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GRANTS AWARDED FOR ECONOMICS AND DECISION SCIENCES RESEARCH

Release Date: 02/11/2002
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FOR RELEASE: MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2002
GRANTS AWARDED FOR ECONOMICS AND DECISION SCIENCES RESEARCH

Dave Deegan 202-564-7839 / deegan.dave@epa.gov


Grants totaling more than $1.5 million have been awarded to five universities to conduct research that will contribute to the development of practical approaches for estimating the benefits and costs of environmental programs and improving decision making about environmental issues. The grants were made through EPA's Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program in cooperation with the National Science Foundation. STAR funds research grants and graduate fellowships in numerous environmental science and engineering disciplines through a competitive solicitation process and independent peer review. The grants have been awarded to the University of California, Carnegie Mellon University, North Carolina State University, University of North Carolina and University of Rhode Island. The University of California at Los Angeles is conducting research that will provide policymakers with better information on the distribution of values for reducing risks to human life so that they may better manage those risks. Carnegie Mellon University will assess publicly available information to compare facilities using different methodologies when evaluating emissions levels and compliance status. The Center for Environmental and Resource Economic Policy at North Carolina State University will develop a model to measure the benefits arising from improved surface-water quality, derived from changes in housing values. The information will be collected in Wake County, N.C. The University of North Carolina will evaluate whether there are differences between facilities that adopt Environmental Management Systems (EMS). Researchers will also evaluate whether the adoption of an EMS results in improved environmental performance over time and the implications resulting from commitments to continually improve them. Finally, the University of Rhode Island will conduct research to identify economic and ecological factors that influence society’s ability to maintain a well-functioning ecosystem in the face of sprawl or rural residential development. For more information on these research projects and on EPA’s STAR program, go to: www.epa.gov/ncerqa .

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