RE: EPA's evolving role - communication is a two-way street.

[Mark Stephan <mcs3@georgetown.edu>]

Jerry's opening comments about a two-way street have struck a chord with me.  I certainly agree that EPA has evolved over the last 20 years (with the most change being seen over the last seven years or so) and has started to see citizens/communities as partners rather than simply as consumers or clients.  That said, I have questions about the role of government (EPA, state governments, local government) if public participation in Superfund and other environmental programs is going to continue and expand in the future.

The main concerns relate to the issue of "capacity," i.e., the ability of any given citizen or community to be an on-going part of the process (an issue near and dear to the hearts of political scientists such as myself).  What responsibility does EPA have to ensure that all citizens not only have a place at the table, but also a way to get there?  In particular, issues of education and income are barriers that limit participation by low and moderate income citizens.  Does EPA have an obligation to try to limit the biases of education and income?  If so, what sort of policy tools could be used to bolster such participation?

Taking seriously the idea that public participation itself can be biased in favor of certain citizens or communities might require even greater change on the part of EPA and other governmental agencies who desire strong and equal partners in the process of solving such sticky environmental issues as toxic waste cleanup.

One of the previous discussants mentioned a one-day Risk Assessment seminar.  What if a given community needed not just one day, but a week's worth of education to get up to speed?  At the same time, the citizens in this community might also have the least amount of time to give to such an endeavor (working multiple jobs, raising kids without childcare, etc.).  Can such barriers be overcome?  I'm not sure. 

I raise these issues because I believe them to be crucial to the future of citizen participation in Superfund.  That said, I understand that such a road is daunting, at best.