Two-phase framework for acid deposition science-policy decisions
Policy decisions on most issues of public or private concern are routinely made in light of uncertainties in knowledge. Ample precedent exists for major far-reaching decisions on environmental problems of significant economic and societal importance, even though large uncertainty existed about the chain of causation. Many of these decisions were made on the basis of evidence that was far less convincing or certain than the current evidence available on acid deposition. Wisdom in the development of policy requires objective and rational assessments of scientific, economic, and societal data and the integration of uncertainty in this data base into a decision framework. This paper provides an overview of uncertainty and risk as they pertain to acid deposition policy formulation. With this background a two-phase policy decision framework for implementing and evaluating control or mitigation options is presented. With this background, the uncertainty and risk issue is discussed, and a two-phased policy decision framework for implementing and evaluating control or mitigation options is presented. Phase I of the framework provides a set of commercially available, economically feasible, and administratively reasonable control measures for consideration in developing and implementing an interim near-term control strategy. After a sufficient period of time for strategy evaluation, new technology development, and continued research on the spectrum of acid deposition science issues, Phase II of the framework could be implemented. Phase II would involve the use of an integrated assessment methodology that incorporates uncertainty in evaluating the need for further control or mitigation measures and identifies alternative cost-effective measures that can be considered, if required, by decision makers.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31109-ENG-38
- OSTI ID:
- 5642656
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-860803-2; ON: DE86007506
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
290300* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
500600 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Regulations-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACID RAIN
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CONTROL
DECISION MAKING
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
NAPAP
PLANNING
POLLUTION CONTROL
RAIN