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Local emergency planning committees (LEPCs) were designed to develop emergency response plans and provide information through community right-to-know programs. A literature review identified operational effectiveness, collaboration, risk communication, information technology (IT), and homeland security as important issues for LEPCs. However, a lack of research on the interaction of these fields raises several questions that were addressed in this study: 1. How is the operational effectiveness of LEPCs related to their organizational characteristics? 2. To what extent does collaboration exist between LEPCs and other groups? 3. What types of risk communication strategies are used by LEPCs? How are these initiatives mediated through technology? 4. To what degree and to what purposes are LEPCs utilizing information technologies? 5. How will homeland security initiatives influence emergency planning and community right-to-know programs? How will potential opportunities and constraints posed by homeland security affect the future role of LEPCs? The sample for this study was randomly selected from LEPCs in US EPA's Region III, including the states of Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. Phase one involved mailing out 156 surveys; 66 were returned for a response rate of 42%. Phase two involved case studies of LEPCs in Greenbrier County, WV; Tazewell County, VA; and Elk County, PA. Findings indicate that LEPC activity level is lower than previously reported. This research shows that IT is considered important, but its use is limited. Respondents reported using computers for word processing and, on a limited basis, for planning. The level of IT use for data management, emergency response activities, and risk communication was unexpectedly low. The research did not find a significant relationship between LEPC characteristics and the level of IT use. Barriers to IT use and operational status related to lack of funding and training. Data from surveys, interviews, and physical evidence were used to triangulate these findings. This research is significant in its identification of the current operation of LEPCs. It provides an assessment of collaborative initiatives being used within LEPCs and highlights methods employed to develop and implement risk communication programs. These findings can be used to evaluate the potential role of LEPCs in homeland security initiatives, which will likely focus on emergency planning with a decreased emphasis on risk communication. / Ph. D.

Fish consumption advisories are increasingly being issued by state and municipal governments with concerns about pollution in local waterways. These advisories are developed to inform the public about the potential dangers of consuming excessive amounts of locally caught fish. They are not enforceable limits, however, and are only guidelines and suggestions on what are considered safe meal sizes, safe meal frequencies, and species fit for consumption. As a result, few efforts are made to determine how well these advisories are being followed. In order to determine the efficacy of such urban advisories, anglers are interviewed in Washington, DC on the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers. Anglers are asked a number of questions pertaining to their fishing and consumption habits, advisory knowledge, and risk perceptions. The results suggest that several improvements can be made to better implement advisory efforts. Most importantly, minority anglers—particularly African-Americans—appear to be receiving the message in advisories, but are failing to comply with advisory recommendations. Cultural beliefs and influences, as well as information dissemination inadequacies, are cited as possible reasons for this failure. Lastly, strategies are presented that health and fisheries planners can use to better understand angler risk perception and better educate anglers about the risks of ignoring advisory recommendations. / Master of Urban and Regional Planning

This case study evaluates government communication practices at Superfund sites. I describe agency communication practices in Superfund communities, paying particular attention to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Seven Cardinal Rules of Risk Communication and its role as a model for federal agencies engaged at these sites. Situating the study within a theoretical milieu that includes sensemaking and symbolic interactionism, I examine whether current practices deepen divisions among stakeholders, reducing the possibility for communicative convergence. I implement textual analysis and narrative inquiry to examine written and spoken communication about the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant National Priorities List Superfund site. Through crystallized analysis of media coverage, public comments, focus group transcripts, and local blogs, I address the following research questions: RQ1: How does the enactment of accepted agency risk communication practices affect relationships among stakeholders, specifically: • how do stakeholders (including federal agency personnel) characterize past and present agency risk communication practices, and • how do stakeholders (including federal agency personnel) characterize each other in relation to these communicative practices? RQ2: What are the related implications for improving agency risk communication approaches? The study concludes with recommendations for improving existing agency risk communication guidelines, as well as the creation of a new communication model to promote convergent communication at Superfund sites.

