Office of Solid Waste and
United States Emergency Response EPA-500-R-00-003
Environmental Protection Agency Washington, DC 20460 May 2000
v>EPA 1997-1998 Waste Programs
Environmental Justice
Accomplishments Report
Recycled/Recyclable • Printed with Vegetable Oil Based Inks on Recycled Paper (20% Postconsumer)
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Note From the Acting Assistant Administrator ii
About This Report iii
Acronym List iv
Waste Programs Environmental Justice Cross-Cutting Issues 1
Health, Cumulative Risk, Synergistic Effects, and Multiple Pathways 2
Geographic Information Systems 5
Outreach, Communications, and Partnerships 11
Economic Redevelopment 29
Contracts, Grants, and Labor 44
Federal Interagency Cooperation 51
Native American/Tribal Issues 54
Internal Training, Organization, and Program Implementation 66
Waste Programs Environmental Justice Program-Specific Issues 72
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) 73
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) .... 86
Oil Pollution Act (OPA) 112
Underground Storage Tanks 114
Federal Facilities 124
Emergency Planning, Community Right-To-Know Act (EPCRA) 131
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) 133
Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) 136
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Note From the Acting Assistant Administrator
I am pleased to once again have the opportunity to share with the public the many efforts of the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER) to
address environmental justice. This report entitled, "1997-1998 Waste Programs Environmental Justice
Accomplishments Report" documents the activities that demonstrate OSWER's commitment to address
comprehensively the environmental justice concerns and related quality-of-life challenges which low-
income and minority communities face.
In the six years since OSWER initiated its Environmental Justice Action Agenda, we have made
tremendous gains in dealing with a complex set of issues. Training and outreach have spread throughout
the EPA regions and on to our state, local and community-based partners in environmental protection.
We have used our staff and other resources in ever more creative ways to promote the ideas of
meaningful community involvement, and stakeholder capacity building.. Environmental Justice is now
intricately intertwined with all of efforts and commitments. Our collective efforts have ensured that
Environmental Justice will continue to be a cornerstone of how the Agency does business in the present
and the future.
Timothy Fields, Jr.
Assistant Administrator
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response
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About This Report
On April 25, 1994, the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER) issued the "OSWER
Environmental Justice Task Force Draft Final Report." As a result of this report, a major effort was
undertaken in EPA's waste programs to address environmental justice concerns. In June 1994, EPA's
waste programs developed detailed plans to implement the recommendations of the Task Force Draft
Report. Simultaneously, OSWER solicited comments from the stakeholders on the Task Force Draft
Report, and Headquarters and the Regions began implementing the activities described in the plans. As
comments on the Task Force Draft Report were received, OSWER worked to address them in a final
report, the "OSWER Environmental Justice Action Agenda." Simultaneously, with the release of the
Action Agenda, OSWER released its first Waste Programs Environmental Justice Accomplishments
Report.
This, the third Waste Programs Environmental Justice Accomplishments Report updates and documents
the progress made throughout the Agency waste programs at the headquarters and regional levels in fiscal
years 1997 and 1998. It is divided into two sections: Cross-cutting Issues, which presents initiatives in
areas that have implications for all waste programs, and Program-specific Issues, which presents
initiatives that focus on a particular waste program. Individual entries in each section generally reflect
actions taken since September 1996.
The data gathered for this Report show the great extent to which environmental justice concerns have
become institutionalized throughout all of the waste programs and in their decision-making processes.
in
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Acronym List
ADEC Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation
ADEQ Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
ARCS Alternative Remedial Contracting Strategy
ARTD Air, RCRA, and Toxics Division
ASTSWMO Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials
ATG Allied Technology Group
ATSDR Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
BIA Bureau of Indian Affairs
BRAC Base Realignment and Closure
CAB Community Advisory Board
CAG Community Advisory Group
CBEP Community Based Environmental Protection
CBO Community-Based Organization
CDC People of Color and Disenfranchised Communities
CDF Confined Disposal Facilities
CEC Community Environmental Committee
CEQ Council of Environmental Quality
CERCLA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
CERCLIS CERCLA Information System
CFEJ Citizens for Environmental Justice
CMP Comprehensive Monitoring Plan
COC Communities of Concern
CRC Community Relations Coordinator
CTUIR Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation
DOD Department of Defense
DOE Department of Energy
DOJ Department of Justice
DPR Department of Pesticide Regulation
DTSC Department of Toxic Substances Control
EDA Economic Development Administration
EPA Environmental Protection Agency
EPCRA Emergency Planning, Community Right-To-Know Act
ERB Emergency Response Branch
ERCS Emergency Response Cleanup Services
ERRD Environmental Response and Remedial Division
ERRS Emergency and Rapid Response Services
FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency
FFB Federal Facilities Branch
FFERDC Federal Facilities Environmental Restoration Dialogue Committee
FFRRO Federal Facilities Restoration and Reuse Office
FOIA Freedom of Information Act
GIS Geographic Information System
GPS Geographic Positioning System
HAZMAT Hazardous Materials
HBCUs Historically Black Colleges and Universities
HHS Department of Health and Human Services
HRS Hazard Ranking System
HSRC Hazardous Substance Research Center
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HUD Department of Housing and Urban Development
IAG Interagency Agreement
IIIRM International Institute for Indigenous Resource Management
IPM Integrated Pest Management
ITCA Inter Tribal Council of Arizona
ITEC Inter-Tribal Environmental Council
ITEP Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals
ITF Interagency Task Force
LLRW Low-level Radioactive Waste
LUST Leaking Underground Storage Tank
MDC Metropolitan District Commission
MDA Maryland Department of Agriculture
MDE Maryland Department of the Environment
MOU Memorandum of Understanding
MSW Municipal Solid Waste
MSWLF Municipal Solid Waste Landfill
MTERT Minnesota Environmental Response Team
MWTP Minority Worker Training Program
NAACP National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
NAUP Neighborhoods Against Urban Pollution
NCAI National Congress of American Indians
NEIC National Enforcement Investigations Center
NEJAC National Environmental Justice Advisory Council
NGO Non-Governmental Organization
NIEHS National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
NIOSH National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
NJDEP New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
NJDEPE New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Energy
NOFA Notice of Funds Availability
NPDES National Pollution Discharge Elimination System
NPL National Priorities List
NTEC National Tribal Environmental Council
NTIS National Technical Information Service
OCEPP Office of Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention
OERR Office of Emergency and Remedial Response
OGC Office of General Counsel
OPA Oil Pollution Act
OSC On-Scene Coordinator
O SW Office of Solid Waste
OSWER Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response
OUST Office of Underground Storage Tanks
OWCM Office of Waste and Chemicals Management
PAHs Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons
PCB Polychlorinated Biphenyl
PNAs Polynuclear Aromatic Compounds
POEP Pueblo Office of Environmental Protection
PRHD Puerto Rico Housing Department
PRP Potentially-Responsible Parties
RAB Restoration Advisory Board
RAC Remedial Action Contract
RBCA Risk-Based Corrective Action
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RCRA Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
RDT Regional Decision Team
RIDOT Rhode Island Department of Transportation
ROC Regional Oversight Contract
RPM Remedial Project Manager
RRB Remedial Response Branch
SACM Superfund Accelerated Cleanup Model
SBA Small Business Administration
SEE Small Business Enterprise
SBIC Small Business Investment Company
SDB Small Disadvantaged Business
SEDESOL Mexican Equivalent of U.S. EPA
SEE Senior Environmental Employee
SEP Supplemental Environmental Projects
SERC State Emergency Response Commission
SI Site Investigation
SNEEJ Southwest Network for Economic and Environmental Justice
SOW Scope of Work
SPA State Program Approval
SPC Science Policy Council
SPCC Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure
SRPB/BBS State and Regional Programs Branch Bulletin Board System
SSAB Site-Specific Advisory Board
START Superfund Technical and Response Team
Super JTI Superfund Job Training Initiative
TAB Technical Assistance Branch
TAG Technical Assistance Grant
TOSC Technical Outreach Support Centers
TRI Toxics Release Inventory
UCAB Unified Community Advisory Board
UIC Underground Injection Control
ULR Urban Land Redevelopment
USCOE U.S. Corps of Engineers
USDA U.S. Department of Agriculture
UST Underground Storage Tank
USTPO UST Program Office
VADEQ Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
VDACS Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
WMD Waste Management Division
WPS Worker Protection Standard
XRF X-Ray Fluorescence
VI
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Waste Programs
Environmental Justice
Cross-Cutting Issues
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Health, Cumulative Risk, Synergistic Effects, and Multiple Pathways
Action Items:
Support Agency-wide efforts to develop scientifically valid statistics for
measuring cumulative risks 3
Region 2 3
Region 7 3
Region 10 4
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Topic Area: Health, Cumulative Risk, Synergistic Effects, and
Multiple Pathways
Action Item
Support Agency-wide efforts to develop scientifically valid statistics for measuring
cumulative risks
Region 2
Region 2 co-chaired the Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund Probabilistic/Uncertainty
Workgroup to better characterize potential risks from exposures to chemicals at Superfund
sites. The guidance will provide project managers with variability and uncertainty informa-
tion for making risk-related decisions at specific sites.
Region 2 co-chaired the Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund (RAGS) Administrative
Reforms Workgroup, which is revising guidance in the following areas: public involvement,
land use, background, and probabilistic/uncertainty. The workgroup developed draft guid-
ance in each of these areas with stakeholder input. Further discussions with stakeholders are
planned before the workgroup completes the reforms next year.
