POLICY RELEVANT INFORMATION AND PUBLIC ATTITUDES: IS PUBLIC IGNORANCE A BARRIER TO NONPOINT POLLUTION MANAGEMENT?1

ABSTRACT: This study examines the extent to which knowledge deficits pose a significant barrier to public support for nonpoint pollution management strategies. Such barriers would obtain if all of the following conditions are present: (1) many in the public lack knowledge relevant to those strategies; (2) variations in knowledge are linked only to relatively unchanging personal attributes; and (3) individuals with more knowledge are more likely to support the implementation of management strategies. Each of these conditions is subjected to empirical analysis in this study. The findings reported here derive from a survey of citizens in Spokane, Washington, the site of a major 208 Water Quality Management Program study. The results of the survey indicate that: portions of the public have enough knowledge to evaluate technically based management strategies; sources of public knowledge are sufficiently elastic that both policy area concern and policy relevant knowledge can be elevated in the short run; and both knowledge levels and general attitudes are related to the public's specific water policy preferences. The study concludes that the apparent lack of knowledge among the public is not necessarily a significant barrier to policy implementation, and that support for implementation may be generated through both knowledge enhancement and the tapping of existing political orientations through the placement of emphasis upon the seriousness of water resource problems.     

A RATIONALE FOR THE REGIONALIZATION OF PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS1

ABSTRACT. A rationale is set forth for requiring and/or encouraging the consolidation or regionalization of all systems beneath certain population size levels based on the small water systems’ capability to produce an adequate supply of safe drinking water at a reasonable cost to customers. Estimates for basic costs of water service including personnel, other operation and maintenance and capital are made and a range of water rates is suggested based on reasonableness and acceptability to customers. Guidelines are then drawn for a moderate rate of $10.00 per month and an upper limit rate of $15.00 per month to show the sizes at which public water systems might be expected to achieve fiscal viability. Finally, recommendations are made to State and Federal governmental agencies concerning possible legislation, plans and programs to achieve better public water service through the regionalization or consolidation of small public water systems.     

SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS IN WATER RESOURCES PLANNING1

Historically, the main objective of water resources development has been economic efficiency, and the technique for its evaluation has been benefit-cost analysis. Gradually other objectives have emerged, and these in order of their emergence are regional income redistribution, environmental quality and social well-being. These multi-objectives have given rise to multifarious problems, and have made the planning process much more complex than ever before. The different objectives are not mutually exclusive, and, hence, contributions to one can only be made at the expense of others. Trade-off studies between different objectives are difficult to make. It is suggested that one way to overcome this difficulty could be to design a system to perform optimally in terms of one objective, subject to a specified level of performance of the other, which in effect becomes a constraint. The paper also discusses the pros and cons of the desirability of public participation in our decision-making processes, and the necessity of developing social sciences models to aid water planning and management.     

THERMAL DISCHARGES AND PUBLIC POLICY DEVELOPMENT1

ABSTRACT The generation of electric energy in steam-electric power plants is accompanied by the discharge of large quantities of waste heat into the environment. In most cases, this heat is released into natural bodies of water at temperatures relatively close to ambient. In certain locations, such as the Chesapeake Bay, discharges of waste heat may triple in the next decade. It is expected that past practices of thermal discharge, if continued into the future, will result in significant damages to other legitimate users of the water resource, both present and future. This paper reviews the economic causes of these potential damages, and describes the role of public policy as one of removing such causes through regulation incentive or intervention. Possible public policies are reviewed, including prohibition, standards, various types of dollar incentives such as taxes and subsidies, marketable effluent permits, and direct government investment. The innovative power plant siting program recently adopted in Maryland is also discussed. It is concluded that no statements can be made regarding the comparative efficiency or effectiveness of the various policies at the present state of knowledge. It is recommended that policy-makers adopt mixed strategies, preserving as many options as possible for dealing with similar problems in the future.     

ECO-ENGINEERING-THE CHALLENGE OF RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT1

It is presumed that the present environmental thrust is not a wholly transitory fad; that there will be a residual impact on American society which will demand greater consideration in the future of ecological and environmental values by resource developers and public works agencies. An example is cited to show the validity of the environmental thrust and the severe consequences of ignoring it under the present emphasis on this aspect of resource development. An attempt is made to understand some of the reasons for the dramatic change in public attitude toward the environment and opposition to projects of apparent benefit to society. It is suggested that basic changes in philosophy and concept will be necessary in the field of resource development. Some broad ecological and developmental guidelines are provided in the interest of implementing environmental considerations. Finally, those involved in resource development and public works are challenged to accept the concept of eco-engineering; a concept combining the competing elements of resource development and conservation.     

THE CENTRAL ARIZONA WATER CONTROL STUDY: A CASE FOR MULTIOBJECTIVE PLANNING AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT1

This paper describes the successful application of a multiobjective planning framework, incorporating substantial public involvement, to a major water resources decision involving intense confilcts. The study was initiated to help resolve more than a decade of controversy over a project proposed to control flooding and provide regulatory storage in the Phoenix, Arizona, area. The public was actively involved in the development of study goals and the specification of acceptable tradeoffs between multiple objectives. A wide range of structural and nonstructural alternatives was formulated and evaluated in relation to these objectives, and broad-based support was developed for a new plan. Reasons for the successful outcome are discussed, as well as implications for water resources planning under the new Federal Principles and Guidelines.     

环境辐射有关问题的讨论

本文论述了与环境辐射有关的问题。根据其剂量当量和危险水平,讨论了公众剂量限值的实践性     

试论地震预测预报的公关宣传策略

从社会科学的公共关系学和公关心理学理论并结合地震探索的实践上对地震预测预报问题进行了讨论。指出过去对该科学领域的评价与宣传报道有不尽完善之处。文中尝试给出了关于地震能否预测, 如何评价等敏感问题的公关宣传策略。     

我国生活垃圾分类发展历程、障碍及对策

推广生活垃圾分类收集与资源化利用有助于促进资源节约型、环境友好型社会建设.本文综述了我国生活垃圾分类发展历程;收集了国家和地方在推广生活垃圾分类过程中所做的工作;提炼出了生活垃圾分类过程中还存在的障碍和瓶颈;并给出了相应的对策.本文分析表明,我国生活垃圾分类经历了开始（20世纪90年代）、试点探索（2000~2015年）和快速发展（2016年至今）3个阶段.目前国家和地方正逐步采用可操作性强的垃圾分类方法、融合互联网+的宣传方式、实用性的法规章程、完善的分类收集-分类运输-分类处理循环链来推进生活垃圾分类,甚至生活垃圾分类工作还逐步向市场化方向发展.我国将走出一条切实可行、可复制、可推广的高效生活垃圾分类模式.后期加强全民参与及大众自觉回收的责任意识、出台更细化具体、操作性强的实施方案、重视学校儿童的垃圾分类教育、充分利用国内拾荒人员,对快速推进我国生活垃圾分类进程具有重要意义.     

关于公共安全教育的思考

公共安全问题越来越受到人们的关注,公共安全教育的缺失使政府在决策上、处理具体问题上出现失误;使灾害、事故频发,灾难扩大,灾情加重。公共安全教育面临一些亟待解决的问题公共安全专业体系研究;公共安全专门人才的培养;公共安全知识怎样走向亿万公众。加强公共安全教育,应增加投入,整合资源,强化对公共安全的专题研究;建议在高等院校安全学科设“公共安全”专业;普及公共安全知识针对不同的受众面有不同的侧重点。让每个人都拥有公共安全知识,因为公共安全需要所有人参与和维护。