This week, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) issued its 2024 Draft Enhanced Public Participation Plan (Draft Plan) for public review and comment, updating and superseding its 2018 Enhanced Public Participation Plan. The Draft Plan presents IEPA’s public participation goals and outlines a framework of tools and strategies for enhanced public participation efforts.
The blueprint aims to ensure that IEPA meets its nondiscrimination obligations under applicable civil rights laws, advances environmental justice, and enhances its public participation efforts. The framework highlighted in the Draft Plan outlines tools, strategies, and steps under three key components: Environmental Justice and Accessibility Considerations, Preparing for the Public Participation Process, and Steps in the Public Participation Process. The Draft Plan does not create new legal requirements or mandatory obligations for IEPA; rather, it provides the public with an understanding of IEPA’s public participation tools and expectations of IEPA staff.
To read the Draft Plan and submit comments by November 8, view the Public Notice here.
