Impact/Purpose:

The work planned for FY03 takes on a uniquely different approach from the monitoring, analysis, and reporting of the original Las Vegas project, and for that matter, all the other EMPACT projects. This project proposes to examine the long-range environmental monitoring needs of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area. The goal of this task is to examine new technologies and strategies that will be needed by agencies and organizations involved in monitoring environmental activities in Southern Nevada over the next 20 years. Long-range plans will be coordinated and an overall vision developed using a steering committee consisting of representatives from the various agencies and organizations.

Description:

This task develops, demonstrates, and transfers an interagency approach of implementing an Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and Community Tracking (EMPACT) project. It serves EMPACT in a program development role by piloting various methodologies (surveys, program integration, visioning, etc.). It also functions as a prototype, test-bed, proof-of-concept mechanism for determining, developing, and transferring successful methodologies to the other 85 EMPACT cities. Finally, a central objective for this EMPACT project is to work with local government organizations to encourage and assist them in making timely, accurate, and understandable environmental information available so that communities and individuals can make informed, day-to-day decisions about their lives.

Record Details:

Record Type:PROJECT

Start Date:10/01/2000

Completion Date:09/30/2003

Record ID: 56166

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Project Information:

Progress :This project has been extended through FY03. The extension does not include any additional funding. The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) requested the extension because they had difficulty hiring students to conduct the monitoring survey of the various agencies in the Las Vegas valley. UNLV has the students in place now, and the survey if being conducted. The final report was completed in FY03.

This project was proposed by a team of principal investigators from UNLV. It was subjected to peer review for technical competency and relevancy (see Peer Review, below.) and subsequently approved. Notification of its selection was given on September 7, 1999. Initiation of the project will follow availability of funding which will come, of course, from EPA's FY01 appropriation. This project was funded in August 2000. (For the past two years, EMPACT funding availability has been significantly delayed beyond the start of a new fiscal year).



Relevance :The significance of this task is the opportunity to develop a long-term monitoring strategy which could be employed by local and state government organizations to anticipate and strategically address environmental conditions over the next two decades for the most rapidly growing metropolitan area in the United States. This demographic makes the Las Vegas metropolitan area perhaps the most vulnerable to environmental degradation in the nation. Thus, if a vision and strategic plan can be developed for one of the more difficult scenarios, it should be transportable to the other 85 EMPACT cities.

Clients :Residents of Las Vegas Metropolitan Area
Clark County Department of Comprehensive Planning
City of Las Vegas Department of Planning and Development
Clark County Health District
Approximately 15 other local, state, and federal agencies in the metr

Project IDs:

ID Code :5125

Project type :OMIS