July 12- INFORMATION

[Reva Fabrikant <Revafab@home.com>]

Hi Everyone,

I want to start out by saying that this forum is wonderful. I am learning a tremendous amount from the varied ideas and opinions expressed and appreciate the nationwide outreach of this type of forum.

This forum should be used as a template for future forums for the general public on topics of national interest and import. Brief summaries of important topics could be presented, in simple, non-technical language and comments solicited from participants throughout the country. 

INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION:

LANGUAGE- It does no good to distribute information that is written in a technical, boring, complicated fashion. Only diehards will struggle through that. Technical information is important, but there are ways to write it simply so that non-technical people, the majority of our public, can understand it, digest it and determine how this project could impact their lives. PLEASE - don't have engineers, scientists, lawyers and other technical professionals write documents for public consumption. Hire people who know how to write for the public but can also understand and digest the technical jargon. Use graphic artists who can understand technical info and present in it an interesting manner. Let these types of professionals prepare materials for public consumption. Once you get past the language barrier you've taken a major step forward.

DISTRIBUTION- Let the locals do it locally. Get the information to professionals who know their community and know how to target particular audiences. Have them distribute the information and keep EPA informed of the comments, results etc. Some issues may need door-to-door distribution and personal contact, others articles in local papers. Use a local network of outreaach professionals to distribute information and communicate with them. Different information distribution methods work in different situations and with different audiences. Generalizing is impossible. 

NATIONAL DISTRIBUTION- EPA should work with organizations that have a national focus. Organizations such as AARP, Sierra Club, and Trade Unions etc. be willing to put links on their web pages to important information that EPA would like to distribute on a national level. Major nationwide retail outlets may help with information distribution if they see it as a way to increase customer satisfaction and service. It's time for public agencies to work in partnership with private businesses to benefit everyone. I have had incredible success working with Home Improvement stores to publicize local programs that interest their customers.