[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 250 (Thursday, December 28, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 82335-82345]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-33157]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6923-9]


Draft Public Involvement Policy

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Proposed policy.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency is revising its 1981 
Public Participation Policy. The revised policy is being issued as the 
Draft 2000 Public Involvement Policy for 120-day public comment. The 
Draft Policy was updated to reflect changes over the past nineteen 
years such as additional Agency responsibilities, new regulations, 
expanded public involvement techniques, and the changed nature of 
public access due to the Internet. The Policy will provide guidance and 
direction to EPA officials on reasonable and effective means to involve 
the public in its regulatory and program decisions.

DATES: Comments will be accepted until April 27, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to Patricia A. Bonner, United States 
Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Policy, Economics and 
Innovation (MC 1802), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20460, 
by facsimile at 202-260-4903 or by electronic mail to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia Bonner at 202-260-0599. In 
addition to sending comments by mail, interested parties may file 
comments electronically to: [email protected]. The Draft Public 
Involvement Policy may be downloaded from http://www.epa.gov/stakeholders. Any additional opportunities for public involvement on 
the Draft Policy will also be posted on the same web site.
    EPA particularly seeks comments on how the Agency can improve 
involvement opportunities for minority, low-income and underserved 
populations and how it can encourage involvement opportunities in 
programs delegated or authorized to states, tribes and local 
governments.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On January 19, 1981, the EPA published its first Agency-wide Public 
Participation Policy ``to ensure that managers plan in advance needed 
public involvement in their programs, that they consult with the public 
on issues where public comment can be truly helpful, that they use 
methods of consultation that will be effective both for program 
purposes and for the members of the public who take part, and finally 
that they are able to apply what they have learned from the public in 
their final program decisions.'' (46 FR 5736, Jan. 19, 1981)
    The 1981 Policy complemented regulations on ``Public Participation 
in Programs Under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Safe 
Drinking Water Act, and the Clean Water Act,'' 40 CFR Part 25 (2000) 
which EPA promulgated in 1979. Part 25 covers procedures that the 
Agency (or state, tribe, etc.) should or must follow. Like the 1981 
Policy, these procedures include matters associated with information, 
notification, consultation responsibilities, public hearings, public 
meetings, advisory committees, responsiveness summaries, permit 
enforcement, rulemakings, and work elements in financial assistance 
agreements.
    In the nearly two decades following issuance of the 1981 Policy, 
Congress and three Presidents added to EPA's responsibilities, EPA 
promulgated many new regulations, public involvement techniques 
expanded, and the Internet revolutionized the nature of public access. 
EPA also developed and extended its methods of ensuring compliance with 
environmental regulations through partnerships, technical assistance, 
information and data access, and public involvement under the laws it 
implements. Legislation and executive orders established new 
government-wide administrative procedures and public involvement 
requirements. Since many EPA programs are authorized or delegated to 
the states, tribes and in some instances, local governments, many of 
these organizations developed their own public policies and procedures 
for public involvement.
    Most importantly, EPA itself made public involvement an 
increasingly important part of its decision-making at all levels, 
ranging from advisory committees for national rules to local 
involvement in permitting, cleanups, and a host of other initiatives. 
Further, the Agency developed tools to assist EPA staff and regulatory 
partners to conduct public involvement and consultation, such as the 
``RCRA Public Involvement Manual'' (EPA530-R-96-007, September 1996), 
``Public Involvement in Environmental Permits: A Reference Guide 
(EPA599-R00-007, August 2000), the Model Plan for Public 
Participation'' (EPA300-K-96-003, November 1996), ``Environmental 
Justice in the Permitting Process'' (EPA/300-R-00-004, December 1999), 
and the Office of Pesticide Program's ``How to Participate in EPA 
Decision-making'' (63 FR 58038, October, 1998). .
    It was in that context that EPA stated in its July 1999 publication 
``Aiming for Excellence: Actions to Encourage Stewardship and 
Accelerate Environmental Progress'' (EPA 100-R-99-006) that the Agency 
would evaluate and update EPA's public involvement requirements and 
assess how well its regulations and policies ensure public involvement 
in decision-making. In November 1999 the Agency sought the public's 
opinion on whether the 1981 Policy needed to be revised and updated (64 
FR 66906, November 30, 1999). EPA collected, analyzed, and posted 
public comments on the Internet http://www.epa.gov/stakeholders.
    Based on the comments received, EPA believes that, while the 1981 
Policy required updating, it is basically sound and workable. 
Therefore, EPA is issuing today this Draft 2000 Public Involvement 
Policy (hereinafter called the Draft Policy) which updates and 
strengthens (but does not fundamentally change) the 1981 Policy. It 
incorporates many comments submitted in response to the 1999 Federal 
Register notice. After comments are received on this Draft Policy, EPA 
will issue a Final Public Involvement Policy.
    Many of the 1999 comments can be grouped into several themes which 
are reflected in this Draft Policy. They suggest that the Agency 
should:
    (a) increase efforts to identify groups or individuals interested 
in or affected by an issue and who represent a balance of views;
    (b) provide notices and outreach materials in ``plain English,'' 
and in other languages when appropriate;
    (c) listen to, seek to understand, and involve stakeholders in 
issues of critical importance to them;
    (d) select the most appropriate level of effort and mechanisms for 
public involvement in any specific circumstance;
    (e) incorporate Environmental Justice (EJ) considerations;
    (f) inform and involve the public earlier; and
    (g) evaluate EPA public involvement policies and practices.
    Certain other suggestions were not fully reflected in this Draft 
Policy, for the following reasons:
    (a) Expand the length of public comment periods.
    The Agency's response: Some comment periods are set in regulations 
and statutes, and Executive Orders in some instances. EPA managers 
already choose the length of a specific comment period based on the 
complexity and

