The Environmental Science Advisory Committee (ESAC) is a body of 18 environmental scientists, educators and other professionals who assist city policy makers on a volunteer basis. ESAC is modeled after the US EPA's Science Advisory Board. Its goal is to help leaders make better decisions by offering advice, opinion and counsel on a wide range of environmental issues. Priorities '95 is a classic example of a comparative risk assessment. This innovative effort used over 250 community volunteers to develop a comprehensive environmental blueprint for the City of Columbus. Project participants logged more than 5,000 person-hours in a two-year process that:
1) Identified the City's most pressing environmental problems;
2) Analyzed them to determine potential risk to citizens;
3) Ranked these problems in terms of severity; and,
4) Developed potential solutions to these problems.
Columbus' Environmental Snapshot uses key indicators to provide the public with status and trend information on the state of the Columbus and Franklin County environment. In creating the Snapshot, the objective was to compile information already being collected by numerous governmental organizations into a single, easy-to-understand and user-friendly document. The information contained in the Snapshot represents both an educational resource and a means of gauging the success of past environmental efforts including a status report on the progress of Priorities '95 initiatives.
Columbus Community Risk Panel is a 35-member committee designed to help Greater Columbus residents make informed decisions about risk. The Panel, through various initiatives, serves as an ongoing resource to help develop a more informed citizenry and provide the community with accurate information on health and quality of life risks. Panel members include public officials and other community leaders from government, professional groups, public and private business, health care and education organizations, and the media. A key goal of the panel is to establish connections with citizens. This is accomplished through a variety of projects including: the establishment of community computer centers in inner-city churches, the Neighbor-to Neighbor program, formation of Community Advisory Panels that bring industrial facilities and neighborhood groups together and establishing a web site for risk related information.
Project CLEAR is a new citizen-driven initiative based on the same principles as our Priorities '95 Risk Project. It is designed to address Central Ohio outdoor air quality, particularly issues related to ground-level ozone pollution. CLEAR's main objective is to involve citizens, businesses, local governments, and other organizations in evaluating and choosing strategies to improve air quality. What is particularly unique about Project Clear is that it moves beyond public opinion toward a public deliberation process
Three basic principles underly all of the components of the Community Environmental Management Plan: promoting the use of science and scientific information whenever possible; developing a more informed citizenry on issues of community health, environment and quality of life; and encouraging public participation in the decision making process.
These principles have not only lead to the success for our efforts but are appropriate at all levels of government: local, state and federal. An excellent example of these principles operationalized at the state level was when Senator Voinovich, then Governor Voinovich embarked on a comparative risk project for the State of Ohio. Similar efforts have been conducted by 25 of the 50 states as well as at least 12 local communities. The process represents a new way of doing things most importantly involving the public in meaningful ways on issues that impact their lives.
So the question remains what role can the federal government play in this effort. The federal government's role is to establish national priorities. The use of a national comprehensive risk process could provide general direction in setting these national priorities, but it is very important to understand the limitations of a federal comparative risk project. A federal comparative risk project is doomed to fail if it means risks encountered in Florida are compared with those found in Oregon. Instead it may be most appropriate for the federal government to serve to support these efforts at the state and local level and actively promote the principles of sound science, informed citizenry and public participation in all environmental initiatives. Specifically the federal government can serve as a technical assistance center, both generating data and fulfilling the role of information resource.
States and local communities will vary widely in their ability to successfully implement a comparative risk process. Federal support and technical guidance may allow for at least some degree of consistency and utility of effort. Because community participation and buy-in are critical in these types of initiatives and essential for any behavioral change to occur on the part of individuals, federal emphasis and support for community participation at the local level may also be appropriate. Shifting from categorical thinking formulas to community thinking formulas will go a long way toward promoting involvement. Further, it may be helpful for states and local communities to look to the federal government for funding of comparative risk projects or at least linking to available funding for such efforts.
Some of what I have described is not necessarily a new role. At one time, the Federal Government funded a US EPA office to directly assist state and local folks interested in doing this type of work. This Regional and Statistical Planning Branch of the Office of Policy, Planning and Evaluation was extremely helpful to us in Columbus providing a $50k grant for our project and direct technical assistance in project formation and implementation. I have heard many other local project directors share these sentiments. Unfortunately, the office was disbanded a year or so ago and its personnel were re-assigned within the agency. To my knowledge, there is now no federal entity that exists concerned with promoting and directly assisting state and local governments with projects dealing with risk-based decision making.
