February 20, 2004

The Department of Environmental Quality Environmental Advisory Council released today its final recommendations to improve public involvement in DEQ programs.

The EAC is comprised of twenty-five individuals representing the range of interests affected by DEQ activities, including the regulated community, environmental organizations, local government, and academia. It was convened by DEQ Director Steven E. Chester to advise the DEQ on major issues affecting programs, polices, and operations.

Also released today were responses to public comments received on the EAC’s draft recommendations and the DEQ’s plan to implement the recommendations. The EAC sought comment from the public on the draft recommendations in September, 2003. At the same time, the EAC asked the DEQ to begin developing a plan to implement the recommendations so that steps could be taken quickly to improve public involvement. The documents released today are the result of a year-long effort by the EAC and DEQ to upgrade public involvement in DEQ activities.

“The EAC did a tremendous job in recommending ways to improve public involvement in significant DEQ activities and actions,” said Director Chester. “I deeply appreciate the effort they put into this task and am excited about putting in place their recommendations for improving the public’s role in environmental decision-making.”

The recommendations are designed to ensure that the DEQ decision-making process fosters fairness and understanding and that the public has the opportunity for a meaningful role in DEQ activities. Specific recommendations include identifying earlier opportunities for public involvement, expanding programs to assist citizens in gathering and understanding information, and organizing the DEQ web page to facilitate public involvement.

"We appreciate the comments of the public on our draft recommendations," said EAC member Wil Cwikiel, program director for Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council. "Those comments reaffirmed our belief that the public cares deeply about how the DEQ does its business and supports the department's efforts to gather input and consider all the facts before making decisions."

“The DEQ did a great job in describing how it will implement our recommendations,” said EAC member Skiles Boyd, Director of Environmental Programs for Detroit Edison, DTE Energy. “We look forward to the steps the DEQ already has underway to carry forward with improvements.”

Interested persons can obtain the final recommendations and associated materials through the DEQ website by clicking here or by calling 517-335-2690 and requesting a copy.

Editor’s note: DEQ news releases are available on the department’s Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

Revised February 20, 2004 by Pat Watson