Science or politics NAPAP and Reagan

Journal Article · · Forum for Applied Research and Public Policy; (United States)

OSTI ID:6287826

Loucks, O L ^[1]

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1. Miami Univ., Oxford, OH (United States)

The National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program (NAPAP) was used during the Reagan administration as much to serve political as scientific ends, charges Orie L. Loucks of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. [open quotes]An apparent goal was to have the scientific assessments support a pre-determined decision: to postpone action on acid-gas emissions controls.[close quotes] Loucks compares NAPAP efforts to compute the costs and expected benefits of acid-rain cleanup with the [open quotes]slanted intelligence[close quotes] provided by the Central Intelligence Agency under William Casey - a key figure in the [open quotes]Irangate[close quotes] controversy. He says NAPAP actions, especially in its early days, were [open quotes]consistent with a management strategy that sought to implement and validate a no-action' policy.[close quotes] While the policy changed during the Bush administration, Loucks says, he remains suspicious of government-sponsored scientific assessment. There's grave danger, he notes, [open quotes]that government holds a pre-formed interest in the outcome.[close quotes]

• OSTI ID: 6287826
• Journal Information: Forum for Applied Research and Public Policy; (United States), Journal Name: Forum for Applied Research and Public Policy; (United States) Vol. 8:2; ISSN FARPEL; ISSN 0887-8218
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290300 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
293000* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Policy
Legislation
& Regulation
ACID RAIN
ANIMALS
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
MAMMALS
MAN
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
PERSONNEL
POLITICAL ASPECTS
PRECIPITATION
PRIMATES
PROFESSIONAL PERSONNEL
RAIN
SCIENTIFIC PERSONNEL
SEPARATION PROCESSES
US CIA
US NAPAP
US ORGANIZATIONS
VERTEBRATES