Date of Award

9-1993

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

First Advisor

Richard S. Hartley, PhD

Abstract

A cost-effectiveness prioritization methodology was developed using concepts from the cost-effectiveness technique. The new methodology called the Cost-Effectiveness methodology (CEM) allows the prioritization of mitigation projects across broad categories of hazardous sites as would be ranked among the offices of the Environmental Protection Agency. Two performance criteria were incorporated into the process--rank projects that save the most lives per dollar and enhance general applicability across different categories of risk. A metric was developed that represents the ratio of lives saved per dollar spent on mitigation alternatives of contaminated environmental sites. This metric was incorporated into the CEM to distinguish mitigation projects that were projected to save the most lives per mitigation dollar. steps to enhance the comparability of site risks were also incorporated into the CEM. once developed, the cost- effectiveness methodology was successfully applied to ranking a landfill mitigation project and a radon mitigation project--two categorically different environmental sites characterized as a cancer risk. The results of the CEM demonstrated that more lives would be saved mitigating radon in 658 radon- contaminated houses to 2 pCi/L than mitigating two landfills where a comparable number of homes were exposed.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-GEE-ENP-ENV-ENC-93S-02

DTIC Accession Number

ADA270472

Comments

The author's Vita page is omitted.

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