What Is Public 

 Participation? 



Designing the Public 

 Participation Program 



Section 101(e) Federal Water Pollution Control Act 



Public participation in the development, revision, and 

 enforcement of any regulation, standard, effluent 

 limitation, plan, or program established by the Ad- 

 ministrator or any State under this Act shall be provided 

 for, encouraged, and assisted by the Administrator and 

 the States. 



Public participation in the context of the National Estuary Program 

 means involving citizens in the decision-making process that the 

 Management Conference oversees. 



Recognizing estuaries as commonly held treasures — productive, 

 fragile, and enormously appealing places to live, recreate, and do 

 business — the National Estuary Program has stressed the political 

 and social ramifications of estuary management. This emphasis is 

 expressed through requirements for an effective public participa- 

 tion program. EPA believes that estuary programs will reach the 

 implementation phase only with public support. The Agency's 

 conviction is validated by experiences in other programs. 



The goal of public participation is to establish the public consensus 

 that will ensure long-term support and implementation of the 

 CCMP. As the Management Conference proceeds and the colla- 

 borative process evolves, public consensus must be achieved at 

 least during two phases: first, when priority problems are identified 

 and, second, when solutions and action strategies for implementa- 

 tion are selected and adopted. 



Consensus signifies substantial agreement among the four key 

 constituent groups: elected officials, environmental managers, 

 scientists, and the public. These groups must concur that a partic- 

 ular course of action is technically well-founded, feasible, fair, and 

 most likely to succeed. Consensus also implies the willingness of 

 program participants to work together and to compromise. Some- 

 times participants will be unable to reach consensus. At other 

 times — when enforcing regulations, for instance — agencies will 

 have to carry out their legal responsibilities regardless of consen- 

 sus. Nevertheless, agreement among these four groups is essen- 

 tial for general program direction and the development of 

 long-range courses of action. 



To achieve consensus, the public must have accurate, timely, and 

 relevant information. It must be well-informed to participate intelli- 

 gently in the decision-making process. 



The Management Conference should develop a public participation 

 work plan to ensure orderly, informed, and balanced participation. 

 Planning for public participation activities should occur simul- 



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