Region 2 met with community members at several Superfund sites to discuss current and
future land uses and potential exposure routes for each site. This interaction has helped
ensure that site-specific risk assessments address community concerns.
Contact
Marian Olsen, (212) 637-4313
Region 7
Region 7 hired a Ph.D. toxicologist and risk assessor to provide technical support to the
Superfund, water, and RCRA programs and facilitate the development and implementation
of consistent and comprehensive risk assessment policies in the Region.
Region 7 is conducting blood-lead monitoring at a large site where multiple sources of lead
exposure have occurred.
ARTD is coordinating an EPA grant project in St. Louis called the "University of
Missouri-St. Louis/Project H.O.P.E. Community University Partnership Grant," which
provides outside environmental expertise to disadvantaged neighborhoods impacted by
RCRA/CERCLA projects.
Contact
Dave Monroe, (913) 551-718
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Region 10
Region 10's risk assessment staff continue to participate in the Agency's Science Policy
Steering Committee and Risk Assessment Forum projects. The Science Policy Steering
Committee, with Region 10's participation, prepared the Agency' s Cumulative Risk Assess-
ment Guidance. This document focuses on protecting women, children, elderly, and other
specific populations at greater risk from environmental pollutants than the average citizen.
Region 10 staff are working on a variety of Native American issues. For instance, they were
invited to participate in several Native American Tribal Risk Assessment Roundtables where
tribes from across the United States discussed their concerns about ensuring equity in risk
assessment procedures.
Region 10 risk assessment staff also participate in special projects that address issues related
to minority populations. One of these projects is a fish consumption risk assessment study
on Native American populations.
Completed Milestones
6/97 Risk Roundtable held.
1/98 Risk Roundtable held.
4/98 Completed sample collection for the fish tissue study, "Assessment of Chemical
Contaminants in Fish Consumed by Four Native American Tribes in the Columbia
River Basin."
Contact
Patricia Cirone, (206) 553-1597
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Geographic Information Systems
Action Items:
Develop compatible and appropriate Agency-wide approaches to using GIS to address potential
environmental justice concerns 6
Region 2 6
Using GIS to address potential environmental justice concerns 7
Region 4 7
Region 5 7
Region 7 ?
Region 9 8
Use a GIS system to help environmental justice communities map risks in
their immediate community 8
Region 9 8
Region 10 8
Conduct a pilot proactive site assessment program 9
Region 2 9
Region 8 9
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Topic Area: Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Action Item
Develop compatible and appropriate Agency-wide approaches to using GIS to address
potential environmental justice concerns
Region 2
Region 2 is developing a GIS project for the Region's Brownfields Economic Redevelop-
ment Initiative. This proj ect will serve as a visual aid and resource coordination tool as well
as track results. The GIS will depict where resources are concentrated and where remedial
actions and emergency response dovetail in brownfields redevelopment efforts. GIS applica-
tions offer a greater understanding of a selected area's environmental, geographic, and
demographic characteristics. They also increase the potential for greater Agency response
to areas where data suggest a disproportionate burden of environmental pollution.
Contact
Chelsea Albucher, (212) 637-4291
Region 2 is developing an Environmental Justice GIS Application that supports an Interim
Region 2 Policy on Identifying Environmental Justice Areas. The policy defines a five-step
process for identifying and screening environmental justice areas. The process compares
three factors (minority representation, low-income representation, and environmental
burden) between a community of concern and one or more reference areas. A community
of concern can be defined in a number of ways based on municipality, census block group,
user-defined radius around a source of pollution, or a boundary drawn along physical
features such as streets, streams, or railroad tracks. The demographic data can be applied to
determine whether the community of concern is a potential environmental justice area.
Region 2 continues to refine the Environmental Justice GIS Application to support the Draft
Interim Region 2 Policy on Identifying Environmental Justice Areas, and Region 2's
Information Systems Branch is training regional staff in the use of GIS software for specific
programs.
Contacts
Linda Timander, (212) 637-3596
Daisy Tang, (212) 637-3592
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Action Item
Using GIS to address potential environmental justice concerns
Region 4
Region 4 prepared a "Hazardous Waste Combustion Facility Environmental Justice Report"
that contains a demographic analysis of the areas around each hazardous waste combustion
facility in the region. Regional staff used a GIS to assess the distribution of minority and
low-income populations within 0-1, 1-3, and 3-5 mile radii of each facility.
Region 4 also developed the "Region 4 Action Plan for Facilities Identified in the Hazardous
Waste Combustion Facility Environmental Justice Report." The purpose of this report is to
review permitting and enforcement activities for the combustion facilities identified as
having significant minority or low-income populations near them.
Region 5
During FY 1997, Region 5 developed interim guidance on a process that management and
staff can use to identify potential environmental justice cases. Previously, the Superfund
Division asked a group of environmental justice experts to create environmental justice
profiles (basic demographics on income and percent minorities) using Landview 11.
However, since Region 5 adopted the interim guidance, the use of Landview 11 to produce
environmental justice profiles has become outdated. Archview 11 is now being used to create
environmental justice profiles that are consistent with Region 5's interim guidelines.
The Environmental Justice Coordinator for Superfund and the Program Management and
Information Section have identified possible environmental justice NPL sites in CERCLIS
and classified them as high or medium priority. High priority sites are those sites with an
evaluation that equals or exceeds two times the state percentage for low-income and/or
minority populations. Medium priority sites are those that are at or exceed the state
percentages for low-income and/or minority but are less than two times the state percent-
ages.
Completed Milestones
FY98 Environmental justice Landview training took place.
FY98 All Superfund sites were evaluated consistent with the June 1998 environmental
justice guidelines.
FY98 Environmental justice NPL sites were identified and placed on the Intranet.
FY98 Sites out of compliance in environmental justice areas were identified and mapped
on the Intranet.
Contacts
Oliver L. Warnsley, (312) 886-0442
Vivian Avlies, (312) 353-0324
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Region 9
Region 9 has completed its environmental justice assessment project, which involved using
GIS to identify areas of potential environmental justice concern. The results are a set of
environmental justice demographic maps for each of the region's four states as well as
several major urban areas. The demographic maps delineate areas that have a high
percentage of low-income residents or a high percentage of people of color. Region 9's
environmental justice program is advocating the use of these demographic maps and sup-
porting data to focus specific programmatic activities and initiatives on potential environ-
mental justice areas, including regional enforcement. The data underlying the demographic
maps are also useful in responding to Title VI claims.
Contact
David Albright, (415) 744-1627
Action Item
Use a GIS system to help environmental justice communities map risks in their
immediate community
Region 9
Region 9's Superfund program developed a GIS-based map of a large study area around the
Montrose and Del Amo Superfund sites. This coverage identified TRI, LUST, NPDES,
RCRA, and CERCLA facilities in the Harbor Gateway and greater Torrance area. Low-
altitude, color-digitized aerial photography provided base coverage for the entire study area.
Region 9 staff shared the GIS output maps and other specialized plots with the Del Amo
Community Advisory Panel, Montrose/Del Amo partnership of state and local agencies, and
community representatives. Future applications of the GIS coverage could include web-
based or CD-ROM distribution after EPA develops standards for public access to Agency
information systems.
Contact
Steve Simanonok, (415) 744-2358
Region 10
Investigations of groundwater contaminated with trichloroethene are underway at the Moses
Lake Superfund Site in eastern Washington where a number of low-income residents rely
on private water wells for drinking water and other domestic uses. As an interim action,
Region 10 is evaluating several options to provide alternative water supplies to impacted
residents: bottled water, filtration treatment of well water, or water hookups to a nearby
municipality. Several economic issues required analysis to support EPA's decision on
alternative water supplies. For instance, Region 10 considered the fact that water rights in
eastern Washington are scarce and some residents are concerned about paying higher
monthly water bills if they are placed on a municipal supply. A component of Region 10's
deliberations included an evaluation of the Moses Lake community to determine if it is an
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environmental justice community, as defined by EPA's national guidelines for identifying
environmental justice communities. This analysis was conducted prior to finding potential
funds to assist residents who might be placed on municipal water supplies.
Contact
Lynda Priddy, (206) 553-1987
Action Item
Conduct a pilot proactive site assessment program
Region 2
In FY 1997, Region 2 began planning for the creation of a Rapid Field Screening Team that
would provide assistance to brownfields pilot and non-pilot cities. The team's goals are to
identify potential removal sites, which are sites requiring further evaluation, and identifying
potential brownfields. Information generated by the team will assist communities and local
government in environmental response, resource allocation, and development planning.
Region 2 entered into a data management cooperative agreement with Barceloneta, Puerto
Rico, in 1996 to develop an integrated facility data layer using Global Positioning System
(GPS) and GIS software. This project was part of an effort to provide information necessary
for a multi-media environmental analysis.
Completed Milestones
FY97 Purchased hand-held GPS units.
FY97 Installed a GPS base at the Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board.
FY97 Trained personnel to utilize the GPS hand-held units.
FY98 Completed data dictionaries and point location procedures that are compatible with
EPA's procedures.
FY98 Made inspections at selected facilities utilizing this technology to field test
procedures.
FY98 Made inspections of all facilities within the Commonwealth and updated databases.
