ARSENIC IN DRINKING WATER AND PUBLIC OPINION ON WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AS CASE STUDIES ILLUSTRATING NATURAL RESOURCE POLICY

There are various ways to approach policy planning. This thesis consists of two Maine natural resource issue case studies illustrating different approaches to policy analysis. The first, a case study of arsenic contamination, is an example of a study that assembles information and provides that information to the public to influence public behavior. The second, a case study of wildlife management, is an example of a study that surveys the public to collect information on the public's opinions and attitudes to influence agency behavior towards the public. Arsenic in drinking water in Maine is a public health concern. There may be as many as 30,000 private wells in Maine with arsenic levels in excess of the current federal standard, 0.01 mg/L. The arsenic study was undertaken to help health officials and homeowners assess the relative costs associated with treatment alternatives for private well water with elevated levels of arsenic. Annual costs of reverse osmosis, activated alumina, bottled water, rented and purchased water coolers were compared. Costs were calculated based on households from one to four residents