John S. McCain III
National Center for Environmental Conflict Resolution

FAQs

FAQs about ECR

What is Environmental Conflict Resolution (ECR)?
ECR is a term used to describe problem-solving discussions among diverse parties, facilitated or aided by a neutral third party and aimed at finding workable solutions to environmental problems or issues.

Environmental Conflict Resolution (ECR) is more formally defined as third-party assisted conflict resolution and collaborative problem solving in the context of environmental, public lands, or natural resources issues or conflicts, including matters related to energy, transportation, and land use. The term "ECR" encompasses a range of assisted negotiation processes and applications. These processes directly engage affected interests and governmental decision makers in conflict resolution and collaborative problem solving. Multi-issue, multi-party environmental disputes or controversies often take place in high conflict and low trust settings, where the assistance of impartial facilitators or mediators can be instrumental to reaching agreement and resolution. ECR processes can be used during a policy development or planning process, or in the context of rulemaking, administrative decision making, enforcement, or litigation. The conflicts may involve federal, state, local, and tribal governments, environmental and resource user organizations, citizens groups, businesses and individuals.
What does collaboration mean and does it relate to ECR?
Collaboration as a general term describes how people and organizations work together, literally meaning "co-labor."  There are many ways to collaborate: informally or formally, as partners or in teams, in advisory capacities or as joint decision-makers. Collaboration is at the core of ECR processes.
Who uses ECR?
Federal, state, local, and tribal governments, environmental and resource user organizations, citizens groups, business and individuals all use ECR. For example, government officials may use ECR if conflicts arises when the government creates or implements legislation or policy. Similarly, public and private interests use ECR when they want their voices to be heard on environmental issues that affect them, such as how public lands are used or managed, cleaning up pollution, facility siting, and wildlife protection.
When is ECR appropriate?
Many factors influence whether or not ECR is appropriate for a given situation. As a rule-of-thumb, ECR is appropriate when: all affected stakeholders are willing to collaborate; the collaborating parties have decision-making authority; sufficient time and resources are available to support the effort; and the issue is ripe for discussions with all parties willing to negotiate on the key issues.

For more information on when ECR works best (and when ECR is less suitable) review our TIPS sheet "When Considering ECR."
What is the difference between mediating, negotiating, and facilitating?
See the glossary for specifics about each of these terms.
We're not in conflict; we just want to have productive conversations – why do we need ECR?
Using ECR can help to prevent future conflict when there are differing views about an issue. You've heard the saying, "Two heads are better than one"? Bringing all the stakeholders together to talk through the issues and understand the different perspectives can lead to better informed decisions and actions. Also, solutions that have broad support tend to be more durable than those that don't.
Does ECR really work?
There are numerous examples of how people have used ECR successfully to resolve a wide range of environmental issues. On this website we have included several examples of successful cases and lessons learned that have involved the NCECR. Another website with case examples is that of the Policy Consensus Initiative, www.policyconsensus.org. Explore these cases and discover the value of ECR.
What are the benefits of investing in collaboration and conflict resolution?
Experience tells us that complex and contentious environmental disputes can be costly to resolve whether in the context of ECR or a likely alternative such as litigation. Investing in ECR can create many benefits such as bringing stakeholders together, repairing and building working relationships, and finding workable agreements that solve problems now and help manage issues in the future.
What resistance or objections do people raise to ECR?
Sometimes there is resistance simply because of a lack of familiarity with ECR and how it works. The time and costs associated with ECR can also cause resistance. Other factors include fear of losing control over a process. For example, when one party has responsibility for a situation or issue, that party may not be willing to allow others to influence its decision making.

FAQs about the NCECR

How can the NCECR help me? Has the NCECR worked on a problem like mine before?
The NCECR has worked on a wide range of environmental, natural resource and public lands issues, including wildlife and wilderness management, recreational use of and access to public lands, grazing and timber, endangered species, water resources and water rights, wastewater treatment, watershed management, wetlands, brownfields, air pollution, transportation and urban infrastructure. Across all of these areas, we have expertise to provide ECR services tailored to your specific needs.
What services does the NCECR offer?
The NCECR provides a range of services to help parties prevent, manage and resolve environmental conflicts involving the federal government.

