Projects (Completed 1990-1999)
Here are projects that were completed in the 1990s. For more information about any of these projects, please
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Chip Mill Assessment (1999)
The IEN was asked by the Chair of the Legislative Subcommittee on the Impact of Satellite Chip Mills to conduct an assessment of the issues and prospective actions concerning chip mills in Virginia. IEN staff interviewed stakeholders and researched events and findings in other states. These results were presented to the Subcommittee along with some suggestions for ways in which the they might proceed.
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Consensus Building for Richmond's Bryan Park Area (1998 - 1999)
In a two-year effort the IEN facilitated and mediated a consensus building effort for the Bryan Park Interchange Advisory Committee (BPIAC). BPIAC was convened by the Virginia Department of Transportation to provide citizen input on how it would deal with the increasingly congested intersection of I-95 and I-64 through the next 20 years. The project is seen by some as a new experiment in the way VDOT engages citizens in public involvement. BPIAC concluded its work in October 1999 with a consensus report, the first of its kind in the Commonwealth in its breadth and scope. The recommendations include specific roadway and on-roadway improvements including multi-modal transportation, land uses, and general principles that should guide transportation planning. The report is available as a (PDF) here.
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Facilitating Design Charettes (1998 - 1999)(1998 - 1999)
IEN expanded its role as a designer and facilitator of charrettes with involvement in two design projects. A public charrette is a design oriented consensus-building process. IEN staff facilitated sections of a two and a half-day charrette held in Williamsburg, Virginia in December 1998. The charrette, organized by the College of William and Mary and the City of Williamsburg, focused on opportunities presented by the imminent development of large land holdings adjacent to the William and Mary campus and within the city. The IEN was also part of an advisory group led by the Center for Chesapeake Communities to create a living model of sustainable development in Spring Township, Pennsylvania.
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Facilitation of Big Meadows Management Strategy (1999)
IEN planned and mediated a one-day session for management staff of the Shenandoah National Park, during which developed a management strategy for the Big Meadows area on Skyline Drive. Issues involved how to address multiple concerns for preserving the historical, cultural, and rare natural resources at Big Meadows while being sensitive to needs and anticipated views of the visiting public. The management strategy was subsequently implemented.
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Facilitation of Workshop on Reducing Toxics in Chesapeake Bay Tributaries (1999)
In conjunction with the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Park Service, 25 leaders from the Chesapeake Bay watershed met for a workshop facilitated by the IEN to develop strategies for reducing toxics throughout the Chesapeake Bay basin. These workshops followed the release of the Chesapeake Bay's Tidal Rivers report which identified "hot spots" or areas that have the potential for chemical contamination. Rather than simply develop a program to educate communities about the findings of the report, the National Park Service and the EPA of Chesapeake Bay Offices convened the workshop to elicit stakeholder ideas for potential strategies.
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Facilitation Training for Natural Resource Managers: Resolving Environmental Conflicts by Building Community Consensus (1999)
IEN offered a 3-day pilot training dealing with issues of consensus and conflict around environmental issues. The project targeted Virginiaês government, nonprofit and business communities in an effort to build conflict resolution capacity within the different sectors. The training was initiated by Virginia Techês Center for Economic Education and was funded by the Kellogg Foundation. The positive feedback from this class of 36 people led to the development of the new Virginia Natural Resources Leadership Institute.
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First Heritage Visioning in Virginia (1999)
In what is thought to be the first effort to establish a community heritage partnership in Virginia, nearly 200 citizens gathered for a full day in Palmyra, Virginia to talk about how Fluvanna County's historical, natural and cultural heritage can be protected for future generations. The project was initiated by the Rivanna Conservation Society with a grant from the National Park Service. The IEN worked closely with a citizen steering committee to plan and convene the Fluvanna Heritage Forum and provided facilitators and recorders for the Forum's ten working groups. The Heritage Forum accomplished three things: citizens identified aspects of Fluvanna's heritage that are most valued, they developed ways in which these things might be protected through the years ahead, and they suggested practical "next steps" that might be taken in the next two years.
