7 Del. Admin. Code § 7103-4.0

Current through Register Vol. 28, No. 3, September 1, 2024

Section 7103-4.0 - Public Acceptance

4.1 The importance of a comprehensive and well-coordinated public acceptance program for the implementation of land treatment systems may be described by the old adage, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Good documentation exists for many fine land treatment systems which have operated successfully for many years. Yet, public resistance may develop when new systems are proposed for individual communities unless preparatory steps are taken.

4.2 The public education and acceptance program should be one of the first activities in the process to implement a land treatment system. Citizens should be encouraged to weigh the relative capabilities, advantages and disadvantages, and costs of alternative solutions. An educational program to assist in the collection and presentation of this information is a vital part of the public acceptance activity. Relevant information and participation may be obtained locally from citizens with high interest or appropriate expertise; technical institutes and university personnel; local representatives from agencies such as the Cooperative Extension Service, Soil Conservation Service, and Soil Conservation Districts, as well as supportive state staff for these agencies; local government planning agencies; and appropriate environmental organizations. Involvement of such resources and agency representatives can serve to coordinate and expand the program reach to involve all interested groups and concerned citizens.

4.3 Four major sectors of the public should receive particular attention in the public acceptance program:

4.4 The land owners or farmers who are to receive the waste, their neighbors, public interest groups, and the broader range of citizens who must provide the resources and assume ultimate responsibility for decision-making. The farmers may be unfamiliar with the effects of wastes on crop production and land value. They need to be informed of the economic and environmental benefits of land treatment and the essential soundness of the practice.

4.5 Their neighbors, public interest groups, and other community citizens may be sensitive about "dumping" urban wastes in their neighborhood and have concerns about odor, health problems, and groundwater pollution. Finally the citizens in a broader area are concerned that adequate design, appropriate legal compliance, and a blend of fiscal responsibility and environmental protection are achieved.

4.6 Many benefits result when the public acceptance program is planned and conducted by involved citizens. Such local leadership will facilitate consideration of issues perceived by involved individuals to be most important and the utilization of resource agencies, people, and printed material of highest relevance and interest. The public acceptance program should be conducted in close cooperation with or under the supervision of the overall land treatment project.

4.7 Educational activities and materials that may be helpful for the public acceptance program include: Individual presentations and open discussions, assembly and review of appropriate written material, slide and movie presentations, seminars by recognized state and national leaders, and trips to similar sites in both the state and region. Workshops should be held to encourage the evaluation of alternative possibilities on a technical, cost, environmental, and social basis. Good media relationships, assistance of respected experts, and test plot demonstrations may also be important components of a comprehensive public acceptance program.

4.8 The purpose of the public acceptance program is to assist involved citizens in making an unemotional, informed, and objective evaluation of alternatives available to solve a clearly defined need or problem. Program components should provide an opportunity for every person who desires to be involved to receive desired information, upgrade their understanding of alternatives, and personally become part of the planning and evaluation process. The end goal is to develop recommendations that will encourage the best possible final decision.

7 Del. Admin. Code § 7103-4.0