Developing structured science syntheses for use in NEPA analyses and decision making in the Bureau of Land Management
Science information is fundamental to understanding how proposed actions on public lands may impact the environment. However, agencies often have limited time to compile and synthesize existing science. We are working with land management agencies to develop a new type of science product—structured science syntheses—for facilitating the use of science information in public lands decisions.
Understanding potential environmental effects of proposed planning and management actions is a core responsibility of public lands management and is required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) conducts hundreds of NEPA analyses every year. Science information is foundational to this process. However, agency staff often have limited time to compile and synthesize existing science and data. In addition, staff regularly face new management issues and may not always have the specific training or expertise needed to synthesize information about a given topic.
The BLM has identified a need to explore new approaches to communicating science that facilitate the use of science in NEPA analyses. In this project, we developed a new type of product—structured science syntheses—to inform NEPA analyses on public lands. Our goal was to develop a process for writing structured science syntheses and create multiple examples of this new type of product to test and improve the concept.
We are now working to build a library of structured science syntheses. We are also creating hypothetical example analyses, or “worked examples,” to support development of structured science syntheses and illustrate ways to apply synthesis content in NEPA analyses.
What is a structured science synthesis?
Structured science syntheses are peer reviewed, published reports, coproduced with resource managers, that synthesize science information about a priority management issue on public lands. Read more about them in our fact sheet.
Published Structured Science Syntheses
Effects of noise from oil and gas development on ungulates and small mammals
Effects of culverts on habitat connectivity in streams
Effects of noise from oil and gas development on songbirds and raptors
What is the process for developing a structured science synthesis?
Each structured science synthesis is coproduced by researchers and resource managers. In this project, our initial set of published syntheses were coauthored by staff from the USGS, BLM, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). In addition, throughout the writing process, we worked to gather feedback from BLM resource managers at headquarters, state, and field office levels.
After they are published, we share syntheses using a variety of outlets, such as staff meetings and webinars for BLM programs, internal and public news releases, conference presentations, and internal information hubs, such as the BLM Science in Practice Portal.
What kind of information is in a structured science synthesis and how is it organized?
Synthesis topics address the combination of a proposed action and potentially affected resource. In our initial syntheses, we worked with key BLM program staff to select and scope priority topics for the BLM. Syntheses typically incorporate four types of science relevant to NEPA analyses: data about resources and the proposed action, scientific studies about potential effects of the proposed action on resources, analysis methods for quantifying potential effects, and approaches to mitigating or avoiding adverse impacts. This information in a structured science synthesis is organized (i.e., “structured”) according to a decision or analysis process, such as the steps in NEPA analysis.
Worked Examples
This project will support creation of worked examples to accompany structured science syntheses. Worked examples are hypothetical examples of NEPA analyses. Worked examples illustrate an application of the information in a structured science synthesis to an issue that might commonly arise in NEPA analyses.
Worked examples can support end users of the synthesis or facilitate development of a synthesis. Creating a worked example while writing a synthesis can act as a “test run” of the information in the synthesis.
Anticipated Benefits of this Project
Structured science syntheses package science information in a new way, with the intention of helping to bridge the research-management gap for public lands management (Carter and others, 2020). By creating a library of structured science syntheses and worked examples, we hope to provide the BLM and other land management agencies with tailored, practical science products that can directly inform their NEPA analyses.
Interagency Science-Management Partnership
The USGS, BLM, and FWS are working together to coproduce this project to create practical, actionable science that informs planning and management decisions on public lands (see BLM’s Coproduction Toolkit for more information on coproduction).
Developing a step-by-step process for assessing cumulative effects in the Bureau of Land Management
USGS Science Syntheses for Public Lands Management
Synthesis of sage-grouse genetic information to support conservation and land management actions
Developing searchable annotated bibliographies for resource managers
Developing science syntheses to facilitate climate-informed land management decisions and NEPA analyses on rangelands in the sagebrush biome
Developing a toolkit for coproducing actionable science to support public land management
Annotated Bibliography of Scientific Research on Greater Sage-Grouse
Science information is fundamental to understanding how proposed actions on public lands may impact the environment. However, agencies often have limited time to compile and synthesize existing science. We are working with land management agencies to develop a new type of science product—structured science syntheses—for facilitating the use of science information in public lands decisions.
Understanding potential environmental effects of proposed planning and management actions is a core responsibility of public lands management and is required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) conducts hundreds of NEPA analyses every year. Science information is foundational to this process. However, agency staff often have limited time to compile and synthesize existing science and data. In addition, staff regularly face new management issues and may not always have the specific training or expertise needed to synthesize information about a given topic.
The BLM has identified a need to explore new approaches to communicating science that facilitate the use of science in NEPA analyses. In this project, we developed a new type of product—structured science syntheses—to inform NEPA analyses on public lands. Our goal was to develop a process for writing structured science syntheses and create multiple examples of this new type of product to test and improve the concept.
We are now working to build a library of structured science syntheses. We are also creating hypothetical example analyses, or “worked examples,” to support development of structured science syntheses and illustrate ways to apply synthesis content in NEPA analyses.
What is a structured science synthesis?
Structured science syntheses are peer reviewed, published reports, coproduced with resource managers, that synthesize science information about a priority management issue on public lands. Read more about them in our fact sheet.
Published Structured Science Syntheses
Effects of noise from oil and gas development on ungulates and small mammals
Effects of culverts on habitat connectivity in streams
Effects of noise from oil and gas development on songbirds and raptors
What is the process for developing a structured science synthesis?
Each structured science synthesis is coproduced by researchers and resource managers. In this project, our initial set of published syntheses were coauthored by staff from the USGS, BLM, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). In addition, throughout the writing process, we worked to gather feedback from BLM resource managers at headquarters, state, and field office levels.
After they are published, we share syntheses using a variety of outlets, such as staff meetings and webinars for BLM programs, internal and public news releases, conference presentations, and internal information hubs, such as the BLM Science in Practice Portal.
What kind of information is in a structured science synthesis and how is it organized?
Synthesis topics address the combination of a proposed action and potentially affected resource. In our initial syntheses, we worked with key BLM program staff to select and scope priority topics for the BLM. Syntheses typically incorporate four types of science relevant to NEPA analyses: data about resources and the proposed action, scientific studies about potential effects of the proposed action on resources, analysis methods for quantifying potential effects, and approaches to mitigating or avoiding adverse impacts. This information in a structured science synthesis is organized (i.e., “structured”) according to a decision or analysis process, such as the steps in NEPA analysis.
Worked Examples
This project will support creation of worked examples to accompany structured science syntheses. Worked examples are hypothetical examples of NEPA analyses. Worked examples illustrate an application of the information in a structured science synthesis to an issue that might commonly arise in NEPA analyses.
Worked examples can support end users of the synthesis or facilitate development of a synthesis. Creating a worked example while writing a synthesis can act as a “test run” of the information in the synthesis.
Anticipated Benefits of this Project
Structured science syntheses package science information in a new way, with the intention of helping to bridge the research-management gap for public lands management (Carter and others, 2020). By creating a library of structured science syntheses and worked examples, we hope to provide the BLM and other land management agencies with tailored, practical science products that can directly inform their NEPA analyses.
Interagency Science-Management Partnership
The USGS, BLM, and FWS are working together to coproduce this project to create practical, actionable science that informs planning and management decisions on public lands (see BLM’s Coproduction Toolkit for more information on coproduction).