Contacts
Lawrence D'Andrea, (212) 637-4314
Harvey Simon, (212) 637- 3594
Region 8
Region 8's site assessment team began studying environmental justice GIS maps prior to
conducting field work in a community. The purpose is to increase the team's awareness of
the community in which it will conduct an environmental assessment.
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Contacts
Pat Smith, (303)312-6082
Luke Chavez, (303) 312-6512
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Outreach, Communications, and Partnerships
Action Items:
Conduct presentations on environmental justice to establish and maintain
communication with the public 12
Region 2 12
Region 4 12
Region 8 13
Enter into partnerships to resolve issues that do not fall exclusively under
OSWERjurisdiction 14
Region 2 14
Region 3 15
Region 9 16
Region 10 17
Use regional environmental justice grants to promote environmental justice education 17
Region 2 17
Region 10 18
Develop program-specific and community/minority-specific environmental justice
outreach strategies 19
Region 2 19
Develop a public education and outreach program for communities likely to have
OSWER-related environmental justice concerns 21
Region 2 21
Region 4 21
Conduct an environmental justice workshop to lend assistance to a South Tucson
environmental justice community nearby the Tucson International Airport
Superfund site 24
Region 9 24
Conduct regional environmental justice public forums 25
Region 4 25
Region 9 26
Enhance outreach activities to minority and/or low-income groups 27
Region 10 27
Focus on environmental education in specific geographic areas using an
environmental justice theme 27
Region 5 27
Develop an environmental justice homepage 28
Region 5 28
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Topic Area: Outreach, Communications, and Partnerships
Action Item
Conduct presentations on environmental justice to establish and maintain
communication with the public
Region 2
Region 2's Environmental Justice Operating Plan (April 10, 1997) calls for region-wide and
division-specific environmental justice work plans and training. Region 2's member of the
Environmental Response and Remedial Division (ERRD) Regional Environmental Justice
Work Group contributed to the development of the 1997 region-wide environmental justice
training. In 1998, the ERRD Division Director and brownfields and environmental justice
staffs delivered environmental justice training to all staff of the Emergency Response and
Remedial Division and Superfund staff of the Office of Regional Counsel.
EPA incorporates environmental justice into brownfields assessment demonstration pilot
activities. Applicants for these pilots must submit a community involvement and
environmental justice plan. Region 2 holds a kick-off stakeholder meeting for each a pilot
recipient to set the stage for on-going stakeholder participation. This meeting provides a
forum for learning and sharing local brownfields information. Region 2 staff also discuss
the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders, including the relevance of environmental
justice and the benefits of a participatory process.
Completed Milestones
8/98-9/98 Region 2 Emergency Response and Remedial Division Environmental
Justice Training for all division staff (3 sessions).
FY98 Brownfields pilot stakeholders kick-off meetings were held for: Atlantic
City, Hudson County, Long Branch, Middlesex, Morris, Paterson, Niagara
County, Ogdensburg, Ulster, Utica, Yonkers, and Puerto Rico Ports
Authority.
Contact
Chelsea Albucher, (212) 637-4291
Region 4
On May 23-24, 1997, the Waste Management Division hosted the first Environmental
Justice Summit held at the regional level. The summit, which was co-hosted by the Southern
Organizing Committee for Economic and Social Justice (SOC), was attended by 24 leaders
from the most vocal and dissatisfied community groups in Region 4. The intent of the
meeting was to give the division an opportunity to hear firsthand what affected citizens and
stakeholders believe are impediments to progress, pinpoint environmental justice issues that
the division could address better in communities of color and low-income communities, and
identify successes that the community and the division could build upon. A second
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environmental justice summit, hosted by the division's environmental justice team, SOC,
and Spelman College, occurred on February 6-7, 1998 and attracted more than 100
participants including representatives from numerous environmental justice groups, HUD,
ATSDR, Corps of Engineers, DoD, the States of North Carolina and Georgia, Clark Atlanta
University, and the Medical University of South Carolina.
Underthe auspices of the division's Environmental Justice Program, the Waste Management
Division established and funded the Teacher's Environmental Institute in FY 1994. The
institute was co-hosted by Clark Atlanta University and was the first of its kind developed
at the regional level. The institute trained 40 middle and high school teachers representing
all eight Region 4 states to access and understand environmental data that they can use in
developing environmental lesson plans for their students. The institute lasted approximately
two weeks, and teachers who completed the program were awarded continuing education
credits.
Region 4 expanded the institute concept to include three additional institutions of higher
learning, which were funded in FY 1998: North Carolina State University, Murray State
University, and Florida A&M University. Feedback from institute participants suggest that
the concept is a tremendous success.
Completed Milestones
FY94 Under the auspices of the Division's Environmental Justice
Program, the Waste Management Division established and funded
the Teacher's Environmental Institute.
97-98 The Waste Management Division hosted two Environmental
Justice Summits at the regional level.
FY98 Renewed funding for Teacher's Environmental Institutes.
Contact
Eddie L. Wright, (404) 562-8669
Region 8
Region 8's Water Program provided three days of training on capacity building to the Uintah
and Ouray Reservation on October 5,1998. Topics included Underground Injection Control,
Underground Storage Tank, Drinking Water, Municipal Systems, and National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination Systems for the tribe. The training was developed as a pilot and is
being considered for continued utilization in the remaining tribal organizations.
The Drinking Water Program continues to refine the Region 8's Tribal Utility Capacity
Development Program and has participated in several workshops during the reporting
period. These workshops are designed to bring federal agencies and tribes together to pool
resources and creatively reach the common goal of "ensuring safe, economical drinking
water" for tribes. Drinking Water staff participated in an environmental justice stakeholder
video conference in March 1998 to address various technical issues relating to pending
Drinking Water regulations. Drinking Water staff also participated in an environmental
justice citizens meeting, which environmental justice and Wyoming citizens requested.
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Region 8 procured almost $1.4 million to initiate LUST corrective actions on tribal lands
in Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The result has been eight site assessments
and/or tank removals when releases were suspected for those facilities where the owner/
operators have been unable, unknown, or unwilling to undertake such activities. In addition,
the Region has conducted seven sampling events to evaluate groundwater contamination on
tribal lands. Some of the specific tasks associated with these corrective actions where
funded through 8A contract mechanisms.
Completed Milestones
3/98 Participated in an environmental justice stakeholder video conference.
10/98 Three-day training on capacity building for the Uintah and Ouray Reservation.
Action Item
Enter into partnerships to resolve issues that do not fall exclusively under OSWER
jurisdiction
Region 2
FY 1997 brownfields pilots have established task forces, coordination groups, and partner-
ships that identify and address issues that do not fall exclusively under OSWERjurisdiction.
Examples include the Glen Cove Pilot and the link Buffalo Pilot manager who is a member
of the Buffalo Urban Resources Partnership, a diverse group a broad urban environmental
agenda. All of the pilots focus on economic revitalization. Staff of the Emergency Response
and Remedial Division (ERRD) work closely with each pilot to address issues, such as
environmental liability, tax relief, and local community concerns that fall outside OSWER
jurisdiction.
Internally, the workgroups facilitated partnerships to address issues outside OSWERjuris-
diction. Examples include the Community Based Environmental Protection Workgroup, the
Regional Environmental Justice Workgroup and the Community Grants Program
Workgroup.
New partnerships in FY 1998 include the Brownfields Interagency Work Group and
brownfields job training and development pilot.
Region 2 has established a Regional Brownfields Inter-Agency Work Group, comprised of
over 14 federal and state agencies, to streamline access to federal resources. The Work
Group was established initially forthe Region's brownfields showcase communities of Glen
Cove, New York, and Trenton, New Jersey, but now works with all regional brownfields
pilots and brownfields impacted communities. Region 2 is developing a web-based Brown-
fields Resource Manual that includes fact sheets about available community revitalization
resources and how to access these resources.
Region 2's ERRD continues the following partnership activities: the brownfields pilots
establish multi-stakeholder task forces, EPA Brownfields Pilot Managers provide support
in planning and pre-development activities, and regional staff participate in regional work
groups, such as the Community-Based Environmental Protection Work Group.
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Completed Milestones
8/98 Brownfields Interagency Work Group decided to serve all brownfields pilots and
brownfields impacted communities in the region.
9/98 Brownfields job training and development cooperative agreement for $200,000 was
awarded to the New Jersey Youth Corps.
Contact
Vincent Pitruzzello, (212) 637-4354
Region 3
The Baltimore Urban Environmental Initiative is a major cooperative effort involving the
Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), Baltimore City Health Department, and
Baltimore City Planning Department. The goal is to identify and rank areas of dispropor-
tionate environmental risk in Baltimore City and implement risk reduction, pollution
prevention, public awareness, and other techniques to eliminate or minimize the risks.
Grants awarded to the city and MDE are designed to address environmental concerns related
to lead, hazardous materials incidents, indoor air quality, fish consumption, ground-level
ozone pollution, and air toxics.
Completed Milestones
FY98 Completed and distributed two lead education and awareness videos to health care
agencies in all 24 Maryland subdivisions.
FY98 Provided more than 3,000 lead-dust cleaning kits and appropriate training to area
citizens.
FY98 Provided training to heating, ventilating, and air conditioning workers in the
Baltimore City Public Schools.
FY98 Established a hazardous waste database for Baltimore businesses.
Established an Ozone Pollution television program.
