing in the 21st Century: A Vision and a Strategy and Exposure Science in the 21st Century: A Vision and a Strategy. Given the various ongoing lines of investigation and new data streams that have emerged, this publication proposes how best to integrate and use the emerging results in evaluating chemical risk. Using 21st Century Science to Improve Risk-Related Evaluations considers whether a new paradigm is needed for data validation, how to integrate the divergent data streams, how uncertainty might need to be characterized, and how best to communicate the new approaches so that they are understandable to various stakeholders.

Toxicity Testing in the 21st Century

Author : National Research Council
Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309151732
Total Pages : 217 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (91 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Toxicity Testing in the 21st Century by : National Research Council

Download or read book Toxicity Testing in the 21st Century written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2007-11-05 with total page 217 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Advances in molecular biology and toxicology are paving the way for major improvements in the evaluation of the hazards posed by the large number of chemicals found at low levels in the environment. The National Research Council was asked by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to review the state of the science and create a far-reaching vision for the future of toxicity testing. The book finds that developing, improving, and validating new laboratory tools based on recent scientific advances could significantly improve our ability to understand the hazards and risks posed by chemicals. This new knowledge would lead to much more informed environmental regulations and dramatically reduce the need for animal testing because the new tests would be based on human cells and cell components. Substantial scientific efforts and resources will be required to leverage these new technologies to realize the vision, but the result will be a more efficient, informative and less costly system for assessing the hazards posed by industrial chemicals and pesticides.

Using 21st Century Science to Improve Risk-Related Evaluations

Author : National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309453488
Total Pages : 201 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (94 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Using 21st Century Science to Improve Risk-Related Evaluations by : National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Download or read book Using 21st Century Science to Improve Risk-Related Evaluations written by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2017-03-16 with total page 201 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Over the last decade, several large-scale United States and international programs have been initiated to incorporate advances in molecular and cellular biology, -omics technologies, analytical methods, bioinformatics, and computational tools and methods into the field of toxicology. Similar efforts are being pursued in the field of exposure science with the goals of obtaining more accurate and complete exposure data on individuals and populations for thousands of chemicals over the lifespan; predicting exposures from use data and chemical-property information; and translating exposures between test systems and humans. Using 21st Century Science to Improve Risk-Related Evaluations makes recommendations for integrating new scientific approaches into risk-based evaluations. This study considers the scientific advances that have occurred following the publication of the NRC reports Toxicity Testing in the 21st Century: A Vision and a Strategy and Exposure Science in the 21st Century: A Vision and a Strategy. Given the various ongoing lines of investigation and new data streams that have emerged, this publication proposes how best to integrate and use the emerging results in evaluating chemical risk. Using 21st Century Science to Improve Risk-Related Evaluations considers whether a new paradigm is needed for data validation, how to integrate the divergent data streams, how uncertainty might need to be characterized, and how best to communicate the new approaches so that they are understandable to various stakeholders.

Scientific Frontiers in Developmental Toxicology and Risk Assessment

Author : National Research Council
Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309070864
Total Pages : 348 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (9 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Scientific Frontiers in Developmental Toxicology and Risk Assessment by : National Research Council

Download or read book Scientific Frontiers in Developmental Toxicology and Risk Assessment written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2000-12-21 with total page 348 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Scientific Frontiers in Developmental Toxicology and Risk Assessment reviews advances made during the last 10-15 years in fields such as developmental biology, molecular biology, and genetics. It describes a novel approach for how these advances might be used in combination with existing methodologies to further the understanding of mechanisms of developmental toxicity, to improve the assessment of chemicals for their ability to cause developmental toxicity, and to improve risk assessment for developmental defects. For example, based on the recent advances, even the smallest, simplest laboratory animals such as the fruit fly, roundworm, and zebrafish might be able to serve as developmental toxicological models for human biological systems. Use of such organisms might allow for rapid and inexpensive testing of large numbers of chemicals for their potential to cause developmental toxicity; presently, there are little or no developmental toxicity data available for the majority of natural and manufactured chemicals in use. This new approach to developmental toxicology and risk assessment will require simultaneous research on several fronts by experts from multiple scientific disciplines, including developmental toxicologists, developmental biologists, geneticists, epidemiologists, and biostatisticians.

