Grantee Research Project Results
Detroit--Ann Arbor Metro Public Information Project
EPA Grant Number: R827965Title: Detroit--Ann Arbor Metro Public Information Project
Investigators: Kenyon, Cindy , Wades, Jim , VanderMeulen, Joe , Rubin, Laura , Moore, Leon , Score, Mike , Sweat, Mike , Head, Rebecca
Institution: Michigan State University
Current Institution: Michigan State University , United States Geological Survey
EPA Project Officer: Packard, Benjamin H
Project Period:
Project Amount: $725,968
RFA: Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and Community Tracking (EMPACT) (1999) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Aquatic Ecosystems , Ecological Indicators/Assessment/Restoration , Environmental Statistics , Water , Air
Description:
The objectives of this project are to:
- Assemble essential environmental data in an easily accessible web site format
for public use. Provide interpretation of the data and environmental issues
to aid in user comprehension.
- Seek input from the community to enhance the project's effectiveness and
develop methods to sustain the project for continued delivery to the community.
- Create an education campaign that informs the public of environmental issues and promotes use of the web site.
Approach:
The partners will collaborate to provide analyzed, interpreted environmental data to the Detroit-Ann Arbor Metropolitan area. The Washtenaw County website will be the primary information access point. A user-friendly interface for extracting information will be developed for the website. A survey will be available at the website and at presentations to provide feedback for modification. The Environmental Health Education and Outreach staff will have primary responsibility for working with schools, libraries and community groups to publicize this accessibility to environmental information. A Stakeholders Advisory Group (SAG) will be created including the Partners, community representatives, local government, environmental organizations, media, students and local educators. The group will meet regularly and form working committees as necessary. The SAG will use Washtenaw County's weekly radio program "Issues of the Environment" and the Ann Arbor News newspaper column, and cable access channels and other innovative delivery mechanisms to publicize the project. Stipends will be offered to classrooms for projects using the project data.
Expected Results:
A better-informed public with uncomplicated access to time-relevant, analyzed and interpreted environmental data can make knowledgeable, informed decisions improving the quality of lives and the environmental health of the area. This project will be a model for other Metro areas and the Partners will make technology, experiences and lessons learned available to any interested party.
Supplemental Keywords:
air; indoor air; precipitation; health effects; ecological effects; human health; carcinogen; infants; children; elderly; effluent; discharge; dissolved solids; remediation; decision making; environmental assets; environmental chemistry; geology; monitoring; central; Great Lakes; Michigan; MI; EPA Region 5; agriculture; business; industry., RFA, Health, Scientific Discipline, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Geographic Area, Waste, Water, POLLUTANTS/TOXICS, Remediation, Susceptibility/Sensitive Population/Genetic Susceptibility, Ecological Indicators, EPA Region, State, Ecosystem Protection, genetic susceptability, Environmental Chemistry, Ecosystem/Assessment/Indicators, Monitoring/Modeling, Arsenic, Social Science, Ecological Effects - Environmental Exposure & Risk, Ecological Effects - Human Health, Great Lakes, Ecology and Ecosystems, Environmental Monitoring, Water Pollutants, educating school children, human exposue, air quality, environmental hazard exposures, infants, sensitive populations, ecological effects, Detroit - Ann Arbor Metro, public health alerts, environmental data, water quality, elderly, community outreach, agricultural runoff, total dissolved solids, web site development, children, exposure, ecological exposure, Region 5, toxics, stakeholder involvement, human susceptibility, agriculture, Michigan (MI), EMPACTProgress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.