Public participation in environmental statements

Conference · Fri Feb 29 23:00:00 EST 1980 · J. Water Resour. Plann. Manage. Div., Am. Soc. Civ. Eng.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7155080

Fusco, S M

Mr. Fusco points out that URS Co. involvement in several controversial projects since the passage of the National Environmental Policy Act, has resulted in the development of an effective methodology for public participation in the environmental-assessment process. The methodology consists of seven elements. At the outset, a Methodology Document, written in lay terms, is distributed to interested parties. It describes the approach and critical issues of the proposed impact assessment. Comment is received on the Methodology Document and the approach is modified. During the process, the public is kept informed. The attitude of the general public is evaluated via surveys serving as a yardstick comparing those attitudes of the citizens who are actively involved in the process. The final element is the incorporation of public opinion into the development of an environmental impact matrix. The use of public opinion, via a procedure of providing quantifiable relationships, overcomes the major weakness of impact matrices, that is, the inability to incorporate a system of subjective values.

• Research Organization: URS Co., Seattle, WA
• OSTI ID: 7155080
• Journal Information: J. Water Resour. Plann. Manage. Div., Am. Soc. Civ. Eng.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Water Resour. Plann. Manage. Div., Am. Soc. Civ. Eng.; (United States) Vol. 106:WR1; ISSN JWRDD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290200* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Economics & Sociology
290300 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
530200 -- Environmental-Social Aspects of Energy Technologies-- Assessment of Energy Technologies-- (-1989)
DOCUMENT TYPES
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
HEARINGS
LAWS
MEETINGS
NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT
PLANNING
PUBLIC OPINION
PUBLIC RELATIONS
SURVEYS