A growing trend in national and international environmental law recognizes the importance of strong public engagement in all stages of the decision-making process. Public participation includes access to information, active involvement in regulatory and administrative policy-making, and access to justice to enforce compliance with treaties, and domestic laws and regulations. The foundation for recognition of pluralist views derives from notions of democratic participation, self-determination and human rights. Additionally, public participation enhances the legitimacy of decisions and contributes to the quality of government actions. Despite the increasing acceptance of the benefits gained through active public involvement in environmental decision making, no unified understanding of the precise procedural mechanisms to achieve those goals has been forged.