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Public Participation Workshops

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency continues to increase its efforts to involve the public in its decision-making process domestically. Internationally, the USEPA works in collaboration with other governments to encourage public participation in environmental decision-making.

Public Participation Workshops have been delivered in many areas of the world. Several have been on a country-specific basis, while others were delivered regionally.

You will need Adobe Reader to view some of the files below. See EPA's PDF page to learn more.

The objectives of these workshops are to: (1) share the key features and foundations of the U.S. EPA's Public Participation Guide; (2) share best practices, challenges, and strategies in engaging the public; and (3) discuss different tools and techniques used throughout the country/region; and (4) build a network of people to help strengthen public participation by creating a community of support and practice. These workshops usually include expert presentations, interactive discussions, small group break-out sessions on best practices and case studies, and group deliberations on various public participation strategies and tools.

Workshops:

• Chile Public Participation Training – Chile – January 2013
• Strengthening Public Participation in Environmental Decision-Making: Building Connections for Africa and the Middle East - Rabat, Morocco - January 7-9, 2013
• Strengthening Public Participation on Environmental Management in Indonesia - Jakarta, Indonesia – July 10-11, 2012
• Air Quality Communications and Public Participation Workshop – San Salvador, El Salvador – April 16-17, 2012
• Chile Public Participation Training – Chile – March 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Chile Public Participation Training – Chile – January 2013

EPA delivered a two-day workshop in Chile, on public participation. The course intended to enable students to increase the level of public impact through the levels of public participation, found on EPA’s Public Participation Guide. The course combined lecture and exercises. The workshop materials are below:

I. PRESENTATIONS AND EXERCISES:

• Chile Challenges and Opportunities (PDF) (7 pp, 706.13 K)
• Introduction to Public Participation (PDF) (18 pp, 1.18M)
• World Café Questions (PDF) (5 pp, 50.92 K)
• Organizing for Participation (PDF) (6 pp, 642.9 K)
• Identifying Stakeholders (PDF) (11 pp, 1.01M)
• Selecting the Level of Participation (PDF) (12 pp, 904.4 K)
• Wind Reservoir Project Case Study (PDF) (3 pp, 159.62 K)
• Case Study Instructions (PDF) (2 pp, 142 K)
• Case Study Exercise Questions (PDF) (4 pp, 62.48 K)
• Public Participation Tools (PDF) (10 pp, 961.07 K)
• Conflict Resolution (PDF) (27 pp, 620.53 K)
• Conflict Resolution Exercise (PDF) (5 pp, 214.63 K)

Additional Materials:

• Agenda (PDF) (1 p, 179.2 K)

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Strengthening Public Participation in Environmental Decision-Making: Building Connections for Africa and the Middle East - Rabat, Morocco - January 7-9, 2013

EPA conducted this three-day workshop in Rabat, Morocco, in collaboration with the Moroccan Ministry of Energy, Mining, Water and Environment. Ninety-four participants from 23 different countries, mainly from Africa and the Middle East, represented government, NGO, media, academia, and international organizations. This workshop included expert presentations, interactive discussions, small group break-out sessions on best practices and case studies, and group deliberations on various public participation strategies and tools. This workshop was conducted in English, French, and Arabic. The materials below are translated in each of the languages.

I. PRESENTATIONS:

Strengthening Public Participation in Environmental Decision-Making: Building Connections for Africa and the Middle East

• English (PDF) (44 pp, 2.61M)
  
• Arabic (PDF) (36 pp, 1.82M)
  
• French (PDF) (36 pp,1.82 M)

EPA Public Participation Guide

• English (PDF) (28 pp, 1.23M)
  
• Arabic (PDF) (13 pp, 813 K)
  
• French (PDF) (13 pp, 270 K)

Selecting the Right Level of Public Participation: The Spectrum

• English (PDF) (13 pp, 434 K)
  
• Arabic (PDF) (13 pp, 916 K)
  
• French (PDF) (13 pp, 567 K)

Public Participation Tools and Techniques

• English (PDF) (13 pp, 232 K)
  
• Arabic (PDF) (19 pp, 1.22 M)
  
• French (PDF) (20 pp, 303 K)
  

II. STORIES FROM THE REGION: CASE STUDIES:

• Addressing Environmental Challenges through Participation: A Global Overview (PDF) (16 pp,263 K)
  
• Morocco Case Study (PDF) (11 pp,1.07 M)
  
• South Africa Case Study (PDF) (3 pp,255 K)
  
• Oman Case Study (PDF) (5 pp,154 K)
  
• Ghana Case Study (PDF) (13 pp,1.47 M)
  
• Kenya-NEMA Case Study (PDF) (15 pp,364 K)
  
• Jordan Case Study (PDF) (27 pp, 1.83 M)
  
• The Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC) Case Study (PDF) (16 pp, 873 K)
  
• Uganda Case Study (PDF) (10 pp,1.7 M)
  
• Zanzibar Case Study (PDF) (14 pp, 873 K)
  
• Kenya-Kayole Soweto Case Study (PDF) (16 pp, 1.08 M)
  
• Burkina Faso Case Study (PDF) (26 pp, 846 K)