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other aspects of the rule or other proposed actions. Because the Draft 
Policy is meant to enhance public involvement, its implementation 
should ensure better planning and enable managers to engage the public 
in discussions during the development of proposals, prior to opening a 
formal comment period on proposals, and to set the length of comment 
periods that give the public adequate time to develop comments.
    (b) Require a public notice for every meeting of EPA with others 
outside the Executive branch of government.
    The Agency's response: Implementing this suggestion would create 
unnecessary barriers rather than expand public access to staff and 
managers. Its effect would be to lessen public involvement in Agency 
activities and to greatly expand the administrative procedures and 
costs. The public would be overwhelmed with notices to review to find 
specific events of interest to them. Staff and managers meet with 
individuals and groups all across the nation every day to explain 
programs, learn their needs and ideas, and to give and receive 
information. If every such session were subject to public notice, the 
administrative burdens created would interfere with the environmental 
protection and public health functions of the Agency, and the public 
would not be well served.
    (c) Think broadly about the environmental issues in an area (e.g., 
a watershed) and how all stakeholders can work together to identify: 
(1) Their information needs and how they prefer to obtain information; 
(2) issues that concern them; and (3) reach joint solutions, whenever 
possible; and
    (d) Advance the concept of stewardship.
    The Agency's response on (c) and (d): EPA's environmental education 
programs, community based and watershed focused activities, pollution 
prevention activities, and related outreach and public access 
activities are attempting to promote and provide opportunities for 
holistic approaches to environmental problems. Though the stewardship 
philosophy is not stated in the Draft Policy, the Agency strongly 
supports such efforts. EPA has encouraged and actively participated in 
several industry stewardship programs and sustainability efforts, and 
in June 2000, EPA launched the National Environmental Performance 
Track. This new program rewards facilities that do more to protect the 
environment than they are legally required to do, and motivates them to 
become environmental stewards. Program participants are also required 
to share environmental information with their communities and involve 
them in relevant decisions.
    In requesting public input on today's Draft Policy, EPA is 
particularly interested in comment on the following topics:
    What EPA can do to encourage, promote and ensure effective public 
involvement in programs that have been delegated to states, tribes and 
local governments;
    How EPA can improve involvement opportunities for minority, low-
income and underserved populations; and
    How EPA can more fully address the comments received earlier 
regarding place-based approaches.
    The Draft 2000 Public Involvement Policy builds upon the 1981 
Policy on Public Participation, not fundamentally changing its message. 
The strongest advice we received in response to the 1999 Federal 
Register notice was not to make major changes, but to place a high 
priority on carrying out the Draft Policy consistently at EPA national 
and regional levels. Therefore, the Administrator is directing that EPA 
staff and managers implement the Draft Policy while the Agency receives 
and considers public comments, and that they continue to implement 
other statutory and regulatory public involvement requirements. This 
directive is appropriate because in most respects this Draft Policy 
simply formalizes what has been the Agency's intent and widespread 
practice in recent years.
    The Administrator also is charging the Agency's Reinvention Action 
Council, through a cross-Agency work group for public involvement, with 
developing a Draft Strategic Plan for Public Involvement during 2001. 
This group will design the plan to: Ensure full implementation of the 
Final Policy (when released); enhance Agency-wide public involvement; 
increase access to environmental information and involvement processes 
for under-served communities; and track and report progress on efforts 
to improve public involvement to the Agency and to the public. EPA will 
solicit input on the Plan from stakeholders and request public 
comments. The workgroup will also review EPA's Part 25 regulations and, 
if necessary, other regulations relating to public participation, to 
ensure consistency with Part 25.
    The Administrator is further directing the Agency to develop the 
means to measure progress in implementing public involvement, evaluate 
the effectiveness of public involvement activities, and encourage our 
regulatory partners to implement the intent of this Draft Policy and 
other statutory and regulatory public involvement requirements.

Richard T. Farrell,
Associate Administrator, Office of Policy, Economics and Innovation.

EPA Draft Agency-wide 2000 Public Involvement Policy

Introduction

    This Draft 2000 Public Involvement Policy (hereinafter called the 
Draft Policy) addresses public involvement in all of the Environmental 
Protection Agency's (EPA) decision-making, rulemaking, and program 
implementation activities. The fundamental premise of this Draft Policy 
is that, in all its programs, EPA should provide for meaningful public 
involvement. This requires that everyone at EPA remain open to receive 
all points of view and extend every effort to solicit input from those 
who will be affected by decisions. This openness to the public furthers 
our mission to protect public health and safeguard the natural 
environment by increasing our credibility and improving our decision-
making. Our willingness to remain open to new ideas from our 
constituents, and to incorporate them where appropriate, is absolutely 
essential to the execution of our mission. At the same time, we should 
not accord privileged status to any special interest, nor accept any 
recommendation or proposal without careful, critical examination.

Definitions

    The term the public is used in the Draft Policy in the broadest 
sense, meaning the general population of the United States. Many 
segments of ``the public'' may have a particular interest or may be 
affected by Agency programs and decisions. In addition to private 
individuals, ``the public'' includes, but is not limited to, 
representatives of consumer, environmental and other advocacy groups; 
environmental justice groups; indigenous people; minority and ethnic 
groups; business and industrial interests, including small businesses; 
elected and appointed public officials; the media; trade, industrial, 
agricultural, and labor organizations; public health, scientific, and 
professional representatives and societies; civic and community 
associations; faith-based organizations; research, university, 
education, and governmental organizations and associations, and 
governments and agencies at all levels. Public agencies that serve as 
co-regulators may have a dual role; they can be beneficiaries of

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public involvement in their decision-making processes as well as 
stakeholders who provide input into EPA's decisions.
    The term public involvement is used in this document to encompass 
the full range of actions and processes that EPA uses to engage the 
public in the Agency's work, and means that the Agency considers public 
concerns, values, and preferences when making decisions. Public 
involvement enables the public to work with the Agency and hold it 
accountable for its decisions. Though every person living in the United 
States is an ultimate beneficiary of EPA actions to protect public 
health and the environment, a relatively small number of individuals 
directly participate in Agency activities. Individuals and 
organizations who have a strong interest in the Agency's work and 
policies are referred to as stakeholders. Stakeholders also may 
interact with EPA on behalf of another person or group that seeks to 
influence the Agency's future direction. Some stakeholders are, or 
believe they are, affected parties, that is, individuals or groups who 
will be impacted by EPA policies or decisions.

What Are the Purposes, Goals and Objectives of This Draft Policy?

    The purposes of this Draft Policy are to:
     Reaffirm EPA's commitment to early and meaningful public 
involvement;
     Ensure that environmental decisions are made with an 
understanding of the interests and concerns of affected people and 
entities;
     Promote the use of a wide variety of techniques to create 
early and, when appropriate, continuing opportunity for public 
involvement in Agency decisions; and
     Establish clear and effective procedures for conducting 
public involvement activities in EPA's decision-making processes.
    Implementing a strong policy and consistent procedures will make it 
easier for the public to become involved and to affect the Agency's 
decisions. This in turn will assist the EPA in carrying out its mission 
by providing the Agency with a better understanding of the public's 
viewpoints, concerns, and preferences. Full implementation of this 
Draft Policy also should build public trust and make the Agency's 
decisions more likely to be accepted and implemented by those who are 
most concerned with and affected by them. Finally, implementing this 
policy will support EPA in meeting statutory requirements regarding 
public participation, particularly in environmental permitting programs 
and enforcement activities.
    Decision makers are sometimes concerned about delays associated 
with public involvement. In some circumstances, a compelling need for 
immediate action may make it appropriate to limit public involvement. 
However, issues that are not resolved to the satisfaction of the 
concerned public may ultimately face time-consuming review. Achievement 
of EPA's public involvement objectives may reduce delays caused by 
litigation or other adversarial activities.
    EPA has the following goals for public involvement processes:
     To foster a spirit of mutual trust, confidence, and 
openness between the Agency and the public;
     To fulfill legal requirements imposed by various 
environmental statutes;
     To ensure that the Agency consults with interested or 
affected segments of the public and takes public viewpoints into 
consideration when making decisions;
     To ensure that the Agency provides the public with 
information at a time and in a form that it needs to participate in a 
meaningful way;
     To ensure that the public understands official programs 
and the implications of potential alternative courses of action;
     To learn from the public the information it is uniquely 
able to provide (community values, concerns, practices, local norms, 
and relevant history, such as locations of past contaminant sources, or 
potential impacts on small businesses, etc.);
     To solicit assistance from the public in understanding 
potential consequences of technical issues, identifying alternatives to 
be studied, and selecting among the alternatives considered;
     To keep the public informed about significant issues and 
changes in proposed programs or projects;
     To foster, to the extent possible, equal and open access 
to the regulatory process for all interested and affected parties;
     To ensure that the government understands public goals and 
concerns, and is responsive to them;
     To anticipate conflicts and encourage early discussions of 
differences among affected parties;
     To promote the public's involvement in implementing 
environmental protection laws; and
     To ensure that the Agency communicates to the public how 
its input affected the Agency's decision.
    To achieve the purposes and goals, while also recognizing resource 
constraints, Agency officials will strive to provide for, encourage, 
and assist public involvement in the following ways:
     Beginning public involvement early in the decision-making 
process and continuing it throughout the process as necessary to 
provide the best information possible;
     Striving to identify, communicate with and listen to all 
affected sectors of the public. The role of Agency officials is to plan 
and conduct public involvement activities that provide equal 
opportunity for all individuals and groups to be heard. Where 
appropriate, implementation of this Draft Policy will require Agency 
officials to give extra encouragement and consider providing assistance 
to some sectors, such as minorities and low-income populations, or 
small businesses, which may have fewer opportunities or resources to 
participate;
     Involving members of the public in developing options and 
alternatives (when possible) and, before making decisions, seeking the 
public's opinion on options or alternatives. Agency officials must 
avoid advocacy and pre-commitment to any particular alternative or 
option prior to decision-making, unless statutory or regulatory 
requirements dictate otherwise (e.g. when EPA proposes a Plan for a 
Superfund site);
     Actively developing options that address the conflicts in 
underlying issues expressed by disagreeing stakeholders, thereby 
seeking to facilitate discussion; and
     Making every effort to match the design of public 
involvement programs with the complexity and potential for controversy 
surrounding the issue being addressed, the segments of the public 
affected, the time frame for decision-making, and the overall desired 
outcome of the public involvement process.

