3.6 SYNTHESIS The U.S. and Russian approaches to ecological risk assessment constitute complementary methods of optimized environmental management. The differences which we encountered are largely due to institutional context rather than scientific framework. Since the underlying definition of risk is the same in both cases, and since that definition is essentially mathematical, it is natural that the scientific approach on both sides is much the same. It is also natural to expect that as the science itself evolves and becomes more rigorous, the scientific approaches will continue to converge even further. The U.S. method evaluates specific risks of impact from a certain type of anthropogenic adverse effect on a specific living object and subsequently, specific consequences for the ecosystem. The Russian method assesses the risk of developing a cause for a specific adverse factor and minimizes potential threat. Both methods provide a comprehensive picture of threat probability for lithotechnical, geoecological, and ecosystem integrity of the environment, and both provide an opportunity to jointly evaluate quantitative, temporal, spatial, and economic features of ecological risk. An important factor in ecological risk assessment methodology is the task of minimizing the role of subjective and qualitative elements. Rigorous quantitative assessments are more useful to planners, managers, government officials, and politicians in their routine activities and decision-making process, as well as in planning of economic and environmental protection activities.
