Environmental Issues and Public PolicyZoology 446 – Fall 2001

Dr. R. Jan Stevenson

Pick up Course Description/Syllabus

On Desk in Front

Course Purpose and Structure

• Familiarize you with the complexity of addressing environmental issues

• Lecture/Discussions by leading Environmental Experts representing a broad range of disciplines

• Required Readings (Budget Printing – Trowbridge)

• Quizzes & Group Project

Schedule

DATE LECTURE TOPIC SPEAKERAug. 28 Introduction StevensonSept. 4 Ecological Issues StevensonSept. 11 Ecological Issues StevensonSept. 18 Ecological Issues: Fragmentation GageSept. 25 Human Health Issues ChouOct. 2 Engineering VoiceOct. 9 Economic Issues van RavenswaayOct. 16 Human Health Issues KarmausOct. 23 Legal Issues BronsteinOct. 30 Land Use Change PijanowskiNov. 6 The Salmon Story CooperNov. 13 Risk Comm/Stakeholders Involvement RileyNov. 20 Comparative Risk Assessment StevensonNov. 27 PresentationsDec. 4 Presentations

Schedule

DATE LECTURE TOPIC NOTESAug. 28 Introduction Discuss IssuesSept. 4 Ecological Issues Assign GroupsSept. 11 Ecological Issues Issues Reports DueSept. 18 Ecological Issues: Fragmentation Assign Issues, QuizSept. 25 Human Health IssuesOct. 2 Engineering Oct. 9 Economic IssuesOct. 16 Human Health IssuesOct. 23 Legal Issues QuizOct. 30 Land Use ChangeNov. 6 The Salmon StoryNov. 13 Risk Comm/Stakeholders Involvement Nov. 20 Comparative Risk Assessment Quiz, Papers DueNov. 27 Presentations Extended Class 5-9Dec. 4 Presentations Extended Class 5-9

Grade Calculation

• 20% - Attendance and Class Participation

• 30% - Three Quizzes

• 20% - Group Project Paper

• 30% - Group Project Presentation to Board– group project evaluations are based on

collective and individual performance

Group Project:

develop a management plan to solve an environmental problem.

Issues• Urban Sprawl• Population• Forest Fires• Water Quality• Deforestation• Hazardous Waste• Desertification• Biodiversity• Hab Fragmentation• Extinction• Global Warming

• Nutrient enrichment of soils

• Depletion of NR• Oil Spills• Erosion• Eutrophication• Ignorance• Pesticides• Air quality• Land Use• Acid Rain

Frameworks (Models)

• Repertoire of Factors to Consider

• Organize and Relate the Factors

• Not mutually exclusive– Risk Assessment/Risk Management Framework– Economics, Law, and Ecology Framework

Stressor-ResponseAssessment

Response Assessment

ExposureAssessment

RiskCharacterization

RiskManagementDecision

ManagementOptions Politics

Legal Considerations

Social Factors

Public Health

Economics

Risk Assessment Risk Management

Modified from EPA 1996

Risk Assessment

Mod. From EPA 1996

Stressor-Response Relationship

Response Assessment

Exposure Assessment

Risk CharacterizationQuality of LifeHuman HealthEcological Health

Stressors Physico-chemical Measurements Biotic IndicesHuman Activities (GIS & Modeling)

Diagnosis, CertaintyMultiple Lines of EvidenceIndices of Sustainability and Restorability

Observational ApproachesExperimental Approaches

Management Goals

Human Welfare (Quality of Life)

Economic Sustainability

Environmental Sustainability

Human Health

Ecological Health

EPA’s Ten Goals (2001)

1. Clean Air2. Clean and Safe

Water3. Safe Food4. Safe Communities5. Waste Management

and Restoration6. Reduction in Global

Risks

7. Quality Environmental Information

8. Sound Science, Improved Understanding, and Greater Innovation

9. A Credible Deterrent to Pollution and Greater Compliance with the Law

10. Effective Management

Sustainability

Preserving natural capital and economic infrastructure for

the quality of life

of future generations

Risk Assessment

Mod. From EPA 1996

Stressor-Response Relationship

Response Assessment

Exposure Assessment

Risk CharacterizationQuality of LifeHuman HealthEcological Health

Stressors Physico-chemical Measurements Biotic IndicesHuman Activities (GIS & Modeling)

Diagnosis, CertaintyMultiple Lines of EvidenceIndices of Sustainability and Restorability

Observational ApproachesExperimental Approaches

Response Assessment(Is there a problem?)

• Human Health– Morbidity

– Developmental Impairment

– Mortality

• Human Health Factors– Genetic Susceptibility

– Environmental Justice

• Ecological Health– Biodiversity

– Ecological Integrity

– Designated Uses• Fishable, Swimable….

