INCREASING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PUBLIC

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INCREASING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PUBLICS
PARTICIPATION??????????
EDWARD WONG OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN CALIFORNIA
AIR RESOURCES BOARD CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY May 2009 ??????????????????? ???
? 2009?5?
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OUTLINE ??

• How to get the public involved?
• ????????
• Inform the public
• ???????
• Use new technologies
• ?????
• Assisting the public
• ????
• Examples of advice to public
• ????????

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HOW TO GET THE PUBLIC INVOLVED?????????
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Examples of measures to increase public
participation???????????????

• Informative websites ???????
• Contact Lists Internet access/listservs/mailing
  lists
• ??????/????(LISTSERVs)/????
• Regulatory Agenda/Plan/Calendar ????/??/???
• Requests for comments on regulatory priorities
• ????????????????
• Public hearings or meetings ??????????
• Advisory committees ?????
• Negotiated rulemaking ???????

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Examples of measures to increase public
participation (cont)???????????????

• Requests for comments ??????
• Press releases/conferences ?????/?
• Internet chat rooms???????
• Website Frequently Asked Questions ???????
• Plain language manuals or summaries
• ??????????
• Special outreach efforts for small businesses and
  governments
• ????????????????

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Informative websites ???????
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http//www.arb.ca.gov/homepage.htm
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http//www.arb.ca.gov/html/aboutarb.htm
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Establish and maintain contact lists?????????

• Establish Internet listservs and mailing lists
  for interested members of public to receive
  notices and information about topics of interest
  (by email or mail)
• ?????????(LISTSERVs)?????????????????????????????
  ?(?????????)
• What is a listserv?
• ???????(LISTSERV) ?
• Note Listserv is basically an online mailing
  list
• ? ??????(LISTSERV) ,?????????????????? ??????????
  ????????????????????? ?????????

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Sign up for CARB Listserv???????????http//www.a
rb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php
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Establish and maintain contact lists
(cont)?????????(?)

• Proactively identify groups, individuals,
  companies, industry associations, social
  organizations, etc., that might be interested and
  contact them
• ??????????????????????????,????????
• Provide sign-in sheets at workshops, hearings and
  other meetings
• ??????????????????

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Facilitate the public ????

• Schedule workshop times and locations to optimize
  peoples ability to participate
• ?????????????????????????
• Provide notice sufficiently in advance to allow
  participants to set aside time to attend and
  prepare comments
• ????????????????????????

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Educate the public ????

• Prepare and distribute manuals (brochures) on how
  public can get involved
• ?????????????(???)
• Have manuals available in office and for mail-out
• ???????????????????
• Post manuals on agency website
• ?????????

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Proactive Outreach ????

• Visits by agency officials to explain public
  participation opportunities and procedures
  (outreach) to
• ?????????????????????(??),?
• Middle schools, high schools and universities
• ????????
• Communities and villages (residents committees,
  villagers committees, homeowners committees)
• ?????(?????????????)
• Social organizations and professional and trade
  associations
• ????????????

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Role of the media ?????

• Media coverage of a rulemaking can increase
  public interest and participation
• ?????????????????????
• Encourage press coverage of proposed rulemaking
• ????????????????
• Invite media to workshops and hearings
• ?????????????
• Make informed officials available to talk with
  media about the issues
• ??????????????

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INFORM THE PUBLIC???????
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Benefits of transparency ?????

• Better information on which to develop rules and
  policies
• ?????????????????
• Better understanding of impact of rule/reduction
  of risk
• ??????????????/????
• Level the playing field
• ???????
• More confidence in government
• ????????
• More acceptability of rules/better compliance
• ????????????/?????

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Prepare and publish useful information about
rulemakings????????????????

• Provide thoughtfully prepared materials to convey
  appropriate level of information
• ?????????????????
• Include background materials explaining proposed
  rule, program or policy
• ???????????????????
• Provide information on how to obtain additional
  background material (studies, surveys, etc.,
  relied on by the drafting agency)
• ???????????(?????????????)????

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Public notice and mailings???????

• Notice of proposed rulemaking should tell public
  that copies of draft rule and staff report the
  Initial Statement of Reasons (ISOR) is
  available at designated agency office, on
  website, and any other locations
• ?????????????????????????????(??????)????????????
  ????????????
• Copies of the Notice should be sent to people who
  have requested them, by mail or listservs
• ??????????????(LISTSERVs)???????????

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Hearing notice and mailings????????