By recognizing the value of local communities in determining their priorities, a further role for the federal government is flexibility. While federal standards and regulations are often warranted, it is important to allow for some tailoring of effort according to a local communities' need. US EPA's Project XL is a perfect example of this type of philosophy. In its current form, however, Project XL is somewhat cumbersome and a challenge to negotiate. We are quite pleased to have just signed the final agreement for an XL project in Columbus, an effort which took over three years to come to fruition.
In asking for this flexibility, however, local communities need to hold themselves accountable and maintain the high, if not higher standards than those set forth at the federal level. If by your flexibility at the federal level you are demonstrating your trust of state and local government to make sound environmental decisions, we must safeguard this trust and work cooperatively with you towards common goals. Without a certain level of trust at all levels of government, even the most innovative programs are doomed to fail.
In closing, let me once again reiterate the importance of public participation and connecting with our citizenry. More and more our citizenry is expressing dissatisfaction or disinterest in civic responsibility. While they are disengaging from the political process, we must fight to have them actively involved in directing resources and actions that will impact their own neighborhood and their quality of life. We must demonstrate government's trust in the ability of residents to make these programs work. I am a very strong believer that our citizenry will make the "right" choices if they are able to receive information in understandable ways, if they are presented with accurate portrayals of existing trade-offs regarding risk and if the decision making process reinforces the need to consider a full range of options available. If these themes may be woven through the federal, state and local government, we may yet see a public which still seeks out their civic roles.
Thank you for the opportunity to speak before you today.
The Columbus Community Environmental Plan (CEMP) is designed to protect and improve the area environment through three basic principles:
Promoting the use of science and scientific information whenever possible;
Developing a more-informed citizenry on issues of community health, environment, and quality of life; and other issues dealing with risk,
Using members of the community to help make risk decisions where feasible.
The Community Environmental Management Plan is administered through the Columbus Health Department, and has four basic components:
The Environmental Science Advisory Committee (ESAC)
ESAC is a body of 18 environmental scientists, educators and other professionals who assist city policy makers on a volunteer basis. Its goal is to help leaders make better decisions by offering advice, opinion and counsel on a wide range of environmental issues. ESAC considers and evaluates questions submitted by the Mayor, City Council, Board of Health or City Department managers, focusing specifically on the science behind environmental issues. Services can include client meetings; document review, analysis and evaluation; property site inspection and preparation of summary documents.
Priorities 95
This innovative effort used over 250 community volunteers to develop a comprehensive environmental blueprint for the City of Columbus. Project participants logged more than 5,000 man hours in a two-year process that:
1) Identified the Citys most pressing environmental problems;
2) Analyzed them to determine potential risk to citizens;
3) Ranked these problems in terms of severity; and,
4) Developed potential solutions to these problems.
Columbus Environmental Snapshot
This community document uses key indicators to provide the public with status and trend information on the state of the Columbus and Franklin County environment. In creating the Snapshot, the objective was to compile information already being collected by numerous governmental organizations into a single, easy-to-understand and user-friendly document. The information contained in the Snapshot represents both an educational resource and a means of gauging the success of past environmental efforts.
Columbus Community Risk Panel
This 35-member committee was formed in January 1998 to help ensure that Greater Columbus residents are making informed decisions about risk. The Panel, through various initiatives, serves as an ongoing resource to help develop a more informed citizenry and provide the community with accurate information on health and quality of life risks. Panel members include public officials and other community leaders from government, professional groups,. public and private business, health care and education organizations, and the media.
Environmental Science Advisory Committee (ESAC)
ESAC is a body of 18 environmental scientists, educators and other professionals who assist city policy makers on a volunteer basis. Its goal is to help leaders make better decisions by offering advice, opinion and counsel on a wide range of environmental issues.
ESAC considers and evaluates questions submitted by the Mayor, City Council, Board of Health or City Department managers, focusing specifically on the science behind environmental issues. The committees resulting work products will differ according to the issue under consideration. Services can include client meetings; document review, analysis and evaluation; property site inspection and preparation of summary documents. Because ESAC is an independent, volunteer organization, it offers decision-makers an objective (different) perspective that can either confirm judgements or suggest new avenues of thought.
