Thesis
An evaluation of web-based public participation strategies in public lands management
Washington State University
Master of Public Affairs (MPA), Washington State University
2013
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/100554
Abstract
The dual processing models in social psychology explain information-processing through two Public participation in administrative decision-making is now standard practice in the US federal bureaucracy. Part of the institutionalization of public involvement has occurred through the implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Public participation is an important component of NEPA which requires participation initiatives including disseminating project information to the public as well as receiving and processing input from the public and other entities. One tool that can help expedite this aspect of environmental planning is utilization of online tools. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), a key agency in the management of public lands, has been instrumental in implementing online tools for many of their projects including using ePlanning and other web-based tools. Based on input by various practitioners involved with renewable energy projects, this study shows that online tools result in greater participation by the public as perceived by practitioners. The study also shows that although the ability to utilize online tools may result in improvements such as access to information and ability to comment and respond, this increased input does not necessarily result in improved quality of participation as perceived by practitioners. This study shows that although the BLM has online tools in place, there is evidence that these strategies are not working as well as they could be and there is room for improvement.
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Details
- Title
- An evaluation of web-based public participation strategies in public lands management
- Creators
- Sharon C. Brown
- Contributors
- Mark Stephan (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Politics, Philosophy and Public Affairs, School of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Public Affairs (MPA), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; [Pullman, Washington] :
- Identifiers
- 99900525152301842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis