ASTM E2348-06(2010)

Standard Guide for Framework for a Consensus-based Environmental Decision-making Process

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
This standard guide is designed to help the owners and regulators of a specific environmental problem to identify and integrate affected stakeholders and establish a process to identify and work through all the key questions and answers essential to a mutually acceptable decision. This standard guide presents a “framework” that is intended to help ensure that all the CBED process components (that is, human health, ecological condition, socio-cultural values and economic well-being) are considered, but is designed to allow the user to interpret which components of the process are applicable and how these components are defined for the specific environmental problem being addressed. It also provides general guidance to help with selecting approaches and methods for specific analyses of each of the major CBED components (that is, human health, ecological condition, socio-cultural values, and economic well-being). The CBED process can be easily coupled with other relevant standards (for example Guides E1739, E1984, and E2205) and environmental compliance guidance and requirements, for example, Quality of Stakeholder-Based Decisions and Understanding Risk, CRF40 and CFR10.
The CBED process is appropriate in two contexts: (1) when a specific project is proposed; and (2) when there are or may be public concerns about specific health, environmental, cultural, social or economic issues.
Involving affected stakeholders actively in the decision-making process reorients that process from one dominated by regulators and owners to one that includes those who live with the consequences of the decision. This not only increases the successful implementation of decisions, but also can promote greater trust in government, industry and other institutions (P/CCRARM, 1997a).
SCOPE
1.1 This guide presents a framework for a stakeholder-focused Consensus-based Environmental Decision-making (CBED) process, which is a stakeholder-empowered, process to prioritize and select actions to be initiated with the goal of optimizing many types of environmental decisions that may affect a community or communities.
1.2 This guide is intended to describe a highly flexible CBED process, and therefore does not recommend a specific course of action for this activity.
1.3 This guide is intended to assist in implementing a CBED process, which allows assessing the full impact of any project- or issue-related decisions related to human health, ecological, socio-cultural or economic impacts.  
1.4 This guide is not intended to replace existing environmental decision-making or public participation processes. It may be used with other processes or standards that address stakeholder involvement in environmental decision-making.
1.5 Limitations—This standard does not address the specific methods for generating or evaluating technical data related to assessing a particular environmental issues. The user should seek other sources on methods to gather information for completion of models or other analyses that may be used during a CBED process.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Aug-2010
• ICS: 13.020.20 - Environmental economics. Sustainability
• Technical Committee: E50 - Environmental Assessment, Risk Management and Corrective Action
• Drafting Committee: E50.05 - Environmental Risk Management

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM E2348-17 - Standard Guide for Framework for a Consensus-based Environmental Decision-making Process
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2017
• Referred By: ASTM E2876-13(2020) - Standard Guide for Integrating Sustainable Objectives into Cleanup
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2010
• Referred By: ASTM E2531-06(2020) - Standard Guide for Development of Conceptual Site Models and Remediation Strategies for Light Nonaqueous-Phase Liquids Released to the Subsurface
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2010
• Referred By: ASTM E3350-22 - Standard Guide for Community Resilience Planning for Buildings and Infrastructure
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2010
• Referred By: ASTM E3356-22 - Standard Guide for Stakeholder Engagement on Environmental Risk Management and Climate
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2010
• Referred By: ASTM E2728-19 - Standard Guide for Water Stewardship in the Design, Construction, and Operation of Buildings
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2010
• Referred By: ASTM E2590-15 - Standard Guide for Conducting Hazard Analysis-Critical Control Point (HACCP) Evaluations
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2010

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: E2348 − 06 (Reapproved 2010)
Standard Guide for
Framework for a Consensus-based Environmental Decision-
making Process
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2348; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope E1739 Guide for Risk-Based Corrective Action Applied at
Petroleum Release Sites
1.1 This guide presents a framework for a stakeholder-
E1984 Guide for Brownfields Redevelopment (Withdrawn
focused Consensus-based Environmental Decision-making
2012)
(CBED) process, which is a stakeholder-empowered, process
E2205 Guide for Risk-Based Corrective Action for Protec-
to prioritize and select actions to be initiated with the goal of
tion of Ecological Resources
optimizing many types of environmental decisions that may
affect a community or communities.
2.2 Other Documents:
1.2 This guide is intended to describe a highly flexible
P/CCRARM (The Presidential/Congressional Commission
CBED process, and therefore does not recommend a specific
on Risk Assessment and Risk Management),
course of action for this activity.
1997a, Framework for Environmental Health Risk Man-
agement. Final Report. Volume I.
1.3 ThisguideisintendedtoassistinimplementingaCBED
process, which allows assessing the full impact of any project-
P/CCRARM (The Presidential/Congressional Commission
or issue-related decisions related to human health, ecological,
on Risk Assessment and Risk Management), 1997b, Risk
socio-cultural or economic impacts.
Assessment and Risk Management in Regulatory
Decision-Making. Volume II.
