National risk assessment policy could aid government decision-making

Journal Article · Fri Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993 · Hazmat World; (United States)

OSTI ID:5970609

Lang, R A

Finding better, more accurate and more reliable estimates of risk has become an increasingly important priority throughout the federal government in recent years. However, within the last year, Congress first began to recognize that better risk assessments are vital to setting national priorities, and determining where and how the obviously limited federal budget can best be spent. As Congress returned from its summer recess, several risk-related bills already had been introduced, and more were anticipated before the first session of the 103rd Congress adjourns. Few experts expect these bills to be enacted this year, but there is little doubt they will receive serious attention when Congress reconvenes in January. Growing congressional interest in risk assessment stems from the realization that risk assessment is the best method for determining a problem's size. It also increasingly is recognized that, unless one has a good estimate of how big or serious a problem is, it is virtually impossible to make intelligent decisions about the amount of attention and financial resources to allocate to its solution.

• OSTI ID: 5970609
• Journal Information: Hazmat World; (United States), Journal Name: Hazmat World; (United States) Vol. 6:10; ISSN HMWOED; ISSN 0898-5685
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290300* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
DECISION MAKING
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
RISK ASSESSMENT
WASTE MANAGEMENT