Long-term Stewardship

[Brian (Bo) Newman <bo.newman@km-forum.org>]

This have been a most enlightening opportunity, and if I may, I would like to offer so thoughts on a matter that has not been receiving that much attention. 

Recently, my attention has been drawn to the matter of Long Term Stewardship (LTS), especially in relationship to the US Department of Energy's super fund sites. In reading the background material available I was struck by the lack of attention being given to the knowledge that future generations will need to deal with this toxic legacy.  Failure to address appropriate knowledge preservation issues only increases the risks we pass on to future generations.  The unique aspect of this problem is that the public not only needs to be involved in current policy and approach discussions, but it this case, the public needs to be part of the solution.  Much of this knowledge exists outside of the official records of sites like Savanna River, Rocky Flats, and Hanford. The public needs to be involved in two ways. First, in making sure that long-term knowledge stewardship is address right along with stewardship of physical artifacts. Second, as the source of much of the otherwise undocumented knowledge.  

Due to the long-term persistence of the contaminates associated with the majority of Super Fund Sites, this matter needs to become part of the very fabric of the public evolvement process. As problematic as environmental clean-up can be, knowledge preservation can be even more so, especially when we consider that we are talking about not just a multigenerational , but potentially a multi-millennial problem. Any reference to stake-holders in situations such as these needs to be made with the understanding that the vast majority are as yet unborn, and we has as little ability to speak to their knowledge needs as early man did of ours.  

Institutional management, which seems to be at the heart of most long-term stewardship plans,  works only as long as institutions last. In the end, it becomes a problem for the public to deal with. Public evolvement is a given in these matters, it is only a question of when. Through the public involvement process, EPA and all other regulatory bodies need to be made aware of this issue. 

My thanks for the opportunity to share this perspectives with each other and I look forward to hearing how others recommend we approach this problem.

Respectfully

Brian (Bo) Newman