[CPEO-BIF] Fwd: Announcing a new Community Engagement Initiative

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

FYI - Here is the publicly released OSWER CEI Action Plan.

Also, here is a link to the OSWER on-line discussion forum -->
http://blog.epa.gov/oswerforum/


Hello,

I'd like to make you aware of a new proposed Action Plan for the Office
of Solid Waste and Emergency Response's (OSWER) Community Engagement
Initiative. The Plan can be found at:
www.epa.gov/oswer/engagementinitiative.htm
<http://www.epa.gov/oswer/engagementinitiative.htm>. The Community
Engagement Initiative (CEI) will enhance OSWER and Regional programs'
engagement with local communities and stakeholders to meaningfully
participate in government decisions on land cleanup, emergency response,
and the management of hazardous materials and waste.  I am very
interested in hearing about your ideas for the Initiative.

EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said in a memo to employees last April:
"In all its programs, EPA will provide for the fullest possible public
participation in decision making.  This requires not only that EPA
remain open and accessible to those representing all points of view, but
also that EPA offices responsible for decisions take affirmative steps
to solicit the view of those who will be affected by these decisions.
This includes communities of color, Native Americans, people
disproportionately impacted by pollution, small businesses, cities and
towns working to meet their environmental responsibilities, and others
who have been historically underrepresented in EPA decision making."
OSWER's Community Engagement Initiative is designed to advance this
powerful and unambiguous commitment.

I invite you to provide input to this plan.  The Action Plan is a
working document that presents guiding principles, goals and areas of
action to advance the Initiative.  When reviewing the proposed
objectives, please consider the following questions: Are there certain
best practices that should be scaled-up? Are there components of
guidance and policy that we should particularly evaluate?  Among these
actions which are the highest priority?  Are there additional areas we
should focus on? What are the best mechanisms to
effectively communicate progress?

The objectives and actions in the plan will be refined and more fully
developed as we obtain feedback and input from communities and other
stakeholders, local governments, tribes, states, and EPA program
offices.  I look forward to hearing from you about your ideas for
meaningful and effective community engagement.  Please provide any
comments or ideas at EPA's Web site
www.epa.gov/oswer/engagementinitiative.htm
<http://www.epa.gov/oswer/engagementinitiative.htm>.  Comments would be
most helpful if received by January 15, 2010.

Sincerely,
Mathy Stanislaus
Assistant Administrator for EPA's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency
Response






--


Lenny Siegel
Executive Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
a project of the Pacific Studies Center
278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
<lsiegel@cpeo.org>
http://www.cpeo.org



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