Civic Engagement - National Park Service

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POLICY

Director's Order #75A:
Civic Engagement and Public Involvement

VII. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

A. Civic Engagement and Public Participation. Each associate director and regional director will be responsible for civic engagement and public participation strategies. In planning and conducting public involvement activities, all managers should rely on the sound use of discretion. They ensure that their subordinates fully carry out this policy and all public involvement provisions of the laws that they are responsible for implementing. They should ensure that, to the greatest extent practicable, authorized and delegated program managers and partners develop strategies and provide opportunities for the public to participate in decision-making related to NPS activities of public interest. Associate directors and regional directors are responsible and accountable for the adequacy and effectiveness of public involvement strategies and programs. They are also responsible for ensuring that the level of effort is commensurate with the potential impact of and interest in the upcoming action or decision.

B. Mandated Public Involvement Processes. All NPS officials are responsible for identifying forthcoming activities or decisions to which this DO and relevant laws and regulations should be applied. We must take the necessary steps to ensure that adequate public involvement processes are developed and implemented. Seven key bureau functions are involved and must be considered when building internal capacity, planning for, and implementing public involvement in any decision or activity:

    1) Train, devise incentives, recognize employees, and develop models.
     2) Plan and budget early for public involvement activities.
     3) Identify the interested and affected public.
     4) Consider the many ways to effectively engage the public and make sure they feel heard.
     5) Provide information to the public and extend an invitation to become involved.
     6) Conduct public consultation and involvement activities. And,
     7) Assimilate and assess the information, implement in the decision-making where appropriate, and provide feedback to the public.

More detailed information about these functions will be provided in the Sourcebook.

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