When Does This Draft Policy Apply?

    This Draft Policy applies to all EPA programs conducted under the 
laws and Executive Orders that EPA implements. Appendix 1 contains a 
list of these laws and orders.
    The activities covered by this Draft Policy include:
     EPA rulemaking, when the regulations are classified as 
significant (under the terms of Executive Order 12866);
     The issuance or significant modification of permits or 
licenses;

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     EPA activities in support of programs that are authorized, 
approved, or delegated by EPA that are funded by EPA financial 
assistance (grants and cooperative agreements) to States, tribes, 
interstate agencies, intertribal consortia, and local governments;
     Selection of plans for cleanup, remediation, or 
restoration of hazardous waste sites, or Brownfields properties;
     The process leading to a determination of approval of 
state, tribal or local government administration of a program;
     All other policy decisions that are determined by the 
Administrator, Deputy Administrator, or appropriate Assistant, 
Regional, or Associate Administrator to warrant application of the 
Draft Policy in view of EPA's responsibility to involve the public in 
important decisions. [Note: Science-based decisions prompt application 
of the Agency's policy on peer review.]
    Many of the activities covered by this Draft Policy have their own 
public involvement requirements established by statute, rule, or 
Executive Order. Those provisions should be considered the minimum 
level of public involvement that EPA will provide. This Draft Policy 
should be used to determine the appropriate nature and extent of public 
involvement above the basic requirements. While it is important for the 
Agency to consider the interests of the public and take steps to 
effectively involve the communities or constituencies that will be most 
impacted by EPA's decisions, it is not necessary to have extensive 
involvement for all public participation or stakeholder involvement 
activities. However, lack of adequate participation or lack of 
effective means for participation can result in agreements or policies 
that do not necessarily reflect the interests of communities or 
constituencies that will be most impacted by them.
    Major national rules and policy decisions will generally involve 
the most extensive public involvement, but more localized decisions 
such as individual permits and cleanups sometimes engender a high 
degree of public interest and warrant a more extensive involvement 
process as well. This Draft Policy does not limit the degree of public 
involvement provided, or preclude developing new tools for public 
involvement.
    This Draft Policy relies heavily on the sound use of discretion by 
Agency officials, although always with a bias in favor of public 
involvement. The Agency should make all reasonable efforts to ensure 
that the public is informed and given appropriate opportunities for 
involvement. Those opportunities should not be judged solely by their 
quantity; but also by whether they are designed to improve the quality 
of EPA's decisions. The Agency will always provide opportunity for 
public involvement in rulemaking that requires public notice and 
comment, but not every document or decision requires public 
involvement. Every involvement opportunity does not call for the 
inclusion of all potentially interested persons; including legitimate 
representatives of the various interests may be sufficient. Agency 
officials must have the flexibility to determine appropriate public 
involvement, and will be accountable for those decisions. Agency 
officials must recognize that agreement among all parties, while 
valuable, is not always needed, and that the Agency must retain the 
discretion to make decisions or take actions to preserve and protect 
the environment and public health.
    The Draft Policy is not a rule, is not legally enforceable, and 
does not confer legal rights or impose legal obligations upon any 
member of the public, EPA or any other agency. It is, however, EPA's 
statement of its strong commitment to full and meaningful public 
involvement in Agency activities. As a policy, the Draft Policy is not 
binding upon states, tribes and local governments that implement 
federally delegated, authorized or approved programs. However, EPA 
encourages those entities to adopt similar policies and will discuss 
public involvement among other issues in its periodic joint planning 
efforts with states, tribes and local governments that implement these 
programs.

What Should EPA Do to Ensure Full and Meaningful Public Involvement?

    Each Assistant Administrator, Associate Administrator, Office 
Director, or Regional Administrator should ensure that the Agency fully 
carries out this Draft Policy and all public involvement provisions of 
the laws that they are responsible for implementing. They should ensure 
that, to the greatest extent possible, authorized and delegated program 
partners provide opportunities for the public to participate in 
decision-making related to implementing their EPA-related programs. EPA 
officials are responsible for determining forthcoming decisions or 
activities to which this Draft Policy and applicable laws and Executive 
Orders should be applied, and taking the steps needed to ensure that 
adequate public involvement processes are developed and implemented.
    This Draft Policy identifies six key functions that should be 
considered when planning for public involvement. Agency officials must 
exercise judgment and take into consideration the particular 
circumstances of each situation in determining how those functions will 
be carried out. Agency employees should strive to provide the most 
meaningful public involvement opportunities appropriate to each 
situation. The issues, locations, potential environmental and public 
health consequences of the activities, potential for controversy, 
specific needs of the public and the Agency, and other circumstances 
will influence the design of public involvement processes. The Draft 
Policy recognizes the Agency's need to set priorities for its use of 
resources. It also emphasizes involvement by the public in decisions 
where options are available and alternatives must be weighed, or where 
EPA is seeking substantial agreement from the public to carry out a 
program.
    The six basic functions for effective public involvement in any 
decision or activity are:
    1. Plan and budget for public involvement activities;
    2. Identify the interested and affected public;
    3. Consider providing technical or financial assistance to the 
public to facilitate involvement;
    4. Provide information and outreach to the public;
    5. Conduct public consultation and involvement activities; and
    6. Assimilate information and provide feedback to the public.
    The goals(s) and recommended actions for each of these functions 
are described below.
1. Plan and budget for public involvement activities
    Goal: To ensure effective public involvement processes through 
advance planning, early notice to stakeholders, adequate time and 
resources, and evaluation.
    a. Recommended actions: When preparing budgetary documents for 
programs affecting the public, Agency officials should include 
resources for conducting and evaluating public involvement activities. 
These may be included as an element of regulatory development plans, 
analytic blueprints, program plans, or EPA's plans for complying with 
the Government Performance and Results Act. Programs also should plan 
for complying with the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act, the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act, as amended by the Small Business Regulatory 
Enforcement Fairness Act, Executive