1.4 This guide is not intended to replace existing environ-
Quality of Stakeholder-Based Decisions and Understanding
mental decision-making or public participation processes. It
Risk
may be used with other processes or standards that address
stakeholder involvement in environmental decision-making. 40CFR, Part 1501-1506, The Quality of Stakeholder-Based
Decisions: Lessons from the Case Study Record, Re-
1.5 Limitations—This standard does not address the specific
sources for the Future
methods for generating or evaluating technical data related to
10CFR Part 20, NEPAandAgency Planning; "Standards for
assessing a particular environmental issues. The user should
Protection Against Radiation," Subpart E, "Radiological
seek other sources on methods to gather information for
Criteria for License Termination.
completion of models or other analyses that may be used
during a CBED process.
3. Terminology
2. Referenced Documents
3.1 Definitions:
2.1 ASTM Standards:
3.1.1 affected stakeholder—anyindividual,group,company,
organization, government, tribe or other entity which may be
directlyaffectedbyorhasastakeintheoutcomeofthespecific
ThisguideisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeE50onEnvironmental
CBED process.
Assessment, Risk Management and Corrective Action and is the direct responsibil-
ity of Subcommittee E50.05 on Environmental Risk Management.
3.1.2 community—a group or groups of individuals who live
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2010. Published January 2011. Originally
or work in specific neighborhoods or regions.
approved in 2006. Last previous edition approved in 2006 as E2348–06.DOI:
10.1520/E2348-06R10.
The CBED process is not meant to replace other processes, such as the U.S.
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. The strength of the CBED
process is to empower the stakeholders in an organized fashion to focus on specific The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
issues that tend to result in litigation and long delays and can be readily used in www.astm.org.
conjunction with NEPA and/or other public participation processes. Available at http://www.riskworld.com/Nreports/nr7me001.htm.
3 6
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or Available at http://www.riskworld.com/Nreports/nr7me001.htm
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Available at: http://www.rff.org/Documents/RFF-DP-00-56.pdf
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Available from Standardization Documents Order Desk, DODSSP, Bldg. 4,
the ASTM website. Section D, 700 Robbins Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19111-5098.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
E2348 − 06 (2010)
3.1.3 consensus-based environmental decision-making used to reach consensus, and the delineation of the ultimate
(CBED) framework—a process structure that will facilitate decision-making authority.
empowering affected stakeholders in developing a CBED
4.3 The CBED process allows the impact of any project-
process.
related or issue-related decision to be assessed. The process
3.1.4 consensus-based environmental decision-making
provides all affected stakeholders with scientific and legal
(CBED) process—a stakeholder-empowered process to assess,
analyses and decision criteria that are prepared and interpreted
prioritize and select actions to initiate with the goal of
by scientific, technical, and legal experts, as well as relevant
optimizing environmental decisions with respect to human
qualitative experiential knowledge and values-based decision
health, and ecological, socio-cultural, and economic impacts.
criteria. The Stakeholder Committee decides the relevance and
importance of the criteria to the decision under consideration.
3.1.5 informed consent—agreement reached by affected
stakeholders, which is obtained by a process by which affected
4.4 There is no specific path that has to be followed when
stakeholders (1) are involved in a participative process that
initiating and participating in this CBED process. Depending
creates common understanding of the issues, concerns and
on the needs and priorities of the affected stakeholders and the
priorities held by all affected stakeholders; (2) assess, prioritize
legal constraints governing specific environmental decisions,
and select actions to improve the problem situation; and (3)
different entities may initiate the process, different procedural
agree to trade-offs to achieve consensus on specific initiatives
rules may be adopted, and different analysis tools may be used
related to the CBED process.
to address each issue or concern.
3.1.6 interested party—any individual, group, company,
5. Significance and Use
organization or other entity which is not an “affected stake-
holder” but which is interested in the outcome of the particular
5.1 This standard guide is designed to help the owners and
CBED process. Interested parties are not empowered with a
regulators of a specific environmental problem to identify and
decision-making role, and may participate on the Stakeholder
integrate affected stakeholders and establish a process to
Committee only as an observer or to provide information at the
identify and work through all the key questions and answers
discretion of the Stakeholder Committee.
essentialtoamutuallyacceptabledecision.Thisstandardguide
presents a “framework” that is intended to help ensure that all
3.1.7 regulator—a local, regional, state/provincial or federal
the CBED process components (that is, human health, ecologi-
government agency or person employed to administrator en-
cal condition, socio-cultural values and economic well-being)
force compliance with laws and regulations, which may be
are considered, but is designed to allow the user to interpret
either a stakeholder, a decision-maker, or an advisor to the
which components of the process are applicable and how these
Stakeholder Committee.
components are defined for the specific environmental problem
3.1.8 stakeholder committee—the entity empowered to
being addressed. It also provides general guidance to help with
make decisions within the CBED process which is composed
selecting approaches and methods for specific analyses of each
of representative(s) selected from each group of affected
of the major CBED components (that is, human health,
stakeholders. Members of the Stakeholder Committee are
ecologicalcondition,socio-culturalvalues,andeconomicwell-
responsible to act as liaisons with their respective stakeholder
being). The CBED process can be easily coupled with other
groups.
relevant standards (for example Guides E1739, E1984, and
E2205) and environmental compliance guidance and
4. Summary of Guide
requirements, for example, Quality of Stakeholder-Based De-
4.1 The Consensus-Based Environmental Decision-making
cisions and Understanding Risk, CRF40 and CFR10.
