MIT ENVIRONMENTAL CONFERENCE NOV 16-17 (fwd)

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Center for International Studies
Program on Regulation and the Environment

Federal Environmental Policymaking: Responding to New Evidence
November 16-17, 1999
MIT Faculty Club, Cambridge, MA
Co-sponsored by MIT Center for Environmental Initiatives

The first round of environmental regulations set standards that often
remained in force for a decade or more. As environmental knowledge
accumulates and becomes more precise, however, the key to effective
regulations will be organizational flexibility - the ability to adapt to
new evidence.
This national conference will analyze and compare notable recent cases
where environmental agencies have responded to new findings. Our objective
is to better understand both the barriers to change, and the incentives
that make change more likely and more timely. All those concerned with the
quality of the policy process, in and out of government, will find these
discussions highly relevant for their own work.
____________________________________________________________________________
Tuesday, November, 16
1PM
Welcome and Introduction: Harvey Sapolsky, MIT
Panel 1: Policymaking and New Evidence at the Centers for Disease Control
(CDC) and the National Toxicology Program (NTP)
Chair: Sanford L. Weiner, MIT
Questions:
Several NTP committees have disagreed completely about whether to remove
saccharin from the carcinogen list. Does this reflect the strength of the
new evidence, or the structure of the decision process?
CDC substantially changed its targets for lead screening from 1991-1997.
Were these changes appropriate and timely? Are further changes necessary?

John Whysner, American Health Foundation, Getting off the Carcinogen List:
The National Toxicology Program Review of Saccharin
Richard Jackson,  Center for Environmental Health, CDC, The Evolution of
CDC's Screening Policies for Childhood Lead Poisoning
Sergio Piomelli, Department of Pediatrics, Columbia Medical School,
Screening Policies and the Evidence on Lead Exposure
Barbara Beck, Gradient Corporation, New Evidence on Lead Exposures

4:30 PM
Summary and Reflections
Wednesday, November 17
9 AM
Panel 2: Policymaking and New Evidence at the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA)
Chair: Larry McCray, MIT
Questions:
After several years of debate, EPA suddenly reversed its position on the
use of reformulated gasoline. What produced this shift? Why now?
How well does EPA incorporate new evidence in its risk assessments and
toxic substance policies?

Robert O'Keefe, Health Effects Institute, The Evidence on Reformulated
Gasoline: Explaining EPA's Turnaround
Don Ryan, Alliance to End Childhood Lead Poisoning, Evidence and Priority
Setting at EPA
Roy Epstein, Navigant Consulting, New Evidence for Risk Assessments

11:45 AM
Lunch Speaker: Clyde Hertzman, Department of Epidemiology, University Of
British Columbia, Influences on Child Development: An Overview of the 
Evidence

1:30 PM
Panel 3: New Evidence and Organizational Change
Chair: Harvey Sapolsky
Questions:
Can regulatory agencies be better designed for flexibility?
In comparing case examples, where are the levers of change?

James Foster, MIT, Barriers and Incentives For Change at EPA
Sanford L. Weiner, MIT, Levers For Change: CDC and EPA Compared
Larry McCray, MIT, Regulations With Mandated Periodic Review

4 PM
Final Summary and Reflections

Location: The conference will be held at the MIT Faculty Club, 50 Memorial
Drive (E52-6th floor), Cambridge, Massachusetts. Parking is available in
commercial lots nearby.
Hotel Accommodations:
Participants will be responsible for their own hotel reservations, and
should call the hotels directly.
Among the hotels in the area are: University Park at MIT (800-222-8733 or
617- 577-0200), the Cambridge Marriott ( 617-494-6600), the Cambridge Hyatt
Regency (617-492-1234), the Royal Sonesta ( 617-491-3600), the Inn at
Harvard (800-458-5886), and the Sheraton Commander (617-547-4800. Special
rates may be available for visitors to MIT. We strongly urge you to make
your room reservations as soon as possible, as November is a busy hotel 
month.
Registration for the conference will be accepted on a space-available basis
until November 12, 1999
By mail:
Complete the registration form and return it to the Center for
International Studies, Attn: Amy Briemer, Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, 292 Main St., Building E38, Room 656, Cambridge, MA 02139
By fax: Complete the registration form and fax it to 617-253-9330, to the
attention of Amy Briemer
By email: Send a message containing the registration information to
abriemer@mit.edu
Sponsorship
The Environmental Policymaking Conference is sponsored by the MIT Program
on Regulation and the Environment and the MIT Center for Environmental
Initiatives, which have received program support from the Ford Motor
Company, Exxon Corporation, the National Multi Housing Council, The
National Apartment Association, Norsk Hydro, and the Lead Industries
Association.
Registration Form: Federal Environmental Policymaking, November 16-17, 1999
( ) Please register me for the Conference
( ) I will be staying for lunch on Wednesday, November, 17
( ) I cannot attend the conference, but please keep me on your mailing list
for future events.
Name:
Title:
Address:
Daytime Telephone:
Fax Number:
Email Address:
Please return registration form to:
The Center for International Studies
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Attn: Amy Briemer
292 Main Street, E38-656, Cambridge, MA 02139
Phone: 617-258 8552, Fax: 617-253-9330


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