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2000 Progress Report: Electronic Environmental Democracy: The Future of Information Technology in Participatory Environmental Management
EPA Grant Number: R827585Title: Electronic Environmental Democracy: The Future of Information Technology in Participatory Environmental Management
Investigators: Davies, J. Clarence , Beierle, Thomas C.
Current Investigators: Davies, J. Clarence , Beierle, Thomas C. , Cahill, Sarah , Reff, Maria
Institution: Resources for the Future
EPA Project Officer: Clark, Matthew
Project Period: April 1, 1999 through March 31, 2000
Project Period Covered by this Report: April 1, 1999 through March 31, 2000
Project Amount: $147,631
RFA: Futures: Detecting the Early Signals (1999)
Research Category: Ecological Indicators/Assessment/Restoration
Description:
Objective:The Center for Risk Management at Resources for the Future is examining the impact of the Internet and related technologies on public involvement in environmental decision making over the next two decades. The project's objectives are to: (1) project the future path of electronic participation by examining the present situation and identifying likely medium term (5-10 years) and long term (10-20 years) developments; (2) assess the use of electronic participation and identify its appropriate role in environmental management; and (3) analyze the inter-relationship between the success of electronic participation and issues of equity, accountability, information overload, and direct democracy. Progress Summary:
The research involves three stages, as described in our original proposal. We have made substantial progress on the first two stages and will address the third in the coming year.
The first stage involves "interviews, data interpretation, and experiential research to survey and describe the current landscape of electronic participation in environmental policy at federal agencies, with a focus on the Environmental Protection Agency." To date, we have developed a typology for conducting our analysis and collected background information about federal agency activities to fill out the typology. Interviews with EPA personnel over the coming year will complete our examination. Additionally, we will develop two or three case studies of innovative online participatory efforts conducted by EPA and other federal agencies. We already have developed the evaluation framework for these case studies.
The second stage involves a "Web-based survey of electronic participation in environmental policy in all 50 states and among major environmental organizations." The state survey has been completed and an examination of environmental organizations will be conducted over the coming year.
The third stage examines "how three or four major foreseeable social and technological developments related to information technology will affect opportunities for participation in the long term." This research will be conducted over the coming year.
Future Activities:The main activities to be conducted in fiscal year 2001 include:
- Evaluating and describing case studies of online participation.
- Conducting interviews with EPA personnel regarding current use of the Internet at the Agency.
- Conducting further research on the use of the Internet by advocacy groups and other "information intermediaries."
- Examining technological developments and their impacts on public participation in the future.
- Writing the final report.
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 12 publications for this project
Supplemental Keywords:public participation, community involvement, information technology, Internet, innovative technology, decision making, community-based, preferences, socioeconomic. , Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Scientific Discipline, RFA, Social Science, Futures, Exp. Research/future, Ecology and Ecosystems, information technology, futures research, public policy, socio-economic changes, web-based surveys, electronic democracy, emerging environmental problems, environmental policy, electronic commerce, community involvement
Relevant Websites:
http://www.rff.org/proj_summaries/99files/davies_Electronic_Environment.htm
Progress and Final Reports:
Original Abstract
Final Report