Environmental geology: our professional public responsibility |
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Authors: | L C Gerhard L L Brady |
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Institution: | (1) Kansas Geological Survey, 1930 Constant Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66047 USA, US |
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Abstract: | Conflicts between different interest groups for use of natural resources is one area where state geological surveys can provide
assistance. A state geological survey working within the scientific constraints of specific issues can remain objective in
its presentations and maintain the faith of both the conflicting interest groups and the public. One cannot vary from the
objective view or you will quickly be criticized. Criticism can still occur from one side of a natural resource issue as your
data might counter their views. However, the final decisions are almost always made in some legislators, or regulators, area
of responsibility. The responsibility of the state geological survey is to provide the important data that will assist in
making correct decisions. Should one party in the conflict become extreme in their demands, a potential compromise that is
beneficial to both sides can be lost. In Kansas, the classical natural resource problem of resource/recreation in a populated
area is presented as a case study. The state geological survey presented data on sand resources in the Kansas River and its
valley in northeast Kansas. That information was important to both recreation and dredging interests where the political problem
is a conflict of sand use as a construction material resource versus use of the alluvial river as an important recreation
area, especially for canoeing. However, when a reasonable compromise was near completion in the Kansas Legislature one side,
in a bold move to develop an advantage, ruined that potential for compromise.
Received: 12 May 1998 · Accepted: 6 July 1998 |
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Keywords: | Professional responsibility State geological surveys Kansas River Sand dredging |
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