ROLE FOR RISK COMMUNICATION IN CLOSING MILITARY WASTE SITES

Lessons learned from environmental and occupational hazard risk manage ment practices over the past 30 years have led the Department of Defen se to explore alternative risk management approaches. Policies for cle anup of environmentally hazardous waste sites are undergoing examinati on and are being reframed. A Demonstration Risk Communication Program is described which incorporates principles that integrate risk-based s cientific information as well as community values, perceptions, and ne eds in a democratic process that includes the public as an active part icipant from the earliest stages. A strong scientific foundation for a ssessment and characterization of risk is viewed as necessary but not sufficient; the public's values must be actively integrated into the n egotiated criteria. The Demonstration Program uses a model to prepare the participants and to guide them through the process. A five-step pr ocess is presented: (1) create risk communications process action team including at least one member of the specific site audience; (2) prof essionally train participants on team dynamics including interpersonal communication skills; (3) train risk communicators to deliver a cogen t presentation of the message to secure a decision acceptable to both the government and the public; (4) identify existing biases, perceptio ns, and values held by all participants; and (5) develop risk message incorporating science and values. The process action team approach ass umes the participants enter into the effort with the goal of improved environment and safeguarded public health. The team approach avoids co nfrontational or adversarial interactions and focuses on a dialogue fr om which a negotiated team response develops. Central to the program i s the recognition that communication is only effective when the dialog ue is two-way.