RE: What stakeholders/citizens need to participate

[Dan Kahl <Kelpdk@ksu.edu>]

Pat, Glenn and ALL,

I am in agreement with what you have written. Typically, I think
effective public participation requires:

#1. A reason to get involved. (And recognize that different citizens
    will require different motivators to become involved.)
#2. A Means to get involved. Often people do not know how to
    participate. The guidelines for public comment should be clear,
    for example.
#3. Effective involvement requires:
    - An understanding of the subject matter 
    - An understanding of the decision-making process being used
      (what channels, steps and process needs to take place?)
    - Know the decision makers (who is on the panal/committee/council?)
    - Know the considerations (what are the influencing factors
      that will impact this decision?)
    - Diplomacy, communication, conflict resolution, and negotiation skills.

How do these comments link to the need for participation? I think
stakeholders need:

#1 Awareness. As Glenn mentioned, tiny ads in local papers don't
   get read. How about the EPA sending a press release to the local
   TV/radio stations announcing a public hearing? Or better yet (PR
   wise) that the local polluter be required to announce thier public
   hearing though local news/radio. (though this may be a RCRA suggestion
   - I have never heard it done).
#2 Quality information in terms that are easily understood and area accurate. 
#3 Interactive skills. When it comes right down to it, environmental
   conflict may exist between the hawk and the mouse, but the
   environmental conflicts we are most often concerned with are human
   conflicts over how we treat/manage/mistreat the environment. Human
   conflict resolution requires human relations skills.  The Kansas
   Environmental Leadership Program is a training program, supported
   by Kansas State University Research and Extension and the Kansas
   Department of Health and Environment through EPA 319 funds that is
   addressing environmental issues from the above standpoint. EPA may
   wish to support similar programs.

Dan Kahl
Extension Associate, K-State University