III. MATERIALS:

• Agenda (PDF) (5 pp, 326 K)
  
• Guide for Sectors Working Together (PDF) (2 pp, 133 K)
  
• Reflection Points (PDF) (1 pp, 103 K)
  
• Map and Brain Guidance (PDF) (2 p, 426 K)
  
• Map Blank Connections Card (PDF) (1 p, 138 K)
  
• Brain Blank Light Bulb (PDF) (1 p, 140 K)
  
• Creative Evaluation (PDF) (1 p, 250 K)

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Strengthening Public Participation on Environmental Management in Indonesia - Jakarta, Indonesia – July 10-11, 2012

EPA delivered a two-day workshop in Jakarta, Indonesia, which was co-sponsored by the Indonesian Ministry of Environment, USAID, and the Asian Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Network. The first day of the workshop focused on the EPA Public Participation Guide. The second day of the workshop focused on public participation in the context of environmental impact assessments. Participants included local and national government officials, NGOs, and representatives from academia, as well as international public participation and EIA experts from Thailand, the Philippines, and Malaysia. The workshop materials are below:

Day 1:

• Workshop Introduction (PDF) (6 pp, 725 K)
  
• Introduction to Public Participation (PDF) (18 pp, 1.18 M)
  
• World Café Questions (PDF) (5 pp, 49 K)
• Organizing for Participation (PDF) (6 pp, 646 K)
  
• Identifying Stakeholders (PDF) (11 pp, 1.01 M)


Participants engaged in breakout discussions.

• Selecting the Level of Participation (PDF) (12 pp, 906 K)
  
• Tha Chin River Basin Case Study (PDF) (1 p, 219 K)
  
• Public Participation Tools (PDF) (10 pp, 961 K)
  
• Indonesia Challenges and Opportunities Dialogue (PDF) (7 pp, 706 K)
  
• Closing Remarks (PDF) (9 pp, 333 K)

Key Messages and Learning Points (PDF) (7 pp, 447 K)

Day 2:

• Application of Public Participation Principles in EIA (PDF) (15 pp, 553 K)
  
• Public Participation: EIA in the US (PDF) (16 pp, 1.46 M)

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Air Quality Communications and Public Participation Workshop – San Salvador, El Salvador – April 16-17, 2012

EPA delivered a two-day workshop in San Salvador, El Salvador, in collaboration with USAID, Central America Commission for Development and Environment (CCAD), Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARN), El Salvador, and Battelle Institute (grantee). The workshop was on Air Quality Communication, and targeted technical and communication staff from the Ministry of Environment, Health and Transportation as well as Municipalities and the media (newspaper and TV). The goal of the workshop was to share experiences, best practices and tools--Public Participation Guide--on how to provide technical data to the general public in a systematic and easy way to understand. The workshop materials are below:

PRESENTATIONS:

• Workshop Overview (PDF) (8 pp, 438 K)
  
• Overview of Particle Air Pollution (PDF) (14 pp, 757 K)
  
• Air Quality Index (AQI) (PDF) (26 pp, 1.12 M)
  
• Air Quality Outreach Materials (PDF) (17 pp, 1.10 M)
  
• Basic Principles of Public Participation (PDF) (40 pp, 1.35 M)
  

MATERIALS:

• Agenda (PDF) (2 pp, 146 K)
  
• Activity 1: Public Participation Guide (PDF) (2 pp, 23 K)
  
• Activity 2: Press Conference (PDF) (1 p, 39 K)
  
• Activity 3: Briefings (PDF) (1 p, 42 K)

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Chile Public Participation Training – Chile – March 2011

EPA delivered a two-day workshop in Santiago, Chile, on public participation. The course intended to enable students to increase the level of public impact through the levels of public participation, found on EPA’s Public Participation Guide. The course combined lecture and exercises. The workshop materials are below:

PRESENTATIONS:

• Introduction to Workshop (PDF) (7 pp, 986 K)
  
• Introduction to Public Participation (PDF) (22 pp, 4.12 M)
  
• Public Participation Spectrum (Spanish) (PDF) (20 pp, 328 K)
  
• Public Participation Assessment (PDF) (12 pp, 228 K)
  
• Community Involvement (PDF) (13 pp, 354 K)
  
• Spectrum Collaboration (PDF) (16 pp, 4.96 M)
  
• Strategic Partnership (PDF) (6 pp, 1.54 M)
  
• Using Social Media (PDF) (51 pp, 2.97 M)
  
• Crisis Communication (PDF) (30 pp, 1.3 M)

MATERIALS:

• Agenda (PDF) (1 p, 158 K)

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Guide Navigation by Section:

• Introduction to the Public Participation Guide
• Introduction to Public Participation
• Public Participation Situation Assessments
• Selecting the Right Level of Public Participation
• Public Participation Process Design
• Public Participation Tools
• You are viewing Public Participation Workshops
• Public Participation Foundational Skills, Knowledge, and Behaviors
• Public Participation Resources
• Home
  

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Contacts

For additional information on EPA's Public Participation Guide, contact:

Shereen Kandil
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of International and Tribal Affairs (2650R)
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20460
E-mail: kandil.shereen@epa.gov

 

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