Success or not?

[Marianne Thaeler <mthaeler@aol.com>]

As a member of the public and former locally elected offical, I realize:
When government is doing a good job, no one shows up.
 OR it means there is a MAJOR problem in making the public aware.
When there is a problem and the public is aware, the room is packed!

Problem is - the public usually does't realizes impacts until it is too late to make meaningfully differences.

Thus, cynicism becomes the norm.

I disagee with the dialogue member who indicated that environmental issues are all political.  People do care, no matter what persuasion they espouse, and will support funding if they know they must speak out.

What does the public want? Confidence so they do not have to attend a meeting or write a nasty letter.

Agree that Federal Register Notices are not the most effective way to communicate, they are a reference. 

Personally, I believe EPA is doing a pretty good job.
Just don't send anyone out to meet the public, who is just going to give a briefing, i.e. this is what has been decided, so there!
Public hates that. They want to know they can change something, i.e. make a difference.

Marianne Thaeler