The earlier they participate, the better. That's early and often. The sooner the public can be involved in the approval cycle, the better. It's no use bringing people in to participate in a process if the decisions have already been made about what we will do, and how we will do it. One of the hallmarks of meaningful participation is that there's actually an opportunity to influence what's happening on the ground, or what's proposed to happen on the ground. If that's not part of the process, then it's going to be very difficult to have meaningful participation. The earliest in the project decision cycle that it can happen, the better. A number of jurisdictions have looked at how to try to accomplish that.
On November 3rd, 2011. See this statement in context.