Research Product

Natural resource agencies in Canada and the United States were asked to complete a questionnaire regarding their FY-73 manpower, funds, activities, and attitudes toward pollution abatement and research to develop water quality criteria for aquatic life. Respondents included 53 state agencies, 25 U.S. Federal agencies, and 13 Canadian agencies. Summarized results indicate that environmental protection activities generally comprise only a modest share of an agency's budget. However, the funds and manpower spent on research to develop water quality criteria were comparatively small and accomplished mainly in federal laboratories. Most reported bioassay activities were of short duration and predominantly used freshwater fish. Respondent attitudes toward bioassay methods varied greatly. Whether warranted or not, a majority of respondents would prefer to license pollution bioanalysts and would favor having AFS sanction specific bioassay methods. Specialized waste treatment facilities were absent at most laboratories and most laboratories discharged waste water without treatment or sent their effluent to municipal sewage plants. Typically, about two years lapsed between data analysis and publication in technical journal articles. Research efforts that did not produce publications averaged 67% for states, 25% for U.S. Federal, and 41% for Canadian agencies. Editorial assistance seemed to be associated with a higher conversion of research effort into scientific articles for public comsumption.