AWWA ACE95197

AWWA ACE95197 Perception Versus Reality, a Community Relations Challenge
Conference Proceeding by American Water Works Association, 01/01/1995

George, Lois D.

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Certain land uses are interpreted by the public-at-large and the media as de facto contamination of groundwater and risk to human health and the environment. Perceptions often exceed reality. The developments of natural resources--including groundwater and surface water--progress and industrial construction and waste management are often perceived as environmental threats. The means established by state and federal agencies to investigate, rank, and evaluate risk at known contaminated locations are a subject of highly polarized views as to their utility, cost effectiveness, and benefit or detriment to the environment. A recent report by a non-profit education and research organization concluded that "EPA's assessments of potential risk to human health and the environment in Superfund cleanups are based on faulty scientific analysis and selective use of data." The Not In My Back Yard (NIMBY) syndrome is apparently now applicable to most types of planned development. Environmental justice, civil rights and environmental equity, will continue to be debated in the next session of the House and US Senate. How can municipalities, regional authorities, and industry overcome perceptions of risk and the power of media and special interest groups? What is risk? What can we as scientists, elected officials, and planners, etc. do to effectively communicate and educate the public-at-large? This paper attempts to answer these questions and explain the challenges of current community relations and the emerging issues. As interest groups become more sophisticated, legalities encumber every facet of business, and the media continue the trend away from reporting toward sensationalism the need for extensive risk management planning becomes increasingly important. The author makes several recommendations such as: start the process early, involve the workforce and the public from the onset, build trust, and expect conflict and the unexpected.