The National Energy Board considers major regulatory matters through the public hearing process. This bulletin describes that process and the procedures currently used at hearings. It includes information on types of hearings, interventions, the composition of the panels that hold the hearings, the role of Board counsel and staff, the hearing process, decisions and reviews, intervenor costs, and appeals. The appendix includes a step-by-step summary of the hearing process.

Recently, World War II veterans have come forward to claim compensation for health effects they say were caused by their participation in chemical warfare experiments. In response, the Veterans Administration asked the Institute of Medicine to study the issue. Based on a literature review and personal testimony from more than 250 affected veterans, this new volume discusses in detail the development and chemistry of mustard agents and Lewisite followed by interesting and informative discussions about these substances and their possible connection to a range of health problems, from cancer to reproductive disorders. The volume also offers an often chilling historical examination of the use of volunteers in chemical warfare experiments by the U.S. militaryâ€"what the then-young soldiers were told prior to the experiments, how they were "encouraged" to remain in the program, and how they were treated afterward. This comprehensive and controversial book will be of importance to policymakers and legislators, military and civilian planners, officials at the Department of Veterans Affairs, military historians, and researchers.

Collecting several key documents and policy statements, this supplement to the ninth edition of the Intellectual Freedom Manual traces a history of ALA’s commitment to fighting censorship. An introductory essay by Judith Krug and Candace Morgan, updated by OIF Director Barbara Jones, sketches out an overview of ALA policy on intellectual freedom. An important resource, this volume includes documents which discuss such foundational issues as The Library Bill of RightsProtecting the freedom to readALA’s Code of EthicsHow to respond to challenges and concerns about library resourcesMinors and internet activityMeeting rooms, bulletin boards, and exhibitsCopyrightPrivacy, including the retention of library usage records

The study sought a detailed description of the public involvement techniques embraced in the public hearing strategy of each of the nation's state transportation agencies. In addition, it examined the status of the public hearing as a principal technique within the citizen participation process of each agency to determine how strong or weak a role the public hearing is playing within the transportation decision making process nationwide. Presented is an evaluation of the pre-hearing and post-hearing procedures being utilized by transportation agencies. Information for the study was obtained through interviews with the public hearing officer, or his equivalent in each highway and/or transportation department. Each officer was also asked to submit to the researcher written copies of his agency's public hearing strategy along with any other pertinent material regarding public hearings or citizen participation. The document most often received was the Action Plan. The study found that basically the nation's state transportation agencies utilize either one of two administrative operations for conducting public hearings. In 29 agencies the programs have centralized administrations whereby the majority of mandates emanate from the central office. In the remaining 21 agencies the responsibility for hearing administration is delegated to district or regional offices. The study also showed the existence of a growing trend for agencies to utilize independent moderators at public hearings, especially if the hearings are likely to produce controversy. Also it was found that the most efficient and widely used pre-hearing technique is the informal pre-hearing meeting. The specifics of hearing/meeting notification and hearing structure and content are discussed in the report. The information gathered suggests that the nation's state transportation agencies are continuously striving to achieve meaningful public participation in transportation decision making through countless innovations and much experimentation.

Building community support, overcoming opposition, and getting approval for real estate developments are challenging, time-consuming and costly endeavors. Developers can overcome these challenges with the hands-on strategies and tactics covered in Yes Vote: The Public Hearing Plan for Developers. Real estate developers must get approval for their real estate developments at a public hearing so that they don’t lose money, lose face, and alienate their investors – or worse. They already know that the public hearing has its own pitfalls. They may even lie awake at night worrying about them. For 25 years, Consultant Katie Coates has been helping her clients get approval at their public hearings, even on projects that have been deemed lost causes or hopeless. In Yes Vote, Katie shares her special blend of analysis, strategy and real-world experience with readers so they can get their approval, too. In Yes Vote, readers learn how to: Overcome opposition. Find supporters, even in a hostile environment. Formulate a plan so they have a greater sense of control over their project's destiny. Get elected officials to listen to them instead of only listening to their opponents. Prevail at the public hearing and get approval for their project.