The Citizens' Guide to Environmental Protection gives the public information that helps plan and achieve a healthy environment. This guide is designed for community members who are concerned about both real and perceived environmental problems.

Working on environmental issues involves an environmental triad :

• Citizens
• Regulated industry
• Government
  • Legislative – elected officials from towns, cities, counties, and the state
  • Executive – people appointed by the governor to run agencies such as EPA, Commerce, Parks, ODNR, etc.

Each of these three groups has its own interests and goals. Each will evaluate problems depending on their point of view. It is not surprising that one group does not view another group's problem in the same way. This guide offers many suggestions for getting results from communication with various groups and provides useful contacts. However, with many different opinions and goals, the process can become lengthy.

Another consideration is the comparative risk of a problem. With enough money, time, and personnel, many environmental concerns could disappear, but that is seldom possible. Someone must evaluate how important the issue is in comparison to other threats. Deciding where the most positive environmental impact can be made with the money and people available means that other areas won't be addressed.

A specific environmental problem also has degrees of concern. Industry, citizens, and government agencies must agree on a priority list. Ideally, the whole situation should be mitigated, but that is seldom the case. However, meetings and agreements will be most effective if all three members of the environmental triad are present in meetings and kept informed.

This guide provides you with resources that you can contact about environmental concerns (see the Contacts section of this guide). It lists both phone numbers and web addresses so that you can find information or contract a person either by phone or e-mail who might help you with your concerns.

The information in this section will help you get meaningful results in a minimal amount of time. The areas covered are:

• Web Search
• E-mail
• Phone Calls
• Letter Writing.

If you follow the guidelines for these forms of communicating, you will save time and get results. The sections are organized in a step-by-step design so that you will be able to follow the process easily. You might even use the bulleted and numbered lists as checklists as you proceed to gather information.

If you have access to a computer that is on the Internet and has e-mail (all public libraries offer this service), you will find many other helpful contacts. The following suggestions will give you ideas about how to use the Internet to support your efforts. The Contact section of the Citizens' Guide to Environmental Protection has many Internet addresses or URLs (Uniform Resource Locator) that will connect you to the agency or department that can provide you with help and information.

1. Type in the URL of the agency, department, or organization. The Citizens' Guide to Environmental Protection provides these in the Contacts section.

2. When the site is on the screen, "Click" (press the left mouse button quickly) on any highlighted word or icon (picture or graphic) for more information. A "highlighted" word or words are usually written in blue or a color that isn't the main one for the page. They are sometimes also in italicized print style.

3. Look at the title list on the left hand or right hand side of the screen. Sometimes titles are in little boxes or "sausages." These are called menus . Just click on any of these special titles to get to the information you need. You may also find menus on the top or bottom of the page.

4. Sometimes the sections you want to find are represented by pictures (called "icons"). You can also access information by "clicking" on the picture.

5. You may print any page you want a copy of by choosing File on the menu bar and selecting Print .

1. Determine the specific nouns, called key words , that best describe your subject. Examples might be particulates, dioxins, landfill, nuclear, or streams .

2. Next add at least one more word that describes or states location. Examples might be Ohio, Greene, burning, emissions, toxic, plume, chemical, industrial, or smog .

3. Use quotation marks (" ") around any multiple-word phrase or name. Examples are " radioactive waste", "New Brunswick", "wastewater discharge", or "riparian habitat."

4. Write down these key words for your search. Precise key words will give you the best information in the least amount of time.

Using a Search Engine To Find a Web Page:

1. A Search Engine is a web site that helps find information by asking you to enter key words. You will need to open a search engine from the Internet. You may try any of the following addresses. In fact, each one may give you different results.

• http://www.yahoo.com
• http://www.excite.com
• http://www.lycos.com
• http://www.infoseek.com
• http://www.altavista.com
• http://www.hotbot.com
• http://www.snap.com
• http://www.northernlight.com

2. Just type one of the above URL's into the window on the opening page to your Internet browser. If you are using a public library, a librarian can help you get started.

