NEWS FROM THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL

Aug. 12, 2009
Vol. 39, No. 343

Contact: James Brunswick, Community Ombudsman, phone: (302) 739-9040; Vicki Ward, Office of the Secretary, phone: (302) 739-9007; Melanie Rapp, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

   Community Involvement Advisory Council meeting set for August 18

The next meeting of the Community Involvement Advisory Council (CIAC) will be held 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18 at the Smyrna Rest Area Conference Room, 5500 Dupont Parkway, Smyrna.

The agenda will include:

• Meeting Protocol Review

• Review of the June Meeting Notes

• Discussion of Items for Next Meeting

• Community Ombudsman Report
  - Community Environmental Fund Project update
  -New and ongoing projects:
      o Peavey Con Agra
      o Virtual Policy Academy
      o Mapping Project
      o Claymont Community Monitoring Project
      o Asthma Action

• Public Comments/Open Forum

The CIAC and the Community Ombudsman work to increase the flow of information between communities and the department, increase community participation and facilitate dialogue among all stakeholders during the decision-making process.

The CIAC was established by Senate Bill 33 as a permanent council serving in an advisory capacity to the Secretary of DNREC. The legislation charged the CIAC to deal with interactions between the Department and local communities. The Community Ombudsman position was also authorized by the same legislation.