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Order 13132 (Federalism), and Executive Order 13175 (Consultation and 
Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments).
    Such planning documents should set forth, at a minimum:
     Key decisions subject to public involvement;
     Staff contacts and budget resources to be allocated to 
public involvement;
     Segments of the public targeted for involvement and plans 
for identifying organizations and individuals, consistent with the 
Paperwork Reduction Act if the plans involve the collection of 
information;
     Proposed schedule for public involvement activities 
consistent with the Federal Advisory Committee Act;
     Mechanisms to apply the six basic functions--Planning and 
Budgeting, Identification, Providing Assistance, Information and 
Outreach, Public Consultation and Involvement, and Assimilation and 
Feedback--outlined above; and
     Measures or methods to evaluate the effectiveness of 
public involvement.
    When identified in an approved grant work plan, grant funds may be 
used, subject to any statutory or regulatory limitations, to support 
reasonable costs of public involvement incurred by assisted agencies, 
including advisory group expenses.
    Assistant Administrators, Associate Administrators and Regional 
Administrators should ensure that program and activity planning 
documents include public involvement activities and that they are 
developed in a timely manner for use in the annual budget planning 
process.
2. Identify the interested and affected public
    Goal: To identify groups or members of the public who may have 
expressed an interest in, or may by the nature of their location, 
purposes or activities be affected by or have an interest in an 
upcoming activity or action.
    a. Recommended actions: The responsible official should develop a 
contact list for each program, activity or project, and add to the list 
those members of the public who request to be added. Each list should 
be updated frequently, and will be most useful if subdivided by 
category of interest or geographic area. The nature and intensity of 
the involvement activities will drive the updating frequency. Pro-
active efforts should be made to ensure that all points of view are 
represented on the lists. The contact lists should be used to send 
announcements of involvement opportunities; notices of meetings, 
hearings, field trips, and other events; notices of available 
information, reports and documents; and to identify members of the 
public who may be considered for advisory group membership and other 
activities. Where circumstances (``lesser actions'' such as minor 
program guidance or minor amendments to a permit) do not warrant 
identifying individual interested parties to this extent, Agency 
officials should, at a minimum, be aware of who the interested parties 
are and how best to provide them notice.
    b. Methods: Construction of this list of contacts may be 
accomplished by any number of activities, including, but not limited to 
the following [Note: Where the above activities involve the collection 
of information from non-agency parties, they may be subject to the 
Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). For advice, staff should consult with 
the Office of General Counsel]:
     Requesting the names of interested and affected 
individuals from others in the Agency; from facilities/companies; 
state, tribal, regional and local governments; or from key non-
governmental for-profit and not-for-profit groups;
     Using questionnaires or surveys to find out levels of 
awareness;
     Reviewing dockets, depositories, research papers or other 
publications for previous similar or related activities;
     Including an EPA point of contact on EPA documents (fact 
sheets, public notices, sign-up sheets at meetings, etc.) so that 
individuals may ask to be placed on lists;
     Soliciting interest through notices in the Federal 
Register; trade and trade association publications; local print, radio, 
cable and television outlets; not-for-profit secular and religious 
publications; or through the Internet or other electronic means;
     Asking those who attend events what, if any, interests or 
key individuals are missing; and
     By using other comprehensive or creative means that 
consider the community structure, languages spoken, local 
communications preferences and the locations (such as libraries and 
other centers) where the community regularly congregates.
3. Consider Providing Technical or Financial Assistance to the Public 
to Facilitate Involvement.
    Goal: To assist stakeholder groups and members of the public who 
may not have resources to obtain the technical assistance or funding 
that would enable them to contribute effectively and in a timely 
manner.
    a. Recommended actions: EPA recognizes that responsible involvement 
by the various elements of the public in some of the highly technical 
and complex issues addressed by the Agency requires substantial 
commitments of time, study, research, analysis, and discussion. Where 
it is possible to provide technical or financial assistance, doing so 
can improve the quality of public involvement.
    In some circumstances, direct financial assistance may be 
available. For example, depending on annual budget authorizations, 
Assistant and Associate Administrators, Regional Administrators and 
Office Directors may have authority to provide funds to outside 
organizations and individuals for public involvement activities 
associated with rules under development that they, as EPA managers, 
deem appropriate and essential for achieving program goals. However, 
funds for such purposes are generally very limited. When funding is 
provided, the primary purpose must be consistent with the Federal Grant 
and Cooperative Agreement Act, and appropriate authority for the funded 
activities must be provided in one or more of EPA's statutes. In other 
cases, assistance in forms other than direct financial support can be 
provided. Examples of such assistance are provided below.
    b. Methods: There are numerous ways to provide assistance to 
members of the public who lack the ability to participate in an 
effective or timely manner in Agency public consultation or involvement 
activities. Agency managers should consult with knowledgeable staff to 
determine the most feasible and legal methods to follow. Methods may 
include staff resources or funding for:
     Access to Agency experts or contractors to obtain 
information and analyses as resources allow;
     Access to technical personnel through grants to 
universities (e.g.: The Superfund Program's Technical Outreach Services 
to Communities project has provided independent university-based 
scientific and engineering expertise to 115 communities dealing with 
hazardous substance contamination questions);
     Travel and per diem to consult and provide advice directly 
to Agency officials;
     Compensation for time spent on Federal Advisory Committee 
meetings;
     Technical Assistance Grants (TAGs) under Section 117 of 
CERCLA awarded to groups of individuals who may be affected by a 
release or a threatened release at Superfund sites to obtain assistance 
in interpreting and

[[Page 82340]]