3. When you have connected to one of these sites, you will see a lot of information and color. Find the window that is blank and has a "Search" button beside it, usually in gray or blue.

4. Type in your key words with a comma or a plus sign between them. Include any quotation marks that you determined you needed.

Examples: particulates + coal + burning

sulphur, "hazardous waste", landfill

5. The results will appear after the program finds all the entries with your key words. Read each description and click on the blue words at the start of the entry to get to the site with your information.

6. You may find just what you are looking for, but if you don't, try these suggestions:

• add a key word if there are over 30 entries to narrow the list
• remove a key word if there are no entries
• Change your key words if the entries are not on the right topic
• try another search engine for different results

7. If you are not successful, use one of the related URLs from the resource list in this booklet. When you have loaded that page, click on the selection for Related Areas , Other Resources , or a similar selection. This often leads you to the best information.

8. You may print the pages that have the information you want by selecting File on the browser menu bar and then select Print .

Note: Finding good results from the Internet takes a little practice and precise key words. Don't give up when your first efforts are not precisely what you expected.

E-mail addresses are listed on most web pages. The address will generally have a special name before the "@" symbol and a company or organization name after it. Examples are:

1. Include important information at the beginning:

Fill in the subject line with 4-8 words that best describe the purpose of your e-mail message.

Subject: Request information on strip mine recovery

Subject: Need help with possible chemical release in stream

Give your name and organization in the first sentence.

State your purpose for writing in the next few sentences.

2. In a second paragraph, state your information or request as clearly as you can. Be sure to include any specific information like dates, names, titles, or numbers.

3. Check your facts for accuracy and correct spelling.

4. End your e-mail in a paragraph that asks the person to do any or all of the following:

• answer you within a certain amount of time
• tell you if your message was forwarded to someone else for a response

5. Close by repeating your purpose once again and thanking the person for reading and helping you out.

6. Effective e-mails are generally:

• short
• double spaced between paragraphs
• have short sentences and paragraphs
• maintain a pleasant, friendly tone
• give specific requests or information
• not written in all capital letters
• justified on the left (don't indent)
• use bullets or hyphens for lists
• signed with your name and title.

7. Save your e-mail by printing or by saving on the hard drive or a diskette, or sending a copy to yourself.

8. File the message you sent and the the replies you received on either on the computer or in labeled folders.

See the sample e-mail message on the next page.

Making phone calls to elected officials, government agencies, or departments can be rewarding or frustrating. Sometimes the problem is that you don't have the right person or department. Sometimes the person or agency just can't help you because that person does not have the ability to help you. In order to get as much from your phone call as possible, follow these guidelines:

• Your name and the organization that you represent.
• The exact wording of your request or question so that it is very clear.
• Rather than: "I want to know about how many people died of cancer."
• Better: "I am interested in finding statistics on cancer deaths in Greene County from 1995 and 1996. Am I talking with the right person or could you transfer my call to someone who has this information.?
• Use words like need information … request help with … need to know procedures for … need data on … want to report.>
• Include any relevant dates or times especially of previous phone calls and letters.
• Ask if this is the right place to help you with your request. If not, have them suggest who might be able to help you.

• Ask the person's name and position. Also make sure you record the number and extension for future reference.
• If you were referred to this person, give the name of the person who referred you.
• Refer to the person by name as you repeat your request or question:
• "Gloria, could you also give me some data on …"
• Maintain a polite tone throughout the conversation with words like:
• "Please", "Thank you", and "I appreciate…".
• An opening might go like this: "Hello, my name is _____ and I am a member of the ______ organization. I would like to know
• what Ohio's regulations on strip mine recovery are. Mary Smith in the Wildlife Division referred me to you as the authority in this field. How can you help me?"

OR

• "Hello, my name is _____ and I am a member of the ______ organization. I am concerned about a plant that is dumping its chemicals into our creek. I have been watching it daily for the last four months. Mary Smith at the Ohio EPA suggested that I call you with the information and my concern about our creek. Are you in a position to help me out with this problem?"