Multiattribute utility analysis as a framework for public participation siting a hazardous waste facility
- Applied Decision Analysis, Inc., Menlo Park, CA (United States)
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
How can the public play a role in decisions involving complicated scientific arguments? This paper describes a public participation exercise in which stakeholders used multiattribute utility analysis to select a site for a hazardous waste facility. Key to success was the ability to separate and address the two types of judgements inherent in environmental decisions: technical judgements on the likely consequences of alternative choices and value judgements on the importance or seriousness of those consequences. This enabled technical specialists to communicate the essential technical considerations and allowed stakeholders to establish the value judgements for the decision. Although rarely used in public participation, the multiattribute utility approach appears to provide a useful framework for the collaborative resolution of many complex environmental decision problems.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000
- OSTI ID:
- 228517
- Report Number(s):
- SAND--96-0850C; CONF-9605147--1; ON: DE96008867
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Public values in risk debates
Public participation is an important component in risk communication for hazardous waste combustion facilities