FY98 Provided grant funds to MDE for conducting a comprehensive fish consumption
survey.
FY98 Developed a draft risk evaluation report for Baltimore.
Contact
Reginald Harris, (215) 814-2988
Region 3 developed an international facilitated training module titled "Principles of Solid
Waste Management Planning," and four EPA facilitators delivered it in Pretoria, East
London, and Cape Town, South Africa, in May 1997. The training involved 65 South
African participants representing NGOs, CBOs, industry, and provincial and national
environmental agencies. In September 1997, three EPA facilitators returned to South Africa
to coach the "in country" facilitators who delivered three train-the-trainer courses to
audiences in Pretoria, Port Elizabeth, and Cape Town. One EPA facilitator worked with
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each group of South African facilitators, each of whom had been participants in the previous
course delivery. The South Africans viewed this activity as amajor success. The facilitators
in Pretoria and Cape Town have held follow-up meetings to discuss plans for future course
presentations in communities around South Africa. Region 3 also has been in communi-
cation with the South African Environmental Justice Network and has been providing them
with technical information and environmental justice contacts in the United States.
Completed Milestones
5/97 Delivered training module.
9/97 Provided coaching for South African facilitators.
Contact
John Armstead 215-814-3127
Region 9
In FY97, Region 9 conducted a series of outreach meetings with community-based organiza-
tions and conducted presentations on environmental justice at various conferences and
forums. The Region also has participated in various conferences and forums to communicate
the importance of environmental justice.
On July 10 and 11, 1998, the Council of Environmental Quality (CEQ) conducted an
Environmental Justice meeting in Los Angeles. This was a follow-up to a White House
meeting with national environmental justice leaders in November 1997 and was the first of
a series of environmental justice community meetings across the country. The Clinton
Administration plans to convene follow-up dialogue with the community, local businesses
and industry, and state and local government officials on the issues raised during the July
meeting. The environmental justice community meetings addressed local issues and identi-
fied appropriate federal agencies to respond to community concerns. Subsequent Inter-
agency Task Force (ITF) meetings also have been held and included a face-to-face meeting
in Los Angeles on October 22, 1998, and a conference call on November 10, 1998. Region
9 has developed a draft Mission and Scope of the Task Force. CEQ and the federal agencies
made a series of commitments to the community, which included for instance the ITF to
monitor federal commitments, environmental enforcement, technical assistance, and Title
VI training.
Completed Milestones
FY97-98 Operated the Environmental Justice Information Line to promote access to
Region 9's environmental justice activities.
FY97 Conducted outreach meetings with public schools in the Bay Area to assess
environmental justice education needs.
FY97 Provided EPA leadership on environmental justice issues at local, regional,
and national conferences.
7/98, 11/98 Held a CEQ environmental justice meeting.
10/98,11/98 Held an ITF meeting in Los Angeles and conference call.
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FY98 Reinforced EPA's commitment to communities impacted by environmental
justice issues through proactive discussions with community leaders and
organizations in the Bay Area, Los Angeles, South Phoenix, and San Diego.
FY98 Conducted outreach meetings with public schools in the Bay Area to assess
environmental justice educational needs.
FY98 Provided EPA leadership on environmental justice issues at eight local,
regional, and national conferences.
Contact
Romel Pascual, (415) 744-1212
Region 10
Region 10 is providing financial assistance to the Northeast Portland (Oregon) Environ-
mental Justice Community through co-sponsorship of two community conferences organized
by the Environmental Justice Action Group of Oregon. The first conference, called
"Environmental Justice and You," focused on providing key information and tools to
residents and identifying environmental justice issues of significance within the communi-
ties.
The second conference brought together individuals and groups working on environmental
justice efforts in the four-state region. The conference focused on building a network of
environmental justice advocacy within the geographic Pacific Northwest region and
participating in information-sharing, education, capacity-building, and strategy sessions.
This network is similar to that which exists within the Southern United States.
Completed Milestones
11/97 First conference.
5/98 Second conference.
Contact
Joyce Kelly, 206-553-4029
Action Item
Use regional environmental justice grants to promote environmental justice education
Region 2
In FY 1997, Region 2 established a Community Grants Workgroup to ensure that the head-
quarters and regional grant programs are well coordinated. The Workgroup assists stake-
holders and potential grant applicants in accessing EPA grants. The Workgroup can make
internal recommendations to help the Region better address community needs. Regional
Environmental Justice Grants and other Community Grants are used to promote environ-
mental justice education.
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Region 2's Community Grants Workgroup developed a "How to Write a Grant Workshop"
in FY 1997 for prospective environmental justice and environmental education grant
applicants. The following Environmental Justice through Pollution Prevention grants also
promote environmental justice education and capacity building of local constituents to
address local environmental equity issues: Greenpoint/Williamsburg Environmental Educa-
tion Project; Harlem Pollution Prevention Program; The Haudenosaunee Ohenton Karihwat-
ehkwen: An Indigenous Strategy for Long-Term Pollution Prevention; Rabanal Environ-
mental Justice through Pollution Prevention; and Paterson Pollution Prevention Program.
The purpose of the environmental justice grants is to provide financial assistance to eligible
community groups, and federally recognized tribal governments that are working on or plan
to carry out projects to address environmental justice issues. In FY 1998, $2,500,000 was
disbursed nationwide for environmental justice grants of which $500,000 was made
available for superfund projects only. In Region 2, $300,000 was disbursed in FY 1998 for
13 grants in New York, New Jersey, and the Virgin Islands. Other community grant
programs also supported environmental justice education. Information about other grants
can be found at http://www.epa.gov/region02/cgp/cgphmpg.htm.
Completed Milestones
9/98 Awarded 13 environmental justice grants in Region 2.
Contact
Natalie Loney, (212) 637-3639
Region 10
Region 10's Environmental Justice Program awarded a $11,300 grant to the Northwest
Communities Education Center to conduct an educational campaign on proper disposal of
household hazardous waste for predominately migrant farm laborers and the Hispanic
community in the greater Yakima area.
Completed Milestones
7/97 Grant awarded
Contact
Joyce Kelly, (206) 553-4029
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Action Item
Develop program-specific and community/minority-specific environmental justice outreach
strategies
Region 2
Each Region 2 brownfields pilot recipient prepares a community involvement plan that
includes proactive community outreach, education, and involvement strategies appropriate
to the locality.
A community leadership program developed for the Trenton brownfields pilot is serving as
a regional and national model of a process to foster early, on-going, and meaningful
community participation. The Trenton community involvement and stakeholder education
strategy includes the Leadership and Environmental Training Series (LETS) program
sponsored by Rutgers University, Isles Center for Disease Control (CDC), and EPA's
Technical Outreach Services for Communities (TOSC) program.
The purpose of LETS is to facilitate community and group development; cultivate under-
standing and leadership through education and training; enable residents to participate and
be involved in the decision-making processes that impact their communities; create and
foster long-term sensitivity, communication and partnerships between communities, busines-
ses, government, and other public and private institutions. The first class graduated in the
summer of 1997.
Completed Milestones
FY97 Community involvement plans were received and approved for State of New York
brownfields pilots in Glen Cove, Elmira, Niagara Falls; for the State of New Jersey
in Elizabeth, Perth Amboy and Jersey City; and for the Puerto Rico Industrial
Development Company in the Caribbean.
FY97 Community involvement plans are underway or completed for the following FY
1998 Region 2 brownfields assessment pilots: Atlantic City, Hudson County, Long
Branch, Middlesex, Morris, Paterson, Niagara County, Ogdensburg, Ulster, Utica,
Yonkers, and Puerto Rico Ports Authority.
Contact
Lawrence D'Andrea, (212) 637-4314
Prior to releasing a proposed plan announcing a change in the GM Massena Superfund site's
remediation strategy, EPA held separate meetings with members of the Mohawk Tribal
Council, St. Regis Mohawk Environment Division, and Akwesasne Task Force on the
Environment. These meetings provided the community more time to voice their concerns
and gave EPA an opportunity to understand the nature of the concerns prior to the larger
public forum, which normally is EPA first contact with the community. Another change in
the outreach strategy was to hold the public meetings on Mohawk Territory. EPA advertised
the meeting on the Mohawk radio station and in two tribal newspapers.
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Completed Milestones
8/98 Individual meetings with the Tribal Council and Akwesasne Task Force on the
Environment.
9/98 The proposed plan, which was published in a Record of Decision in March 1998,
was discussed at a large public meeting and was not rejected by the community.
Contact
Anne Kelly, (212) 637-4264
The VegaBajaWaste Disposal Site is an inactive, unlined, uncapped, 19-acre parcel of land
in a rural area of Rio Abajo Ward, Vega Baja, Puerto Rico. The Municipality of Vega Baja
disposed of (open burned) an estimated 1,108,540 cubic yards of waste at the site from
1948-1979. Today, approximately 213 houses are located on 11 acres of the site. In 1984,
the Puerto Rico Land Authority transferred the landfill property to the Puerto Rico Housing
Department (PRHD). The PRHD has in turn given title to some of the residents for the
parcels on which they constructed houses.
Funds, estimated to be about $2 million, have been requested to conduct a time-critical
removal action of lead contaminated soil on two residence and a church. The levels of lead
in the soil exceed EPA's removal action levels.
