Lessons learned in NEPA public involvement

Conference · Fri Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:127281

Stevens, A D ^[1]; Glore, D M ^[2]

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1. SAIC, Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
2. Department of Energy, Idaho Falls, ID (United States)

`In recent years Uncle Sam has been asking citizens for their help in improving the environment. The government is learning that with public input it can better prioritize environmental problems and more effectively direct limited funding.` The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), like many other government regulations, is a `living law.` Although there are agency and Council guidelines, it is practical application, based on past practices and case law that refines the Act`s broad concepts. The specifics of how to meet requirements are constantly being honed and melded to fit the unique situational needs of an agency, a project, or a public. This fluidity presents a challenge for stakeholder involvement activities. Communication practioners and project managers may have room for creativity and customized approaches, but they also find less than clear direction on what it takes to successfully avoid challenges of non-compliance. Because of the continuing uncertainty on how to involve the public meaningfully, it is vital to share important lessons learned from NEPA projects. The following practical suggestions are derived primarily from experiences with the Department of Energy`s first ever complex-wide and site-specific environmental impact statement (EIS)-the Programmatic Spent Nuclear Fuel Management and Idaho National Engineering Laboratory Environmental Restoration and Waste Management Programs EIS (SNF & INEL EIS).

• DOE Contract Number: AC07-92ID13208
• OSTI ID: 127281
• Report Number(s): CONF-9504179--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS
PLANNING
PUBLIC OPINION
PUBLIC RELATIONS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
US DOE