Statistics and environmental policy: case studies from long-term environmental monitoring data.
Environmental objectives are statements of policy which are intended to be assessed using information from a monitoring program. An environmental monitoring program has to be adequate in its quality and quantity of data so that the environmental objectives can be assessed. Also, the resulting data should be able to contribute information towards decisions to modify policy at a later time if desirable. However, monitoring programs can fail to return satisfactory information for policymakers because future statistical needs have not been anticipated, potential confounding factors were not considered, or sampling protocols did not specify suitable randomization. A key intermediate role exists for the use of statistical inference in providing a logical framework for using monitoring data to test hypotheses about fulfillment of environmental objectives. The undertaking of a statistical inferential approach to monitoring design can result in data which are more general in their interpretation and, thus, more useful as input to policy development and review. Some case studies from the Victorian EPA monitoring programs will be presented to illustrate these points.
Goudey
R
R
Freshwater Sciences, Environment Protection Authority, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia.
Laslett
G
G
D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D013997:Time Factors; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*