Science and Decisions

Author : National Research Council
Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309120462
Total Pages : 422 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (91 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Science and Decisions by : National Research Council

Download or read book Science and Decisions written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2009-03-24 with total page 422 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Risk assessment has become a dominant public policy tool for making choices, based on limited resources, to protect public health and the environment. It has been instrumental to the mission of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as well as other federal agencies in evaluating public health concerns, informing regulatory and technological decisions, prioritizing research needs and funding, and in developing approaches for cost-benefit analysis. However, risk assessment is at a crossroads. Despite advances in the field, risk assessment faces a number of significant challenges including lengthy delays in making complex decisions; lack of data leading to significant uncertainty in risk assessments; and many chemicals in the marketplace that have not been evaluated and emerging agents requiring assessment. Science and Decisions makes practical scientific and technical recommendations to address these challenges. This book is a complement to the widely used 1983 National Academies book, Risk Assessment in the Federal Government (also known as the Red Book). The earlier book established a framework for the concepts and conduct of risk assessment that has been adopted by numerous expert committees, regulatory agencies, and public health institutions. The new book embeds these concepts within a broader framework for risk-based decision-making. Together, these are essential references for those working in the regulatory and public health fields.

The Use of Systematic Review in Epa's Toxic Substances Control ACT Risk Evaluations

Author : National Academies Of Sciences Engineeri
Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 9780309683869
Total Pages : pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (838 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis The Use of Systematic Review in Epa's Toxic Substances Control ACT Risk Evaluations by : National Academies Of Sciences Engineeri

Download or read book The Use of Systematic Review in Epa's Toxic Substances Control ACT Risk Evaluations written by National Academies Of Sciences Engineeri and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2021-11-16 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Systematic review - a scientific investigation that focuses on a specific question and uses explicit, prespecified scientific methods to identify, select, assess, and summarize the findings of similar but separate studies - has become the foundation for assessing evidence to be used for decision making in a variety of health contexts, including health care and public health. At the request of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this publication reviews EPA's 2018 guidance document Application of Systematic Review in TSCA (Toxic Substances and Control Act) Risk Evaluations and associated materials to determine whether the process is comprehensive, workable, objective, and transparent.

Exposure Science in the 21st Century

Author : National Research Council
Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309264685
Total Pages : 210 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (92 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Exposure Science in the 21st Century by : National Research Council

Download or read book Exposure Science in the 21st Century written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2012-10-28 with total page 210 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From the use of personal products to our consumption of food, water, and air, people are exposed to a wide array of agents each day-many with the potential to affect health. Exposure Science in the 21st Century: A Vision and A Strategy investigates the contact of humans or other organisms with those agents (that is, chemical, physical, and biologic stressors) and their fate in living systems. The concept of exposure science has been instrumental in helping us understand how stressors affect human and ecosystem health, and in efforts to prevent or reduce contact with harmful stressors. In this way exposure science has played an integral role in many areas of environmental health, and can help meet growing needs in environmental regulation, urban and ecosystem planning, and disaster management. Exposure Science in the 21st Century: A Vision and A Strategy explains that there are increasing demands for exposure science information, for example to meet needs for data on the thousands of chemicals introduced into the market each year, and to better understand the health effects of prolonged low-level exposure to stressors. Recent advances in tools and technologies-including sensor systems, analytic methods, molecular technologies, computational tools, and bioinformatics-have provided the potential for more accurate and comprehensive exposure science data than ever before. This report also provides a roadmap to take advantage of the technologic innovations and strategic collaborations to move exposure science into the future.