Issues considered by ESAC include:
The possibility of health threats to police officers from lead exposure at the police firing range
An evaluation of City sewer line construction practices
Watershed impacts from land application of manure from area egg farm
Review of Columbus noise ordinance
Consideration of proposed uses for sewage sludge incinerator ash
Adequacy of a hazardous waste remediation plan for U.S. Air Force property adjacent to Port Columbus International Airport
Priorities 95
This innovative effort used over 250 community volunteers to develop a comprehensive environmental blueprint for the City of Columbus. Project participants logged more than 5,000 man hours in a two-year process that:
1) identified the Citys most pressing environmental problems;
2) analyzed them to determine potential risk to citizens;
3) ranked these problems in terms of severity; and,
4) developed potential solutions to these problems.
One of Priorities 95 greatest strengths was that it incorporated both scientific information and public opinion in determining which environmental problems are most serious and how these problems should be addressed. Priorities 95 concluded with the development of almost 200 recommendations for environmental improvement.
Since the projects conclusion, the City has worked to address many of the Priorities 95 recommendations. Notable efforts include:
Development of a parkland dedication ordinance in conjunction with new residential development
Development of a rabies public outreach / informational campaign to increase pet vaccinations
Acquisition of non-productive city properties for redevelopment as community gardens, beautification projects or neighborhood playgrounds
Establishment of a 6-county coalition to address the issue of atrazine runoff in the Scioto River watershed
Development of a Recreation and Parks Department c
ontainerized tree program that reduces growing time of planting stock by over 50. percent
The Environmental Snapshot
This community document uses key indicators to provide the public with status and trend information on the state of the Columbus and Franklin County environment. In creating the Snapshot, the objective was to compile information already being collected by numerous governmental organizations into a single, easy-to-understand and user-friendly document.
A comprehensive community process was developed to select the 35 environmental indicators contained in the document. More than 40 governmental personnel, environmental scientists and members of the general public served as advisors to select appropriate environmental indicators. Their participation ensured that the most technically relevant and easily understandable information would be used. Data is presented for five environmental areas, and includes indicators for:
Urban Conditions - Population; Platted Land; Building Activity; Land in Farms, and more....
Air Quality - Ambient Air Trends; County Vehicle Emissions; Registered Passenger Vehicles; and more.....
Drinking Water - Finished Water Chemical Levels; County Well Water Chemical Levels
Surface Water - Major Sources of Impairment; Fish Tissue Analysis; and more....
Solid Waste - Waste Generation, Reduction & Recycling; Destination of Generated Tonnage; and more....
Over 250 copies of the report are distributed each year to community groups, civic associations, community leaders and individuals. The document is updated annually, an educational resource that can help provide users with greater insight into the direction of environmental trends and a means of gauging the success of past environmental efforts.
.Columbus Community Risk Panel
This 35-member committee was formed in January 1998 to help ensure that Greater Columbus residents are making informed decisions about risk. The Panel, through various initiatives, serves as an ongoing resource to help develop a more informed citizenry and provide the community with accurate information on health and quality of life risks. Panel members include public officials; community leaders from government agencies, professional groups, public and private business, health care and education organizations; and the media.
Panel members meet quarterly, however activities of the panel are ongoing. Current Community Risk Panel Projects include:
Development of Project CLEAR, a two-year community initiative designed to produce air pollution reduction strategies for the Central Ohio area. The project will specifically examine issues and strategies related to outdoor air quality, focusing on perecursors to ground level ozone formation.
Creation of Community Computer Centers, providing computing sites with Internet hookup in inner-city areas. The progams purpose is to provide health and environmental information to populations that may not have computer access. The program is initially focusing on establishing centers in African American churches to build on the strong relationship that traditonally exists between these churches and their congregations.
Neighbor to Neighbor, a community initiative bringing people together to learn about specific things they can do to improve their health, environment and quality of life. Neighborhood residents form teams, which meet regularly with a trained leader in each others homes. With the help of a trained leader, the teams learn about simple things that all of us can do to improve the health and environment, and choose specific actions to help save energy, minimize waste or improve health.
Creation of Community Advisory Panels (CAPs), an outreach mechanism to bring neighborhood concerns to the attention of local plant facility managers. The CAPs help citizens better understand how facilities are working with hazardous materials on site. Participants meet regularly to discuss plant operatios, facility environmental and safety programs, etc.