Hypotheses on the efficiency of evidence-based printed materials can be directed by health communication concepts. These concepts can provide a general framework that goes beyond the traditional vulgarization point of view: instead, it points towards a strategy to obtain health outcomes and provoke behavior change, from a disease prevention, management and health promotion perspective. The present study proposes a comprehensive framework based on concepts from health risk communication, Tarde's theory of social values, usability, readability and plain language. Using the mapping approach, an evaluation grid was applied to printed evidence-based materials with proven effectiveness, in order to reveal the underlying strategy and isolate the characteristics of effective materials. The results allowed us to define two types of printed evidence-based materials, according to the robustness of the evidence they contain and the target audience. It was also possible to identify indicators of notions that are translated into operationalized items, frequent in those materials that might be responsible for their efficiency: clear purpose of the documents, limited scope, learning motivation and correspondence to the logic, experience and language of readers. Effectiveness of printed evidence-based materials could also be correlated to numeracy, objectiveness, standard definitions, constant timeframes and denominators, risks enumerated in order of importance, effective response, and high degree of threat, urgency, novelty and visibility of the disease. It was also possible to identify some missing communication concepts: cultural diversity, narrative, increased easiness of procedures and aesthetic advantage for the patient. In the process of work, the theory of social values emerged as a dynamic component that can bring together and explain many concepts, as well as physician’s acceptance of the guidelines. Value in terms of usefulness and truth plays a major role in cognitive appreciation of the documents. This concept gives a strategic meaning to the whole work and allows us to better understand attitude and behavior change.

Objetivo: Dar subsídios para a melhor compreensão do conhecimento técnico-científico que acompanha as discussões sobre risco como instrumento de gestão ambiental. Realizou-se um estudo detalhado da problemática conceitual e metodológica das avaliações de riscos e dos principais aspectos sociais, políticos e éticos a serem enfrentados na elaboração e implantação de uma política de gerenciamento social de riscos. Esta investigação caracterizou-se por uma reflexão teórica multidisciplinar, fundamentada na literatura disponível sobre o assunto, tomando como referências básicas as metodologias objetivas e subjetivas de avaliação de riscos, bem como as ferramentas de gerenciamento atualmente empregadas. O material de estudo compõe-se principalmente de reflexões realizadas por diversos autores que abordam a questão. Conclusões. (i) Não é possível escolher uma definição de risco que melhor se ajuste a todas as situações e represente todas as variáveis objetivas e subjetivas envolvidas. (ii) A abordagem dos problemas de risco deve ser contextualizada. (iii) A definição dos critérios fundamentais para as políticas de risco deve incluir uma abordagem ética e procedimentos democráticos, e não apenas considerações técnico-científicas. (iv) O gerenciamento de risco inclui todas as decisões e escolhas sociais, políticas e culturais que se relacionam direta e indiretamente com as questões de risco na nossa sociedade. (v) o uso de risco como instrumento de gestão ambiental necessita de decisões descentralizadas, instituições sólidas e confiáveis e da aquisição e atualização contínua de informações (vi) o sistema de gerenciamento de risco no Brasil desconsidera a complexidade das questões conceituais e metodológicas. (vii) o crescente aumento da importância das cidades na organização e gestão da sociedade, cria perspectivas para a elaboração e implantação de políticas de risco mais efetivas e com a participação de todos os atores sociais no processo de tomada de decisão. / Objective: Given subsidies for a better comprehension on technical and scientific knowledge which follows the discussions about risk as environmental management instrument. It was realized a detailed study on the conceptual and methodological problematic of the risk evaluations and the main social, political and ethical aspects that are about to be faced along the development and implantation of a risk social management policy. This research was characterized of a multidisciplinary theoretical reflection based on the available literature on the subject, haven as basic references the objective and subjective methodologies of risk assessement as well as the management tools employed nowadays. The study contents is composed mainly of reflection by authors who study this field. Conclusions (i) It is not possible to choose a risk definition which is better adjusted to all the situations and represent all the objective and subjective involved variables. (ii) the approach of the risk problems must be incontext. (iii) the definition of the fundamental criteria for the risk policies must inc1ude an ethical approach and democratic procedures, and not only technical and scientific considerations. (iv) the risk management inc1ude all the decisions and social, political and cultural choices which are direct or indirectly related to the risk questions in our society. (v) the use of risk as environmental management tools needs non-centralized decisions, solid and trustful institutions and the continuous acquisition of updated information. (vi) the risk management system in Brazil does not consider the complexity of the conceptual and methodological questions (vii) the increasing rise of importance of cities in the organization and management of the society, brings about perspectives for the development and implementation of more effective risk politicies and with the participation of all social actors in the decision-making.