Risk Assessment for Environmental Health

Author : Mark G. Robson
Publisher : CRC Press
ISBN 13 : 1000816095
Total Pages : 400 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (8 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Risk Assessment for Environmental Health by : Mark G. Robson

Download or read book Risk Assessment for Environmental Health written by Mark G. Robson and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2022-12-30 with total page 400 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Understanding risk to humans is one of the most important problems in environmental public health. Risk assessment is constantly changing with the advent of new exposure assessment tools, more sophisticated models, and a better understanding of disease processes. Risk assessment is also gaining greater acceptance in the developing world where major environmental problems exist. Developed in partnership with the Association of Schools of Public Health, this comprehensive text offers a thorough survey of risk assessment, management, and communications as these practices apply to public health. Key Features: Provides a practical overview of environmental risk assessment and its application by discussing the process and providing case studies and examples Focuses on tools and approaches used for humans in an environment involving potential chemical hazards Fully updated, the first part introduces the underlying principles and techniques of the field, and the second examines case studies in terms of different risk assessment scenarios Risk assessment is a core requirement for the MPH degree in environmental health Useful “stories” suitable for case studies

Toxicity-Pathway-Based Risk Assessment

Author : National Research Council
Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309156920
Total Pages : 135 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (91 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Toxicity-Pathway-Based Risk Assessment by : National Research Council

Download or read book Toxicity-Pathway-Based Risk Assessment written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2010-06-07 with total page 135 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In 2007, the National Research Council envisioned a new paradigm in which biologically important perturbations in key toxicity pathways would be evaluated with new methods in molecular biology, bioinformatics, computational toxicology, and a comprehensive array of in vitro tests based primarily on human biology. Although some considered the vision too optimistic with respect to the promise of the new science, no one can deny that a revolution in toxicity testing is under way. New approaches are being developed, and data are being generated. As a result, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) expects a large influx of data that will need to be evaluated. EPA also is faced with tens of thousands of chemicals on which toxicity information is incomplete and emerging chemicals and substances that will need risk assessment and possible regulation. Therefore, the agency asked the National Research Council to convene a symposium to stimulate discussion on the application of the new approaches and data in risk assessment. The symposium was held on May 11-13, 2009, in Washington, DC, and included presentations and discussion sessions on pathway-based approaches for hazard identification, applications of new approaches to mode-of-action analyses, the challenges to and opportunities for risk assessment in the changing paradigm, and future directions.

Reducing Environmental Cancer Risk

Author : Suzanne H. Reuben
Publisher : DIANE Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1437934218
Total Pages : 240 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (379 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Reducing Environmental Cancer Risk by : Suzanne H. Reuben

Download or read book Reducing Environmental Cancer Risk written by Suzanne H. Reuben and published by DIANE Publishing. This book was released on 2010-10 with total page 240 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Though overall cancer incidence and mortality have continued to decline in recent years, cancer continues to devastate the lives of far too many Americans. In 2009 alone, 1.5 million American men, women, and children were diagnosed with cancer, and 562,000 died from the disease. There is a growing body of evidence linking environmental exposures to cancer. The Pres. Cancer Panel dedicated its 2008¿2009 activities to examining the impact of environmental factors on cancer risk. The Panel considered industrial, occupational, and agricultural exposures as well as exposures related to medical practice, military activities, modern lifestyles, and natural sources. This report presents the Panel¿s recommend. to mitigate or eliminate these barriers. Illus.

Toxicity Testing for Assessment of Environmental Agents

Author : National Research Council
Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309164869
Total Pages : 270 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (91 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Toxicity Testing for Assessment of Environmental Agents by : National Research Council

Download or read book Toxicity Testing for Assessment of Environmental Agents written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2006-04-07 with total page 270 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Toxicity testing in laboratory animals provides much of the information used by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to assess the hazards and risks associated with exposure to environmental agents that might harm public health or the environment. The data are used to establish maximum acceptable concentrations of environmental agents in drinking water, set permissible limits of exposure of workers, define labeling requirements, establish tolerances for pesticides residues on food, and set other kinds of limits on the basis of risk assessment. Because the number of regulations that require toxicity testing is growing, EPA called for a comprehensive review of established and emerging toxicity-testing methods and strategies. This interim report reviews current toxicity-testing methods and strategies and near-term improvements in toxicity-testing approaches proposed by EPA and others. It identifies several recurring themes and questions in the various reports reviewed. The final report will present a long-range vision and strategic plan to advance the practices of toxicity testing and human health assessment of environmental contaminants.

