What More Can You Do? “The Environment’s Regulatory Context”

1. What More Can You Do? “The Environment’s Regulatory Context” Diane Adams, Principal EnviroIssues November 2, 2005

2. 15 Years of Experience • Facilitation, public involvement, strategic project integration, community outreach • Transportation, land use, facility siting, site cleanup, wastewater • More than 50 projects currently underway in the Pacific Northwest www.enviroissues.com

3. My Background • B.S. in Political Science and M.S. in Land Use Management • 14 years of environmental consulting experience • Facilitation, environmental policy analysis, and community outreach • Base closure, energy, site cleanup and redevelopment, transportation planning www.enviroissues.com

4. What Are the Goals for Public Involvement? • Fulfill regulatory requirements for public involvement • Identify and resolve public issues that may be barriers to a project • Build acceptance and/or support for a decision or project • Get better results by incorporating a broad set of ideas • Legitimize decisions and safeguard against backlash or dismissal www.enviroissues.com

5. So, What Do You Have To Do? • NEPA, SEPA, CERCLA, MTCA – first decode the acronyms • Public Comment periods – try to figure out for what and then how long • Apply the correct format and advance notice – (e.g., public hearing) • Respond to the public!!! – don’t forget your follow-through www.enviroissues.com

6. Now, What CAN You Do? • Figure out the decision process and how it can be affected by stakeholder input • Reach out to ALL the people and groups with a stake in the outcome • Ensure the public understands the issue, key decision points, costs and benefits, and process BEFORE you get to the formal comment period • Get CREATIVE – in some cases, just complying with the requirements isn’t enough www.enviroissues.com

7. What Does This Get You? • A legitimate public process and outcome – people expect more than compliance • Potential cost savings if you’re able to avoid project delays or a lawsuit • Public understanding, if not support for a project • A project that can be implemented! www.enviroissues.com

8. A Case in Point – Skykomish • Major environmental cleanup by BNSF and regulated by the Department of Ecology • 50+ years of contamination – You think the town is tired of dealing with this issue? • How do we get to a final cleanup that the community will support? www.enviroissues.com

9. Skykomish, cont’d • Meet the regulatory requirements under MTCA, but what else? • Informal working group meetings • Pay attention to the old timers • Spend time in town and build relationships • Clearly and frequently share what you know www.enviroissues.com

10. Another Difficult Case – BPA in the Cedar River Watershed • Bonneville Power Administration’s plans for another transmission line through the Cedar River Valley • The first EIS got a little dusty, so they added some new alternatives • 10 public hearings over one year as a recovery strategy • In the end, everything turned out okay www.enviroissues.com

11. One More Example Called EJ • WSDOT and other agencies are paying much closer attention to environmental justice • There is guidance, but no specific regulatory requirement on how to ensure EJ • Are minority and low income populations disproportionately affected by the project? www.enviroissues.com

12. WSDOT’s EJ Effort • HOT Lanes project along SR 167 • How will low-income drivers be affected by a toll-lane along SR 167? • Opportunity to resolve issues ahead of time, build support for the project, and legitimize the process • Focus groups www.enviroissues.com

13. So, What Am I Trying to Say? • Of course, complying with requirements is important, but there’s often much more you can do: • Be strategic, be human • No surprises – involve the public BEFORE you get to a critical decision point • Listen and get to know your public • Follow-up www.enviroissues.com