The hallmark of our democratic, open government is also one of the reasons it takes so darn long for anything to get done: The public comment period.

In what we hope will be the first in a continuing series of federal documents open for public comment, we invite you to take a look at the 800-page pdf that the U.S. Climate Change Science Program released this week on Coastal Sensitivity to Sea Level Rise: A Focus on the Mid-Atlantic Region.

For those of you who have never been bored/drunk enough or obligated by academic assignment to take part in a review of federal documents before, here is a quick primer.

1. Read document looking for inconsistencies/missing information.

2. In a *constructive* manner, point out said failings and how they should be remedied.

3. Sit back and bask in the glow of civic duty fulfilled, which one typically only feels after voting or making a citizen's arrest.

Don't be intimidated. The report is surprisingly easy to read, with most of the prose no more sophisticated than: "A rise in sea level implies that land that is now barely above sea level will end up below sea level if no shore protection measures are taken to prevent it from being submerged."

And there are lots of colorful pictures throughout.

The report does discuss important issues, such as deciding which coastal areas are most worthwhile to protect, how sea-level rise will affect your ability to go to the beach, and institutional barriers keeping governments from taking proactive steps to address sea-level rise.

But, please, keep your comments concise, as the office has previously been criticized for taking too long to get these reports out of draft status and available to decision makers. And we want this report publicized before the east coast is already underwater.