|
Acknowledgements
|
|
|
Introduction
|
1
|
|
Chapter 1.
|
|
|
|
Participating in Agency Decisions
|
5
|
|
A.
|
Types of Participation
|
8
|
|
B.
|
Summary of Laws and Issues
|
9
|
|
C.
|
The Agency Application Review Process
|
10
|
|
D.
|
Public Notice
|
10
|
|
E.
|
Public Comments and Public Meetings
|
11
|
|
F.
|
Contested Case Hearings
|
13
|
|
G.
|
Issue lists for Comments and Contested Case Hearings
|
21
|
|
|
Chapter 2.
|
|
|
|
Complaints and Enforcement
|
35
|
|
A.
|
Investigating the Problem
|
38
|
|
B.
|
The Complaint Process
|
38
|
|
C.
|
Participating in Enforcement Decisions of Government
|
39
|
|
D.
|
Bringing Citizen Enforcement Actions
|
40
|
|
|
Chapter 3.
|
|
|
|
Changing Existing Laws and Agency Regulations
|
4 3
|
|
A.
|
The Legislative Process and How to Participate
|
4 3
|
|
B.
|
The Rulemaking Process
|
4 7
|
|
|
Chapter 4.
|
|
|
|
Organizing Politics and Public Education
|
51
|
|
A.
|
Getting Organized
|
53
|
|
B.
|
Defining Your Strategy
|
53
|
|
C.
|
Incorporation and Status as a Non-Profit Tax Deductible Organization
|
56
|
|
D.
|
Using Coalitions
|
57
|
|
E.
|
Fund-raising
|
58
|
|
F.
|
Dealing with Intimidation
|
58
|
|
G.
|
Meeting with Elected Officials
|
58
|
|
H.
|
Writing Your Elected Officials
|
59
|
|
I.
|
How to Pitch Your Story to the Local Press
|
61
|
|
|
Chapter 5.
|
|
|
|
Available Resources
|
67
|
|
A.
|
How to Find and Read the Laws and Rules that Apply
|
67
|
|
B.
|
Government Roles and Resources of State and Federal Governments
|
70
|
|
C.
|
Expanding Roles of Local and Regional Goverments
|
79
|
|
D.
|
Non-Governmental Organizations
|
82
|
|
|
|
Postscript
|
85
|
|
Appendices
|
89
|
|
Appendix A.
|
Sample Petition for TCEQ Rulemaking
|
91
|
|
Appendix B.
|
Building an Effective Organization
|
94
|
|
Appendix C.
|
Sample Laws and Articles of Incorporation
|
97
|
|
Appendix D.
|
Dealing with Intimidation
|
10 9
|
|
Appendix E.
|
Federal Citizen Suits for Enfocing Environment Laws
|
11 2
|
|