– Aesthetics

– Ecosystem Services

Risk Assessment

Mod. From EPA 1996

Stressor-Response Relationship

Response Assessment

Exposure Assessment

Risk Characterization

Stressors Physico-chemical Measurements Biotic IndicesHuman Activities (GIS & Modeling)

Diagnosis, CertaintyMultiple Lines of EvidenceIndices of Sustainability and Restorability

Observational ApproachesExperimental Approaches

Quality of LifeHuman HealthEcological Health

Risk Assessment

Mod. From EPA 1996

Stressor-Response Relationship

Response Assessment

Exposure Assessment

Risk Characterization

Stressors Physico-chemical Measurements Biotic IndicesHuman Activities (GIS & Modeling)

Diagnosis, CertaintyMultiple Lines of EvidenceIndices of Sustainability and Restorability

Observational ApproachesExperimental Approaches

Quality of LifeHuman HealthEcological Health

Stressor Level

Hum

an H

ealt

h or

E

colo

gica

l Res

pons

e

ok

Acceptable

Natural

Stressor-Response Relationship

Clean Polluted

Risk Assessment

Mod. From EPA 1996

Stressor-Response Relationship

Response Assessment

Exposure Assessment

Risk Characterization

Stressors Physico-chemical Measurements Biotic IndicesHuman Activities (GIS & Modeling)

Diagnosis, CertaintyMultiple Lines of EvidenceIndices of Sustainability and Restorability

Observational ApproachesExperimental Approaches

Quality of LifeHuman HealthEcological Health

Risk Assessment

Mod. From EPA 1996

Stressor-Response Relationship

Response Assessment

Exposure Assessment

Risk Characterization

Stressors Physico-chemical Measurements Biotic IndicesHuman Activities (GIS & Modeling)

Diagnosis, CertaintyMultiple Lines of EvidenceIndices of Sustainability and Restorability

Observational ApproachesExperimental Approaches

Quality of LifeHuman HealthEcological Health

Stressor Level

Eco

logi

cal R

espo

nse

(e.g

. Eco

-Int

egri

ty)

ok

Acceptable

Natural

Stressor-Response Relationship

A B

Risk Assessment

Mod. From EPA 1996

Stressor-Response Relationship

Response Assessment

Exposure Assessment

Risk Characterization

Stressors Physico-chemical Measurements Biotic IndicesHuman Activities (GIS & Modeling)

Diagnosis, CertaintyMultiple Lines of EvidenceIndices of Sustainability and Restorability

Observational ApproachesExperimental Approaches

Quality of LifeHuman HealthEcological Health

Stressor-ResponseAssessment

ResponseAssessment

ExposureAssessment

RiskCharacterization

RiskManagementDecision

ManagementOptions Politics

Legal Considerations

Social Factors

Public Health

Economics

Risk Assessment Risk Management

Modified from EPA 1996Multiple Lines of Evidence

Stressor-ResponseAssessment

Response Assessment

ExposureAssessment

RiskCharacterization

RiskManagementDecision

ManagementOptions Politics

Legal ConsiderationsSocial Factors

Public Health

Economics

Risk Assessment Risk Management

Modified from EPA 1996

Management Options

• Pollution Prevention

• Waste Treatment

• Best Management Practices

• Land Use Planning

• Education

Social Factors

• Environmental Justice

– Race x Economic Status

• Culture & Historical Factors– Agriculture & Family Farms– Indigenous People

• Distrust of Government

Legal Considerations

• Legislation– Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act– National Environmental Protection Act– Etc. (www.ag.mich.gov)

• Court Interpretations– Navigable waters

• Agency Interpretations– E.g. Ecological integrity

• Property Rights

Economics

• Ecosystem Services & Value of Health• Cost benefit analyses• Consumer “Green” Power• Selling rations/allowances for CO2 or water,

etc.• Ecosystem Stability and Recovery versus

Economic Stability and Recovery• Ecotourism• International Trade and Equal Protection

Politics

• Budget for Enforcement

• Selection of Members for Commissions

• Urban sprawl, planning & zoning

• Campaign Finance

• Well-written laws

Ecological and Human Health Risk Assessment & Management

Modified from EPA 1996

Response-StressorRelationship

ResponseAssessment

ExposureAssessment

RiskCharacterization

RiskManagementDecision

ManagementOptions Politics

Legal ConsiderationsSocial Factors

Public Health

Economics

Management Goals

Human Welfare (Quality of Life)

Economic Sustainability

Environmental Sustainability

Human Health

Ecological Health

Schedule

DATE LECTURE TOPIC SPEAKERAug. 28 Introduction StevensonSept. 4 Ecological Issues StevensonSept. 11 Ecological Issues StevensonSept. 18 Ecological Issues: Fragmentation GageSept. 25 Human Health Issues ChouOct. 2 Engineering VoiceOct. 9 Economic Issues van RavenswaayOct. 16 Human Health Issues KarmausOct. 23 Legal Issues BronsteinOct. 30 Land Use Change PijanowskiNov. 6 The Salmon Story CooperNov. 13 Risk Comm/Stakeholders Involvement RileyNov. 20 Comparative Risk Assessment StevensonNov. 27 PresentationsDec. 4 Presentations