| Abstract |
The 1985 update to the Region 10 Environmental Management Report of 1983 describes work planned during Fiscal 86 in high priority efforts by the States of the Pacific Northwest and Region 10 to address current and emerging environmental problems. Because those problems the authors now feel merit priority status are not the same problems the authors discussed in 1983 and 1984, the organization of this 1985 update differs. Where possible, environmental problems were discussed collectively by media. For example, the general topic of Pesticides and Toxic Substances, identified as a separate priority problem in 1983, is addressed this year in media-related sections on Groundwater and Air Contamination. Similarly, Fishery Damage is discussed this year as part of the placer mining and nonpoint source problem discussions. The authors also took a different approach to ranking the significance of each problem this year. The Management Team assessed each environmental problem independently according to four criteria: (1) number of persons exposed, (2) human health risk, (3) ecological risk, and (4) the level of public concern. They were also asked to weigh each of the four criteria. The attached environmental priority list presents the results of this exercise. The top priority - hazardous waste contamination of groundwater. |
