ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC OUTREACH AND PARTICIPATION

Projects proposed to be undertaken or requiring approval or funding by Federal or State and local government agencies are regulated by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) respectively. Both NEPA and CEQA include public participation requirements intended to provide the general public with detailed information on the potentially significant environmental impacts of a proposed project as well as potential alternatives and mitigation measures. Public participation helps to support project development by advising technical studies and identifying (and resolving) issues early in the process. A public participation effort reflects the respect that a project sponsor has for the public served by that project. Complex projects have a wide range of stakeholders, including the project sponsor, policy makers, regulators, investors, special interest groups, community groups, and the general public. A successful project must involve all of these stakeholders so that their needs, concerns, and issues are met or addressed. Davis and Associates is experienced in fulfilling CEQA and NEPA requirements for public participation as part of the environmental review process. We understand that public participation must be practiced honestly, consistently, and on-time if it is to serve our client's purpose of facilitating project development, acceptance, and timely implementation. Our public participation campaigns will help you to document a public process that is objective and legally defensible. Typical services include: Development of project-specific public outreach and participation plans; stakeholder identification, interviews, and issue identification; coordination, facilitation, and documentation of public meetings and community advisory committees; development, production, and distribution of informational materials including fact sheets, newsletters, notices of document availability, etc.; assistance in coordinating, facilitating, and documenting community advisory committees; assistance is distributing environmental notices and documents and summarizing public comment; development and maintenance of project web sites; etc.