TY - JOUR T1 - Local environmental advisory boards make sense JF - Journal of Soil and Water Conservation SP - 344 LP - 345 VL - 46 IS - 5 AU - James D. Harless Y1 - 1991/09/01 UR - http://www.jswconline.org/content/46/5/344.abstract N2 - SOLVING problems by committee is the subject of many jokes, for citizens and government officials alike. But citizen committee input to local government is both undervalued and underutilized for a broad range of programs and services. One of these local program areas is that of public health and environmental protection. A local environmental advisory committee can contribute in the following ways: ▸ To assist local government officials in planning, organizing, and evaluating local services and environmental programs. ▸ To help coordinate the work of local government environmental programs with other community programs. ▸ To provide opportunities for concerned citizens to have a part in the formation or alteration of the local programs. ▸ To serve as a stabilizing body for local officials who administer local environmental programs. ▸ To help secure resources for environmental health and safety purposes that may not otherwise be available. ▸ To develop a good public relations program for the local environmental services, promoting available services and keeping citizens informed of environmental work. ▸ To act as a sounding board for the major changes under review by local officials. ▸ To provide continuity in local environmental programs during changes in environmental leadership or support staff. … ER -