SAMPLE OF SPECIALIST TRENDS ANALYSIS 1/99
Description of the subject area under consideration:
Community Based Environmental Protection - Community-Based Environmental Protection (CBEP) integrates environmental management with human needs, considers long-term ecosystem health and highlights the positive correlations between economic prosperity and environmental well-being. Community Based Environmental Protection is a new approach to environmental protection. Traditionally, environmental protection programs have focused on a particular medium or problem (i.e. a "Command and Control" approach to environmental protection). These "Command and Control" programs have been very effective at reducing point source pollution and improving environmental quality over the past two and one-half decades. However, some environmental problems, such as non-point source pollution, which may involve several media types and diffuse sources, are less amenable to "Command and Control" programs. Instead, a solution that seeks to address the various causes of the problems and understand the interrelationships between human behavior and pollution in a specific area may be more appropriate. CBEP supplements and complements the traditional environmental protection approach by focusing on the health of an ecosystem and the behavior of humans that live in the ecosystem's boundaries, instead of concentrating on a medium or particular problem. Therefore, CBEP is place-based, and not media or issue-based.
Work team members, specialists and external partners participating in the process:
UWEX Solid and Hazardous Waste Education Center:
Steve Brachman steve.brachman@ces.uwex.edu
Mary Kohrell mary.kohrell@ces.uwex.edu
David S. Liebl david.liebl@ces.uwex.edu
UWEX Environmental Resource Center:
Elaine Andrews eandrews@facstaff.wisc.edu
Summary of the significant trends in topic area:
The regulation of large discharges of regulated toxic chemicals has been accomplished to a great extent. Now the focus is changing to non-point agricultural and small business sources of pollutants due to their pervasiveness. There is a need for education programs to assist smaller source generators of pollutants to reduce their wastes.
People need more education about, and are frightened by toxic waste issues. Heightened public awareness regarding the impacts of hazardous waste emissions disposal and processing facilities requires unbiased public education to sort through these issues in an objective fashion.
Local communities are showing concern about "polluters" in their neighborhood. There is a growing need for community-based initiatives to minimize "brownfield" creation and improve the cleanliness of the local environment. Residents don't want to lose businesses or employers in their community due to environmental problems.
Relevance of those trends to county program planning:
Community awareness of environmental issues has led to the development of local groups responding to perceived threats to the environment and public health. Extension can provide support for these groups through unbiased information, education and dialog.
Municipalities are coming under increased scrutiny of the discharges from their waste water treatment facilities (POTWs) caused by businesses and industry within a community. Extension specialists are able to assist POTWs in identifying sources of pollution and encouraging reductions through pollution prevention.
Growing awareness of the economic value of recreational resources is leading to efforts preserve and enhance the quality of the local environment. UWEX specialists can help to organize these efforts, at the same time building awareness of the importance of good environmental performance by business and industry.
Sources of supporting data for use by counties:
USEPA Community Based Environmental Protection Program http://yosemite.epa.gov/osec/osechome.nsf
USDA Non-point Education for Municipal Officials http://www.lib.uconn.edu/CANR/ces/nemo/index.html
Farm-A-Syst/Home-A-Syst http://www.wisc.edu/farmasyst/
Primary UWEX contact person for questions from counties:
David S. Liebl
Solid and Hazardous Waste Education Center
608/ 265-2360