[CPEO-BIF] EPA issues Public Involvement Policy

[cpeo <cpeo@cpeo.org>]

Please excuse the cross-posting.
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Final news advisory

EPA Administrator Christie Whitman issued the new Public Involvement
Policy on June 6, 2003. The policy gives clear guidance to EPA staff on
effective ways to involve the public in all of the agency's programs and
activities. The Public Involvement Policy recommends these seven basic
steps for effective public involvement: 1) plan and budget; 2) identify
whom to involve; 3) consider providing assistance; 4) provide
information; 5) conduct involvement; 6) review, use input and provide
feedback and 7) evaluate public involvement.

The new Policy recognizes: the public's changing needs, new statutes and
regulations; expanded public participation techniques and media (e.g.
Internet); the importance of partnerships and technical assistance; and
increased state, tribal and local government capacity to carry out
programs.  EPA also released the “Framework  for Implementing EPA’s
Public Involvement Policy” and EPA’s “Response to Public Comments on the
Draft 2000 Public Involvement Policy.” The policy, framework and EPA's
responses are posted at
http://www.epa.gov/publicinvolvement/policy2003.htm

The policy is not a rule and is not legally enforceable. It supplements
public involvement requirements under existing laws and regulations and
enables EPA to implement them in the most effective ways. The new policy
does not replace existing established laws or regulations governing
public participation requirements.

For listservs and newsletters

Christie Todd Whitman, U.S. EPA Administrator, issued EPA’s Public
Involvement Policy on June 6, 2003, after three years of development,
review and comment.   The new Policy applies to all EPA environmental
programs.  It provides clear guidance to EPA staff on effective ways to
involve the public in EPA’s regulatory and program implementation
decisions.

The Policy recommends seven basic steps for effective public
involvement.  The Policy, EPA’s response to Comments and the Framework
for Implementing the Policy are posted at
http://www/epa.gov/publicinvolvement/policy2003.htm

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