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Lead-Based Paint Abatement Facilitation (1992 - 1999)
Over the course of seven years the IEN facilitated four national meetings concerning the abatement of lead-based paint. Half of the states involved have already developed implementation plans. The Environmental Protection Agency hopes to finalize regulations by the end of 2000.
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Mental Health and Insurance Issues Mediation (1999)
A dispute between local providers of mental health services and the company QualChoice was mediated by the IEN from May to July 1999 in a series of five sessions. The concerns of local providers regarding QualChoice practices included issues of patient confidentiality, micro-management, and inadequate time allowed for conducting certain types of psychological testing. A report was issued detailing provider and QualChoice views and listing a number of agreed outcomes.
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Public Involvement for Wilderness Recreational Management Plan (1999)
Working closely with the U.S. Forest Service at the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, IEN developed and facilitated the public involvement process for "Step One" of the "Limits of Acceptable Change Process," which is a systematic nine-step process for wilderness planning which elicits stakeholder guidance at critical planning junctures. The IEN facilitated the first two public meetings and developed a report which identified and summarized the major themes of stakeholder concern.
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Training: Eastern Shore RC&D (1999)
IEN conducted a one-day training on "Conflict Resolution and Consensus Building" for a variety of leaders on the Eastern Shore, convened by the Resource Conservation & Development Council.
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Training: North Carolina ASSIST (1999)
IEN conducted a one-day workshop/ strategic planning session for board of the North Carolina tobacco control state coalition. The focus was on reating shared expectations for higher ground in decision-making and resolving conflict among coalition members and leaders.
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Training: South Carolina Land Use (1999)
IEN worked with the Community Rights Council to conduct a two-day training for local government officials of the Charleston area Council of Governments on land use conflict resolution tools.
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Conservation of Land and Open Space (1998)
IEN convened and facilitated a series of meetings of key stakeholders to find creative ways to preserve open land in Virginia. Several mechanisms were identified which might establish a steady source of funding for conservation easements and conservation land acquisition. These meetings led to the development of the Conservation Land Coalition, which successfully lobbied for the passage of state legislation that establishes a state fund to purchase conservation easements.
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Development of Model Wellhead Ordinance (1998)
At the request of the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), IEN developed a "Model Wellhead Protection" implementation package. The package includes model plans, ordinances, and outreach programs for Virginia localities. Numerous communities have requested this package and have used the model plans to assist their local planning.
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Facilitation of Regional Gathering on Strategies for Change (1998)
Business, government and civic leaders from throughout the Piedmont region of Virginia gathered to explore and help shape the futureof Virginia's Piedmont at an all-day symposium, held at UVA in October 1998. Organized by the Institute for Sustainable Design (ISD) with assistance from IEN, "Piedmont Futures" offered a mix of stimulating presentations and small group discussions facilitated by IEN about strategies of change for the Piedmont.
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Onsite Septic System Regulatory Negotiation (1998)
The IEN conducted a regulatory negotiation ("reg-neg") to develop regulations under Virginia SB 415 for the privatization of soil Analysis for onsite septic systems. At the request of the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), IEN convened the stakeholder advisory group which developed consensus recommendations for a new program. From a broad perspective, issues raised in the negotiation concerned land use management and planning, septic systems, ground water protection, and the privatization of soil analysis. The IEN facilitated the meetings, developed meeting summaries and reports, conducted technical research and assistance, and developed the final consensus report.
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Research for the EPA Sustainable Challenge Grant (1998)
The EPA funded a project that created a partnership among EPA, the Environmental Law Institute (ELI), and IEN, to examine the question of what is meant by the word "sustainable." The IEN evaluated and computer-coded over 600 grant applications for the EPA Sustainable Development Challenge Grant for analysis by the ELI. The research aimed to elucidate what "sustainable" means to grant applicants, and what are common elements of community sustainability as perceived by communities throughout the United States. Can a better definition of community sustainability be developed from this information? These and other questions were explored with the results of IEN evaluations.
