Decisions

The Council shall endeavor to make decisions by consensus and to provide a single, coordinated voice on behalf of the National Government’s Environmental Agencies. Outside facilitators may be employed to assist the NEPC find consensus. Voting is not prohibited but is to be avoided. The Secretariat shall take minutes of meetings and note areas of disagreement in need of future resolution.

In the event that the NEPC issues a Policy Statement or Resolution with notable disagreement, the resulting document shall include in writing that the member(s) abstained from endorsing the document.

Decision Items, Policy Statements, and Resolutions

Decisions by the NEPC will take three forms:

1. Decision Items in the Minutes: A decision taken during a meeting, noted as a Decision Item in the Meeting Minutes. This will be limited to decisions about actions and not to convey formal opinions.
2. Policy Statements: A Policy Statement acts as a single voice for the NEPC. The majority of NEPC decisions will take this form. Policy Statements will be printed on NEPC Letterhead and signed by at least one Officer and/or Secretariat (thus with at least two signatures). Other Members may sign the Policy Statement, but the Policy Statement will speak for the entire NEPC. However, major detractors may be noted in a footnote to the Policy Statement. Policy Statements are to be used to convey opinions and recommended actions on EAs, EISs, Grants, Documents, proposed actions, etc., or to convey a specific opinion, endorsement, or concern to another party.
3. Resolutions: A Resolution is the strongest method of communicating a decision. Resolutions must include the signatures of all NEPC Members, and is to be used to convey opinions only when fully warranted. Resolutions should be reserved for official communications to the President or OEK.

Financial and Legal Decisions

Individuals shall not be held liable for decisions of the NEPC. The NEPC cannot enter into binding Legal or Financial decisions or contracts. All contracts and grants with elements pertaining to the NEPC must be entered into at the Agency Level, and should be discussed with the Officers, Secretariat, and appropriate subcommittees before signing. NEPC members may enter into non-binding MOUs. The NEPC itself shall own no assets.

Members of the NEPC (with the exception of the Secretariat) may not receive financial compensation for their participation in the NEPC. Participation in the NEPC shall be considered an integral part of job performance for all listed members of the NEPC. All expenses associated with the NEPC shall be borne by each Member’s respective agencies.