A Scope of Work for an Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis (EE/CA) was prepared to
investigate the most cost effective method of remediating or removing the lead contaminated
soil at approximately 42 residences. At this time, only $117,000 are available to prepare the
EE/CA documents. No funds are available forthe studies. An Action Memorandum has been
prepared requesting $150,000 to initiate a groundwater investigation forthe site as part of
the remedial investigation and feasibility study forthe site.
Completed Milestones
FY97 Children's blood study, fruits and vegetable sampling.
FY97, 1/98, 8/98 Several public meetings.
8/98, 12/98 Residential soil sampling XRF screening.
11/98 Public Health Assessment.
9/99 Time-critical removal of lead.
10/99 EE/CA prepared.
10/99 Groundwater RI/FS.
Contact
Ramon Torres, (787) 729-6951, ext. 262
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Action Item
Develop a public education and outreach program for communities likely to have
OSWER-related environmental justice concerns
Region 2
Region 2 publishes a Quarterly Brownfields Community Report, which addresses the
information needs of regional brownfield stakeholders. The distribution list includes state
contacts, municipalities, civic associations, and non-profit groups. The Quarterly often
includes articles specific to environmental justice issues and articles have highlighted
community organizations pro-active brownfield redevelopment activities. In addition, the
Quarterly invites article submissions to better serve regional information needs.
Region 2's Communications Division staff respond to public information and education
requests related to waste issues. In addition, many of the community grants, such as the
Superfund supported portion of Environmental Justice Small Grants, enable community-
based entities to meet local information and education needs.
In FY 1997, Region 2 developed a brownfields Web page that links to headquarters, regional
environmental justice information, and other resources.
Completed Milestones
97 Summer and winter Brownfield Community Involvement Quarterlies were
published and distributed.
98 Summer and winter Brownfield Community Involvement Quarterlies were
published and distributed.
FY98 Community Involvement Plans underway or completed for FY 1998 for Atlantic
City, Hudson County, Long Branch, Middlesex, Morris, Paterson, Niagara County,
Ogdensburg, Ulster, Utica, Yonkers, and Puerto Rico Ports Authority.
Contact
Lawrence D'Andrea, (212) 637-4314
Region 4
Region 4 has established Community Advisory Groups as a way of ensuring community
involvement in decision making at sites where environmental justice concerns occur.
Community Advisory Groups (CAGs) have been established for Superfund Sites and
Community-Based Environmental Protection (CBEP) projects.
Region 4 has two active CAGs on environmental justice sites. The Charleston/North
Charleston Community-Based Environmental Protection Project Community Advisory
Group was established as a result of the numerous interactions of Superfund staff in the
area. Area residents have told EPA about other environmental concerns in the area. After
deciding to institute the CBEP approach, efforts to establish a Community Advisory Group
were made to ensure community involvement in the CBEP.
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Completed Milestones
6/97 Solicited interest in forming a CAG.
8/97 Informational session conducted with those expressing interest.
10/97 Partner Agencies developed list of suggested members.
12/97 Organizational session, interim officers established.
1/98 First CAG meeting run by interim officers and subcommittee was established.
At an EPA public meeting on the Tennessee Products Superfund Site in the spring 1997,
City Councilman John Taylor and a City liaison, Moses Freeman urge community leaders
to form a Community Advisory Group. EPA's guidance documents concerning CAGs
provided the framework for the CAG, which provides a communication mechanism between
EPA and the community. Since there were several community groups actively participating
in the remedial process, formation of the CAG has made decision making and the flow of
information more efficient.
Completed Milestones
Summer 1997 Community leaders come together and formed a CAG.
Summer 1997 Community groups, S.T.oP. and its leader Milton Jackson received an EPA
Technical Assistance Grant (TAG). The CAG selected a technical advisor
soon after the CAG formed.
1999 Technical reports, sampling data, and field updates are presented to the
CAG through the technical advisor in a timely manner. The technical
advisor is treated as a team member and has unrestricted access to the field
activities and information being generated.
Region 4's environmental justice work for the Brunswick/Glynn County area in FY 1998 is
summarized in the following milestones.
Completed Milestones
11/97 The Alabama/Georgia/Mississippi Section of the South Site Management Branch
hosted a field trip for Zack Lyde, Save the People, Inc., to the Terry Creek Dredge
Spoil Site.
1/98 The Alabama/Georgia/Mississippi Section of the South Site Management Branch
presented the results of the CBEP sampling project on a local radio show. NAACP
Community Relations Coordinator Robert Griffin hosted the radio show.
2/98 Region 4 staff met with Zack Lyde and members of Green Cross, an International
Christian Environmental organization.
FY98 Acting Assistant Administrator of OSWER Tim Fields visited the communities of
Brunswick, Tifton, and Ft. Valley, Georgia.
FY98 The Emergency Response and Removal Branch continuedto remove contamination
from the LCP Chemicals Site and Terry Creek Dredge Spoil Site.
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FY98 Remediation of the Hercules 009 Landfill is currently taking place.
FY98 Remedial planning for the Terry Creek Dredge Spoil Site, the Brunswick Wood
Preserving Site, and the LCP Chemicals Site is underway.
The Air Management Division and the RCRA Enforcement Branch inspected the
Hercules, Inc. Plant.
Contact
Brian Holtzclaw, (404) 562-8684
Region 4's environmental justice work for Bennettsville, South Carolina, in FY 1998 is
summarized in the following milestones.
Completed Milestones
3/98 Held a public meeting on March 6, 1998 to inform citizens about the cleanup at the
Southern Asbestos plant. As a result of the public meeting, 85 former employees
were interviewed to determine if any other employees had taken asbestos to their
homes for insulation or other uses.
11/98 Relocated 15 residences and moved 13 residences back within ten days. Two
residences are still under relocation. Soil samples were taken in over 30 lots
adjacentto the plant and six were positive. These lots were re-sampled and only one
will have asbestos removal work.
FY98 Met with local officials and media to inform them of the work to be performed at
Southern Asbestos.
FY98 OSC gives updates on the site on a local radio station (WBSC 1550) every Thursday
morning at 7:45 a.m.
FY98 Attended a district meeting and gave a presentation to 13 minority church leaders
to enlist their help in getting information to people and to try to locate former
employees who may have taken asbestos to their homes.
FY98 Met with families in homes adjacent to the Southern Asbestos plant.
FY98 Hosted another public meeting on the status of the cleanup and answered questions
that some of the residents and former employees had asked during interviews.
FY98 Waste Management Division staff organized and held a health fair/information
meeting, which involved the SC Workmen's Compensation Commission, the Social
Security Administration, the Health and Human Services Office, and several
specialists in occupational health and pulmonary medicine.
Contact
Brian Holtzclaw, (404) 562-8684
Region 4's environmental justice staff participated in announcing the Project XL-Atlantic
Steel, Atlanta, Georgia, initiative in September 1998. In FY 1999, the Region plans to
continue attending local meetings and form an environmental justice focus group to flesh
out environmental justice issues associated with proposed redevelopment activities. Region
4's environmental justice staff is working with EPA Headquarter's environmental justice
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staff to ensure that the proposal meets the XL criteria and respects the Executive Order on
environmental justice, as well as EPA's environmental justice policies and guidelines.
Completed Milestones
9/98 Announced Project XL-Atlantic Steel.
Contacts
Michelle Glenn, (404) 562-8674
Brian Holtzclaw, (404) 562-8684
Region 4's Waste Management Division (WMD) environmental justice team continues to
work with Marasco Newton Group, LTD, to develop an innovative environmental justice
training program for EPA staff in Region 4. The final environmental justice training
package will be shared with headquarters and other regions for use as a prototype for
employee training Agency-wide.
For five months, a WMD staff person participated in the development of a work plan and
agenda for the Brunswick Environmental Justice Community Pilot Training Course (Unit
#1). Environmental justice staff attended training during which "Communities for a Better
Environment" presented practical fundamentals and successes in community-based air
sampling and efforts to protect communities from adverse fish consumption. Georgia Tech
presented the basics of the TOSC, TAB and ICORE grants available to communities.
For the past three months, WMD staff has worked with the Community Involvement
Coordinator on the IMC and the Arkwright Superfund sites, complex and controversial sites.
The staff has also facilitated communication with the environmental justice group,
Re-Genesis and the EPA at critical occasions, participated in EPA coordination sessions,
and supported the community interviews with former plant employees. The interviews
helped the sampling plan narrow down the hot spots that should be sampled based upon
historical site practices.
Contacts
Eddie L. Wright, (404) 562-8669
Brian Holtzclaw, (404) 562-8684
Action Item
Conduct an environmental justice workshop to lend assistance to a South Tucson
environmental justice community nearby the Tucson International Airport Superfund site
Region 9
Community members of the Unified Community Advisory Board (UCAB) requested the
Environmental justice program present an informational workshop detailing Region 9's
environmental justice program. Environmental justice staff attended a UCAB meeting to
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assess the needs of community members, and with their assistance, they developed an
agenda for a two-hour workshop, which was held in February 1999. All important segments
of the community attended including business, corporations, city, county and state
governments, organized neighborhood groups, and individual citizens.
A follow-up visit to the UCAB the next month offered an opportunity to evaluate the
workshop and identify next steps. During that visit, environmental justice staff toured the
neighborhood with community representatives to understand the broader environmental
justice concerns in the area.