disseminating data and information related to site activities;
     Task-specific technical assistance to help stakeholders 
address issues either in project negotiation or implementation phases 
of XL (Excellence and Leadership) projects;
     Collection and dissemination of information on outside 
sources of funding or technical assistance;
     Collaboration with non-governmental organizations and 
other information brokers;
     Provision of surplussed computer equipment to parties who 
need access to the Internet, following Agency requirements for this 
activity (under EPA's policy in response to Executive Order 12999--
Educational Technology Ensuring Opportunity for all Children in the 
Next Century that directs special attention be given to schools and 
nonprofit organizations, including community based educational 
organizations located in minority, low-income and underserved 
communities).
    c. Public involvement funding criteria: Currently the Agency does 
not have Agency-wide criteria for providing formal assistance to 
facilitate public involvement. Any criteria that the Agency may develop 
in the future for the award of financial assistance by the Agency for 
public involvement should be based on the following criteria:
    (1) whether the proposed activity is allowable under applicable 
statutory authority;
    (2) whether the activity proposed will involve interests not 
adequately represented;
    (3) whether the applicant does not otherwise have adequate 
resources to participate;
    (4) whether the applicant is qualified to accomplish the work;
    (5) whether the proposed activity will be undertaken by those with 
a direct and genuine stake in the local community; and,
    (6) whether the activity proposed will further the objectives of 
this Draft Policy that benefit the public.
    These criteria should be the primary tests used for public 
involvement financial assistance. From among those who meet these 
tests, the Agency would make special efforts to provide assistance to 
groups that may have fewer opportunities or insufficient resources to 
participate.
4. Provide information and outreach to the public.
    Goals: To provide the public with accurate, understandable, 
pertinent and timely information in accessible places so that the 
public can contribute effectively to Agency program decisions. To 
ensure that the public understands the legal requirements for Agency 
action and the significance of the related technical data so that the 
public can provide meaningful comments that assist the Agency in its 
decision-making.
    a. Recommended actions: Agency officials should:
     Ensure that adequate, timely information concerning a 
forthcoming action or decision reaches the public;
     Provide policy, program, and technical information to the 
affected public and interested parties at the earliest practicable 
times, to enable those potentially affected or interested persons to 
make informed and constructive contributions to decision-making;
     Ensure that information is provided at places easily 
accessible to interested and affected persons and organizations;
     Fully implement the goals of the Agency's Public Access 
Strategy when released (to provide the public with integrated, online, 
user-friendly access to environmental data and information) and, to the 
extent practicable, enable communities, including minority, low-income, 
and underserved populations, to have access to relevant data and 
information;
     To the extent practicable, direct that information and 
educational programs be developed so that all levels of government and 
the public have an opportunity to become familiar with the issues and 
the technical data from which they emerge;
     Ensure that informational materials clearly identify the 
role of the public in the specific decisions to be made;
     Highlight significant issues that will be the subject of 
decision-making;
     Make special efforts to summarize complex technical 
materials for the public;
     Write documents in plain language that the public will 
easily understand; and
     Consider whether EPA should provide documents in languages 
in addition to English in order to reach the affected public or 
interested parties.
    b. Methods: Information and outreach programs require the use of 
appropriate communication tools, and should be tailored to accommodate 
the public's level of familiarity with the subject.
    The following, among many other approaches, may be used for this 
purpose:
    (1) Publications, fact sheets, technical summaries, bibliographies, 
resource guides and other printed materials which may be made available 
through the mail and at information depositories (e.g., EPA regional 
and field offices, federal repository libraries and local public 
libraries, and state/tribal/local agencies);
    (2) Videos and CD ROMs;
    (3) Questionnaires, surveys, and interviews, subject to approval by 
the Office of Management and Budget under the Paperwork Reduction Act;
    (4) Public service announcements and news releases;
    (5) Educational publications, programs or activities;
    (6) Electronic communications such as Web pages, chat rooms, on-
line dialogues, and list servers;
    (7) Participation in conferences, workshops, or meetings;
    (8) Telephone communications such as hotlines, clearinghouses and 
toll-free comment lines;
    (9) Video conferences and satellite downlinks; and
    (10) Participation at public events, such as fairs and festivals.
    c. Content. Outreach materials may include:
     Background information (e.g. statutory basis, rationale, 
specific goal(s) of involvement activities, or the triggering event of 
the action);
     A timetable of proposed actions;
     Summaries of lengthy documents or technical material if 
relevant;
     A delineation of issues and the interests that they may 
affect;
     Alternative courses of action or tentative determinations 
that the Agency may have made;
     Information on whether an Environmental Impact Statement 
or Environmental Assessment is, or will be, available;
     Specific encouragement to stimulate active involvement by 
the public, including describing the nature of its influence, roles, 
and potential impact on the decisions;
     The name and contact information (address, e-mail address, 
telephone and telefax numbers) to reach an individual for further 
information;
     Whenever possible, the social, economic, and environmental 
consequences of proposed decisions and alternatives; and
     Technical evidence and research methodology explained in 
non-technical language. (Summaries of technical documents should be 
footnoted to refer to the original data.)
    Fact sheets, news releases, summaries, and similar publications in 
print and on the Internet may be used to provide notice of availability 
of materials and to facilitate public understanding of more complex 
documents, but should not be a substitute for public access to the 
complete documents. When practicable,

[[Page 82341]]

information should be provided in formats and locations that match the 
public's needs. Some information (e.g., Confidential Business 
Information) is not available for public review and the Agency cannot 
release it.
    d. Notification. Responsible officials should seek to ensure that 
parties on the contact list and the media are aware of the outreach 
materials available and that they have adequate time and opportunity to 
receive and review the information before any additional public 
involvement activities are conducted. Notices should include 
information about the repository (address, hours of operation, etc.) or 
other information relating to access to all documents referred to in 
the notice, including the name of a contact person when appropriate.
    e. Timing. To enable effective and meaningful public involvement, 
outreach materials that make the public aware of the planned activity 
and that outline the issue(s) should be distributed as early as such 
information is available. The more complex the issue and greater the 
potential for controversy or misunderstanding, the earlier the 
materials should be distributed. When the Agency holds a formal public 
comment process, notification should take place as soon as possible 
when the Agency takes an action to permit the public to obtain and 
review the materials, and prepare responses in a timely and meaningful 
way. Minimum public comment periods are often specified in statutes or 
rules. Generally, materials for public comment should be provided as 
soon as they are available and should allow for not less than 30 days 
for the public review and comment (or longer, as specified in program-
specific requirements), or 45 days in the case of public hearings.
    When unusually complex issues or lengthy documents are presented 
for public review this period generally should be no less than 60 days. 
(For Superfund actions, regardless of complexity, the public is 
provided 30 days to submit comments on proposed remedies. Upon a timely 
request, the public comment period can be extended by a minimum of 30 
additional days.)
    f. Fees for Copying: Whenever possible, the Agency should provide 
copies of relevant documents, free of charge. Free copies may be 
reserved for private citizens, public interest organizations, or small 
businesses with limited funds. Any charges must be consistent with 
requirements under the Freedom of Information Act as set forth in 40 
CFR Part 2.
    g. Depositories or dockets: The Agency should provide one or more 
central collections of documents, reports, studies, plans, etc. 
relating to controversial issues or significant decisions in a location 
or locations convenient to the public. Suitable locations will depend 
on the nature of the action; for national rules a single central docket 
is generally appropriate whereas local repositories may be preferable 
when decisions relate to individual facilities or sites. RCRA 
authorizes EPA to require a facility to set up and maintain a 
repository. In all other instances, for actions at local facilities or 
sites, Agency officials should work with community representatives and 
the facility to determine the most accessible repository site(s) within 
the community. Consideration should be given to accessibility, travel 
time, parking, transit, and availability during off-work hours. Copying 
facilities, at reasonable charges, should be available at depositories. 
Agency officials are encouraged to determine the accessibility to the 
interested public and feasibility of electronic depositories that take 
advantage of the Internet to reach directly into homes, libraries and 
other facilities throughout a community and across the nation. If the 
public has reasonably convenient, well advertised electronic 
repositories, this can achieve significantly enhanced accessibility at 
a very modest cost.
5. Conduct public consultation and involvement activities.
    Goals: To understand the interests and needs of the affected 
public. To provide for the exchange of information and views and open 
exploration of issues, alternatives and consequences between interested 
and affected members of the public and officials responsible for the 
forthcoming action or decision.
    a. Recommended actions: Agency officials should:
     Ensure that public consultation and involvement are 
preceded by timely outreach activities, including timely distribution 
of information;
     Notify the public of potential consultation and 
involvement activities early enough to ensure that the public has 
adequate time to obtain and evaluate information; conduct any 
additional data gathering; consult experts and formulate their 
opinions, options, and suggestions prior to Agency action;
     Conduct public consultation and involvement activities at 
times and places which, to the maximum extent feasible, facilitate 
attendance or involvement by the affected public. Whenever possible, 
public meetings concerning local facilities or sites should be held 
during non-work hours, such as evenings or weekends, and at locations 
accessible to public transportation;
     Identify and select the public consultation or involvement 
process appropriate to the decision being made, and the time frame and 
resources available. When possible, consult or involve the affected 
public in identifying and selecting appropriate public involvement 
processes. This ensures that the approaches selected consider and, if 
appropriate, accommodate the potentially affected parties' needs, 
preferences, schedules and resources, as well as the Agency's needs;
     Provide guidance, resources, training, and professional 
assistance to Agency staff, interested delegated program partners, and 
the public to assist them in conducting or participating in public 
consultation and involvement activities in an effective and credible 
manner. (EPA invites comment on how best this can be accomplished, 
particularly with respect to including those from minority, low-income, 
and other underserved communities);
     Consider the appropriate use of third parties in the 
development and implementation of programs, projects and activities; 
and
     Be knowledgeable of and comply with provisions of open 
meetings laws and regulations, such as the Federal Advisory Committee 
Act, whenever they apply to the public involvement process being 
conducted.
    b. Methods: Consultation and involvement processes may take a 
variety of forms, depending upon the issues to be addressed, the timing 
of the decision-making action, and the needs and resources of the 
public whose involvement is sought. Public hearings and public meetings 
are two familiar forms of consultation and often are legally required, 
but their use should not serve as the only forum for citizen input. 
When required, public hearings and meetings should be held at the end 
of a process that has previously given the public more informal and 
interactive opportunities for becoming informed and involved. 
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) is another tool that the Agency 
uses to consider and seek to resolve differences among various 
stakeholders. ADR is a consensual resolution of disputes and issues in 
controversy. ADR allows EPA to obtain the services of neutral parties 
on an expedited basis to manage a public dialogue in which neighbors, 
business interests, environmental groups, and

