RE: Goals

[Bruce Smith <blsmith@groupwork.ns.ca>]

Re: Introduction ... I am a mediator and facilitator of large 
group consensus processes, many relating to 
environmental and natural resource issues; and have 
designed and implemented numerous public involvement 
processes of all types over the past 15 years.  I am based in 
Nova Scotia, Canada and have an office in Maine.

Re: Goals ... I would encourage EPA to think about "how we 
will know when our goals have been achieved."  The 
bulleted list is fine in general,  but some of the statements 
are so broad that one must wonder whether or not they can 
be monitored and evaluated.  There is a risk that an attempt 
to evaluate will focus on means instead of ends, and that 
they will be viewed more as principles than goals.  If you 
spend time thinking about this now, and develop goal 
statements that describe change (to increase..., to maintain 
..., to decrease ...etc ...) and can be monitoried and 
evaluated, it can make things much easier later on when 
someone asks the questions, "What difference has the new 
policy made?" 

Also, I would suggest that some thought be given to the 
consistency of goal statements between the bulleted list 
and those specified under each of the six key functions for 
effective public involvement presented later on.  I think that 
two lists of similar but differently worded goals creates the 
possibility of confusion in interpretation of the policy.