5800-024 ECCR Agreement Seeking Participant Evaluation Survey

OMB Control Number: 2030-0051

Expiration Date: MM/DD/YYYY

ECCR Agreement Seeking Participant Evaluation Survey

This collection of information is approved by OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. (OMB Control No. 2030-0051). Responses to this collection of information are voluntary. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to be 32 minutes per response. Send comments on the Agency’s need for this information, the accuracy of the provided burden estimates and any suggested methods for minimizing respondent burden to Director, Information Engagement Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2821T), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20460. Include the OMB control number in any correspondence. Do not send the completed form to this address.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Conflict Prevention and Resolution Center (CPRC) requests your assistance in evaluating this facilitated process. As a part of this evaluation, we ask the various participants who have been involved in this project or case to provide us with information about their experience. The data compiled will be used to improve future facilitation services provided by the CPRC.

The CPRC will not report information from this evaluation in a way that respondents or their organizations can be identified.

Section 1: Agreement Reactions

Note that throughout this survey uses the term “agreement” across multiple questions. The term “agreement” applies to the written or unwritten agreement(s) you reached with other participants in the process, including plans, proposals/recommendations, procedures, collaborative decisions to work together and settlements. We use the term agreement recognizing that there may have been more than one agreement.

1. Please indicate the extent to which agreement was reached. Please consider those issues that were central to the discussions and needed to be addressed to resolve or advance the matter. Please check one.

   • Agreement on all key issues

   • Agreement on most key issues

   • Agreement on some key issues

   • No agreement on key issues; progress was made towards addressing the matter. {Skip to Q6}

   • No agreement; the process ended without us making much progress. {Skip to Q6}

Please use the space below if you would like to elaborate on your response above.

{Open-ended box}

2. Please tell us more about the agreement reached. Using the scale provided, rate your level of agreement with the following statements.

	Strongly agree	Agree	Somewhat agree	Neither agree nor disagree	Somewhat disagree	Disagree	Strongly Disagree	NA
The agreement reached takes account of our key interests.
The agreement reached will effectively resolve the matter.
The agreement reached can be implemented.
I am satisfied with the agreement reached using the facilitated process.

3. Were there any important issues that were not addressed by the agreement? If yes, please use the space below to elaborate. Please check one.

   • Yes

   • No

   • Not sure

{Open-ended box}

Section 2: Effects of the Agreement

In the next set of questions, we would like you to reflect more on the benefits and value of the agreement reached through this facilitated process and how conditions may change as a result of the agreement.

4. From your perspective, what conditions are most likely to change as a result of the agreement made in this facilitated process? Please select all that apply.

   • Community / social

   • Economic / commercial

   • Historic / cultural resource

   • Natural resource / environmental

   • Public safety / public health

   • Recreational

   • Other (please comment) _______________________________________________________

Please describe how you expect the conditions selected above to change.

{Open-ended box}

5. Do you anticipate further change in {pipe in responses from Q4} effects beyond 10 years? Please check one.

   • Yes

   • No

   • Uncertain

Please explain your response.

{Open-ended box}

6. Were there additional benefits from the facilitated process that were not part of the agreement? Please check one.

   • Yes

   • No

   • Uncertain

If you selected “yes”, please provide more detail regarding the additional benefits in the space provided below.

{Open-ended box}

7. To what extent do you agree with the following statements about the ability of participants to work together following participation in this process?

	Strongly agree	Agree	Somewhat agree	Neither agree nor disagree	Somewhat disagree	Disagree	Strongly Disagree	NA
Participating in this process improved our ability to work together cooperatively.
Participating in this process increased our trust in each other.
Participating in this process increased our mutual understanding of each other’s perspectives.

Please use this space if you wish to elaborate on changes in the levels of cooperation, trust, and understanding.

{Open-ended box}

Section 3: Process Effectiveness

In this final set of questions, we would like you to reflect on the effectiveness of the facilitated process you participated in.

8. Please rate your level of agreement with the following about the early phases of the facilitated process.

	Strongly agree	Agree	Somewhat agree	Neither agree nor disagree	Somewhat disagree	Disagree	Strongly Disagree	NA
I had a good understanding of the process from the outset.
I was able to assess the risks, costs, and benefits associated with participating in the facilitated process from the outset.
Early discussions with the facilitator were critical in helping me understand how a facilitated process might serve my interests.

Please use this space if you wish to elaborate on your answers to any of these questions.

{Open-ended box}

9. Please rate your level of agreement with the following about the participants involved in the process:

	Strongly agree	Agree	Somewhat agree	Neither agree nor disagree	Somewhat disagree	Disagree	Strongly Disagree	NA
The participants, as a group, represented all affected concerns.
The participants had sufficient authority to make commitments on behalf of their organizations.
The participants continued to be engaged so long as their involvement was needed.
I had the resources (e.g., time, money) needed to participate effectively in the process.

10. Use this space if you wish to elaborate on your answers to any of these questions.

{Open-ended box}

11. We’d like to learn more about your experiences with the process. Using the scale provided, please rate your level of agreement with the following statements.

    	Strongly agree	Agree	Somewhat agree	Neither agree nor disagree	Somewhat disagree	Disagree	Strongly Disagree	NA
    The process enabled me to gain a good understanding of the issues important to the other participants.
    The process enabled me to understand why issues addressed in the process were important to other participants.
    The process enabled participants to be civil to each other.
    This was an appropriate process to address the matter.
    The process helped us identify key issues that needed to be addressed.
    The other participants listened to me.
    The other participants respected the views I expressed.
    I would recommend this type of facilitated process to colleagues in a similar situation.

12. Use this space if you wish to elaborate on your answers to any of these questions.

{Open-ended box}

13. We’d like to hear your thoughts about the facilitator for this process. Using the scale provided, please rate your level of agreement with the following statements.

    	Strongly agree	Agree	Somewhat agree	Neither agree nor disagree	Somewhat disagree	Disagree	Strongly Disagree	NA
    When needed, the facilitator helped us find ways to move forward constructively.
    The facilitator dealt with all participants fairly.
    I trusted the facilitator.
    The facilitator ensured my views and perspectives were considered in the process.
    The facilitator helped participants test the practicality of the options under discussion.
    The facilitator’s involvement was important to efforts to reach agreement.
    I would recommend this facilitator to colleagues in a similar situation.

14. Use this space if you wish to elaborate on your answers to any of these questions.

{Open-ended box}

15. What is your top suggestion on how the facilitated process could have been improved? Please indicate “none” if you feel this process could not have been improved.

{Open-ended box}

16. Please use the space below for any additional comments you would like to make.

{Open-ended box}

Thank you for taking the time to complete this questionnaire!

PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES WHO REQUIRE ALTERNATIVE MEANS FOR COMMUNICATION OF PROGRAM EVALUATION INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT THE CPRC OFFICE.

Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 32 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering information, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments on the Agency’s need for this information, the accuracy of the provided burden estimates, and any suggestions for reducing the burden, including the use of automated collection techniques to:

CONFLICT PREVENTION AND RESOLUTION CENTER

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (MC: 2388A)

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20460

Telephone: 202.564.0214, Fax: 202.501.1715

Website: www.epa.gov/adr

Email: adr@epa.gov

EPA Form: 5800-024