Three Community Involvement Success Stories: The Value of Community Participation in Environmental Decision-Making
Presented by: Michael Fernandez, Oregon State University; Patty Imperia, Kiwanis Park Neighborhood Association; Melissa Vargas, Garden Valley Community Association; and Al White, Oregon State Penitentiary Community Group

EPA stresses the importance of community involvement in its environmental decision-making processes as a means of enhancing these processes. This panel discussion will provide perspectives of three community leaders on how to maximize the benefits of community participation. In particular, each will discuss how community involvement can produce decisions that are more protective of human health and the environment and more congruent with the views of the affected public. Each community leader will provide a brief history of his/her project involvement, factors making this involvement successful, and benefits, both to agencies and the public, resulting from that involvement.

No additional materials are available for this session