John S. McCain III
National Center for Environmental Conflict Resolution
ECR in the Federal Government
In 1998, Congress amended the Udall Foundation’s enabling legislation to establish the John S. McCain III National Center for Environmental Conflict Resolution (National Center or NCECR) as part of the Foundation to assist the federal government in implementing section 101 of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4331) by providing assessment, mediation, and other related services to resolve environmental disputes involving agencies and instrumentalities of the United States.
“With the magnitude of environmental challenges facing the nation, coupled with the need for careful stewardship of tax dollars and budgets, all Federal departments and agencies should leverage environmental collaboration and conflict management approaches to minimize and resolve environmental conflicts.” - Executive Office of the President – Office of Management and Budget and Council on Environmental Quality – 2012 Memorandum of Environmental Collaboration and Conflict Resolution
The National Center's Role
The National Center helps federal agencies and their partners address environmental issues, disputes, or conflicts through programs that provide facilitation, collaboration, and conflict resolution activities and services. Examples include
- Establishing and following the OMB-CEQ Basic Principles for Agency Engagement in Environmental Collaboration and Conflict Resolution;
- Assisting federal agencies to coordinate their plans, functions, programs, and resources in support of Section 101 of the National Environmental Policy Act;
- Assisting with the integration of federal agency and interagency policy efforts addressing environmental issues, disputes, or conflicts;
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Assisting with implementation of the 2012 Memorandum of Environmental Collaboration and Conflict Resolution promulgated by CEQ and OMB by
- Convening Quarterly ECR Forums of representatives from federal departments and agencies to facilitate exchange of information, advice, and guidance about ECCR;
- Coordinating an Annual Report on Environmental Collaboration and Conflict Resolution on the use of facilitation, collaboration, and conflict resolution by federal agencies; and
- Convening and participating in interagency working groups on specific ECCR policy matters;
- Hosting national and regional policy dialogues with or about facilitative or collaborative strategies.