Example Presiding Officer Text for Conducting a Public Hearing
PROPOSED Revised Human Health Water Quality Standards for Toxic Pollutants
Welcome statements….thank them for taking time out of their busy day to come hear about this rulemaking…..
We are here today to provide information on the proposed rulemaking for Revised Human Health Water Quality Standards for Toxic Pollutants, as well as provide an opportunity for the public to provide either written or oral comments on this proposed rule to the department.
My name is [Presiding Officer’s name]. I am the presiding officer for this hearing and as such I am taking comments on behalf of the Environmental Quality Commission which is a 5 member citizens’ board, appointed by the Governor. The Commission sets environmental rules and policy for DEQ and the Department is staff for the Commission. With me is Andrea Matzke and Koto Kishida who will be presenting information about this rulemaking. They will give a presentation about this rulemaking with an opportunity for a few questions after their presentation. Please note that comments made during this presentation are not considered part of the formal record.
Those wishing to provide comments should fill out the witness registration form. If you are not planning to comment but would like to receive a copy of the final staff report, including the presiding officer's report, you should indicate that interest by printing your name and address on the sign-in sheet. Persons providing comments will automatically receive copies of the final staff report.
The purpose of this meeting is to take public comments on the proposed rules for the Revised Human Health Water Quality Standards for Toxic Pollutants rule adoption. The job of presiding officer is to hear and acknowledge comments and not to defend the proposed rules. Following the completion of the public hearings, a written presiding officer’s report summarizing both written and verbal comments will be prepared. The deadline date for receipt of written comments on the proposed rules is February 23, 2011, by 5:00 pm.
After reviewing the comments, the Department may consider revisions to the proposed rules. The Department's final recommendation for rule adoption will be made at the EQC meeting scheduled for June 16 or 17, location TBD. The Commission will use its own discretion in deciding whether to adopt all, part or none of the proposed rules, postpone adoption, or hold additional public hearings.
At this time, we are going to start the informational portion of this hearing. We will have time at the very end of the presentation for members of the public to ask any clarifying questions. Again, comments made during this presentation are not considered part of the formal record. To give formal oral comments, please do so during the formal public hearing portion of this meeting. [Direct Andrea to begin when ready].
** After Presentation and Q&A**
(TURN ON RECORDER)
At this time I would like to begin the hearing on the rulemaking for Revised Human Health Water Quality Standards for Toxic Pollutants. The hearing will be recorded to maintain a permanent record. Today is (Feb. xxx), we are in XXX, OR and the time is XXX.
I would like to begin taking comments. If anyone has prepared a written statement or other documents, it would help to summarize them orally and then introduce written material into the record. Written comments are given the same weight as oral comments. Comments will be taken in the order received. Please come up to the table to speak.
The first person to give comments is: NAME (Remind them to state their name for the record)
(IF APPROPRIATE) - At this point, no witnesses have signed up to comment. If anyone arrives to comment within the next half hour, we will turn the tape recorder on. Otherwise the hearing will be adjourned. (AGAIN, IF APPROPRIATE) - It is now [TIME]. No one attended the hearing and no one provided comments – This hearing is adjourned.
(AT END)
Thank you for coming and providing us with your comments. The hearing is adjourned.