Public participation can impose positive impacts on legislation，public decisions，and public governance. In China，the rise of public participation in environmental decisions has unique historical background. Because administrative environmental decisions have high policy risks and involve widespread interests，the role of public participation cannot be missing. In the recent years，the process of public participation based on public incidents involving environmental decisions has very distinguishing features. While there has been significant progress in the standardization of environmental decision participation，there are also many unfavorable factors that function as obstacles.Incorporating public participation in the environmental decision making process in an orderly and effective manner requires the collective endeavors of the government，the society，and the public.