Process is a stakeholder-empowered, community-specific pro-
5.2 The CBED process is appropriate in two contexts: (1)
cess established to assess, prioritize and select actions to
when a specific project is proposed; and (2) when there are or
initiate with the goal of optimizing environmental decision-
may be public concerns about specific health, environmental,
making with respect to human health, ecological, socio-
cultural, social or economic issues.
cultural, and economic impacts. The Stakeholder Committee
may consider issues related to environmental justice, which
5.3 Involving affected stakeholders actively in the decision-
relates to the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all
making process reorients that process from one dominated by
people, regardless of race, ethnicity, income, national origin or
regulators and owners to one that includes those who live with
education level. The CBED process is an iterative process
the consequences of the decision. This not only increases the
comprised of five main steps: (1) affected stakeholder identi-
successful implementation of decisions, but also can promote
fication and formation of the Stakeholder Committee; (2)
greater trust in government, industry and other institutions
information gathering; (3) forecasting; (4) establishment of
(P/CCRARM, 1997a).
informed consent; and (5) implementation and evaluation of
initiatives. 6. Consensus-based Environmental Decision-making
Framework
4.2 The CBED process facilitates decision-making through
negotiations among affected stakeholders with fairly consen- 6.1 Identification of Affected Stakeholders and Formation of
sual decision rules. An important part of the process is to the Stakeholder Committee:
determine and clearly communicate to all participants the rules 6.1.1 Stakeholders are at the center of the CBED process,
to be followed about transparency, the procedures that will be and are involved from the earliest issue identification through
E2348 − 06 (2010)
the decision-making and decision-evaluation activities. The the map should be recognized as a “living” entity, subject to
affected stakeholders contribute to problem definition, question modification as needed throughout the life of the process.
formulation, and decision-making rather than just providing Delineations of different spokes of the map are not intended to
feedback about decisions made by others. imply or expect “camps of different opinion,” about potential
6.1.2 Among the first choices to be made is what level of issues related to the process; but rather to guide all participants
participation is desired for the particular CBED process; the toward ensuring completeness in representation of stakeholder
focus may be on individuals (as in a participatory democracy), groups. Refinements to the map should be made as participants
on groups (as in a representative democracy), or a combination identify different relationships or additional individuals or
of the two. Serious, active management of two-way commu- groups.
nication is essential and required to identify the appropriate 6.1.5 The Stakeholder Committee should identify a chair-
parties early in the process.Adequate time should be allocated person. The Chairperson should be selected by the entire
to complete this effort before other significant CBED discus- Stakeholder Committee and be willing to commit the time
sions are undertaken. necessary to fulfill this function. The Chairperson should be
6.1.3 Itisnecessarytobothidentifyandinvolvetheaffected perceived as fair and impartial and should have collaborative
stakeholders and interested parties. These groups should be leadership skills, including facilitating group interactions.
invited to select (a) representative(s) to participate on the 6.1.6 For the Stakeholder Committee to function optimally,
Stakeholder Committee; the most effective representatives are it should establish ground rules for its operations and its
those selected by the group or organization to be represented. members. The basic ground rules are honest communication,
There may be (a) representative(s) of several organizations clearunderstandingofhowconsensuswillbereachedandclear
within each category (for example, there may be two main delineation of whom or which agency is the final decision-
industries in the area; there may be three government agencies maker (P/CCRARM, 1997b). Ground rules will be needed for:
which require representation; etc.). Each member of the how communications will be dealt with; how information and
Stakeholder Committee is responsible to act as liaison with decisions will be documented; how to deal with a deadlock on
their respective stakeholder group. an issue; and who will control the data and information
6.1.4 Construction of a “stakeholder map” is one effective generated after the CBED process is completed.
technique to guide the stakeholder identification process (for 6.1.7 Depending on the specific CBED process, the services
example, Fig. 1). The map for a particular CBED process of a professional facilitator/mediator may be useful. The
should be tailored to the specific features of the process. The decision to employ a professional facilitator or mediator may
literature on stakeholder involvement contains many different be made at the beginning of the CBED process or during the
stakeholder maps, classifications and typologies. The map process.
presented in Fig. 1 is an element of the CBED process that 6.1.8 The CBED process may proceed once the affected
should be tailored to the specific needs of a particular process, stakeholders have been identified and contacted, and the
which requires broad insights into the local and regional Stakeholder Committee has been formed and includes suffi-
cultures that may be affected by the process. Most importantly, cient representation from each stakeholder group (Fig. 2). The
FIG. 1 Example of a Stakeholder Map Intended to Guide Identification and Notification of
...