Indiana Conflict Resolution Institute
 Project: Indiana Department of Environmental Management











 

 
Projects: United States Postal Service Employment Arbitration Indiana Dept.
of Env. Management		 Indiana ADR Providers Shared Neutrals Program U.S. Dept. of Justice

U.S. Env. Protection Agency

 Environmental Conflict Resolution Occupational Safety & Health Review Commission

National Institutes of Health

 U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Other

Mediation Pilot Project

Indiana law allows state agencies to use mediation to resolve disputes.  However, few Indiana state agencies use mediation systematically or consistently.  The Mediation Pilot Project is a joint effort of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) and the Indiana Conflict Resolution Institute (ICRI).  This project involves the design of a mediation process for IDEM disputes, the implementation of a mediation pilot project, and an evaluation of the effectiveness of the program. The pilot project currently makes mediation available to parties in cost recovery cases.

The IDEM Mediation Pilot Project addresses many of the obstacles to state agency mediation programs and includes the following components:

  • Training in environmental conflict resolution, mediation, and negotiation for IDEM employees;

  • Ongoing roundtable discussions with interested parties within and outside of IDEM;

  • Development of a screening and referral process to determine which cases are most appropriate for mediation;

  • Development and maintenance of a roster of Indiana environmental mediators and facilitators;

  • Efforts to improve the processes through which public disputes are addressed;

  • Pairing less experienced mediators with more experienced mediators and mentors;

  • Evaluation of the pilot project through mediation exit surveys and interviews with participants.

The Mediation Pilot Project will provide a framework for state agency mediation in Indiana. Other agencies and organizations can use these results in designing similar programs.  ICRI staff, the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University, and IDEM are collaborating on this project. 

Indiana Conflict Resolution Institute
Last updated: July 30, 2004
Comments: ICRI Administrator
Copyright 1999 - Indiana University, Bloomington