Federal agencies have taken steps to include the public in a wide range of environmental decisions. Although some form of public participation is often required by law, agencies usually have broad discretion about the extent of that involvement. Approaches vary widely, from holding public information-gathering meetings to forming advisory groups to actively including citizens in making and implementing decisions.

Proponents of public participation argue that those who must live with the outcome of an environmental decision should have some influence on it. Critics maintain that public participation slows decision making and can lower its quality by including people unfamiliar with the science involved.

This book concludes that, when done correctly, public participation improves the quality of federal agencies' decisions about the environment. Well-managed public involvement also increases the legitimacy of decisions in the eyes of those affected by them, which makes it more likely that the decisions will be implemented effectively. This book recommends that agencies recognize public participation as valuable to their objectives, not just as a formality required by the law. It details principles and approaches agencies can use to successfully involve the public.

Nonusers, or individuals who never visit or otherwise use a natural resource, may nevertheless be affected by changes in its status or quality. Monetary expression of their preferences for these resources is know as nonuse or passive-use economic value. Empirical estimates indicate that nonuse value may be substantial for some resources. Inclusion of nonuse value in economic efficiency analyses may alter the outcome of these analyses in some cases. So far, applications have remained largely in the research realm. However, changes in the legal and institutional framework and recent policy pronouncements make it probable that nonuse value will play an important role in natural resource decision making in the future. We briefly discuss the concept of nonuse economic value and its relevance in water resource decision making. The current institutional framework and the applicability and integration of nonuse value within the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process are explored. Details of an ongoing application for the Glen Canyon Environmental Studies Program are described.

In advance of FERC’s December 2001 workshop, the Hydropower Reform Coalition compiled this report to take a closer look at the 51 oldest pending hydropower dam license applications and analyze the causes and impacts of delay, followed by a series of solutions that will enable us to pass on a legacy of healthy rivers and provide a reliable energy supply to future generations.