Anchor: #i1005675

Section 5: Notices and Media Releases

Anchor: #i1019681Public Notices Overview

Notice Type

Notice Content

opportunity for public hearing (see Section 2)

informs the public that a public hearing will be held if requested

public hearing (see Section 2)

informs the public that a public hearing will be held, and the time, date, and location of the hearing

notice of availability EA

informs the public of the approval of an EA

notice of availability FEIS

required following approval of a FEIS

media release

used any time to publicize meetings or other information on projects



This section discusses the following notice and media release topics:

  • publishing notices
  • notice placement in the newspaper
  • publication requirements
  • other forms of publicity
  • format for the opportunity for public hearing notice
  • formatting the hearing notice
  • notices of availability: environmental assessment
  • notices of availability: final environmental impact statement (FEIS)
  • media releases
  • notice of construction
  • notice of construction format
Anchor: #i1005750

Publishing Notices

Official notices should be published in local general circulation newspapers, regional newspapers (if there is no local newspaper) and special interest newspapers, such as neighborhood, ethnic, foreign language.

NOTE: If the predominant language of an area is not English, notices must be published in the predominant language. It is appropriate in some cases to publish notices in any language if there is a large ethnic population in the project area. Notices should be in compliance with Executive Order 13166: Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English. The district should examine the services it provides, identify any need for services to those with limited English proficiency (LEP), and develop and implement a plan to provide those services so that LEP persons can have meaningful access to them. The executive order also requires federal agencies to ensure that recipients of federal financial assistance provide meaningful access to their LEP applicants and beneficiaries.

Anchor: #i1005766

Notice Placement in the Newspaper

Placing a notice in the “legal notices” section of newspapers is preferred, and usually costs less than notices in other parts of the paper. However, the “legal notices” section is not read by many. If the “legal notices” section is used, the district should also use leaflets in the project area, temporary signs, and/or media releases.

Other newspaper sections can be used for notices, although the cost may be more expensive. While the cost is greater, notices in other sections are likely to be read by more readers.

Anchor: #i1005781

Publication Requirements

For most public involvement procedures, notices should be published approximately 30 days before the meeting/hearing date, and then again 10 days before the meeting/hearing date. Approximate dates are acceptable given the varying publication dates of newspapers.

For public meetings, the deadlines are more flexible if the meeting is planned as limited or more informal.