National Research Center for Statistics and the Environment:
co-sponsored by Statistics and the Environment Section of the ASA
Session Slot: Monday, 2:00-3:50
Estimated Audience Size: 90-100
AudioVisual Request: overhead and slide projectors
Session Title: Influence of Statistical Considerations on
Environmental Policy
Theme Session: yes
Applied Session: yes
Session Organizer: Guttorp, Peter University of Washington
Address: National Research Center for Statistics and the Enivronment Box 351720 University of Washington Seattle, WA 98195-1720
Phone: 206-616-9262
Fax: 206-616-9443
Email: peter@stat.washington.edu
Session Timing: 110 minutes total (Sorry about format):
Opening Remarks by Chair - 5 minutes First Speaker - 30 minutes Second Speaker - 30 minutes Third Speaker - 30 minutes Floor Discusion - 15 minutes
Session Chair: Cox, Larry U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Address: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency National Exposure Research Laboratory(MD-75) Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
Phone: 919-541-2648
Fax: 919-541-7588
Email: cox.larry@epamail.epa.gov
1. Setting Environmental Standards: A Statistical Evaluation of the US Ozone Standard
Thompson, Mary Lou, University of Washington
Address: Dept. of Biostatistics University of Washington H655G Health Sciences Box 357232 Seattle, WA 98195-7232
Phone: (206) 616-2723
Fax: (206) 685-7419
Email: mlt@biostat.washington.edu
Guttorp, Peter, University of Washington
Sampson, Paul D., University of Washington
Cox, Larry, EPA
Abstract: The US Environmental Protection Agency recently revised the regulations in the clean air act regarding air pollution, setting new standards for ozone and for particulate matter. we discuss a general approach to the setting of standards from the perspective of statisticians and other environmental scientists, and illustrate some of the issues with ozone data from California's central valley.
2. Statistics and Mandated Science
Van Belle, Gerald, University of Washington
Address: Department of Environmental Health Box 357234 University of Washington Seattle, WA 98195-7234
Phone: 206-543-6991
Fax:
Email: vanbelle@u.washington.edu
Abstract: Mandated science operates at the intersection of science and policy, both which are embedded in values. mandated science defines, directs and uses the results of science in establishing and evaluating policy. statisticians and statistical methods play a key role in mandated science. this paper illustrates some key characteristics of statistical methods used in mandated science. these results are then applied to three examples of mandated science: lead in soils, air pollution and clean up of the nations nuclear weapons complex. the statistical issues in mandated science include problems of measurement, exposure, association, the use of large data bases not specifically established for scientific purposes, and linkages of data bases using statistical rather than mechanistic models.
3. Statistics in Environmental Decision Making: They Really Do Count!
Address: Center for Environmental Information and Statistics Mail Code 2163 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 401 M Street, SW Washington, D.C. 20460
Phone: (202) 260-1493
Fax: 202-260-4968
Email: NUSSBAUM.BARRY@EPAMAIL.EPA.GOV
Abstract: Despite the cynicism, statistics are used in the decisions made on environmental policy, regulations, and enforcement actions. However, it is frequently the effectiveness of the presentation of the statistics, rather than the raw statistics that make the difference. several general guidelines are explored; and then three specific examples in which the author was personally involved are discussed. one ended up in a regulation, one in court, and one on the desk of the President of the United States.
List of speakers who are nonmembers: None