Environmental hazards are widely discussed in Canada today. For certain classes of engineering projects, the probability of an accident can be calculated from past experiences and from extreme value theory. These are the hazards that often receive the most attention from the media. In this connection, it is extremely difficult to rank risks of a widely differing nature, although comparisons are needed in order to develop comprehensive risk management programs. Furthermore, there are the inter-related prblems of perceived risk and of acceptable risk .
Confrontations arise when groups of prople hold differing perceptions of a risky situation.
These are the problems dicussed in this monogram and in the 11 Case Studies, which focus on Canadian issues. This monograph is certainly not the final word on environmental risk management in Canada. However, it is the first comprehensive treatment to appear and as such, it identifies important knowledge gaps that need to be filled and some public issues that need to be addressed in more depth.