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Roundtable on Pollution Reduction and Effluent Trading (1998)
In collaboration with Virginia Techês Center for Water Resources, IEN convened and facilitated a stakeholder roundtable on the concept of watershed effluent trading in Virginia. The roundtable explored the possibilities of establishing a market-based system that would allow shares of pre-established water pollution allowances to be traded, much like sulfur dioxide is currently traded. Various concerns were expressed by stakeholders and no consensus on a continuing effort was reached.
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Southern Watershed Area Management Plan (SWAMP) (1998 - 1998)
In an effort to protect the Southern Watershed, two cities, Chesapeake and Virginia Beach, have started a joint project, SWAMP. IEN will convene the first workshop for stakeholders.
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Strategic Planning for the Virginia Coastal Program (1998)
IEN was asked to facilitate the Virginia Coastal Programês (VCP) first formal strategic planning effort, during which stakeholders were asked to take a fresh look at VCP priorities, structure, and how to optimize protection of coastal resources. The six-month process involved stakeholder interviews, research, meetings with agency stakeholders, as well as focus groups with environmental, economic, and local government interests. The IEN developed meeting summaries, an Issues Paper, a Primer on the Virginia Coastal Program, a Themes-Directions-Options paper, and finally a draft Strategic Plan.
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Fisheries Management and the Menhaden Controversy (1997)
With support from the Virginia Sea Grant Program, the Institute is conducting a convening study on the Menhaden fisheries controversy to determine whether alternative dispute resolution techniques could be used to resolve this protracted common property resource conflict.
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Recommendations for State Biosolids Program (1997)
IEN was contracted to conduct an independent evaluation of the states program of land application of biosolids. When treated sewage sludge, otherwise known as biosolids, is applied to agricultural or other types of land, people tend to feel strongly one way or another. IENs study involved interviews with staff of over 20 counties and cities, as well as legal and technical research. It issued a final report with recommendations for how the state program could be improved in fall 1997. The report has been requested and used by numerous counties.
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The Virginia Mental Health Insurance Parity Task Force (1995)
Mediator for a multi-party stakeholder Task Force that was created to deal with contentious proposed mental health insurance legislation.
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Tobacco Communities Roundtable (1994 - 1995)
IEN served as convener and facilitator for an innovative project which brought together health advocates and tobacco growing interests in Virginia. Over a sixteen month process, participants discussed various strategies for economic diversification, economic development, and improvements in the production and marketing of tobacco, concluding with a pivotal presentation to the Virginia Joint Legislative Study Subcommittee on Alternative Strategies for Assisting Tobacco Farmers.
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Chapel Hill, North Carolina Airport (1992 - 1993)
Working with representatives from the University of North Carolina, local governments, citizen groups, and aviation advocacy organizations, IEN convened a group to address operational and relocation options related to a University-owned airport.
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Chatahoochee National Forest, Georgia (1993)
Mediator or a convening of diverse stakeholders in timber projects to explore mutually acceptable alternatives to the proposed cutting in a sensitive 14,000 acre area.
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Virginia Waste Tire End-User Reimbursement Advisory Committee (1992 - 1993)
Through grants from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and W. Alton Jones Foundation, IEN led a consensus building effort involving a diverse group of stakeholders to advise the Virginia DEQ on its development of policy for uses of the Waste Tire Fund.
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Shenandoah National Park Related Land Study (1992)
Facilitation of a series of public meetings involving stakeholder groups to explore the purposes and uses of a controversial proposed study of the Park's natural and cultural resources.
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Virginia State Generic Management Plan for Pesticides and Ground Water (1988 - 1992)
Facilitation of a year-long process by a task force of twelve state agencies to develop a state plan for protection of ground water from pesticides.
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