The Congressional Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) closed on September 29, 1995. During its 23-year history, OTA provided Congressional members and committees with analyses of the scientific and technological issues that were increasingly relevant to public policy and legislative action.
OTA occupied a unique role among the Congressional information agencies. Unlike the General Accounting Office, which is primarily concerned with evaluation of ongoing programs, and the Congressional Research Service, which provides rapid information on legislative topics, OTA provided a deeper, more comprehensive, and more technical level of analysis. Through eleven Congressional sessions, OTA became a key resource for Congressional members and staff confronting technological issues in crafting public policy. Its existence brought a healthy balance to the analytical resources available to the executive and legislative branches of government.
The agency’s legacy is found in the many items of legislation it influenced and in the channels of communication its staff helped foster between legislative policymakers and members of the scientific, technical, and business communities.
The Black Vault has archived here the complete collection of reports and data issued by the OTA. Clicking on any document below will take you directly to the report, all in .pdf format. This collection holds 110,670 pages in total.
1979
Analysis of Laws Governing Access Across Federal Lands: Options for Access in Alaska
Annual Report to the Congress for 1978
Benefits of Increased Use of Continuous Casting by the U.S. Steel Industry
Computer Technology in Medical Education and Assessment
The Direct Use of Coal
Drugs in Livestock Feed
The Effects of Nuclear War
Environmental Contaminants in Food
Gasohol
Management of Fuel and Nonfuel Minerals in Federal Land
Materials and Energy From Municipal Waste
Open Shelf-Life Dating of Food
OTA Priorities 1979, With Brief Descriptions of Priorities and of Assessments in Progress
Pest Management Strategies in Crop Protection
Railroad Safety-U.S.-Canadian Comparison
Residential Energy Conservation
A Review of Selected Federal Vaccine and Immunization Policies, Based on Case Studies of Pneumococcal Vaccine
Selected Topics in Federal Health Statistics
Technical Options for Conservation of Metals: Case Studies of Selected Metals and Products
Technology and East-West Trade
Technology Assessment of Changes in the Future Use and Characteristics of the Automobile Transportation System-Volume II: Technical Report
Technology Assessment of Changes in the Future Use and Characteristics of the Automobile Transportation System-Volume III: Public Participation
Technology Assessment of Changes in the Future Use and Characteristics of the Automobile Transportation System-Volume I: Summary and Findings
1978
An Analysis of the ERDA Plan and Program
Annual Report to the Congress for 1977
Application of Solar Technology to Today’s Energy Needs-Vol. I
Application of Solar Technology to Today’s Energy Needs-Vol. II
Applications of R&D in the Civil Sector: The Opportunity Provided by the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977
Assessing the Efficacy and Safety of Medical Technologies
Emerging Food Marketing Technologies: A Preliminary Analysis
Enhanced Oil Recovery Potential in the United States
An Evaluation of Railroad Safety
Government Involvement in the Innovation Process: A Contractor’s Report to the Office of Technology Assessment
The Health of the Scientific and Technical Enterprise: An Advisory Panel Report to the Office of Technology Assessment
Impact of a Department of Education on Federal Science and Technology Activities
Nutrition Research Alternatives
Policy Implications of the Computed Tomography (CT) Scanner
A Preliminary Assessment of the National Crime Information Center and the Computerized Criminal History System
Renewable Ocean Energy Sources: Part I-Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion
The Role of Demonstrations in Federal R&D Policy
A Technology Assessment of Coal Slurry Pipelines
1977
Analysis of the Proposed National Energy Plan
Annual Report to the Congress by the Office of Technology Assessment: March 15, 1977
Cancer Testing Technology and Saccharin
Engineering Implications of Chronic Materials Scarcity
Establishing a 200-Mile Fisheries Zone
Nuclear Proliferation and Safeguards
Nuclear Proliferation and Safeguards: Appendix Volume II, Part One
Nuclear Proliferation and Safeguards: Appendix Volume II, Part Two
Organizing and Financing Basic Research To Increase Food Production
Perspectives on Federal Retail Food Grading
Policy Implications of Medical Information Systems
A Preliminary Analysis of the IRS Tax Administration System
Status Report on the Gas Potential From Devonian Shales of the Appalachian Basin
Technology Assessment in Business and Government
Transportation of Liquefied Natural Gas
1976
Annual Report to the Congress by the Office of Technology Assessment: March 15, 1976
An Assessment of Alternative Economic Stockpiling Policies
Assessment of Community Planning for Mass Transit: Volume 10-Washington, D.C. Case Study
Assessment of Community Planning for Mass Transit: Volume 11-Technical Report
Assessment of Community Planning for Mass Transit: Volume 12-Bibliography
Assessment of Community Planning for Mass Transit: Volume 2-Atlanta Case Study
Assessment of Community Planning for Mass Transit: Volume 3-Boston Case Study
Assessment of Community Planning for Mass Transit: Volume 4-Chicago Case Study
Assessment of Community Planning for Mass Transit: Volume 5-Denver Case Study
Assessment of Community Planning for Mass Transit: Volume 6-Los Angeles Case Study
Assessment of Community Planning for Mass Transit: Volume 7-Minneapolis-St. Paul Case Study
Assessment of Community Planning for Mass Transit: Volume 8-San Francisco Case Study
Assessment of Community Planning for Mass Transit: Volume 9-Seattle Case Study
An Assessment of Information Systems Capabilities Required To Support U.S. Materials Policy Decisions
Automatic Train Control in Rail Rapid Transit
Coastal Effects of Offshore Energy Systems: An Assessment of Oil and Gas Systems, Deepwater Ports, and Nuclear Powerplants Off the Coasts of New Jersey and Delaware
Comparative Analysis of the 1976 ERDA Plan and Program
Development of Medical Technology: Opportunities for Assessment
The Feasibility and Value of Broadband Communications in Rural Areas: A Preliminary Evaluation
Food Information Systems
Food Information Systems: Summary and Analysis
A Review of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Environmental Research Outlook FY 1976 Through 1980
Technology Assessment Activities in the Industrial, Academic, and Governmental Communities
1975
Analysis of the Feasibility of Separating Exploration From Production of Oil and Gas on the Outer Continental Shelf
Analysis of the Impacts of the Projected Natural Gas Curtailments for the Winter 1975-76
Annual Report to the Congress by the Office of Technology Assessment: March 15, 1975
Automated Guideway Transit: An Assessment of PRT and Other New Systems
Automobile Collision Data: An Assessment of Needs and Methods of Acquisition
Energy, the Economy, and Mass Transit
Financial Viability of Conrail: Review and Analysis
Oil Transportation by Tankers: An Analysis of Marine Pollution and Safety Measures
A Review of Alternative Approaches to Federal Funding of Rail Rehabilitation
A Review of National Railroad Issues
1974
Annual Report to the Congress by the Office of Technology Assessment: March 15, 1974
Drug Bioequivalence
Requirements for Fulfilling a National Materials Policy
1972
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