Decision Sharing/Making

[Karen Stromberg <Karen.Stromberg@state.ma.us>]

I think the public walks into these situations with a misunderstanding of what's being asked of them and what their role is.  The government always has the final say, but in most cases wants to hear what the public wants to say.  If they don't provide the opportunity, then the public bashes us over the head to get our attention.  Agencies can be coerced to make certain decisions based on public pressure, so perhaps that is a way to view collaboration, but there is almost always some bottom line the agency can't go below.  We can discuss and allow the public to help decide the best way to reduce risk, but whatever the way, it has to meet the regulatory criteria, including a risk-based standard and feasibility.  If everyone can agree on how to get there, great.  But if not, the government can not abdicate it's responsibility and allow the public to decide.  There is not true power sharing in these situations, but the process lends itself to being interpreted that way by the public, and sometimes the agencies themselves.