[[Page 82342]]

other interested parties have an opportunity to raise concerns to the 
parties involved in the enforcement action or other controversy.
    EPA and other public agencies employ a wide variety of consultation 
techniques that can be divided into three categories based upon the 
outcomes of the process:
    (1) Information Exchange;
    (2) Recommendations; and
    (3) Agreements.
    Information exchange involves EPA staff and management sharing 
data, options, issues and ideas with the public in a way that 
encourages dialogue. Information exchange activities include workshops, 
forums, joint fact finding, interactive public meetings, focus groups, 
surveys (subject to provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act), 
roundtables and informal consultation such as meetings with interest 
groups, attendance at conferences, and other opportunities for informal 
dialogue. These activities are not meant to reach agreement or 
consensus on future action. Their purpose is to compile a mutually 
developed knowledge base of everyone's interests, ideas and needs. 
Though not a fully interactive method, the notice and comment process 
also serves as a limited form of information exchange.
    Recommendations activities involve a number of stakeholder 
representatives collaborating with each other and with Agency staff to 
develop recommendations. The Agency may accord significant deference to 
the recommendations, but is generally not bound to implement the 
recommendations, nor are the parties bound to accept them. (See 
Appendix 2 for FACA requirements.) Examples of recommendations 
activities include FACA committees established by EPA, external 
technical committees (such as those conducted with the American Society 
for Testing and Materials), peer review panels, and various technical 
advisory groups, citizens advisory groups, or panels.
    Agreement activities involve EPA management and representatives of 
stakeholders who reach an agreement by consensus. Agreement activities 
include negotiated rulemaking committees and other mediated agreements. 
If the agreement activity used does not produce a legally binding 
agreement, the desired outcome of such an activity is a commitment on 
the part of the participants to full implementation.
    The list above is not exhaustive but it indicates the need for 
program officials to be flexible and choose the right techniques for 
the right occasion. These activities are not mutually exclusive; they 
form a progression. They can and should be used as part of a thorough, 
well-planned system of consultation and public involvement. Successful 
agreement or recommendation processes occur only with significant 
information exchange and outreach. However, progressing to a 
recommendation process or agreement process is not necessary, practical 
or affordable in all decision-making processes.
    c. Content--Agency officials should clearly identify issues to be 
discussed, negotiated or decided prior to and throughout the engagement 
process so that the public understands which decisions are subject to 
its input. The type of process to be conducted, the schedule, and the 
assumptions and expectations for the outcomes of the process also 
should be clearly stated so that the public and its representatives 
understand whether they are being invited to an information exchange or 
a negotiation and can set their expectations accordingly. If possible, 
the public should be involved in determining the design of the 
processes. The Agency will comply with all applicable open meeting 
requirements, such as FACA and all information gathering requirements, 
such as the Paperwork Reduction Act, in the design of its public 
outreach processes.
    d. Notification--The Agency should ensure that all parties on the 
contact list and the media are notified of opportunities to participate 
and provided with appropriate information. Agency officials should not 
assume that the general public reads printed legal notices or Federal 
Register notices which are often required by statute or regulation. 
Although these methods serve as legal notice to the public, they can be 
augmented by broader notice to the media or interested persons on the 
contact list, and other tailored notifications. Notification should 
give the time, date and location of the consultation process, a general 
description of the topics or agenda, a contact person and contact 
information, and a general description of the nature of the process to 
be conducted, as well as the role of the public. Agency officials 
should consider the use of multilingual notices of upcoming activities 
and/or translator services, when appropriate.
    e. Timing--Agency officials should provide early advance notice of 
public involvement processes so that the public can obtain background 
information, obtain and evaluate additional data, formulate their needs 
and interests, and obtain expert assistance, if necessary. Generally, 
notice should be given not less than 15 days in advance of an impending 
meeting or consultation process. If the issues are unusually complex or 
involve review of lengthy documents this period generally should be no 
less than 60 days. Program specific notice requirements should be 
consulted; for example, for Superfund actions, regardless of 
complexity, the public is provided 30 days to submit comments on 
proposed remedies. Upon a timely request, the public comment period can 
be extended by a minimum of 30 additional days.
    f. Summaries: Detailed summaries of advisory committee meetings 
under FACA are required by law. [Appendix 2 contains requirements for 
formation and use of EPA advisory committees.] In addition, some 
statutes also require minutes of public meetings. Even when not 
required, when possible and appropriate, Agency officials should make 
summaries of public hearings and public meetings available to 
participants and other interested parties. When possible and 
appropriate, Agency officials should be open to participants' comments 
that might correct or add to the summary. In rulemaking proceedings 
under the Administrative Procedure Act, a memorandum summarizing any 
significant new factual data or information likely to affect the final 
decision received during an informal meeting or other conversations 
should be placed in the public docket for the rule. In other 
situations, it may be helpful to document discussions that contribute 
information useful to decision-making and make that information 
available to participants and interested parties.
6. Assimilate information and provide feedback to the public.
    Goal: To consistently earn and retain the public's trust and 
credibility for EPA consultation processes, by evaluating and 
assimilating public viewpoints and preferences into final decisions, 
where appropriate and possible, and communicating to the public the 
decisions made and how their input affected those decisions.
    Assimilating public viewpoints and preferences into decisions and 
final actions involves examining and analyzing public input, 
considering if and how to incorporate that input into final program 
decisions, and making or modifying decisions according to carefully 
considered public views. The Agency should demonstrate, in its 
decisions and actions, that it has understood and fully considered 
public concerns. Finally, the Agency should communicate the decision 
and discuss

[[Page 82343]]

the influence of the public's input in the final decision.
    a. Recommended actions:
    (1) Assimilate the information: Agency officials should briefly and 
clearly document consideration of the public's views in Responsiveness 
Summaries, regulatory preambles, EISs or other appropriate forms. This 
should be done at key decision points. Each Responsiveness Summary (or 
similar document) should:
     Include a statement of the action that was taken;
     Explain briefly the type of public involvement activity 
that was conducted;
     Identify or summarize those who participated and their 
affiliation;
     Describe the matters on which the public was consulted;
     Summarize the public's views, important comments, 
criticisms and suggestions;
     Disclose the Agency's logic in developing decisions;
     Indicate the effect the public's comments had on that 
action; and
     Discuss the Agency's specific responses to significant 
issues, in terms of modifying the proposed action, or explaining why 
the Agency rejected proposals made by the public.
    (2) Provide feedback to the public: For all major actions and 
whenever practicable for lesser actions, the Agency should provide 
feedback to participants and interested parties concerning the outcome 
of the public's involvement. The Agency should publish, post on a web 
site or in public places, distribute, mail, or e-mail a Responsiveness 
Summary or similar document for those who participated in or observed 
the public involvement processes, those who provided public comments 
and to those on the contact list. In addition, where circumstances and 
resources permit, or where the number of participants was small, 
feedback may be in the form of personal letters. Feedback provided in 
meetings or through other means should be documented.

Who is responsible for ensuring that this Draft Policy is applied 
appropriately?

