Utilizing Community Advisory Committees for NEPA Studies
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Utilizing Community Advisory Committees for NEPA Studies
A Community Advisory Committee (CAC) is a public participation technique that can be employed to gain stakeholder feedback, identify and resolve local concerns, and build community support during the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) decision-making process. Although not required, a CAC can be an effective means of addressing specific issues and hearing a variety of stakeholder views. A CAC can also be used in pre-NEPA planning studies.
Practical tips include deciding whether to establish a CAC, defining the role of the CAC, selecting CAC members and organizing the CAC, preparing for and facilitating CAC meetings, and providing for public access to CAC meetings.
Handbook Resources
The International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) helps organizations and communities improve their decisions by involving those people who are affected by those decisions. Training opportunities, resources, and a comprehensive public participation toolbox is available on its website:
http://www.iap2.org
International Association for Facilitators is a resource for locating professional facilitators
http://www.iaf-world.org
The FHWA and FTA published the guide Public Involvement Techniques for Transportation Decision-making to provide agencies with access to a wide variety of tools to involve the public in developing specific plans, programs, or projects through their public involvement processes:
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/reports/pittd/cover.htm
FHWA overview of public involvement
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/pubinv2.htm
Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Public Involvement site has a list of manuals and tools for planning and conducting effective public involvement activities.
http://www.epa.gov/publicinvolvement/