The Public Information Session A Case for Effective Community Interaction

摘要

The Notice of Intent to Comply (NIC) provisions of the Hazardous Waste Combustorrn(HWC) NESHAP provided an opportunity for The Lubrizol Corporation’s PainesvillernPlant to communicate with our neighbors regarding on-site incinerator operations. As arnmember of the American Chemistry Council, Lubrizol proactively developed arnCommunity Advisory Panel (CAP) as part of our plant’s commitment to communityrnoutreach activities to bring the community in and inform residents of our operations. ThernCAP has 22 members representing a diverse cross section of the community. Lubrizolrnutilized the CAP as a sitting focus group to gather ideas about the best methods torncommunicate the NIC to the overall community. The CAP’s input was instrumental inrnproviding ideas about communications – the stakeholders, the best forum, what torncommunicate and where to host the session. The forum the CAP members selected wasrnan information session consisting of a series of information stations rather than arntraditional public meeting format. Internally, Lubrizol put into place a team to managernthe overall process. The team met regularly to develop the presentation materials,rncoordinate communications--both internal and external--and monitor progress. Once thernmaterials were ready, Lubrizol held a workshop for its presenters a day prior to thernsession, to equip employees with the skills to best interact with a lay audience. Topicsrnincluded risk communication, effective community interaction and media training.rnLubrizol recognizes the success or failure of the information session was measured on anrnindividual basis – did we effectively communicate our messages to each attendee. A keyrnfactor in what the company believed was a successful outcome was communityrninvolvement in the process and the use of a public information session, allowing for oneto-rnone dialogue to ensure all concerns and questions were addressed immediately.