    Public involvement is an integral part of any program. It should 
routinely be included in decision-making and not be treated as an 
independent or secondary function. Managers should ensure that 
personnel are properly trained, supported and counseled, and that 
adequate funding needs are incorporated in their specific budgets.
    Under the overall direction of the Administrator, the Assistant, 
Associate, and Regional Administrators are responsible and accountable 
for the adequacy of public involvement programs. They are ultimately 
responsible for making certain that, for the activities under their 
jurisdiction, all Agency staff implement the purpose of this Draft 
Policy. They are responsible for ensuring that the level of effort in 
public involvement is commensurate with the potential impact of the 
upcoming action or decision. The Regional, Assistant, or Associate 
Administrators will make certain that concerns about the adequacy of 
public involvement are heard and, where necessary, acted upon as 
resources allow. Citizens who have questions or objections about the 
substance of this Draft Policy or the appropriateness of applying it in 
a particular case should raise that issue with the Agency officials 
involved.
    Although this Draft Policy is not binding on states, tribes and 
local governments, EPA encourages these entities to adopt similar 
policies where they administer federal programs authorized, approved or 
delegated by EPA. The Agency intends to include public involvement 
among the issues discussed during the annual reviews of state, tribal 
or local program(s), and during any other program audit or review.
    1. The Administrator maintains overall direction and responsibility 
for the Agency's public involvement activities. Specifically, the 
Administrator will:
    a. Establish policy direction and guidance for all EPA public 
involvement programs;
    b. Provide incentives to Agency personnel to ensure commitment to 
and competence in implementing this Draft policy; and
    c. evaluate the adequacy of public involvement activities conducted 
under this Draft Policy, the appropriateness and results of public 
involvement expenditures, and the effectiveness of this Draft Policy.
    2. Assistant Administrators and Associate Administrators have the 
following responsibilities:
    a. Identify and address those activities and major decisions where 
application of this Draft Policy is appropriate;
    b. Ensure that plans developed for these programs or activities 
include and provide adequate time and resources for effective public 
involvement;
    c. Consider providing guidance and assistance to support regional 
office public involvement activities at the request of Regional 
Administrators;
    d. Implement the public information and public involvement portions 
of approved plans;
    e. Evaluate the effectiveness and appropriateness of public 
involvement expenditures and activities under their jurisdiction, 
revising and improving them as necessary;
    f. Encourage coordination of public involvement activities;
    g. Ensure that, as regulations for the programs cited in Appendix 1 
of the Draft Policy are amended, they incorporate the Draft Policy's 
provisions;
    h. Consider funding authorized pilot and/or innovative 
demonstration projects;
    i. Consider measures to ensure Draft Policy implementation in 
appropriate managers' performance standards;
    j. Provide financial assistance, as appropriate and available, for 
authorized public involvement activities at the national level;
    k. Coordinate public involvement funding to outside groups to 
ensure the most economical expenditures;
    l. Provide guidance and technical assistance and training as 
appropriate to support authorized and delegated program activities of 
state, tribal, regional and local entities;
    m. Develop guidance and training needed to ensure that program 
personnel are equipped to implement the Draft Policy;
    n. Provide incentives to Agency staff to ensure commitment to and 
competence in implementing this Draft Policy;
    o. Seek public involvement in decisions to modify or develop major 
national policies, at their discretion; and
    p. Ensure that applicable legal requirements associated with public 
involvement are adhered to, such as the Federal Advisory Committee Act 
and the Paperwork Reduction Act.
    3. Regional Administrators have the following responsibilities:
    a. Identify and address those EPA activities, policies, and 
programs where this Draft Policy should be applied;
    b. Ensure that plans developed by the programs for activities, 
programs and policies subject to this Draft Policy provide for adequate 
public involvement;
    c. Implement the public information and public involvement portions 
of approved Agency plans;
    d. Provide information and technical assistance to staff and 
participants in delegated programs on the conduct of public involvement 
activities;
    e. Discuss with state, tribal, regional and local entities the 
effectiveness and appropriateness of their public involvement 
activities during periodic meetings;
    f. Encourage coordination of public involvement activities;

[[Page 82344]]

    g. Support and assist the public involvement activities of EPA 
Headquarters;
    h. Ensure that Regional staff members are trained, and that 
resources are allocated for public involvement;
    i. Incorporate measures to ensure Draft Policy implementation in 
managers' performance standards;
    j. Provide small grants to representative public groups for needed 
public involvement work, where feasible and appropriate;
    k. Evaluate the appropriateness of public involvement expenditures 
and activities, revising and improving them as necessary; and
    l. Ensure that applicable legal requirements associated with public 
involvement are adhered to, such as the Federal Advisory Committee Act 
and the Paperwork Reduction Act.
    4. The Director, Office of Communication, Education, and Media 
Relations (OCEMR) has an important role in the development and support 
of Agency public involvement activities. The Director will:
    a. Assist EPA Headquarters and Regions in identifying interested 
and affected members of the public;
    b. Support Headquarters and Regional programs in critiquing, 
developing and distributing outreach materials to inform and educate 
the public about Agency environmental programs and issues, and 
involvement opportunities; and
    c. Encourage, develop, and support Agency strategic communications 
plans to foster public awareness and complement public involvement 
plans.
    5. The Associate Administrator, Office of Congressional and 
Intergovernmental Relations, has the responsibility to assist program 
offices in identifying:
    a. State and local officials, both elected and appointed, to engage 
in public involvement activities; and,
    b. Appropriate mechanisms and forums to reach these constituents.

Appendix 1: Laws, Executive Orders and Presidential Memos

    EPA is required to implement public involvement provisions of 
laws, executive orders and presidential memos that include, but may 
not be limited to:
     Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. 7401-7671q (1994 & Supp. 2000)
     Clean Water Act 33 U.S.C. 1251-1387 (1982 & Supp. 2000)
     Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and 
Liability Act, as amended by the Superfund Amendments and 
Reauthorization Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. 9601-9675 (1994 and Supp. 
2000)
     Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act 42 
U.S.C. 11011-11050). (1994)
     Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, 
(including the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996), 7 U.S.C. 135-
136y (1994)
     Marine Protection Research and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 
(including the Ocean Dumping Act), 33 U.S.C. 1401-1445 (1982)
     National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 
4321-4347e (1988 & Supp. 2000)
     Noise Control Act of 1972, 42 U.S.C. 4901-4918 (1995)
     Solid Waste Disposal Act as amended by the Resource 
Conservation and Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. 6901-6992k (1994 and Supp. 
2000)
     Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. 300f-300j-26 (1988)
     Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C. 2601-2692 (1994 
& Supp. 2000)
     Chemical Safety Information, Site Security and Fuels 
Regulatory Relief Act of 1999, Pub. L. 106-40, 113 Stat. 207 (1999)
     Shore Protection Act 33 U.S.C. 2601-2623 (Supp. 2000)
    This Draft Policy also applies to EPA activities under the 
following Executive Orders:
     E.O. 12580--Superfund Implementation
     E.O. 12856--Federal Compliance with Right-to-Know Laws 
and Pollution Prevention Requirements
     E.O. 12866--Regulatory Planning and Review
     E.O. 13132 Federalism (which replaced E.O. 12875--
Enhancing the Intergovernmental Partnerships)
     E.O. 12898--Federal Actions to Address Environmental 
Justice in Minority Populations and Low Income Populations
     E.O. 13045--Protection of Children from Environmental 
Health Risks and Safety Risks
     E.O. 13007--Indian Sacred Sites
     E.O. 13175--Consultation and Coordination with Indian 
Tribal Governments
     E.O. 11988--Floodplain Management
     E.O. 13166--Improving Access to Services for Persons 
with Limited English Proficiency
    In addition, this Draft Policy is effective for EPA activities 
conducted under the following statutes for which other agencies have 
primary responsibility:
     Atomic Energy Act, 42 U.S.C. 2011-2297g-4 (1995)
     Energy Policy Act of 1992, Pub. L. 102-486, 106 Stat. 
2776 (codified as amended in scattered sections of 15, 16, 25, 26, 
30, 42 and 43 U.S.C.)
     Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. 301-397 
(1994)
     Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act, Pub. 
L. 102-240, 105 Stat. 1914 (codified as amended in scattered 
sections of 15, 16, 23, 26, and 33 U.S.C.)
     Occupational Safety and Health Act, 29 U.S.C. 651-678 
(1994 & Supp. 2000)
     Oil Pollution Act of 1990, 33 U.S.C. 2702-2761 (Supp. 
2000)
     Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act, 49 
U.S.C. 32901-32919 (1994 & Supp. 2000)
     Nuclear Waste Policy Act, 42 U.S.C. 10101-110270 (1994 
and Supp.2000)
     Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act, 42 U.S.C. 
7901-7942 (1995)
     WIPP Land Withdrawal Act, Pub. L. 102-579, 106 Stat. 
4777 (1992) as amended by Pub.L. 104-201, 110 Stat. 2422 
Implementing public involvement activities may also involve 
complying with the following Acts, Executive Orders, Executive 
Memoranda, and Regulation:
     Administrative Procedure Act 5 U.S.C. 550-596 ((1996)
     Freedom of Information Act 5 U.S.C. 552 (1994 & Supp. 
2000)
     Civil Rights Act of 1964 , Pub. L. 88-352, 78 Stat. 241 
(codified as amended in scattered sections of 42 U.S.C.)
     Federal Advisory Committee Act 5 U.S.C. app. 2, secs. 
1-15 (1996)
     Government Performance and Results Act, Pub. L. 103-62, 
107 Stat. 285 (codified in scattered sections of 31 U.S.C.)
     Negotiated Rulemaking Act 5 U.S.C. 561-570a
     Administrative Disputes Resolution Act 5 U.S.C. 571-584 
(1994)
     Paperwork Reduction Act 44 U.S.C. 3501-3526 (1998 & 
Supp. 2000)
     Regulatory Flexibility Act, as amended by the Small 
Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 5 U.S.C. 601-
612 (1994 & Supp. 2000)
     Unfunded Mandates Reform Act 2 U.S.C. 1501-1571 (1994)
     National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 
1995, Pub.L. 104-113, 110 Stat. 775 (codified as amended in 
scattered sections of 15 and 35 U.S.C.)
     Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801-1808 (2000)
     National Environmental Education Act of 1990, 20 U.S.C. 
5501-5510 (1994)
     Organotin Antifouling Paint Control Act, 33 U.S.C. 
2401--2410 (Supp. 2000)
     National Historic Preservation Act of 1996, as amended, 
16 U.S.C. 470-470x-6 (Supp. 2000)
     E.O. 12862--Setting Customer Service Standards
     E.O. 12999--Educational Technology Ensuring Opportunity 
for all Children in the Next Century
     E.O. 11593--Protection of and Enhancement of the 
Cultural Environment
     E.O. 11990--Protection of Wetlands
     Presidential Memorandum on Plain Language in Government 
Writing (June 1, 1998)
     Presidential Memorandum on Electronic Government 
(December 17, 1999)
     Presidential Memorandum on Government-to-Government 
Relations with Native American Tribal Governments (April 29, 1994)
     Public Participation in Programs Under the Resource 
Conservation and Recovery Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, and the 
Clean Water Act, 40 CFR Part 25 (2000)
     Minority Business Enterprise and Women's Business 
Enterprise Program, contained in portions of 40 CFR Parts 30, 31, 35 
and 40

Appendix 2: Advisory Committees

    To gain advice from a representative group of stakeholders or 
experts, one of the methods that the Agency may choose is forming an 
advisory committee. These committees are usually subject to the

[[Page 82345]]

chartering, balanced membership, and open meeting requirements of 
the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). The Office of General 
Counsel or the Regional Counsel should be consulted to determine 
whether FACA applies to a particular group.
    In general, any time the Agency forms a group of non-federal 
people to provide EPA with collective advice, the requirements of 
the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) may apply. Such groups 
shall not meet until the requirements of FACA are met. Staff may 
contact the Committee Management Officer in the Office of 
Cooperative Environmental Management for advice on complying with 
these requirements, and to learn about the exceptions to FACA.
    The primary function of an advisory group is to assist elected 
or appointed officials by making recommendations to them on issues 
that the decision-making body considers relevant. These issues may 
include policy development, project alternatives, financial 
assistance applications, work plans, major contracts, interagency 
agreements, and budget submissions, among others. Advisory groups 
can provide a forum for addressing issues, promote constructive 
dialogue among the various interests represented on the group, and 
enhance community understanding of the Agency's action.
    A. Requirements for Federal EPA Advisory Committees: When EPA 
establishes an advisory group, provisions of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act 5, U.S.C. App. 2), and General Service Administration 
(GSA) Regulations on Federal Advisory Committee Management must be 
followed.
    These requirements are:
     The development of a Charter that has been approved by 
the General Services Administration and Office of Management and 
Budget. It must contain the committee's objectives and the scope of 
its activities, the period of time necessary for the committee to 
carry out its objectives, the agency responsible for providing the 
necessary support for the committee, and a description of the duties 
for which the committee is responsible. The Charter must be renewed 
every two years. 5 U.S.C. App. 2, sec. 9.
     The Establishment Federal Register Notice. At least 15 
days before the charter is filed for a new committee, EPA is 
required to publish an establishment notice in the Federal Register. 
Such notice describes the nature and purpose of the committee, the 
agency's plan to attain fairly balanced membership, and a statement 
that the committee is necessary and in the public interest 5 U.S.C. 
App. 2, sec. 9.
     Balanced Membership. Advisory committees must be 
``fairly balanced'' in points of view represented. 5 U.S.C. App. 2, 
sec. 5.
     The Meeting Federal Register Notice. Each advisory 
committee meeting must be noticed in the Federal Register at least 
15 days prior to the meeting. 5 U.S.C. App. 2, sec. 10.
     To close a meeting to the public, you must obtain the 
approval of both the Administrator and the General Counsel. 5 U.S.C. 
App. 2, sec. 10.
    Detailed minutes must be kept of all advisory committee 
meetings. 5 U.S.C. App. 2, sec. 10.
     Open Meetings. Interested persons may file written 
statements with any advisory committee, attend any advisory 
committee meeting (unless properly closed), and appear before any 
advisory committee. 5 U.S.C. App. 2, sec. 10.
     DFO Attendance. Each meeting must be attended by a 
Designated Federal Official (DFO), a full-time federal employee who 
is authorized to adjourn the meeting and approve the agenda. 5 
U.S.C. App. 2, sec. 10.
     Documents Available to the Public. All advisory 
committee documents (including drafts) shall be available to the 
public upon request. 5 U.S.C. App. 2, sec. 10.
    B. State and Local Advisory Committees: In instances where 
regulations, program guidance, or the public involvement plans of 
state, substate, or local agencies, call for advisory groups, they 
should follow applicable state and local laws.

    Note: Find information about EPA's FACA committees at http://www.epa.gov/ocem/websites.htm#.faca


[FR Doc. 00-33157 Filed 12-27-00; 8:45 am]
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