Subsequent to these events, EPA received correspondence from Ms. Joanne Mesa of the
UCAB on behalf of her community requesting more detailed environmental justice
assistance including an extensive community workshop, communication assistance with the
Air National Guard and other agencies on the expansion and impact of their activities in the
community, Environmental Justice Program participation on the EPA superfund site team,
and a formal environmental justice analysis of South Tucson. The Environmental Justice
Program is responding to her requests.
Completed Milestones
2/99 Informational workshop detailing Region 9's environmental justice program.
3/99 Follow-up visit to the UCAB to evaluate the workshop and identify next steps.
Contact
Running-Grass, (415) 744-1205
Action Item
Conduct regional environmental justice public forums
Region 4
On December 11-13, 1997, EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance and Region 4
sponsored the Environmental Justice Enforcement Roundtable. Region 4's Waste Division
helped plan as well as attend this event, which was held in Durham, North Carolina, after
the NEJAC meeting of December 1997. Hundreds of environmental justice grassroots
activists participated along with local, state, and federal environmental agency personnel.
Waste Division environmental justice staff and managers delivered addresses and partici-
pated on panels and breakout sessions. As a result of the conference, a Summary of Recom-
mendations was generated and leads were assigned. In July 1998, Waste Division
environmental justice staff compiled a status report on these recommendations.
Completed Milestones
12/97 Held the Environmental Justice Enforcement Roundtable.
7/98 Compiled a status report containing recommendations from the Roundtable
meeting.
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Contact
Connie Raines, (404) 562- 9671
Region 9
Region 9 conducted a series of outreach meetings with community-based organizations and
gave presentations on environmental justice at various conferences and forums. The
outreach meetings were designed to assess environmental justice concerns, develop viable
strategies to address those concerns, and foster strong working relationships. Region 9
conducted outreach meetings in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco Bay Area, South
Phoenix, and Tucson. The groups the Region met with included the Environmental Health
Coalition, Asian Pacific Environmental Network, Communities for a Better Environment,
Don't Waste Arizona, Arizona Environmental Justice Advisory Council, Mothers of East
Los Angeles, First African Episcopal Methodist Church of Los Angeles, Community
Coalition for Change, and the Southwest Network for Environmental and Economic Justice.
Region 9 has participated in the following conferences and forums to communicate the
importance of environmental justice: Federal Facilities Conference, American Bar
Association Annual Conference, Association of Environmental Professionals, International
Right of Way Association, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Upward
Bound Program and Second Annual Youth Leadership Summit, the National Hispanic
Sustainability Conference, National Environmental Justice Conference in South Carolina,
Association of Environmental Professionals, and Senator George Miller's Congressional
District Grant Workshop.
Completed Milestones
• Operation of the Environmental Justice Information Line to promote informational
access to Region 9 environmental justice activities.
• Reinforced EPA's commitment to communities impacted by environmental justice
issues through proactive discussions with community leaders and organizations in
the Bay Area, Los Angeles, South Phoenix, and San Diego.
Conducted outreach meetings with public schools in the Bay Area to assess
environmental justice education needs.
• Provided EPA leadership on environmental justice issues at local, regional, and
national conferences including: Los Angeles Environmental Justice Workshop; Los
Angeles Town hall Meeting on Air Rule 1610; Environmental Conference of the
Coalition of Black Trade Unionists; National Brownfields '97 Conference;
Southwest Network for Economic and Environmental Justice (SNEEJ) Gathering;
National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC) Meeting; Western
Alliance of Farmworker Advocates Conference, and the National American Bar
Association Conference.
Contact
Romel Pascual, (415) 744-1212
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Action Item
Enhance outreach activities to minority and/or low-income groups
Region 10
Region 10's goal is to enhance EPA's community involvement efforts by being responsive
to the unique needs of groups that may otherwise be under-represented through EPA's
traditional outreach efforts, and by being adaptable to the existing forms of communication
within communities. For instance, Superfund outreach staff issues fact sheets to non-English
speaking community members in eastern Washington where there is a high percentage of
Hispanic migrant farm workers. Similarly, in the Puget Sound area, EPA's Superfund
activities affect Asian-speaking populations who rely on fisheries for a higher proportion
of their diet. EPA in conjunction with local authorities has provided fish advisories in
several Asian dialects to warn of the potential exposures to shellfish.
Contact
Debra Packard, (206) 553-0247
Grant Warehouse was the site of a time critical removal by EPA's Emergency Response
Unit. The site is in a high-density residential neighborhood with mixed-use commercial
property in NE Portland, Oregon. Large quantities of chemicals were stored in this
warehouse, which was used as a metallurgical laboratory for 20 years. Neighborhood groups
in the community are highly active.
The removal project was very visible and resulted in a high level of community interest. As
a result, Region 10 devised intensive community outreach efforts to address community
concerns and conducted door-to-door visits to all homes in the immediate block. Fact sheets
were maintained at the perimeter of fenced areas to keep community members informed of
progress throughout the process. EPA conducted all of its outreach through existing com-
munity group forums and activities.
Contact
Jeffry Rodin, (206) 553-6709
Action Item
Focus on environmental education in specific geographic areas using an environmental
justice theme
Region 5
Region 5 supports and participates in teacher education activities throughout the Region's
six states. In the past, EPA has sponsored, co-sponsored, or participated as a partner in
teaching workshops in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. These workshops cover
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a wide variety of environmental topics and are presented from an interdisciplinary
perspective.
Completed Milestones
2/27 Educator's Conference on Biodiversity.
7/97 National Environmental Education Material Guideline Workshop for the City of
Chicago and Springfield, Illinois.
7/97 Southeast Michigan Teacher's Institute on Environmental Education..
8/97 Pollution Prevention Workshop for Chicago Public School.
Contact
Suzanne Saric, (312) 353-3209
Action Item
Develop an environmental justice homepage
Region 5
Region 5's Superfund Division has developed a homepage that contains a section on
environmental justice. The environmental justice section identifies CAGs, with possible
environmental justice concerns and contains the FY 1997 and FY 1998 Environmental
Justice Implementation Plan for Superfund, Superfund policy on identifying possible
environmental justice concerns, and much more.
Completed Milestones
FY98 Updated homepage as needed.
Contacts
Oliver L. Warnsley, (312) 886-0442
James Rittenhouse, (312) 886-1438
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Economic Redevelopment
Action Items:
Continue to implement brownfields pilot projects 30
Region 1 30
Region 2 32
Region 4 33
Region 7 34
Region 9 34
Regional support to San Francisco Brownfields Advisory Board 35
Region 9 35
Region 10 36
Develop and implement job training and community outreach activities 36
Region 2 36
Region 9 37
Explore the use of enforcement tools to stimulate brownfields development 38
Region 2 38
Support private efforts to conduct and define all appropriate inquiry related to
property transfers 38
Region 2 38
Build a technical and organizational infrastructure to assist economic development in
environmental justice communities 39
Region 2 39
Region 9 39
Increase coordination with other federal agency and state and local governments to support
brownfield redevelopment 40
Region 2 40
Support the application of innovative technologies to expedite brownfields redevelopment . . 41
Region 2 41
Strengthening brownfields redevelopment 41
Region 6 41
Provide technical support to the Native Village of Fort Yukon to conduct a
site characterization of several sites within the Village 42
Region 10 42
Coordinate with an affected community to consider future land uses in
Superfund decision making 42
Region 10 42
Support the application of innovative technologies to expedite brownfields redevelopment . . 43
Region 2 43
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Topic Area: Economic Redevelopment
Action Item
Continue to implement brownfields pilot projects
Region 1
In FY 1998, Region 1 awarded nearly $1.8 million in grants and services to eighteen New
England municipalities for brownfields activities. A total of 38 New England communities
have been selected to receive brownfields assessment demonstration pilots ("assessment
pilots") through FY 1998. These assessment pilots will provide up to $200,000 to local,
tribal, and state governmental entities to conduct site assessments and related activities at
brownfields sites.
The assessment pilots are distributed throughout New England, although the majority are
located in the more industrialized states of Connecticut and Massachusetts. The current
breakdown by states is: Connecticut (9), Maine (3), Massachusetts (20), New Hampshire
(3), Rhode Island (2), and Vermont (1). Very few cities and towns have been spared the
blighting effect of brownfields properties, but the highest concentrations tend to be
associated with environmental justice communities. Forthis reason, an important goal of the
assessment pilot program is the inclusion of the community in local planning and decision-
making processes.
Region 1's brownfields team actively monitors existing pilots, continues to emphasize the
need for effective community involvement throughout each phase of the brownfields'
process, and assists where possible on technical or legal issues. In addition, the brownfields
team continues to work with these and other communities to inform them of its various
assistance programs. Cities and towns with a large number of brownfields sites and those
with significant environmental justice populations and issues are especially targeted forthis
outreach.
Completed Milestones
FY98 Awarded 38 brownfields assessment demonstration pilots in New England.
As an adjunct to the pilot program, Region 1 has expanded its efforts under the Targeted
Site Assessment Initiative. Targeted Site Assessments differ from pilots in that the actual
site investigation work is conducted by EPA contractors on behalf of local governments.
Sites are selected through a competitive process in which these local entities nominate
abandoned or underutilized sites that represent high priority redevelopment projects. By
their nature, most of these sites are located in areas where environmental justice issues are
a major concern. Region 1 has completed or is currently conducting site assessment work
at 20 sites with plans to add more sites in FY 1999.