Our most commonly requested environmental conflict resolution (ECR) services include:
  • Advice on whether ECR is appropriate in a given situation,
  • Connecting parties with qualified mediators or facilitators,
  • Analyzing conflicts and designing conflict management strategies,
  • Bringing parties to the table and mediating environmental disputes, and
  • Training to increase the ability of parties to manage conflict.
Can anyone use the NCECR’s services?
Anyone involved in an environmental conflict involving the federal government can call upon the NCECR for assistance. The NCECR serves all parties regardless of who initiates or pays for assistance.
What types of cases qualify for NCECR assistance?
The NCECR can be called upon to help with any environmental conflict involving the federal government.
How do I access the NCECR’s services?
NCECR staff are available to talk with federal agencies and other parties about the possibility of using ECR. To learn more check our staff listing for particular staff contacts.
Are the NCECR’s services available nationwide? Does the NCECR do any local work?
The NCECR provides ECR services nationwide. Some of the issues it deals with have a national impact; others are more local in nature. The NCECR accomplishes most of its work by partnering with private sector mediators and facilitators based near the location of the dispute. The NCECR primarily partners with members of the NCECR's nationally recognized roster of more than 250 highly skilled private sector mediator/facilitators.
Where does the NCECR get its funding, and why is there a cost associated with using their services?
The NCECR is partially funded by annual appropriations from Congress. By law we are required to charge for some of our services. Other federal agencies are authorized to use and to pay for our services. Other public and private entities can also pay for our services. Annual appropriations do not cover all our operating expenses.
Can I use the Roster of ECR practitioners directly or do I need to go through the NCECR?
If you need help identifying a qualified environmental mediator or facilitator, visit our resources page. There you will find a searchable database of practitioner profiles as well as advice about selecting an appropriate neutral practitioner. Personalized referral services are also available by emailing NCECR staff (roster@udall.gov). The personalized service includes referrals from the Native Dispute Resolution Network, a new resource for identifying practitioners to assist in resolving environmental disputes that involve Native people (lucero@udall.gov).
Does the NCECR offer training? Does the NCECR offer training for mediators?
The NCECR provides conflict resolution trainings, workshops and informational services around the country. These sessions include general introductions to ECR, more advance sessions on using ECR in certain contexts, customized agency-requested sessions aimed at specific needs, and capacity building efforts integrated into conflict resolution processes.  Representatives of federal, state, and local governments, tribal nations, non-governmental organizations, environmental advocates, community-based groups, science and technical experts, environmental and natural resource attorneys, public land managers, and others involved in disputes all benefit from these learning sessions. The NCECR does not offer professional training for ECR practitioners; however, many other organizations do.

For information on upcoming training events visit our training page.
How can the NCECR be an “independent” organization if it’s part of the federal government?
Congress specifically created the NCECR as an impartial entity inside the federal government, but independent of other agencies, so that it could provide conflict resolution services to help public and private interests manage and resolve environmental conflicts.
Was the NCECR ever named the U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution?
Yes, The NCECR was established by the U.S. Congress in 1998 as the U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution. The renaming was formalized on December 20, 2019, with the enactment of H.R. 2414 and S. 1345, an amended version of which was included in H.R. 1865—Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020.
What is John McCain’s connection to the Udall Foundation and the NCECR?
The NCECR honors the legacy of the late Senator John McCain, who was instrumental in the establishment of the Udall Foundation and its programs. Senator McCain sponsored both the original enabling legislation that created the Udall Foundation in 1992 and the 1998 reauthorization legislation that established the Environmental Conflict Resolution program.

FAQs about Training

What trainings are you offering right now?
We offer a suite of four trainings: Understanding Conflict and Planning for Successful Collaboration, Crafting Collaborative Solutions to Environmental Conflicts, Collaboration with Native Nations and Tribal Consultation, and Collaboration in NEPA. You can find more information about current trainings open for registration here: Open Trainings. We open registration for new trainings regularly and encourage you to check back for new information.
What courses are required for the Certificate in Environmental Collaboration and Conflict Resolution (ECCR)?
To earn the Certificate in Environmental Collaboration and Conflict Resolution (ECCR), participants need to take 5 total courses relevant to ECCR. We offer 4 courses, so the requirement is to take 3-4 of our courses, and 1-2 courses on a topic relevant to ECCR and your interest (2 day equivalent or longer) offered by an external provider for a total of 5 courses. We approve the external courses on a case-by-case basis. If there’s a course you’re interested in seeing if we would accept towards the certificate, you can send us the materials and we’ll let you know prior to registering if we would approve it towards the certificate. Depending on your background and interests, we approve courses on a wide range of topics including structured decision-making, facilitation, virtual collaboration, mediation, collaborative governance, and many others.
Who do I contact to get more information on which courses may be right for me?
You can review our course descriptions and agendas for each training on our Open Trainings page. If you want more specific feedback, you can email training@udall.gov.
Can I pay using an SF-182 (Authorization, Agreement, and Certification of Training Form)?
At this time, we can only accept registration payments with a credit card. If you are registering multiple students and the cost is expected to be $15,000 or more, an Inter-Agency Agreement may be used. Contact training@udall.gov for more information.
How soon do courses fill up?
It is difficult for us to predict how fast any course will fill up. We close courses on the website when they reach capacity, and we recommend registering for the class as early as possible. Please note that if you need to cancel your registration, 30 days notice must be provided for a refund. You can find more information about our Cancellation, Rescheduling, and Materials Distribution Policy here.