Public Participation
One of the BECC's key successes has been public participation. Public participation has made it possible for projects to obtain broad community endorsement through active, local steering committees which ensure the transparency of project information for public review, the involvement of local organizations and presentation of project information at required public meetings. Through the BECC’s public participation process, communities can understand the most important aspects of each project, such as its cost, technology and benefits for human health and the environment.

The impact of the BECC’s public participation program reaches beyond the project development process, since it has become an important tool for communities to achieve transparency and valuable public input in the decision-making process. For some communities, this new framework for public participation has introduced important changes regarding the manner in which community development in general is envisioned and promoted.

BECC implemented a Public Participation Manual for border communities and project sponsors that serves as a complete and systematic guide for conducting their public participation efforts. It is also a basic tool that offers practical techniques and methods to ensure meaningful public participation. The manual summarizes, applies and improves on the experiences gained by the commission the past seven years. The manual is organized for planning and implementation and is based on the premise that public participation will improve decisions and the decision-making process itself. The manual is a response to the challenge of an ever-changing border region where the trend is for increased public participation in decisions that affect people and future generations.
Click here to find out where public participation fits in the project development process.