Reaching the Interested Public

[Jim Colston <jcolston@ocsd.com>]

Based on my experience with NPDES permitting, I have the following suggestions for reaching local residents who may be impacted by EPA/Delegated states permitting activities:

1. Provide a general interest sign-up for notification about relevant permit applications or renewals.  This may be done by zip code or other location indicator. It may be possible to allow the public to request information about specific types of permits such as air, water or hazardous waste.  This system would target interested or active individuals about permits in their immediate area.  A similar system could be developed so that interested parties could sign-up for notification about specific EPA rules of interest to them. I like the Federal Register daily updates, but this is likely too much information for members of the general public.

2. Provide relevant documents, such as draft permits and fact sheets, to interested parties.  Make these documents available through the internet and email as well as hard copy mailings to allow for faster and more complete access.  Provide documents well in advance of workshops and hearings. Include short information sheets which explain the general permitting process.

3. Provide workshops prior to hearings for complicated matters or for those matters generating greater public interest.  Hold workshops and hearings near to the proposed activity.

4. While I recognize that not all citizens have easy access to or understand how to use computers and the internet, electronic access and notification are powerful and expedient tools.  I recommend that EPA make the greatest and best use of the information age to meet demands for documents and notifications.

I'm sure that there a many other participants with ideas about reaching interested parties, and I'd appreciate hearing about them.

Jim