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Completed Milestones
FY98 Completed or currently conducting site assessment work at 20 sites with plans to
add more in FY 1999.
The job training pilots provide training for residents in communities impacted by
brownfields. Pilot funds are used to ensure that trainees include, but are not limited to, the
unemployed, welfare to work, environmental justice communities, and other disadvantaged
populations. The goals of the pilots are to prepare trainees for employment related to the
assessment, cleanup, and redevelopment of brownfields properties whose reuse has been
impeded by contamination. The trainees typically become certified in Lead/Asbestos and
OSHA 40 Hour HAZWOPER. In FY 1998, EPA-NE awarded two pilots to Jobs for Youth-
Boston and the City of New Bedford, Massachusetts, for $200,000 each. An estimate total
of 35 trainees have graduated during the first year from the two pilots. The grantees were
two of only eleven entities nationwide to receive the funding under the "Brownfields Job
Training and Development Demonstration Projects" initiative.
Completed Milestones
FY98 Awarded two job training pilots for Youth-Boston and the City of New Bedford,
Massachusetts, for $200,000 each.
In March of 1998, Lowell, Massachusetts, Stamford, Connecticut, and the State of Rhode
Island were designated as three of the nation's 16 "Brownfield Showcase Communities."
The showcase community designation takes the EPA's brownfields program one step further
by bringing more agencies and other federal resources into the mix. EPA teamed up with 15
other federal agencies—Housing and Urban Development, Department of Commerce, and
the Small Business Administration among them—to address the brownfields issue using a
holistic approach. The collective knowledge and resources of this broad-based government
coalition translates into a richer, more inclusive brownfields program. In addition, begin-
ning in October of 1998, EPA-NE assigned a full-time employee to work exclusively in each
community.
Using a $200,000 brownfields grant provided by Region 1 in FY 1997, Lowell, Massachu-
setts, was able to start addressing contamination at the site of the Paul Tsongas Arena. One
year and millions of leveraged dollars later, Lowell has begun to address, and ultimately
redevelop, properties such as Lawrence Mills and the Gilmore Trust building.
Stamford officials have devised an ambitious, yet attainable goal of redeveloping the former
Northeast Utilities Gas Plant, the Fuel Oil Depot Site, and the Yale & Towne Site. The
city's proposal is part of a comprehensive strategy to reclaim the harbor as a major eco-
nomic and recreational resource, and as a result, revitalize Stamford's two lowest income
neighborhoods.
For the State of Rhode Island, the Showcase Community designation builds upon some very
impressive efforts, specifically those of the Woonasquatucket River Greenway Project,
which is aimed at restoring green space and spurring development along some of the river's
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most neglected banks. With federal assistance, the Greenway Project's goals of turning the
Riverside Mills and Lincoln Lace and Braid sites into commercial and green space and
creating upwards of 100 jobs in the process will be realized.
Completed Milestones
3/98 Lowell, Massachusetts, Stamford, Connecticut, and the State of Rhode Island were
designated as brownfields showcase communities.
10/98 EPA-NE assigned a full-time employee to work exclusively in each New England
showcase community.
In an effort to maximize the use and availability of other relevant federal programs, Region
1 has been developing partnerships with other federal agencies to exchange information and
explore potential opportunities for collaboration. Information is then shared with the pilot
cities/towns who are in the best position to make effective use of these programs.
Region 1 continues to seek opportunities for advancing its brownfields agenda outside of
core program areas. An example is the Morse Cutting Tool site located in the Cape Verdean
community in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Previously, EPA assisted the State of Massa-
chusetts by conducting a search of previous site owners to support a possible Superfund
claim for past remediation. The state used this information to approach the current owner,
resulting in a voluntary consent agreement to investigate and clean up the site. Two large
abandoned structures have since been demolished and debris removed, and site remediation
is ongoing. Since the project directly impacts the surrounding Cape Verdean community,
EPA provided technical assistance through the Hazardous Substance Research Center
(HSRC) to review and comment on the environmental assessment and cleanup studies
prepared by the property owner. This provides the community with a third-party review of
the environmental work being performed at the site.
Region 2
In FY 1997, Region 2 awarded a Brownfield Assessment Demonstration Pilot of $50,000
to Glen Cove, New York, and $200,000 to Elizabeth, New Jersey. The brownfields award
recipients in FY 1997 include Elmira and Niagara Falls in New York; Perth Amboy and
Jersey City in New Jersey; and the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company. Regional
procedure calls for each pilot to submit a community involvement plan which integrates
environmental justice and fosters informed, meaningful involvement. In addition, FY 1997
activities include inter-Agency coordination and program development to meet regional
brownfields needs. Currently, Region 2 is developing a field screening team to quickly
screen environmental conditions at sites selected by pilot cities as potential brownfields
development candidates. Region 2 is preparing issue papers, a brownfields redevelopment
manual, and a computerized decision model to address many of the concerns and issues
encountered in the pilots.
Completed Milestones
FY97 Awarded regional Brownfield Assessment Demonstration Pilot grants to Glen Cove,
New York, and Elizabeth, New Jersey.
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FY97 Awarded National Pilot grants to Elmira and Niagara Falls in New York; Perth
Amboy and Jersey City in New Jersey; and the Puerto Rico Industrial Development
Company.
Contacts
Lawrence D'Andrea, (212) 637-4314
Chelsea Albucher, (212) 637-4291
In FY 1998,12 Brownfields Assessment Demonstration Pilot Cooperative Agreements were
awarded in Region 2. Regional procedure calls for each pilot to submit a community
involvement plan which integrates environmental justice and fosters informed, meaningful
involvement. FY 1998 activities include establishment of the Regional Interagency Brown-
fields Work Group and grantees workshop; "Life After the Grant: From Developing a Pilot
to Sustainable Brownfields Program." Each Pilot has an EPA liaison designated to provide
assistance and facilitate access to EPA engineering, science, and emergency response
resources.
Region 2's brownfields assessment demonstration pilots awarded in FY 1998 are: Atlantic
City, Hudson County, Long Branch, Middlesex, Morris, Paterson, Niagara County,
Ogdensburg, Ulster, Utica, Yonkers, and the Puerto Rico Ports Authority.
Region 2's brownfields job training and development pilots awarded in FY 1998 include the
New Jersey Youth Corps.
Completed Milestones
FY98 Awarded 12 brownfields assessment pilot cooperative agreements.
FY98 Awarded one brownfields job training and development pilot.
Contact
Lawrence D'Andrea, (212) 637-4314
Region 4
In support of the Healthy Community Initiative, Region 4's Waste Management Division and
the Medical University of South Carolina's Environmental Hazards Assessment Program
co-sponsored a symposium on December 5, 1996, called "Doing Business with the Federal
Government: Establishing Partnerships for Sustainable Community based Economic
Development." More than ten federal agencies participated in the symposium, which
attracted more than 100 minority contractors and small business owners.
Region 4 worked with EPA Headquarters and the local community to determine the
possibility of establishing a jobs training program at the Wingate Road Landfill Site in Ft.
Lauderdale, Florida. During 1998, the Region plans to develop a Memorandum of
Agreement with a training provider following resolution of the funding issues.
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Three brownfields pilots have been awarded using Revolving Loan Fund grants: St.
Petersburg, Florida; Birmingham, Alabama; and Louisville, Kentucky. These grants will be
used to provide seed money to state and local governments to test funding models and
facilitate coordinated public and private cleanup efforts.
Completed Milestones
12/96 Co-sponsored a symposium called "Doing Business with the Federal Government:
Establishing Partnerships for Sustainable Community based Economic Develop-
ment."
FY98 Region 4 will develop a Memorandum of Agreement with a training provider for
the Jobs training program at the Wingate Road Landfill site, following resolution
of funding issues.
Region 7
Region 7 continues to explore opportunities to implement brownfields pilot projects in
support of its environmental justice implementation plan. Region 7 assists in application
development when there is definitive interest. Region 7 provided a grant to the Great Plains/
Rocky Mountain Hazardous Substance Research Center at Kansas State University to assist
communities with brownfields pilot projects in acquiring information and data, organizing
and distributing information, interpreting technical information, and participating in plan-
ning and implementation phases.
Region 7 has encouraged its new pilots (in Kansas City Metro Area; Wellston, Missouri;
and Des Moines, Iowa) to implement community involvement aspects into their projects.
Region 7 also has encouraged selection of a site for assessment in the Kansas City pilot that
West Side neighborhood residents are most concerned about. EPA has been meeting with
citizens about pilot projects in Kansas City and Bonne Terre, Missouri, and has been
meeting with a number of communities to encourage participation in the brownfields pilot
program.
Completed Milestones
4/97 Awarded a brownfields assessment pilot to Wellston, Missouri.
9/97 Awarded a brownfields assessment pilot to Des Moines, Iowa.
Contact
Kerry Herndon, (913) 551- 7286
Region 9
Region 9 is fully committed to promoting the Brownfields National Partnership Action
Agenda by managing the brownfields pilots, creating partnerships, conducting outreach to
environmental justice communities, and conducting targeted brownfields assessments at
selected properties. Currently, there are 30 brownfields pilot grants, five revolving loan
fund pilots, and two job training pilots in Region 9. In 1998, Los Angeles and East Palo
Alto were selected as showcase communities. Region 9 also provided a staff member on
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loan to the East Palo Alto, Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency, and to the
California Center for Land Recycling—a non-profit organization.
