Fostering "multi-lateral" involvement

[Paul Orum <paul_orum@yahoo.com>]

I agree with Sheila Foster that the public involvement plan is generally bi-lateral - it addresses EPA-Public dialogue more than the multi-lateral interactions between the public, workers, regulated facilities, local-state-federal governments, insurers, investors, and so on.

EPA could foster these interactions by developing (in statute, policy, and practice) the following four opportunities:

1] The right-to-know about environmental and public health hazards.
2] The right-to-inspect hazardous conditions with one's own technical experts.
3] The right to negotiate enforceable hazard prevention agreements (i.e., "good neighbor" agreements).
4] The right-to-petition for public hearings by government agencies.

Also helpful would be public access to "solutions databases" - the right-to-know about common solutions to recurring hazards.

Paul Orum
Working Group on Community Right-to-Know