Democracy in Practice: Public Participation in Environmental Decisions.

Thomas C. Beierle and Jerry Crayford. Washington, D.C.: Resources for the Future, 2002. [phone] (U.S. and Canada orders), [phone] (Outside the U.S. and Canada). 160 pp. $50.00 Hardbound. $18.95 Softbound.

In Democracy in Practice: Public Participation lo Environmental Decisions, Thomas C. Beierle and Jerry Crayford examine thirty years of public participation in environmental decisionmaking and conclude that public participation has improved environmental policy and been an important factor in education and resolving the conflicts that surround environmental issues. Among the topics discussed are the social goals of public participation, the process of public participation, the implementation of policy and decisions following public participation, and designing a public participation process. Additionally, Appendices A-D describe in detail the methodology used, details on statistical analysis, and any potential biases.

Thomas C. Beierle is a fellow at Resources for the Future; his research on public involvement in environmental decisionmaking can be seen in the Journal of Policy and Analysis, Policy Studies Review, Environment and Planning, Society and Natural Resources, and Environmental Law Reporter. Jerry Crayford is a research associate at Resources for the Future; Crayford studies public participation and risk perception, and the issues raised by patents on biotechnology.