GEOLOGY 106
ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY
FINAL LECTURE (12/11/96)
The scientist's dilemma:
Scientific studies, scientific results and publicity have feedback to one another. Dollars needed for research are allocated based on perceived threats, and public perceptions often guided by scientists who rely on public funding for research. Feedback loops exist between science and the public. Pressure to provide information by social and political interests provides pressure for research funds to support the needed research. Vested interests in a national scientific infrastructure demands a highly trained cadre of research scientists capable of working on the problems faced by governments and businesses. Pressure to do research to prove your "worth" among your colleagues required a source of funding, often met by federal, state, and local governmental agencies. Priorities for research are set by researchers, but often are driven by funding availability, which, in turn, is driven by government legislative and administrative perceptions of needed research.
Claims of collusion of science with government by environmental activists is a serious threat to legitimate research. Scientists are called upon to make predictions about poorly understood phenomena by the public, politicians, vested economic interests, and the press. Claims are made that scientist's reservations about certain "public science" issues reflect a deliberate way to delay ACTION that is needed to address these environmental problems. What to do? Who is right?
In the business of global change research the stakes are very high. Major cutbacks in industries that supply some of our services and products may be called for. Research on alternative is needed, and not only is it costly, but it typically has a lag time of several years to tens of years. If we rely on fossil fuels for energy, and are unwilling to accept alternative sources (e.g. nuclear power), then we must learn to adapt to the consequences of global change. There's no alternative. Forcing major changes in our ways of life, major economic institutions, and government policy is VERY expensive, and we should be reasonably sure of the threat before we take steps to reduce the threat. Claims of adverse effects of global change put the frontiers of scientific knowledge in the public spotlight and demand attention.
AGENCIES OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WITH ENVIRONMENTAL
RESPONSIBLITIES
The following list provides links and mission statements from a number of federal agencies that have either direct environmental responsibilities or divisions within the agency that have direct and indirect environmental concerns. The mission statements are taken directly from agency web sites, and are presented here verbatim. Divisions within agencies are many and worthwhile exploring. The USGS is an example agency that is expanded to illustrate its range of environment related activities. If not directly environmental in the sense of measuring and protecting environmental resources, many of these agencies make decisions about management of our natural resources that affect our daily lives.
As the Nation's largest earth science research and information agency, the USGS maintains a long tradition of providing "Earth Science in the Public Service."
The USGS, a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Interior, was established to provide a permanent Federal agency to conduct the systematic and scientific "classification of the public lands and examination of the geological structure, mineral resources, and products of the national domain."
The mission of the USGS is to provide geologic, topographic, and hydrologic information that contributes to the wise management of the Nation's natural resources and that promotes the health, safety, and well-being of the people. This information consists of maps, databases, and descriptions and analyses of the water, energy, and mineral resources, land surface, underlying geologic structure, natural hazards, and dynamic processes of the earth.
As a Nation we face serious questions concerning our global environment. How can we ensure an adequate supply of critical water, energy, and mineral resources in the future? In what ways are we irreversibly altering our natural environment when we use these resources? How has the global environment changed over geologic time, and what can the past tell us about the future? Will we have adequate supplies of quality water available for national needs? How can we predict, prevent, and mitigate the effects of natural hazards?
The USGS collects and analyzes the scientific information needed to answer these questions, and disseminates these results to the public in many forms, such as reports, maps, and data bases.
was established "...to promote and regulate the use of the...national parks...which purpose is to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations." -- National Park Service Organic Act, 16 U.S.C.1.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is a bureau within the Department of the Interior. Our mission is to conserve, protect, and enhance fish and wildlife and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. Our major responsibilities are: migratory birds, endangered species, certain marine mammals, freshwater and anadromous fish, the National Wildlife Refuge System, wetlands, conserving habitat, and environmental contaminants.
The Minerals Management Service (MMS)
is a bureau of the Department of the Interior. The mission of the MMS is to manage the mineral resources of the Outer Continental Shelf in an environmentally sound and safe manner and to timely collect, verify, and distribute mineral revenues from Federal and Indian lands.
The mission of the Bureau of Reclamation is to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public. Reclamation manages water related resources west of the Mississippi River. Besides being the largest wholesale supplier of water in the United States, the agency is the nation's sixth largest hydroelectric power generator. Reclamation projects include 343 storage dams and reservoirs (308 of these sites offer a variety of recreation activities), 58 hydroelectric power plants, and 54,550 miles of canals and other conveyance and distribution facilities. Managing water in the west includes: Water conservation, treatment, quality, supply, and uses.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
The Bureau of Land Management administers public lands with a framework of numerous laws. The most comprehensive of these is the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA). All bureau policies, procedures and management action will be consistent with FLPMA and the other laws that govern use of the public lands.
It is the mission of the Bureau of Land Management to sustain the health, diversity and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
is the principal bureau, within the federal government, responsible for the administration of federal programs for federally recognized Indian tribes, and for promoting Indian self-determination. In addition, the Bureau has a trust responsibility emanating from treaties and other agreements with Native groups. The mission of the Bureau is to enhance the quality of life, to promote economic opportunity, and to carry out the responsibility to protect and improve the trust assets of Indian tribes and Alaska Natives. The BIA provides the kinds of services one expects from a local, city, county, State or the Federal Government. This includes, but is not limited to, law enforcement, social services, education, housing improvements, loan opportunities for Indian businesses, and leasing of land. The Indian Health Service, an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, provides health care for American Indians and Alaska Natives.
