1996年《安全饮用水法》（SDWA）修正案规定了实施新计划和发布新饮用水法规的议程。本文讨论了公众参与是如何在SDWA的制定和实施中以及在SDWA中体现的伙伴关系伦理的一个重要组成部分。讨论的主题是:公众参与的概念有时会产生误导；联邦机构在与公众会面和讨论预期法规要素方面的灵活性；在《联邦公报》中发布拟议规则如何启动正式的公开评论期； 以及规则提议后公众参与如何受到限制。包括14个参考文献，图。

The 1996 Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) amendments mandated an agenda for the implementation of new programs and issuance of new drinking water regulations. This article discusses how public participation is an essential component in the development and implementation of the SDWA and of the partnership ethic embodied within. Topics discussed are: the sometimes misleading concept of public participation; the flexibility federal agencies have in meeting with the public and discussing elements of an anticipated regulation; how the issuance of a proposed rule in the Federal Register initiates the formal public comment period; and, how public involvement becomes limited after rule proposal. Includes 14 references, figure.