This document outlines traits of good relationships between regulators and the regulated community. It emphasizes open communication, honesty, and engaging regulators by discussing compliance issues and potential problems proactively. Building trust requires being approachable, vested in compliance, and honest. Good documentation including meeting notes and follow ups is important. The goals of regulators and the regulated are the same - environmental compliance - and how each party treats the other can make or break the relationship.

2. What are traits of a good
relationship
 Open communication
 Picking up the phone
 Requesting a meeting
 Getting to know the agency folks
 Honesty
 To discuss a compliance issue
 To discuss a problem…or better yet, a potential problem
 To ask for help

3. How do we get there
 Trust
 Hard to earn, easy to lose
 Regulators- we have the first step
 Approachable
 Vested
 Honest

4. How do we get there – cont’d
 Sources-
 Engage the regulators
 Provide a “here’s what we’re thinking” call and ask for input, ideas,
clarifications, opinions
 Before submitting a permit application or even before compiling
an application
 When contemplating a new or unique project
 Report a problem
 Recognize that reporting an issue is better than the regulator
finding an issue
 Report even if you think, but are not sure there is a problem
 Have a problem solving plan
 Better to say what you are doing, or what you plan to do, than be
told what to do
 Follow up as much as necessary
 Better to over-communicate than under-communicate

5. Documentation
 Ensure the story is told
 Facility files…details, details, details
 Telephone memos
 Meeting notes
 Follow up letters
 Hard copy and electronic copy
 COC’s and Deviation reports
 Reference prior contact/communication with regulator

6. Make or Break
 Regulators & Sources
 Remember, our goals are the same
 Environmental compliance
 Evaluate effectiveness of enforcement
 Letters of Warnings/Notices of Violation
 Are penalties a deterrent?
 Are issues properly addressed?
 How you treat people and engage with each other during
this process is your make or break

7. Environmental Groups
 An evolving player
 Becoming more knowledgeable
 Becoming more engaged
 Jumping to litigation is not helpful
 Should be engaging the regulators
 Should be engaging sources as appropriate