A Class Approach to Hazard Assessment of Organohalogen Flame Retardants

Author : National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309491215
Total Pages : 103 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (94 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis A Class Approach to Hazard Assessment of Organohalogen Flame Retardants by : National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Download or read book A Class Approach to Hazard Assessment of Organohalogen Flame Retardants written by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2019-07-19 with total page 103 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the 1970s, flame retardants began to be added to synthetic materials to meet strict flammability standards. Over the years, diverse flame retardants have been manufactured and used in various products. Some flame retardants have migrated out of the products, and this has led to widespread human exposure and environmental contamination. There also is mounting evidence that many flame retardants are associated with adverse human health effects. As a result, some flame retardants have been banned, restricted, or voluntarily phased out of production and use. This publication develops a scientifically based scoping plan to assess additive, nonpolymeric organohalogen flame retardants as a class for potential chronic health hazards under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, including cancer, birth defects, and gene mutations.

Application of Systematic Review Methods in an Overall Strategy for Evaluating Low-Dose Toxicity from Endocrine Active Chemicals

Author : National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309458625
Total Pages : 423 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (94 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Application of Systematic Review Methods in an Overall Strategy for Evaluating Low-Dose Toxicity from Endocrine Active Chemicals by : National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Download or read book Application of Systematic Review Methods in an Overall Strategy for Evaluating Low-Dose Toxicity from Endocrine Active Chemicals written by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2017-08-14 with total page 423 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: To safeguard public health, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must keep abreast of new scientific information and emerging technologies so that it can apply them to regulatory decision-making. For decades the agency has dealt with questions about what animal-testing data to use to make predictions about human health hazards, how to perform dose-response extrapolations, how to identify and protect susceptible subpopulations, and how to address uncertainties. As alternatives to traditional toxicity testing have emerged, the agency has been faced with additional questions about how to incorporate data from such tests into its chemical assessments and whether such tests can replace some traditional testing methods. Endocrine active chemicals (EACs) have raised concerns that traditional toxicity-testing protocols might be inadequate to identify all potential hazards to human health because they have the ability to modulate normal hormone function, and small alterations in hormone concentrations, particularly during sensitive life stages, can have lasting and significant effects. To address concerns about potential human health effects from EACs at low doses, this report develops a strategy to evaluate the evidence for such low-dose effects.

Education for Life and Work

Author : National Research Council
Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309256496
Total Pages : 203 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (92 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Education for Life and Work by : National Research Council

Download or read book Education for Life and Work written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2013-01-18 with total page 203 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Americans have long recognized that investments in public education contribute to the common good, enhancing national prosperity and supporting stable families, neighborhoods, and communities. Education is even more critical today, in the face of economic, environmental, and social challenges. Today's children can meet future challenges if their schooling and informal learning activities prepare them for adult roles as citizens, employees, managers, parents, volunteers, and entrepreneurs. To achieve their full potential as adults, young people need to develop a range of skills and knowledge that facilitate mastery and application of English, mathematics, and other school subjects. At the same time, business and political leaders are increasingly asking schools to develop skills such as problem solving, critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and self-management - often referred to as "21st century skills." Education for Life and Work: Developing Transferable Knowledge and Skills in the 21st Century describes this important set of key skills that increase deeper learning, college and career readiness, student-centered learning, and higher order thinking. These labels include both cognitive and non-cognitive skills- such as critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, effective communication, motivation, persistence, and learning to learn. 21st century skills also include creativity, innovation, and ethics that are important to later success and may be developed in formal or informal learning environments. This report also describes how these skills relate to each other and to more traditional academic skills and content in the key disciplines of reading, mathematics, and science. Education for Life and Work: Developing Transferable Knowledge and Skills in the 21st Century summarizes the findings of the research that investigates the importance of such skills to success in education, work, and other areas of adult responsibility and that demonstrates the importance of developing these skills in K-16 education. In this report, features related to learning these skills are identified, which include teacher professional development, curriculum, assessment, after-school and out-of-school programs, and informal learning centers such as exhibits and museums.

