RE: Superfund example: Tools and Technology (was RE: Introduction)

[Carolyn Offutt <offutt.carolyn@epa.gov>]

Rich Puchalsky noted on July 10 from my introduction, "Carolyn Offutt writes about Superfund: 'I am interested in knowing how to better present environmental information to the public, particularly via the Internet. Are there tools that will help involve the public participate in environmental decision-making?  Should we be presenting more information via maps, graphs, audio files, videos? Should we provide information and web pages to mobile phones and handheld devices? Should we video-cast public meetings?'"  And, as Joanne Wyman noted on July 11, there needs to be a combination of "old standby approaches (e.g., town meetings, brochures, fact sheets, radio/TV) side-by-side with an array of newer technologies" because the segments of the population "are at varying levels of technology adoption."  But we would be remiss, if EPA did not seek to use technology to assist us in our mission to protect human health and the environment.

Rich responded with an example of seeking data from EPA - and access to data is, indeed, one of those tools that I was considering.

I think that Friday's topic of Assistance fits this subject best.  Anybody want to add suggestions about how to use tools and technology to assist in providing public information?

Carolyn