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MANAGING UNCERTAINTY IN ENVIRONMENTAL DECISIONS
Citation:
Crumbling, D., C. Groenjes, B. Lesnik, K. Lynch, J. McKenna, J. Shockley, J J. van Ee, R. Howe, AND L. Keith. MANAGING UNCERTAINTY IN ENVIRONMENTAL DECISIONS. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 35(19):404A-409A, (2001).
Impact/Purpose:
The objective of this task is to further examine, and educate others in, how better decisions may be made from variable and uncertain monitoring data and models. The research and information developed can be used by project managers from all government agencies, academia, and private industry to help identify the technically best practices available to solve their research and program needs.
For electronic wastes, The objective of this task is hold a worshop/symposium aimed at identifying the current state-of-the-knowledge on electronic waste recycling, disposal, and reuse and idenifying the research gaps/needs in the area of electonic wastes.
Description:
Many environmental decision makers and practitioners worldwide assume that the quality of data pertaining to a contaminated site is primarily determined by the nature of thhe analytical chemistry methods used to collect information. This assumption, which diminishes the importance of sampling uncertainties, can have a pronounced, negative effect on the cost and effectiveness on contaminated site cleanups.
Data produced by regulator-approved laboratory analytical methods are commonly assumed to be practically free of uncertainty and so are termed "definitive data". In contrast, data produced in the field are generalized as "field screening" and are considered too uncertain to support important project decision or regulatory actions. One of the reasons for such generalizations is that the current regulatory mindset does not readily distinguish between analytical methods and the data produced by them. Although the assumptions behind this mindset are inaccurate, they are pervasive enough to inhibit the widespread adoption of better strategies for assessing and restoring contaminated sites.