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                     UNITED STATES  ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION  AGENCY
                                   WASHINGTON,  B.C.  20460
                                                                           OFFICE OF
                                                                    SOLID WASTE AND EMERGENCY
                                                                           RESPONSE
                                    July 26, 2000
MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT:
FROM:
TO:
 Tools for Enhancing Comm
 Entitled Superfund Risk
                              iers
inity Involvement in Risk Assessment: Videotape
[ssessment and How  You  Can Help  and A Companion
                 IcfKng Director
             lergency and Remedial Response

 Superfund Regional Policy Managers
 Regions 1-10
PURPOSE
      The purpose of tljis memorandum is to:

      Announce the availability of the 40-minute videotape entitled Superfund Risk
      Assessment and How You Can Help  (EPA 540-V-99-002, OSWER 9285.7-29A  , September
      1999) and its companion Presenter's Manual  (EPA 540/R-99/013, OSWER  9285.7-29,
      July 2000); and,

      Encourage the use of these products to enhance and promote early community
      involvement and improve public understanding of the Superfund human  health risk
      assessment process.  (Copies will also be distributed to EPA regional community
      relations staff and risk assessors.)
BACKGROUND

      The October 1995 Superfund Administrative Reforms #6b directed EPA to  improve
current national risk assessment guidance and promote stakeholder involvement.   In 1996,
EPA held two stakeholder meetings to prioritize the parts of the existing Risk
Assessment Guidance for Superfund (RAGS) requiring revisions and updates. Community
involvement during the risk assessment was a high priority among the stakeholders.

      Since the stakeholder meetings, EPA developed new tools to help Superfund  staff
enhance the role of citizens in the risk assessment process.  A videotape and brochures
providing an overview of risk assessment for general audiences were distributed  to
regional risk assessors1-and community relations staff in October 1999.  This videotape
should be used to supplement those materials.

      The videotape and companion materials were developed to complement the 1999 RAGS
supplement:  Human Health Evaluation Manual Part A - Community Involvement in Superfund
Risk Assessment (EPA 540-R-98-042, OSWER-9285.7-01E-P, March 1999
(http://www.epa.gov/superfund/programs/risk/ragsa/ci--ra.htm).  These materials were
developed with input from a broad range of stakeholders, many of whom are citizens
living on or near Superfund sites.

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       The following EPA staff took the lead in developing the videotape and companion
 materials:  Elmer Akin (Region 4),  Diana Hammer (Region 8),  Jayne Michaud (OERR)  and
 Kevin Garrahan (NCEA-DC).  Communities previewed this  videotape and provided many useful
 suggestions.   The presenter's manual incorporated guidance provided in RAGS (1999),  and
 the video team would like  to credit Sophia Serda (Region 9)  and Bruce  Engelbert  (OERR)
 for their contributions.
                                                                                          V
 OBJECTIVE AND IMPLEMENTATION
       The  Videotape;   The purpose of the  videotape  is  to  assist  EPA staff  when
 explaining risk assessment methods to citizens  who  are interested in learning  more  and
 getting involved.   The .^videotape and materials  are  tools  that  help explain key technical
 issues that are crucial  to risk assessment.   EPA staff should  -use these  materials to
 encourage  early and effective  community involvement at Superfund sites.  The level  of
 effort for community  involvement in the human health risk assessment is  best determined
 on  a  site-by-site basis.   All  staff are encouraged  to  use the  shorter videotape to  gauge
 the level  of interest in the topic before showing the  longer,  more detailed version.
 The best way to use this video will be in learning  sessions with communities and EPA
 staff,  with EPA risk  assessors available  to  discuss issues in  greater detail.

       The  Presenter's Manual:   The Presenter's  Manual  provides helpful information  in a
 concise, user-friendly format.   Presenters are  strongly encouraged to read this manual
 before using the videotape with a community  audience.   The manual summarizes for the
 presenter:

       •     Presenter's  Checklist,
       •     Highlights of the  technical concepts introduced in the videotape,
       •     Sample  questions to ask citizens to encourage community involvement,
       •     Commonly  asked questions and  answers (provided by  Alvin Chun and Arnold Den
             of  EPA  Region 9),  and,
       •     Handouts  for Citizens including:
             *•     Glossary of  terms
             >•     Fact Sheets
             >     Community resources.

       The manual emphasizes the responsibilities of the presenter and recommends that
 each presenter:

       •     Prepare for  site-specific  questions,
       •     Provide technical  staff resources,
       •     Allow time for discussion,  and
       •     Follow up.

       Please encourage your staff to use  these  materials  to enhance  the  role of
 communities  in  the human  health Superfund risk  assessment  process.   The  materials
 reflect the  many concerns  and  questions that have been voiced  by  citizens  regarding
 Superfund sites and risk  assessment.  As  illustrated in the videotape, communities have
provided valuable information  at  many  Superfund sites.   EPA encourages all  staff to
 consider the important role of  local citizens to the accurate  characterization of
 exposures and risks.   Early and proactive  involvement will serve  to  strengthen the
public's knowledge and the partnership between  the Agency  and  communities.

       For further information,  please contact any of the authors, or Jayne Michaud at
 (703)   603-8847 or michaud. -javne@epa.crov.

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cc:  w/o attachments
                       s '.
      OERR Accelerated^Regional Response Directors
      OERR Senior Process Managers
      Timothy Fields, Assistant Administrator, OSWER
      Elaine F. Davies, Deputy Director OERR, 5202G
      Paul Nadeau, Acting Deputy Director OERR, 5202G
      Suzanne Wells, Director Community Involvement and Outreach Center, 5204G
      Regional Toxics  integration Coordinators
      Regional Community Involvement Coordinators
      Barry N. Breen,  OSRE, 22VIA
      Guy A. Tomassoni, OSW, 5303W
      Joanna Gibson, HOSC/OERR, 5202G
      OERR Records Manager, IMC/OERR, 5202G

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