I'm confident, however, that as technology advances, we will be able to measure air and water quality in a cost-effective manner that gives us continuous access to information. Government will never have enough resources to solve all the problems. To solve problems, people with knowledge of those issues will need to be involved, including people from outside the agency. Given this premise, we have to work together in a cooperative manner, forming partnerships to solve problems. That's how we should work with all Texans.
Public participation is important for two reasons.
First, we are part of a democratic government that is based on the idea that citizens should have a say in the actions affecting their lives. Second, from a management standpoint, public review of our performance works as a check, ensuring that our actions are understandable and well-founded in science and law. For these reasons, citizens should always have an opportunity to voice concerns about our activities. We will continue to ensure that the public has excellent access. That means access that is not restricted by the cost of the person's time or expert help.