With changes in the outside world and that we are constantly faced with potential risks, the effectiveness of risk communication has become a decisive factor. The purpose of this study is to investigate how the Swedish Civil Protection and Preparedness Authority (MSB) has adopted principles for effective risk communication and how they have designed their communication to best prepare citizens for potential crisis. The study also aims to examine how the communication features an image of the nation and how roles in society during a crisis are represented. To achieve this purpose, a normative and critical multimodal method has been applied to MSB:s risk communication in the form of the brochure "If crisis or war comes". The result of the study has shown that MSB largely adopts the principles of effective risk communication, but some parts of the brochure can be viewed as fairly misleading and have underlying ideas that may lead to undesired effects. The image of the nation in the brochure is produced as rational by describing the authorities and citizens as reasonably and active, which in some ways can be useful in gaining trust from the recipient but can also contradict in getting the people to act.

Objetivo: Dar subsídios para a melhor compreensão do conhecimento técnico-científico que acompanha as discussões sobre risco como instrumento de gestão ambiental. Realizou-se um estudo detalhado da problemática conceitual e metodológica das avaliações de riscos e dos principais aspectos sociais, políticos e éticos a serem enfrentados na elaboração e implantação de uma política de gerenciamento social de riscos. Esta investigação caracterizou-se por uma reflexão teórica multidisciplinar, fundamentada na literatura disponível sobre o assunto, tomando como referências básicas as metodologias objetivas e subjetivas de avaliação de riscos, bem como as ferramentas de gerenciamento atualmente empregadas. O material de estudo compõe-se principalmente de reflexões realizadas por diversos autores que abordam a questão. Conclusões. (i) Não é possível escolher uma definição de risco que melhor se ajuste a todas as situações e represente todas as variáveis objetivas e subjetivas envolvidas. (ii) A abordagem dos problemas de risco deve ser contextualizada. (iii) A definição dos critérios fundamentais para as políticas de risco deve incluir uma abordagem ética e procedimentos democráticos, e não apenas considerações técnico-científicas. (iv) O gerenciamento de risco inclui todas as decisões e escolhas sociais, políticas e culturais que se relacionam direta e indiretamente com as questões de risco na nossa sociedade. (v) o uso de risco como instrumento de gestão ambiental necessita de decisões descentralizadas, instituições sólidas e confiáveis e da aquisição e atualização contínua de informações (vi) o sistema de gerenciamento de risco no Brasil desconsidera a complexidade das questões conceituais e metodológicas. (vii) o crescente aumento da importância das cidades na organização e gestão da sociedade, cria perspectivas para a elaboração e implantação de políticas de risco mais efetivas e com a participação de todos os atores sociais no processo de tomada de decisão. / Objective: Given subsidies for a better comprehension on technical and scientific knowledge which follows the discussions about risk as environmental management instrument. It was realized a detailed study on the conceptual and methodological problematic of the risk evaluations and the main social, political and ethical aspects that are about to be faced along the development and implantation of a risk social management policy. This research was characterized of a multidisciplinary theoretical reflection based on the available literature on the subject, haven as basic references the objective and subjective methodologies of risk assessement as well as the management tools employed nowadays. The study contents is composed mainly of reflection by authors who study this field. Conclusions (i) It is not possible to choose a risk definition which is better adjusted to all the situations and represent all the objective and subjective involved variables. (ii) the approach of the risk problems must be incontext. (iii) the definition of the fundamental criteria for the risk policies must inc1ude an ethical approach and democratic procedures, and not only technical and scientific considerations. (iv) the risk management inc1ude all the decisions and social, political and cultural choices which are direct or indirectly related to the risk questions in our society. (v) the use of risk as environmental management tools needs non-centralized decisions, solid and trustful institutions and the continuous acquisition of updated information. (vi) the risk management system in Brazil does not consider the complexity of the conceptual and methodological questions (vii) the increasing rise of importance of cities in the organization and management of the society, brings about perspectives for the development and implementation of more effective risk politicies and with the participation of all social actors in the decision-making.