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While social scientists have had impact on the formulation of federal policies, social science input has not been considered essential to prudent decision making at any level of government. This has frustrated social scientists with an inclination toward applying their knowledge to solving human problems. Recent developments in some states, however, have created a mechanism which may provide social scientists a formal device through which their knowledge can influence some of the most important decisions made on the local level. This device is the environmental impact report (EIR).

The present paper describes the emergence of the environmental impact assessment process in California and the use of the EIR by local government. The potential of the process as a mechanism for injecting social science knowledge into decision making will be demonstrated using environmental psychology as an example.