What is Public Participation?

Public participation is the process by which people or stakeholders have the right to express their viewpoints, exchange information and opinions in order to find
any options and make any decision to be appropriately and acceptably concerning the project. The related sectors should attend this process from the beginning
till to the monitoring and assessment stages in order for all to understand, acknowledge, study and improve the project among the other to meet the advantages
for all.    

Model for Public Participation

1.  Providing the public with project information such as fact sheet, newsletter, research reports, educational television VDO, set up information center, field
   trip for education, explanation in the government meeting, communication with people through other multi-media; radio, publication, seminar for mass
   media.
   
   
2. Listening to people in form of individual interview, small group discussions, input their opinions thru website, questionnaire surveys, hot lines, public hearing.
   
   
3. Discussions such as public participation meeting, informal meeting with people, workshops, set up committee (representative stakeholders/communities/consultants/government sector)

(Source: Manual of Public Participation, One Stop Service, The Office of the Permanent Secretary, The Prime Minister’s Office).

Activities of Udon Thani People Participation to Udon Potash Project

Providing Information for People

• Fact Sheet
• Newsletter
• Educational Television VDO
• Information Center
• Field Trip for Education
• Explanation in the Public Meeting
• Communication with people through other multi-media such as newspaper, radio

Listening to People’s Opinions

• Deliberative Dialogue
  
• Questionnaire surveys

Procedures on Public Participation of Udon Potash Project as regulated by the Mineral Licensing Process

• Public education and discussion forum prior to land surveying for mining lease boundary map.
  
  
• The investigation of the mining lease boundary map
  
  
• Public participation as part of the EIA process by setting up three public meetings to listen to the public opinions and take all recommendations
  and suggestions to be further studied and assessed the expected environmental and health impacts that might occur and then lead to the preventive
  and mitigation measures as well as the monitoring process.
  
  
• Set up research funds for the stakeholders to study and research on the public concerns or suspicious issues concerning the EIA of the underground
  mining project
  
  
• The process of public hearing for all stakeholders to recommend their own opinions and measures, then summarize all to further consider and restrict as
  the condition accompanying the mining license.
  
  
• Stakeholder meeting to define their representatives to have the right to investigate the mine.
  
  
• Investigation of project operations is under the stakeholder representatives.