5800-025 Agreement Seeking Participant Agency Decision Evaluation

OMB Number: 2010-0042

Approval Expiration Date: 3/31/2021

Agreement Seeking Participant Agency Decision 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. 2010-0042). 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 range from 3 to 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 the Regulatory Support Division Director, 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. Moreover, the identity of individual respondents will be kept confidential and will not be disclosed.

1. Please indicate the extent to which agreement was reached.

To answer this question, think about those issues that were central to the discussions and needed to be addressed to resolve or advance the matter

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.

(CHECK ONLY 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. (To Q13)

• No agreement, the process ended without us making much progress. (To Q13)

USE THE SPACE BELOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ELABORATE ON YOUR RESPONSE:

2. Rate your level of agreement with the following statements regarding the agreement.

Scale 0=Not at all, 10=Completely

1. The agreement reached takes account of our key interests.

2. The agreement reached will effectively resolve the matter.

3. The agreement reached can be implemented.

4. The facilitator’s involvement was important to efforts to reach agreement

3. Were there any important issues that were not addressed by the agreement?

   • Yes

   • No (to 5)

   • Not sure (to 5)

4. Are those important issues from the previous question satisfactorily addressed or likely to be addressed by another process that has been agreed to by the parties?

   • Yes

   • No

   • Not sure

5. Were you satisfied with the agreement reached using the facilitated process?

Scale 0=Not at all, 10=Completely

_____

Effects of the Agreement

In the next set of questions, you will be asked about the size and the likelihood of the most important condition that you expect will change as a result of the agreement reached through the facilitated process.

We recognize that there can be uncertainty about your answers to these questions. Without you answering all questions, we cannot produce the needed estimate of effects from the agreement reached through the facilitated process.

6. From your perspective, what condition has been or will be the most importantly affected or changed as a result of the agreement made in this facilitated process?

please select the condition most importantly affected or changed.

• Community / social

• Economic / commercial

• Historic / cultural resource

• Natural resource/ environmental

• Public safety / public health

• Recreational

• Other (please comment) _______________________________________________________

Please describe the condition you selected above that you expect to change.

7. For the first ten years after the agreement to what extent will the change in the [pipe from Q6] condition be better or worse than existed before the facilitated process?

Scale -4 to +4 with -4=significantly worse and +4=significantly better

8. For the first ten years after the agreement how likely is it that the changes in the [pipe from Q6] condition will occur?

Scale 0=will not occur, 10=has occurred or definitely will occur.

9. Please explain your answers about the amount and likelihood of change in the [pipe from Q6] condition.

10. Do you anticipate further change in (pipe from Q6) effects beyond ten years?

    • Yes (describe)

    • No

    • Uncertain

11. Please explain your response.

12. Were there benefits from the facilitated process that were not part of the agreement?

    • Yes (describe below)

    • No

13. Did the process break an impasse on this matter?

    • Yes

    • No (to 8)

    • Don’t know (to 8)

14. How important was breaking the impasse to the overall result of the process?

[0=Not at all, 10=Essential]

15. To what extent was there change over the course of the process in the ability of participants to work together on this matter and in your level of trust in each other?

	Much improved	Somewhat improved	About the same	Somewhat worse	Much worse
Change in our ability to work together cooperatively.					
Change in our trust of each other.					

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

16. Did you participate in developing the approach for the facilitated process (e.g., agenda setting, meeting frequency and location, ground rules)?

    • I/we participated and my participation was appropriate

    • I/we participated and my participation was unnecessary

    • I/we participated and my participation was insufficient

    • I/we declined to participate

    • I was/we were unable to participate

    • My/our participation was unnecessary

    • Other (please describe)

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

Scale 0=Not at all, 10=Completely.

1. I/we had a good understanding of the process from the outset.

2. I was/we were able to assess the risks, costs, and benefits associated with participating in the facilitated process from the outset.

3. Early discussions with the facilitator were critical in helping me/us understand how a facilitated process might serve my/our interests.

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

19. Please rate your level of agreement with the following about the participants:

Scale 0=Not at all, 10=Completely.

1. The participants, as a group, represented all affected concerns.

2. The participants had sufficient authority to make commitments on behalf of their organizations.

3. The participants continued to be engaged so long as their involvement was needed.

4. I/we had the resources (e.g., time, money) needed to participate effectively in the process.

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

21. Please rate your level of agreement with the following about the process:

Scale 0=Not at all, 10=Completely.

1. The process enabled me to gain a good understanding of the issues important to the other participants.

2. The process enabled me to gain a good understanding why issues addressed in the process were important to other participants.

