Public Participation in Environmental Assessment and Decision Making - Softcover

National Research Council; Division Of Behavioral And Social Sciences And Education; Committee On The Human Dimensions Of Global Change; Panel On Public Participation In Environmental Assessment And Decision Making

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0309123984 ISBN 13: 9780309123983

Publisher: National Academies Press, 2008

Synopsis

Federal agencies have taken steps to include the public in a wide range of environmental decisions. Although some form of public participation is often required by law, agencies usually have broad discretion about the extent of that involvement. Approaches vary widely, from holding public information-gathering meetings to forming advisory groups to actively including citizens in making and implementing decisions.

Proponents of public participation argue that those who must live with the outcome of an environmental decision should have some influence on it. Critics maintain that public participation slows decision making and can lower its quality by including people unfamiliar with the science involved.

This book concludes that, when done correctly, public participation improves the quality of federal agencies' decisions about the environment. Well-managed public involvement also increases the legitimacy of decisions in the eyes of those affected by them, which makes it more likely that the decisions will be implemented effectively. This book recommends that agencies recognize public participation as valuable to their objectives, not just as a formality required by the law. It details principles and approaches agencies can use to successfully involve the public.

Table of Contents

• Front Matter
• Executive Summary
• 1 Introduction
• 2 The Promise and Perils of Participation
• 3 The Effects of Public Participation
• 4 Public Participation Practice: Management Practices
• 5 Practice: Organizing Participation
• 6 Practice: Integrating Science
• 7 Context: The Issue
• 8 Context: The People
• 9 Overall Conclusions and Recommendations
• References
• Appendix: Biographical Sketches of Panel Members and Staff

About this title

About the Author:

Thomas Dietz and Paul C. Stern, Editors, Panel on Public Participation in Environmental Assessment and Decision Making, National Research Council

About this edition

• Publisher: National Academies Press
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0309123984
• ISBN 13: 9780309123983
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 322
• Editor: Stern Paul C., Dietz Thomas