Grantee Research Project Results
The Role of Information and Learning in Nonpoint Source Pollution Control
EPA Grant Number: U915184Title: The Role of Information and Learning in Nonpoint Source Pollution Control
Investigators: Kaplan, Jonathan D.
Institution: University of California - Davis
EPA Project Officer: Packard, Benjamin H
Project Period: January 1, 1997 through January 1, 2000
Project Amount: $102,000
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (1997) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Fellowship - Economics , Academic Fellowships , Environmental Justice
Objective:
The objectives of this research is three fold. (1) construct a theoretical nonpoint source (NPS) pollution control model to better understand the optimal budget tradeoff between direct treatment of sources versusand data collection, and to acquire information and learn the relative pollution loading among the sources; Second, (2) develop a maximum entropy specification of the Kalman filter in order to statistically update the estimated NPS pollution loading parameters as new data becomes available; (3) apply the model and estimation approach with data collected from the management of sediment control in Redwood National Park in Orick, California.
Approach:
The theoretical NPS pollution control model depicts the behavior of a budget-constrained manager, who minimizes the pollution-related damage by choosing the levels of data collection to acquire information on pollution loading and direct treatment to control the pollution-loading sources. This model examines the tradeoff between data collection and treatment. A numerical example is used to illustrate the role of information and learning in reducing NPS pollution uncertainty, and thus minimizing pollution-related damages. To properly estimate the NPS pollution loading from among the various sources, a sequential entropy-specified Kalman filter, which can accommodate ill-posed NPS pollution data, is developed and compared with traditional approaches to statistical Bayesian updating. This statistical updating or learning method then is then applied to data provided by Redwood National Park. Finally, the theoretical and methodological results are incorporated into a sediment control model for the Redwood National Ppark. To provide empirical policy analysis to the sediment control problem in Redwood National Park, sensitivity analysis is conducted with respect to the level and type of data collection to determine changes in the optimal treatment and data collection strategies.
Supplemental Keywords:
fellowship, nonpoint source pollution control, NPS, Redwood National Park, California, CA., RFA, Scientific Discipline, Economic, Social, & Behavioral Science Research Program, Economics & Decision Making, decision-making, Economics and Business, Ecology and Ecosystems, kalman filter, economic benefits, nonpoint source pollution, Bayesian approach, behavior change, pollution control model, maximum entropy specificationProgress 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.