233F03006
How to Identify
People toInvolve
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Step 2: Identify the
Interested and Affected
Public
- To identify groups or individuals who may have an interest
in, or who may, because of their location, purposes, or - -'
activities, be affected by or interested in an upcoming EPA
activity or action
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-(ERA) issued
its new Public Involvement Policy in June 2003...The
Policy's overall goal is for excellent public -involvement to
become an integral part of EPA's culture, thus supporting
more effective Agency decisions and actions. , _;. .
The Policy provides guidance to EPA managers and staff
on how you can better involve the public in the Agency's'
decision making. The Policy outlines seven steps to
effective involvement. This brochu/e (one in a series) offers
suggestions to help you "get started" identifying the
interested and affected people who-should have the
opportunity to engage in your activities and processes.
Why Identify ttie fnterested and Affected Public?
Identifying the interested and'.affected public is the
cornerstone of public involvement processes. Get this
step Tight and everything else will be easier; get it wrong
and your process will fail. If-you.have" the wrong people join
in, you'll gather incomplete information, miss critical input,
and end with a decision that you cannot cajry out. '
:Tfiis step'enables EPA to have*direct exchanges of
jnforroatiQn.'feedback/and involvement wjth people out
decisions; rhay-affect: it helps EPA to'base its decisions"
on, the best=available information and feedback and' sets
the conditions for the effective 4ise, of limited time and. *
resources. '-'>',' >'- - '
"Community-based organizations are-essential to Identify an^i
get the community involved EPA has to work with comrnunrty-
supported^orgamzationsV you really want involvement" *
Connie Tucker; Southern Organizing, Committee for
' Econorriie anc| Social Justice * ,- ' J
' Dialogue orj Public Involvement in EPA Decisions
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Plan Your Work -
How to Identity the Interested and Affected Public
- Familiarize yourself with the community; its- history , -
groups, and issues related to your, iovoJvemerxt activities.
- Research how the community and affected public receive
- information and learn which sources they/trust (social - <
CMC or faith-based groups, events, ormedia such as/ -
- newspapers, Ty radio or the InternetX '.*,". ,' ' '
7 Contact community groups and leaders^ndividuai' ''
stakeholders, experts;Joed officials, environmental-'" '"-
. organizations, and tribes to measure interest in the" ''
program issues and Jrtvolventert,actrvHie» and to request
help reaching their member*and-dthers they believe
might have interest. - - '-:' ' ., --. /;
- Communicate with other agencies and EPA staff who may'
have worked on simijac public involvement activities br *
with s(mifaraudiences to obtain theiradvfoe and help'-'
reach >people and organizations. ' ' ' /*
Look at past decision documents {environmental impact.
statements and grants)'. ' >;/ - ;
- Look at local Directories and public records. "^ ''*
'Contact people and groups jhat holdall views, including
- v . 'Sins* likelyto-challenge the
Find the Affected
Audience
Do researcrj
Communicate
Publicise ,
(i Use alternative
languages & . ~ -
media ,
Build contacts
and partnerships
i Circulate &
maintain network
- Consider using a neutral party
to fihd and communicate with
those who rpay be interested in
an issue, especiaUy.when the
issue is controversial.
- Go out into the community and
search for groups and .
-individuals, as the people most
affected are often the least ' ' '
visible.
- Respect local work schedules
when finding people and
planning contacts. Be prepared
to calf or visit at,different times
to reach key people,'
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- Consider privacy issues and concerns when inviting
opinions or asking for contact information. Always include
an "opt out" choice on sign-up sheets.
Work Your Plan
- Develop project-specific mailing and contact lists using all
appropriate methods (door-to-door personal contact,
telephoning, sign-up sheets at local meetings, return post
card mailings).
involve the
Community
Establish
communication
mechanisms
Publicize schedule
Follow time line
&plan
Track progress
& revise
Overcome
barriers
Follow up
Communicate a clearly defined
reason (goals and objectives)
for public involvement, stressing
the vatue you place on the
community's participation.
Establish communications with
the community or affected public
using the methods they prefer
(electronic mail, printed flyers,
mailings, meetings, door-ttKloor
contact, radio, or advertise-
ments in newspapers).
Advertise your interest through
media sources such as the
radio, TV, newsletters, and
newspapers (use non-English
media as well). When possible,
include a toll-free contact
number.
Ensure all communications are easy to read (plain English
or plain, non-English languages). Include a contact name
and number, and provide alternative contacts for non-
English speakers.
Place notices with local government, social, faith-based,
and civic organizations and in locations with bulletin
boards or kiosks (malls and banks) such as town halls,
grocery stores, and senior citizens' centers.
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Advertise and host your own forums, panels, and
meetings (at convenient times and locations), and attend
community-hosted events to create interest in involvement
activities.
Use surveys, questionnaires, and scientific sampling to
identify those who might be concerned or affected by the
issues and involvement activities. ,
Additional Resources:
Gerald Cormick, Norman Dale, Paul Emond, S. Glenn *
Sigurdson, and Barry D. Stuart, Building Consensus for a
Sustainable Future: Putting Principles into Praciice^Ottawa:.
National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy,
1996, pp.23-33 and 59-77. http^/www.nrtee-trnee,ca/PuMications/
pdf/Book Building-Consensus E.pdf . ,
Office of Water, Community Culture and the Envirpnment:-A-
Guide to Understanding a Sense of Place. EPA doc#842-B-
01-003, 2002. http://www.epa.tiov/eco communitv/pdt/
CCecomDlete.ndf (This file isoyerlQ megabytes) , .
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Respons'e, Public
Involvement in Environmental Permits; A-Refefe'nce Guide,
EPA doc# 500-R-00-007,2000: httB:#www.epa.(iov/DerTiiits/
- oublicaiiicie.Ddf
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Other EPA Public InvoJyement Brochures
Introducing EPA's Public involvement Policy
How to Pian and Budget for. Public Involvement
How to Provide Jechnical and Fttancial Assistance for
Public Involvement
How to Do Outreach for Public Involvement
How to -Consult with and Involve the Public
How to Review and Use Public Input and Provide Feedback
How to Evaluate Public Involvement '" . '
How to Improve Public Meetings and Hearings ~ '
How to Improve Working with Tribes!
How to Involve Environmental'Justice Communities
How to Overcome Barriers'to Public Involvement
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More Information about the Policy
Copies of the Policy and the Framework for implementing it
are available at http^/tfWw.eB^a.gov/piifalicjnvolv^ent^plicy2gQ3/
policy20Q3.pdf and hti|)://www.eBa.qovA)ublicLnvQlvemfent/PoHcy20Q3/
framewprk.pdf
The Website for the "Internet Dialogue on Public Involvement'
in EPA Decisions" is htjp://w^.nety^^ei^
EPA's Response to Comments on the Draft 2000 Public
Involvement Policy is £y£tjable at http^/www.ega.ggWpublic
involvement/policy2pQ3/resPotfeajidf ;' ~-
%iV0lyernent° bnngS'the pieces together* artwork is the *
creation ^f-Erica A^ia Turner, who contributed'th^iv ork
through an agreemeKt'6etv?e0n the Arijnst^i|e of* -,.
EPA. - r/ , -;-»:" ; **' '"
United States Environmental Protection Agency
National Center for Environmental Innovation
Public Involvement Staff
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW 1807T
Washington, DC 20460
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The tssue of identifying stakeholders requires a
thoughtful and complete consideration of possible
stakeholders, with a fuJI discussion with as many
be invofved
Dan Dozier - Professional Mediator
Dialogue on Public Involvement in EPAdeosions
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