3. The issues addressed in this process were all worthy of our consideration.

4. The process enabled participants to be civil to each other.

5. This was an appropriate process to address the matter.

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

23. Please rate your level of agreement with the following about the information and issues:

Scale 0=Not at all, 10=Completely

1. The information used was good enough for the discussions and agreements

2. I/we understood all of the technical discussions sufficiently to represent my/our interests.

3. The process helped us identify the key issues that had to be addressed.

4. The participants focused primarily on the key issues once they were identified.

5. The other participants listened to me/us.

6. The other participants respected the views I/we expressed.

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

25. Please rate your level of agreement with the following about the facilitator:

Scale 0=Not at all, 10=Completely

1. When needed the facilitator helped us find ways to move forward constructively.

2. The facilitator dealt with all participants fairly.

3. I trusted the facilitator.

4. The facilitator ensured my/our views and perspectives were considered in the process.

5. The facilitator helped participants test the practicality of the options under discussion.

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

27. Please rate your agreement with the following statement: Private communications I had with the facilitator that did not include all participants (e.g., a private caucus) were important for advancing the process.

[0=Do not agree at all, 10=Agree completely, NA]

28. Please rate your agreement with the following statements about whether you would recommend a facilitated process and this facilitator to colleagues in a similar situation? Scale 0=Do not agree at all, 10=Agree completely, NA

1. I would recommend this type of facilitated process to colleagues in a similar situation.

2. I would recommend this facilitator to colleagues in a similar situation.

29. If you and the other party(ies) had not used a facilitated process what is the alternative decision making process that would most likely have been used to reach an agreement or decision the matter?  In responding to this question, please choose the most likely alternative forum/entity to the facilitated process that would have produced a decision or agreement on the same matter, regardless of whether that agreement or decision might be later appealed in other forums.

    • We would have reached a negotiated agreement/settlement with the other party(ies) without the assistance of a facilitator.

    • The EPA would have made a decision if we had not reached an agreement/settlement with the help of a facilitator.

    • We would have reached a voluntary agreement through another process.

    • Other (please describe)

30. Imagine the [pipe selected response from Q6] condition that would have occurred during the first ten years after a decision or agreement from the alternative process you identified above (i.e., [pipe Q29]).  Would the [pipe selected response from Q6] condition be better or worse than existed before you began the facilitated process?

Please indicate the extent to which the decision or agreement from the alternative process would have produced a better or worse [pipe selected response from Q16] condition than what existed before the facilitated process began.

Scale -4 to +4 with -4=significantly worse and +4=significantly better

31. How likely would the result you indicated in Q30 be for the [pipe from Q6] condition be during the first ten years after a decision or agreement from the alternative process?

Scale 0=would not occur, 10=would have already occurred or definitely would occur.

32. Please explain your answers about the amount and likelihood of change in the [pipe from Q6] condition following the alternative process (i.e., [pipe Q29]) and agreement/decision.

33. Would you anticipate further change in (pipe from Q6) effects beyond ten years following the alternative process?

    • Yes (describe)

    • No

    • Uncertain

34. Please explain your response.

The next several questions ask for your views about how the facilitated process and the alternative you selected above (i.e., [Q29]) would compare.

35. Please consider how the total costs (time and expenses) of the facilitated process compare with the potential costs of the alternative that you identified in the previous question (i.e.,[Q29]).

The facilitated process was likely CHECK ONE:

• Significantly more costly than the alternative

• Somewhat more costly that the alternative

• Costs were about the same

• Somewhat less costly that the alternative

• Significantly less costly than the alternative

• Don’t know

1. How do you think the facilitated process would compare with the alternative that you selected (i.e.,[Q29])?

[0=Not at all, 10=Completely]

1. The facilitated process better served the interests of my/our organization.

2. The facilitated process resulted in more timely decisions and implementation

3. The participants are more likely to be able to work together in the future on matters related to this case.

4. The agreement we reached through the facilitated process is less likely to be challenged.

5. The agreement we reached through the facilitated process is better for us.

37. In your view, what is the greatest advantage and disadvantage that the agreement from the facilitated process provided compared to what would have been possible with the alternative process you selected (i.e., [Q29])?

Greatest advantage

Greatest disadvantage

38. What is your top suggestion on how the facilitated process could have been improved?

PLEASE WRITE "NONE" IF YOU FEEL THIS PROCESS COULD NOT HAVE BEEN IMPROVED.

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

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 24 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: [email protected]

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