Be Part of the Process: Community Input Informs Public Decision-making
Want to have your say in public decision-making for complex natural resource planning and development processes? Knowing when and how to comment, with whom to share your input, and where to go for accurate and trustworthy information are great ways to start.
So advised several staff of Rhode Island government and advocacy organizations at a recent program in Portsmouth aimed at helping community members and local recreational anglers understand how best to be heard in public debate – especially dialogues concerning decision-making for development proposals that involve environmental, economic, and social resources overseen by multiple government agencies and boards.
The Feb. 2 program, “Offshore Wind and the Sakonnet River: A Dialogue for Coastal Communities II, (view recording here)” gave the stage at the Common Fence Point Community Center to staff from the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC), the Rhode Island Energy Facility Siting Board (RIEFSB), the Town of Portsmouth, and Save The Bay (STB). The University of Rhode Island Coastal Resources Center (URI CRC) and Rhode Island Sea Grant (Sea Grant) provided the event in concert with the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association (RISAA) and the Town of Portsmouth.
“Everyone has the right and the opportunity to comment” on applications before the CRMC, explained CRMC Executive Director Jeff Willis to 100-plus people in attendance in-person and online. “You are allowed and welcome to see every page of any application being reviewed by the CRMC, and you have every right to submit public comments – we welcome that.”
During the meeting, Willis and co-speakers shared what their agencies, organizations, and boards do, how they structure and pace their decision-making processes to evaluate permit applications for development proposals, and when and in what manner people can officially provide comments on proposals so they are optimally considered.
Sound and science-based information is needed, indicated URI CRC U.S. Coastal Programs Director and Rhode Island Sea Grant Extension Program Leader Jennifer McCann, so people in coastal communities can understand what developments are being proposed and their possible impactsand then plan their interaction with government entities as they make important choices. “This is one opportunity for you to engage with experts who have full knowledge of how these processes work, and how you can have your say in them,” she said.
Abbey Greene, also of URI CRC and Sea Grant, who works on blue economy issues. recommended consulting Sea Grant’s offshore wind energy (OWE) website, for example, for those concerned with the potential emergence of wind farm technology in the region. However, the meeting offered broader assistance for those concerned with any potential coastal development.
For example, CRMC’s Willis detailed the process that the agency and its board undertake to weigh permit applications, and shared an illustration showing the particular points in the timetable where public comment is sought and accepted. He urged people to go to the CRMC webpage for clear information about obtaining any permit application.
Both Willis and Town of Portsmouth Planner Lea Hitchen encouraged community members to make use of the vetted and accurate science and administrative information on state and municipal websites, and they asked attendees to attend public hearings and write letters to ensure that their perspectives on permit applications are officially heard. “It is important for the public to know how to interact in government processes,” said Hitchen.
Likewise, Emma Rodvien, an economist staffing the RIEFSB, which also makes decisions concerning energy facility proposals, said that public comment is important and necessary because, often, communities have intricate knowledge of a location or area in question. She recalled how a North Kingstown community, by providing critical input, revised the positioning of Revolution Wind’s export cable, making use of a town access road instead to lessen impact. “Your input can have a positive impact on the outcome of a project,” she said.
And while it's not always easy to wend through complex public decision-making arenas, taking a proactive stance on planning your participation in the process can alleviate some of the challenge, said the speakers. RISAA Executive Director Greg Vespe acknowledged that his membership is concerned about how marine resources, like fish species, will ultimately fare alongside OWE and other ocean development, but said sitting on the sidelines is not a wise option. “I’m heartened when I see people willing to learn how to be involved, because we all, regardless of where we stand, have the same access to the process.”
Near the end of the meeting, after several attendees shared their trepidation regarding OWE, Jarbeau, a Save The Bay Baykeeper, indicated that while participating in public decision-making can appear overwhelming, there are a few basic steps people can take to up their game.
Learn about the processes, he advised, know how to secure accurate information, and always feel comfortable reaching to ask questions. Also, commit to consulting quality information, developing thoughtful responses, and providing written comments to decision-making bodies at the right time and in the right manner. “Definitely put down your concerns in writing, and submit those written comments,” he said.
Do you have more questions about how to participate in public decision-making processes? Contact Greene, of URI CRC and Sea Grant, at abbey_greene@uri.edu, and remember to consider these vetted OWE science and process resources:
FAQs:
Q1. What is the dialogue about regarding offshore wind energy issues in the East Bay area, specifically Portsmouth, RI?
A1. Some East Bay communities in Rhode Island, such as Portsmouth, are engaging in dialogue with government, private sector, academic, and advocacy interests on the issue of cables that could potentially be submerged in the ocean floor of the Sakonnet River to connect a proposed wind farm, in waters offshore to Massachusetts (MA), to the MA mainland. Cables allow the power generated by a turbine array to reach collection and distribution facilities on land, but Sakonnet communities, including Portsmouth, ask how cable laying and operation may impact the marine environment, fish and animals, and activities such as boating and fishing.
Q2. What is taking place via the dialogue to assist the community with this discussion concerning cables for the proposed offshore wind farm?
A2. An effort is underway to provide sound science and complementary outreach events to Portsmouth, Rhode Island recreational anglers, and the East Bay area, so community members can gain accurate information about offshore wind energy issues, and use that information to participate in productive public discussion about the proposed wind farm and the cabling aspect. The University of Rhode Island Coastal Resources Center and Rhode Island Sea Grant are providing this effort in partnership with the Town of Portsmouth, and RISAA. To help the community learn about particular aspects of offshore wind energy, topical information in a public event series has included an overview of the Sakonnet River marine environment and its resources, an introduction to offshore wind energy decision making, and known environmental effects from offshore wind infrastructure (e.g, cables). This series of public forums is taking place to respond to community questions about proposed transmission lines in the Sakonnet River and identify where they can have their voices heard.
Q3. How can the public effectively and efficiently participate in government decision-making processes tied to offshore wind energy issues?
A3. The public is provided, via mandate, opportunity to offer comment and perspective on offshore wind energy project proposals, including cable work. In order to ensure that this comment is received in time for public boards to evaluate it, people are advised to contact each public board or agency well in advance in order to learn the timelines for proposal or permit review – often, a board or agency offers several periods within its review processes for acceptance and review of official written or spoken comment. (See agency contact information below.)
Q4. Which public decision-making entities are involved in the potential cabling effort for the Sakonnet River, and how do I access them in order to provide comment on this?
A4. For example, the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council encourages people to provide detailed written comment on any proposal it is reviewing, and the public may access and receive any permit application being reviewed by the Council. Also, the Town of Portsmouth asks community members to contact its planning department directly in order to discuss projects with staff and to learn how best to engage with its government approval processes. Finally, the Rhode Island Energy Facility Siting Board is also engaged in public decision-making for some offshore wind energy permit applications, including the cabling component for the proposed offshore wind farm adjacent to Massachusetts, and also encourages the public to provide written comment.
