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EPA's Draft Public Involvement Policy

Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.

picture of hands        The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the Draft 2000 Public Involvement Policy on December 28, 2000 and accepted public comments on the Policy through through July 31, 2001 (the original public comment period ended April 27, 2001, but was extended so that EPA could host an Internet-based public discussion on the draft Policy during July 10-20, 2001. The extension was published as a Federal Register Notice on May 1, 2001). The Policy will provide guidance and direction to EPA officials on effective means to involve the public in its regulatory and program decisions. The Draft Policy was developed based on recommendations in the Engaging the American People: A Review of EPA's Public Participation Policy and Regulations with Recommendations for Action report (below).

The purposes of the Policy are to:

When final, the Policy will apply to all EPA programs, including such activities as rulemaking for significant regulations, permit issuance or modification, selection of plans for cleanup of hazardous waste sites, and other significant policy decisions. The Policy will not replace public participation requirements established by existing laws or regulations, but will supplement those requirements and enable EPA to implement them in the most effective ways.

All EPA programs and regional offices will implement the Policy when it is finalized. In the interim, EPA will be applying the Policy as internal guidance. EPA is soliciting comment on how best to encourage states, tribes and local governments that implement delegated programs to adopt similar policies.

The new Draft Policy is based on an earlier policy issued in 1981 that was never fully implemented. The new Policy parallels the old one, except that it addresses many changes that have occurred since 1981. These include: EPA's additional responsibilities under new statutes, regulations and Executive Orders; new and expanded public participation techniques; new options for public involvement through the Internet; EPA's emphasis on achieving compliance through partnerships, technical assistance, and public access to information; increased capacity of states, tribes and local governments to carry out delegated programs; and new government-wide administrative procedures and public involvement requirements.

Call Loretta Schumacher at 202-260-3096 for printed copies of the Draft Policy or request Top of Page e-mail copies from kahn.lisa@epa.gov.

Comments were accepted through July 31, 2001 (the original public comment period ended April 27, 2001, but was extended so that EPA could host an Internet-based public discussion on the draft Policy during July 10-20, 2001. The extension was published as a Federal Register Notice on May 1, 2001). For more information, contact stakeholders@epa.gov, or by mail to Patricia Bonner, USEPA - Office of Policy, Economics and Innovation (MC 1807), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20460.

Engaging the American People: A Review of EPA's Public Participation Policy and Regulations with Recommendations for Action.

This report is the product of a cross-program EPA Workgroup, and creates the framework for a Strategic Plan for Public Participation. The Workgroup evaluated existing public participation practices and policies and provided recommendations. One major recommendation was to create the 2000 Draft Public Involvement Policy (above) and request public comments before finalizing it.

Download the report:

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