Disputes Over Science and Dispute Resolution Approaches: A Survey of Bureau of Reclamation Employees.

摘要

A growing number of constituencies with different interests and values are competing for over-allocated water resources in the Western United States (NRC, 2004). As a result, these users are increasingly challenging the decisions of the public agencies charged with managing Western water resources (NRC, 2004). Because they are the primary targets in litigation surrounding water management decisions, agency officials are motivated to pursue the best scientific information throughout the decision-making process so that their decisions are not later overturned (Adler and others, 2001). However, scientific studies pertaining to water resources in the West often provide uncertain or competing results or recommendations (NRC, 2004). As a result, science can become a source of disputes during decision-making processes. Disputes are defined here as vocalized or articulated disagreements over what ought to be done (Ozawa, 1996, p. 220). For example, a disagreement could focus on study design, methodology, scope, how findings should be used in a management decision, and so forth. The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) is one of the primary institutions that manages and allocates water resources in the West (Bowersox, 2000; Pisani, 2003). Consequently, Reclamation decision-making processes are frequently questioned by a variety of affected constituencies (NRC, 2004; Henry and Conrad, 2008). Disputes often erupt over the use of science in these decision-making processes when interests or objectives compete, which delay decisions and often continue long after decisions are made (Nie, 2003; Sabatier and others, 2005). Resolving these disputes over science during the decision-making processes should assist decision-makers in incorporating the best scientific judgment in natural resource management (Mazur, 1973; Ozawa and Susskind, 1985) and reduce the likelihood of later challenges.