• Notice of public hearing (if different from
  notice of proposed rulemaking) should be sent to
  interested people signed up for listserv and
  mailing list
• ?????????(????????????)???????(LISTSERV)??????
  ??????
• Post hearing notices and hearing record on
  website
• ???????????????
• Post hearing notices in affected
  neighborhoods/communities
• ?????????????????/??
• Use media to advertise public hearings
• ???????????

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Use of Public Records Act (PRA)?????????

• California Public Records Act modeled after the
  federal Freedom of Information Act
• ????????????(???????)????????????????
• PRA gives public the right to view and obtain
  copies of public documents (records)
• ????????????????????(??)?????
• Often faster for public to ask agency directly
  for information rather than go through PRA
  procedures
• ??????????????????????????????

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What are public records????????

• Include any recorded information created, used,
  maintained, or owned by a public agency,
  regardless of form
• ?????????????????????????,????
• Documents such as letters, memoranda, reports,
  studies, etc.
• ???????????????????
• Audio and video recordings and other
  electronically stored information
• ?????????????????
• Public is entitled to view or receive a copy of
  any public record
• ??????????????????

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What public records are made available during
rulemaking??????????????????

• Agency issued documents (e.g., notices, proposed
  and final rules)
• ?????????(????????????)
• Background regulatory analyses and studies
• ?????????????
• Public comments
• ????
• Hearing record
• ?????

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USE NEW TECHNOLOGIES?????
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To provide and receive information from
public????????????

• Public rulemaking files ?????????
• Listservs ????(LISTSERVs)
• Chat rooms ???
• List of rulemakings and policies open for public
  comment
• ???????????????????
• Electronic submission of comments
• ??????????
• Press releases ?????
• Status reports ????
• Guidance sites ????
• Interactive software help ???????

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To provide public access to hearings?????????????

• Broadcasts and podcasts of public hearings
• ??????????????????
• Hearing videos posted on agency website
• ??????????????

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ASSISTING THE PUBLIC????
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Who can help the public with participation in
rulemaking??????????????

• Public advisor or public participation
  specialists in agencies
• ????????????????
• Examples include
• ????
• CARB Office of the Ombudsman
• ??????????
• Designated agency official with relevant
  expertise
• ???????????????

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Assist with what? ??????

• To provide procedural guidance
• ???????
• To advise public on most effective methods of
  participating
• ?????????????
• To assist public to obtain copies of public
  records relating to the rulemaking
• ?????????????????????????

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EXAMPLES OF ADVICE TO PUBLIC????????
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Advice to assist public ???????

• Advice can be posted on website
• ?????????
• Advice can be included in public participation
  manuals
• ?????????????
• Advice can be included in notices of rulemaking
  and public hearings
• ???????????????????
• Advice can be offered at outset of public hearing
  by hearing presider or Chairperson
• ??????????????????????????

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Preparing and Presenting Comments ???????

• Prior to meeting, workshop, or Board hearing
• ????????????????
• Written comments of any length can be submitted
• ??????????

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Preparing and Presenting Comments (cont)
???????(?)

• During meeting, workshop, or Board hearing
• ?????????????????
• May use pictures, slides, or other visual aids
• ????????????????
• May read from prepared comments
• ??????
• May simply speak
• ?????
• Observe time limit (usually 3-5 minutes)
• ??????(???3-5??)
• Advance arrangement for special equipment and
  translator, if needed
• ???,????????????

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Preparing and Presenting Comments (cont)
???????(?)

• Advice to presenters at hearings, from CARB
  manual Getting Involved in the Rulemaking
  Process
• ???????????????? ????????
• Remember to sign-up to speak ?????,???
• When called by the Chairperson to speak, come to
  the podium at front of room
• ?????????,????????
• State your name and affiliation for the record
• ??????????????
• Do you support or oppose the proposed action?
• ????????????
• What would make it better? ?????????

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Preparing and Presenting Comments (cont)
???????(?)

• If you have also submitted written comments,
  summarize viewpoint briefly Board will have
  written comments before them for reference
• ??????????,??????????????????????
• Avoid repeating same points already made by
  others, unless have additional support
• ????????????,????????
• Focus presentation on issues not yet covered
• ???????????????

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Preparing and Presenting Comments (cont)
???????(?)

• In summary,
• ????,
• For maximum effectiveness
• ???????
• Clear and concise testimony has the greatest
  impact
• ?????????????
• If you get right to the point, Board/decision
  maker will respond better to merits of the
  presentation
• ????,???/??????????????
  
  

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Questions??????THANK YOU!????