Computational Toxicology

Author : Sean Ekins
Publisher : Wiley-Interscience
ISBN 13 : 9780470049624
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (496 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Computational Toxicology by : Sean Ekins

Download or read book Computational Toxicology written by Sean Ekins and published by Wiley-Interscience. This book was released on 2007-06-29 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A comprehensive analysis of state-of-the-art molecular modeling approaches and strategies applied to risk assessment for pharmaceutical and environmental chemicals This unique volume describes how the interaction of molecules with toxicologically relevant targets can be predicted using computer-based tools utilizing X-ray crystal structures or homology, receptor, pharmacophore, and quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) models of human proteins. It covers the in vitro models used, newer technologies, and regulatory aspects. The book offers a complete systems perspective to risk assessment prediction, discussing experimental and computational approaches in detail, with: * An introduction to toxicology methods and an explanation of computational methods * In-depth reviews of QSAR methods applied to enzymes, transporters, nuclear receptors, and ion channels * Sections on applying computers to toxicology assessment in the pharmaceutical industry and in the environmental arena * Chapters written by leading international experts * Figures that illustrate computational models and references for further information This is a key resource for toxicologists and scientists in the pharmaceutical industry and environmental sciences as well as researchers involved in ADMET, drug discovery, and technology and software development.

Review of the Department of Homeland Security's Approach to Risk Analysis

Author : National Research Council
Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309159245
Total Pages : 160 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (91 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Review of the Department of Homeland Security's Approach to Risk Analysis by : National Research Council

Download or read book Review of the Department of Homeland Security's Approach to Risk Analysis written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2010-10-10 with total page 160 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The events of September 11, 2001 changed perceptions, rearranged national priorities, and produced significant new government entities, including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) created in 2003. While the principal mission of DHS is to lead efforts to secure the nation against those forces that wish to do harm, the department also has responsibilities in regard to preparation for and response to other hazards and disasters, such as floods, earthquakes, and other "natural" disasters. Whether in the context of preparedness, response or recovery from terrorism, illegal entry to the country, or natural disasters, DHS is committed to processes and methods that feature risk assessment as a critical component for making better-informed decisions. Review of the Department of Homeland Security's Approach to Risk Analysis explores how DHS is building its capabilities in risk analysis to inform decision making. The department uses risk analysis to inform decisions ranging from high-level policy choices to fine-scale protocols that guide the minute-by-minute actions of DHS employees. Although DHS is responsible for mitigating a range of threats, natural disasters, and pandemics, its risk analysis efforts are weighted heavily toward terrorism. In addition to assessing the capability of DHS risk analysis methods to support decision-making, the book evaluates the quality of the current approach to estimating risk and discusses how to improve current risk analysis procedures. Review of the Department of Homeland Security's Approach to Risk Analysis recommends that DHS continue to build its integrated risk management framework. It also suggests that the department improve the way models are developed and used and follow time-tested scientific practices, among other recommendations.

Public Participation in Environmental Assessment and Decision Making

Author : National Research Council
Publisher : National Academies Press
ISBN 13 : 0309134412
Total Pages : 322 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (91 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Public Participation in Environmental Assessment and Decision Making by : National Research Council

Download or read book Public Participation in Environmental Assessment and Decision Making written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2008-11-07 with total page 322 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Federal agencies have taken steps to include the public in a wide range of environmental decisions. Although some form of public participation is often required by law, agencies usually have broad discretion about the extent of that involvement. Approaches vary widely, from holding public information-gathering meetings to forming advisory groups to actively including citizens in making and implementing decisions. Proponents of public participation argue that those who must live with the outcome of an environmental decision should have some influence on it. Critics maintain that public participation slows decision making and can lower its quality by including people unfamiliar with the science involved. This book concludes that, when done correctly, public participation improves the quality of federal agencies' decisions about the environment. Well-managed public involvement also increases the legitimacy of decisions in the eyes of those affected by them, which makes it more likely that the decisions will be implemented effectively. This book recommends that agencies recognize public participation as valuable to their objectives, not just as a formality required by the law. It details principles and approaches agencies can use to successfully involve the public.