Introduction

[Lynn Mandarano <mandaran@dolphin.upenn.edu>]

Lynn Mandarano.  Currently I am a Ph.D. Student in City and Regional Planning at the University of Pennsylvania focusing on environmental planning.  Prior to coming to UPenn I worked for 15 years as an environmental engineer providing services to municipalities concerning their environmental infrastructure: solid waste management, drinking water, wastewater.  My experience with public participation has been limited to state policies and the public review and comment periods during the permitting process and during the review of environmental impact statements.

I am participating in this discussion to tune into the latest dialogue on public participation and to learn of ways to or contribute thoughts on how to proactively address NIMBYism and other forms of opposition.  I am also interested in studying policy networks and this forum provides a great opportunity to observe how the public participates in policy reform.