Intro & Comment on Goals

[Nathan Cooley <nathan.cooley@pca.state.mn.us>]

Hi.  I'm from Minnesota's Pollution Control Agency. I commented on EPA's draft PIP policy and am working with a PIP implementation task force.  I found the draft PIP so big and complex that it would be hard to use.  

In EPA's public involvement goals, EPA uses the phrase "public involvement" with a potentially huge meaning.  I doubt that EPA could handle even 1-PPM involvement from its public (300-400 entities?) at any given time.  This makes me wonder what public EPA really hopes to reach?  The public EPA needs to reach is the public most motivated to stop a valid and necessary environmental protection project-this is the public most motivated to voice its needs and to negotiate a workable solution.  EPA also seems to be seeking this input from a less money-motivated public.  While "public concerns" are important, I hope that EPA understands its role to protect an often-voiceless environment against some of the most professional voices on Earth.  

EPA says it wants these publics' help developing options-prior to decision-making.  Jumping to solutions is basic human nature but EPA should use the public first in a business process called, "project definition".  EPA needs to learn to lead a "project definition process" that ultimately results in shared goals and solutions rather than a stated but endless goal of "facilitating discussion between conflicting views".