RE: Politics and Public Involvement

[Darien Simon <dariens@earthlink.net>]

I do research on the successful and unsuccessful implementation of collaborative and consensus based processes in public policy decision making by federal agencies.  One factor that has surfaced in more than one study is the impact of regulations and laws that are well-intended, but counterproductive in terms of collaboration or consensus processes.  While the agency needs to fulfill the requirements of its mission, there is usually some leaway in the means, unless a very specific program has been mandated. FACA has been cited more than once as being problemmatic in this way.  The leaway allows agency personnel and the public to create new ways to interact that are designed to meet their specific needs and circumstances.  It also allows them to leave behind adversarial positions and patterns of behavior.  

The most recent example I've seen is the Innovations In Government Award winning collaborative stewardship process in the Camino Real District of the Carson National Forest.  The situation there has been transformed from one of violent opposition to Forest Service plans to one of routine collaborative efforts to resolve new issues as they arise, though there is some concern about the process not being used as often as it is appropriate due to reluctance on the part of some staff or to limitations imposed by law or regulation.  Their solution has been to transform the agency's normal way of doing business from informing to collaborating, supporting the transition with special staff training and awareness raising.  In addition, they recognize the need to seek changes in the laws that interfere with the collaborative process unnecessarily.  While they still make the final decisions, they are aiming to make those decisions only after community partners have agreed on needed action.