User-centered guidelines for environmental management

Environmental Management requirements facing US Department of Energy (DOE) facilities are detailed, complex, and often subject to rapid change. DOE`s Office of Environmental Guidance, RCRA/CERCLA Division (EH-231), is responsible for developing and issuing guidance to assist DOE facilities in interpreting and complying with Federal, State, and local requirements. Recognizing the potential for computerization of the guidance, EH-231 requested that Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNL) develop an approach for preparing automated guidance. The approach developed by PNL, termed ``user-centered guidance,`` combines participatory design and traditional rapid prototyping techniques to produce a new form of environmental guidance that emphasizes the user`s needs. This paper describes the objectives, processes and current status of this effort.