The Office of Surface Mining is a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Interior with responsibility, in cooperation with the states and Indian Tribes, to protect citizens and the environment during coal mining and reclamation, and to reclaim mines abandoned before 1977.
The EPA, is the key agency for implementation end enforecment of federal environmental legislation. Having both a regulatory and an investigatory role, the EPA functions to research and investigate a broad range of issues dealing with water, air, and waste materials in the environment. EPA has cooperative programs with state and local agencies, and industry through a variety of programs. A quick glance at their programs page reveals the breadth of activities in which the EPA participates.
MISSION:
New Directions at EPA Reinvention is the new way EPA is carrying out its mission. EPA's reinvention philosophy is to focus on improved environmental results, allowing flexibility in how results are achieved; to share information and decision-making with all stakeholders; to create incentives for compliance with environmental requirements; and to lessen the burden of complying with environmental requirements. Through reinvention, EPA is improving the way that it protects public health and the environment so that America can enjoy continued environmental improvement at reasonable cost.
The USDA plays a critical role in the sound stewardship of the Nation's land and natural resources. The USDA Forest Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly the Soil Conservation Service) share responsibility for fostering sound stewardship on 75 percent of the country's total land area.
Both agencies apply sustainable ecosystem principles in the management
of soil, water, forests, and wildlife. Each agency's respective strengths
and expertise demonstrate that sound environmental policy and agricultural
productivity are not mutually exclusive.
The Forest Service provides leadership in the management protection, and use of the Nation's forests and rangelands. The agency is dedicated to multiple- use management of these lands for sustained yields of renewable resources such as wood, water, forage, wildlife, and recreation to meet the diverse needs of people.
The Forest Service carries out its mission by:
The Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
The Natural Resources Conservation Service is the Federal agency that works hand-in-hand with the American people to conserve, improve, and sustain natural resources on private lands. To carry out this mission, NRCS has:
a nationwide network of conservation specialists who work through some 3,000 locally organized and locally run conservation districts to help individual land users and rural and urban communities.
programs for technical assistance and cost-sharing, a strong technology base that includes:
Creation and Mission
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent agency
of the U.S. Government, established by the National Science Foundation
Act of 1950, as amended, and related legislation, 42 U.S.C. 1861 et seq.,
and was given additional authority by the Science and Engineering Equal
Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885), and Title I of the Education for Economic
Security Act (20 U.S.C. 3911 to 3922).
The Foundation consists of the National Science Board of 24 part-time
members and a Director (who also serves as ex officio National Science
Board member), each appointed by the President with the advice and consent
of the U.S. Senate. Other senior officials include a Deputy Director who
is appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the U.S. Senate,
and eight Assistant Directors.
The Act established the NSF's mission:
To promote the progress of science; to advance the national health,
prosperity, and welfare; and to secure the national defense.
The Foundation's organic legislation authorizes it to engage in the
following activities:
The Office of Protected Resources coordinates marine species protection, conservation and restoration for the National Marine Fisheries Service.
The SEAS is a program developed by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to provide accurate meteorological and oceanographic data in real time from ships at sea through the use of satellite data transmission techniques.
The mission of the Climate Prediction Center is to maintain a continuous watch on short-term climate fluctuations and to diagnose and predict them.
The Department of Energy, in partnership with our customers, is entrusted to contribute to the welfare of the Nation by providing the technical information and scientific and educational foundation for technology, policy, and institutional leadership necessary to achieve efficiency in energy use, diversity in energy sources, a more productive and competitive economy, improved environmental quality, and a secure national defense.
The Department of Energy is comprised of a number of research laboratories in the U.S. and include:
These labs conduct a varitey of research programs, including atomic energy (and weapons development), fossil fuels, and alternative energy. In the past several years many of these labs have developed strong environmental research groups with applications in the earth sciences.
EXAMPLE OF AGENCY DIVISIONS - US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Wackernagel, M. and Rees, W. (1996) OUR ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT; Canada, New Society Publishers, 160 p.
Traditional ecomomic views of our global economy
Assumptions
Global economy as a means of converting resources to waste.
The cost of resource conversion
Our ecological FOOTPRINT
The area of the earth required to meet the needs of humans in an industrialized society. (land for crops, energy; metal deposits, water, commerce, transportation) exceeds the actual area we occupy in standing on the earth (seems obvious). Collectively a societyís required area is called the ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT. Quantitative measures available to assess the footprint of various activities in different countries.
Transportation (Person traveling 5 km twice a day; 10 km per week)
Exaples of footprints of different countries
COUNTRY FOOTPRINT (ha./person)
Netherlands Footprint
Since the beginning of the century the available per capita area (useable area of earth/world population) has decreased from 5-6 ha/person to 1.5 ha/person.
If every person on earth enjoyed the average lifestyle of Americans it would require two times the available area that is now available. In other words, we would need THREE EARTHS to sustain the PRESENT WORLD POPULATION at the same level of "development" we now do.
WHAT DO WE DO? WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES?
Further coursework
Emerging Issues
Continued population increase will drive many problems -
The UW campus as an environmentally aware campus