The Role of Citizens in Environmental Decision-Making

This article will describe five versions of the DEQ legislation from the bill's legislative journal: the bill as introduced, the bill that passed the General Assembly in 2007 with a reenactment clause, the bill introduced on behalf of proponents of board restructuring at the beginning of the 2008 session, the bill introduced on behalf of the restructuring bill's opponents, and the legislation that was enacted and will become effective on July 1, 2008. For each version of the bill, this article seeks to identify views regarding the nature of permitting decisions and the role of citizens in making those decisions.