Final Program - Society for Risk Analysis

with a combination of arcs (section of roads) and nodes (intersection points). Theoptimized network generates the minimum risk difference among the arcs in order toaccomplish an equity distribution. Finally, a specific risk assessment was performedto determine the possible consequences and mitigation plans if regular distributionroutes are affected. The results are applied to the scenario of Bogota D.C (Colombia).M3-B.3 Barzyk TM, Perlmutt L, Dana G, Martin L, Foster S, Bollweg G; barzyk.timothy@epa.govUS Environmental Protection AgencyINTEGRATING CUMULATIVE RISK AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUS-TICE ASSESSMENTS TO GUIDE DECISION-MAKING, PROMOTESTAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT AND ASSESS CUMULATIVE IM-PACTS: THE CRA-EJ WIZARDPopulation-based exposure and risk assessments typically identify a local-scalearea on the order of a few square kilometers or less, characterize its population andecosystem, and identify and prioritize all the environmental stressors that may affectthe health of the community and ecosystem. These cumulative risk assessments(CRA) often include vulnerability factors, such as income or ethnicity, and susceptibilityfactors, such as age or genetic predisposition, as contributing factors to adversehealth effects. Ecosystems directly impacted by anthropogenic stressors, such as contaminatedwatersheds, could affect local flora and fauna, but could also present anadditional stressor to a downstream community or area. A typical CRA involves manysteps, which include defining purpose and objectives, partnership roles and responsibilities,and geographic and temporal scope; developing a conceptual model that identifieshazards and assessment endpoints; assessing cumulative exposures and potentialrisks; ranking actionable priorities; developing sustainable risk management andmitigation options; and measuring success. Many of these steps are common, thoughoften underutilized themes of Environmental Justice (EJ) assessments, which haverecently adopted a broader consideration of various stressor types. Though manydefinitions of EJ exist, two topics often overlap: meaningful involvement of participantsand stakeholders, and assessment of disproportionate impacts. The CRA-EJWizard is a methodology that integrates common themes between CRA and EJ andprovides a simple user interface to work through the process, from beginning to end.The depth of the assessment depends on user requirements and familiarity with eitherprocess, but can be tailored towards screening or quantitative-level assessments.The Wizard is being developed with constant feedback from CRA and EJ stakeholders.This presentation includes integration methods and case study results for theCRA-EJ Wizard.T4-G.4 Bates ME, Chappell MA, Stevens JS, Linkov I; mebates@ucdavis.eduUS Army Corps of EngineersPRIORITIZING NANOMATERIALS RESEARCH THROUGH VALUEOF INFORMATION ANALYSISDespite their rapid commercialization and increasing use in consumer, military,and industrial applications, much remains to be understood about nanomaterialproperties and effects. Both our current lack of knowledge and the results of futureresearch are and will shape the use and acceptance of nanomaterials over time. Currentuncertainties in human and ecological health risks are particularly relevant forregulatory decisions and increased certainty in material properties and performancemay improve future product-development decisions. Not all uncertainties, however,warrant equal consideration or research investment. In each specific decision context,available knowledge in one or more topic areas may be more likely to shift the chosenalternative than in others. Knowledge of these relationships might be valuable, forinstance, to product designers seeking to select the best materials to use in productdevelopment or for governmental researchers seeking to best ensure long-termenvironmental health through regulatory restrictions. Using Multi-Criteria DecisionAnalysis (MCDA) to frame the specific decision context and quantify uncertainties innanomaterial properties and effects, Value of Information (VoI) analysis is used tostochastically simulate research within the estimated bounds of uncertainty to identifytopical areas most likely to initiate a shift in the rank order of preferred alternatives.This approach can help scientists and decision-makers focus research effortsand funding by prioritizing sources of uncertainty according to their impact on theultimate decision.T4-I.5 Baum SB; sethbaum@gmail.comPennsylvania State UniversityCOMMUNICATING THE IMPORTANCE OF GLOBAL CATASTROPH-IC RISKThe reduction of global catastrophic risk (GCR) has been identified by a growinggroup of researchers as a top societal priority. However, many of these researchersalso express concern that GCR is not receiving enough attention, either fromthe research community or from the general public. In response to this concern,this presentation presents approaches to communicating the importance of GCRto broad audiences. The presentation draws on insights from research on risk andscience communication, professional practice in popular media and the arts, andfirsthand experience in GCR communication. Emphasis is on how GCR researchersfrom all disciplines can more effectively communicate the importance of GCR in abroad range of settings.59