Office of Community Engagement

Office Of Community Engagement

The Office of Community Engagement (OCE) was created in 2010 to increase knowledge of agency programs and processes through educational outreach and other programs to enhance individual and community participation in environmental decision-making. OCE also establishes partnerships with local, state and federal governments and organizations to achieve healthy and sustainable communities. Communities can receive free educational workshops on environmental subjects; user friendly publications summarizing environmental topics; collaboration with agency and industry groups to address community environmental concerns.

Primary goals for the Office of Community Engagement

Goal 1: Foster transparent and accessible decision-making processes to enable meaningful community stakeholder participation.
Goal 2: Present information in ways that will enable community stakeholders to better understand environmental issues and offer input in an informed way during the decision-making process.
Goal 3: Be responsive to stakeholders and assist MDEQ staff in addressing stakeholder concerns to the extent practicable.

Community Engagement Initiatives

Community engagement and collaboration are cornerstones for the protection of human health and the environment. We are dedicated to serving potentially impacted community organizations and concerned citizens through engagement activities.

Click on the links below to see our active and past engagement initiatives.

Office of Community Engagement Programs

Small Business Environmental Assistance Program

In 2014, the Small Business Environmental Assistance Program (SBEAP) was merged into the Office of Community Engagement. The addition of the SBEAP under the umbrella of the Office of Community Engagement serves to sustain and consistently strengthen MDEQ’s relationship with external stakeholder groups, including small businesses, industry, elected officials, government agencies, and civic and community nonprofit organizations.

The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 added new requirements to help states achieve air quality standards. A variety of small businesses will now be regulated. To help the affected small businesses comply with these new regulations, Congress mandated that each state provide free technical assistance for related sources. Mississippi’s program provides free, non-regulatory assistance to affected sources through outreach and on-site technical assistance.

§ 49-17-45. Small Business Stationary Source Technical and Environmental Compliance Assistance program; Small Business Compliance Advisory Panel.

The Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality, acting through the Department of Environmental Quality, shall establish and administer, in accordance with the Federal Clean Air Act, the Mississippi Small Business Stationary Source Technical and Environmental Compliance Assistance Program (PROGRAM).

OCE Environmental Education

Environmental Education is aligned with the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality’s (MDEQ) goal of maintaining an adequate level of outreach to ensure citizens, businesses, and communities engage in behaviors that both protect the health of and preserve Mississippi’s environment. The MDEQ’s Office of Community Engagement (OCE) offers an environmental education outreach platform through the office’s Small Business Environmental Assistance Program (SBEAP). The program collaborates with other internal programs that create opportunities for knowledge and interest in environmental stewardship. As a result, businesses, communities, government officials, and schools are provided essential environmental tools to help protect the State’s natural resources.

Resources

OCE Environmental Education
ECHO Quick Start Guide

Public Input and Reporting Environmental Concerns

If you have any environmental concerns, comments, questions or need to report an environmental issue, call toll-free 1-888-786-0661.