Caught in the toxic impact zone: Communicating about worst-case scenarios
The Clean Air Act`s Risk Management Program rule for worst-case scenarios looms over some members of industry like a toxic plume of death. Especially troubling are the requirements for communicating with the public, a task that seems to inspire its own share of worst-case thinking: What if the communication efforts just throw everyone into a panic? What if a bunch of environmental activists try to disrupt the whole process? What if some disgruntled community members try to use this opportunity to chase industry out of town? But, truth be told, communicating with the public about worst-case scenarios doesn`t have to be a dire prospect. As the authors will illustrate, the principles necessary to guide this process aren`t all that different from those needed in day-to-day communications about health and environmental risk. In this paper, they will focus on what one needs to do to communicate effectively with the public, including: (1) the importance of making worst case scenario planning part of a long-term risk communication process; (2) the need to actively involve the public, including one`s own non-management employees, trusted and credible third-part sources, and special target audiences. The authors will use a case study to illustrate how one can communicate without getting kicked out of town.
- OSTI ID:
- 351713
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-970677--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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