Completed Milestones
12/97 Thirteen brownfields site assessment pilots and one revolving loan fund pilot is in
place in Region 9.
5/97 Stationed staff in East Palo Alto, Los Angeles, Richmond, and the nonprofit organi-
zation California for Land Recycling.
8/97 Targeted site assessments provided to: Hawaii Department of Health, North Fork,
California, and Yuma, Arizona.
2/97 Los Angeles established a $1 million brownfields revitalization fund that was
increased in 1998 and 1999 to a total of $2.4 million.
3/98 East Palo Alto and Los Angeles were selected as brownfields showcase commu-
nities.
7/99 Thirty brownfields site assessment pilots, six revolving loan fund pilots, and three
job training pilots in Region 9.
7/99 Seventeen targeted brownfields assessments were completed or are underway.
Contact
Bobbie Kahan, (415) 744-2191
Action Item
Regional support to San Francisco Brownfields Advisory Board
Region 9
San Francisco was awarded a regional brownfields pilot grant of $100,000 in September
1996 to revitalize the Bayview Hunters Point community. The grant was increased to
$200,000 in 1997. The city has established a Brownfields Advisory Board made up of
community members, academia, local business owners, local representatives, and lenders.
The board has just completed the development of site selection criteria to select a site(s) for
the sampling phase (II) of the project.
Completed Milestones
2/97 Hired a contractor and two community members to assist with a phase I site assess-
ment.
8/97 Completed an area-wide phase I site assessment report for the Bayview Hunters
Point neighborhood and entered the environmental information into a geographic
information system data base.
10/97 Drafted site selection criteria to select a site for environmental sampling.
Contact Person
Bobbie Kahan, (415) 744-2191
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Region 10
Region 10 provides brownfields grants for pilot projects, funds brownfields site assessment
activities, funds states to develop Voluntary Cleanup Programs, and conducts outreach to
educate businesses and lenders on existing protections to liability associated with contami-
nated properties. Region 10 has increased its brownfields efforts from one full time
employee to nearly three full time employees.
Region 10 has eight brownfields pilot projects. One of the goals of the brownfields pilots
is to inform and involve the nearby communities. Four pilots are directly benefitting
environmental justice communities. The City of Portland has agrantto focus redevelopment
on the city's Enterprise Community, which has a poverty rate of 35%. Another pilot will
allow the Puyallup Tribe to address a contaminated property that is necessary for a planned
marine terminal development. The Ketchikan Gateway Borough project and the Oregon
Mills pilot have addressed site characterization and redevelopment needs for mill sites in
distressed timber communities.
In addition, Region 10 is conducting targeted brownfields site assessments for two tribal
communities—the Burns Pauite Tribe of Oregon and the Metlakatla Indian Community in
Alaska.
Completed Milestones
9/95 Grant awarded to Duwamish Coalition project and Oregon Mill sites.
9/96 Grant awarded to Panhandle Health District, Port of Bellingham, Puyallup Tribe.
3/96 Grant awarded to City of Tacoma, City of Portland.
4/97 Grant awarded to Ketchikan Gateway Borough.
Contact
Lori Cohen, (206) 553-6523
Action Item
Develop and implement job training and community outreach activities
Region 2
As part of the Jersey City Brownfields Pilot, Region 2 has partnered with local stakeholders
to develop brownfields related job training for students at New Jersey State College.
The Trenton Leadership Environmental Training Series (LETS) held its first graduation in
the summer of 1997. LETS developed in conjunction with the Trenton Brownfields Pilot
and with support from the Northeast Hazardous Substance Research Center and Technical
Outreach Services for Communities program.
The LETS mission is to facilitate community and group development, cultivate understand-
ing and leadership through education and training, enable residents to participate and be
involved in the decision-making processes that impact their communities, and create and
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foster long-term sensitivity, communication, and partnerships among communities, busines-
ses, government, and other public and private institutions.
In FY 1998, Region 2 conducted outreach and provided application assistance for the
brownfields job training and development pilots. The national review panel selected an
application from the region. In addition, public agency personnel and students were able to
access EPA environmental training program courses, such as the Occupational Safety and
Health Administration required 40-hour health and safety course for hazardous waste site
workers.
Completed Milestones
FY98 Awarded a brownfields job training and development pilot to the New Jersey Youth
Corps to train 18-25 year old underemployed and unemployed people of Newark
and Camden.
Contact
Lawrence D'Andrea, (212) 637-4314
Region 9
In August 1997, Region 9 piloted a technical training and jobs placement program for the
community surrounding the East Palo Alto brownfields site. Sixteen students received
seven weeks of extensive training from DePaul University in hazardous waste handling, lead
and asbestos abatement, and underground storage tank cleanup and removal. EPA provided
the funding for this program to DePaul through an existing grant the university has with the
National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences. Classroom training was followed by
90 days of paid on-the-job training with several environmental cleanup firms in the area.
Throughout the training program, Region 9 conducted extensive outreach activities with
large industry companies. There were more permanent jobs than students available.
In FY 1999, Region 9 assisted the cities of East Palo Alto and San Francisco with
developing a minority worker training program with funds from the National Institute for
Environmental Health Sciences. This program teaches residents living near brownfields sites
environmental remediation and construction skills. Several rounds of training have taken
place and have resulted in very high placement and retention rates of program graduates in
the environmental field. EPA also funded brownfields job training pilot grants to the cities
of Richmond, Oakland, and San Francisco, California.
Completed Milestones
FY98 Began the second round of training in East Palo Alto, California.
FY99 Funded environmental job training in the cities of East Palo Alto, Richmond, San
Francisco, and Oakland, California.
Contact
Sherry Nikzat, (415) 744-2360
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Action Item
Explore the use of enforcement tools to stimulate brownfields development
Region 2
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection partners with Region 2 to provide
support to EPA brownfields pilots in New Jersey. Many of the pilot target sites are addres-
sed through the respective state's voluntary cleanup program to allow the flexibility neces-
sary to stimulate brownfields redevelopment.
Region 2 is developing strong ties with the New York Department of Environmental
Conservation to address many of the brownfields pilot city sites through the state voluntary
cleanup program and brownfields program of the recently enacted Clean Water/Clean Air
Bond Act. Region 2 also entered into prospective purchaser agreements. Region 2 explained
the policy on various enforcement tools and liability guidance offered by the Agency
through meetings with each of the pilots and through public presentations from Region 2
staff.
Completed Milestones
FY98 Partners with New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to assist
brownfields pilots.
FY98 Entered into prospective purchaser agreements.
Contact
Lawrence D'Andrea, (212) 637-4314
Action Item
Support private efforts to conduct and define all appropriate inquiry related to property
transfers
Region 2
Region 2 actively responds to informal information requests and formal FOIA and webpage
FOIA information requests about properties. When EPA has no information on a brown-
fields site, people are referred to appropriate state and local agencies and information
resources, such as New Jersey's Known Contaminated Sites database available on the
Internet.
Contact
Jenny Delcimento, (212) 637-4296
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Action Item
Build a technical and organizational infrastructure to assist economic development in
environmental justice communities
Region 2
For each brownfields pilot, Region 2 convenes resource meetings with key partners to
present the EPA resources available to localities (counties, cities, and towns). These
meetings, which are tailored to each pilot's needs, involve EPA representatives from emer-
gency removal and pre-remedial site assessment and may include representatives from the
Office of Regional Counsel to clarify liability issues and from contracts and grants to share
information on other EPA programs. These face-to-face meetings build the relationships
necessary for beneficial partnership and local capacity building to address the environmental
aspects impeding economic development in environmental justice communities.
The Region 2 brownfields team has worked with state environmental agencies to support
site assessment activities and brownfields redevelopment in economically depressed areas.
In FY 1998, EPA met with all brownfields pilot communities to present the range of
technical assistance available through Superfund, and information about community grants
that are available from other divisions and programs. Also in FY 1998, Region 2 convened
the Brownfields Inter-Agency Work Group comprised of over 14 federal and state agencies.
This work group provides the organizational infrastructure necessary to support holistic
community revitalization. Active members of the work group include the Economic
Development Administration, the U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development, and state environmental and economic development
counterparts. The brownfields team has been able to connect brownfields pilot communities
to federal and state agencies and departments that can address issues outside of EPA's juris-
diction. EPA has provided technical assistance and a resource network to increase local
economic development capacity.
Completed Milestones
6/98 Convened Brownfields Interagency Work Group. Resource meetings with brown-
fields pilots are ongoing.
Contact
Chelsea Albucher, (212) 637-4291
Region 9
Region 9's Brownfields Working Group, which contains community members in the San
Francisco Bay Area and representatives of nonprofit organizations, holds monthly meetings
to discuss brownfields and environmental justice issues. This working group provides an
opportunity for local community-based environmental organizations, federal agencies,
brownfields pilot cities, students, foundations, and community members to learn more about
brownfields and plan their future involvement in brownfields efforts. The working group
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holds workshops, gives community tours, and participates in national brownfields and
environmental justice conferences. EPA helps support the working group through an
environmental justice grant to the Urban Habitat Program, the host of the Brownfields
Working Group. The working group presented "A Workshop on the Language and Practice
of Brownfields Redevelopment" in May and November 1997 to provide a variety of
perspectives aimed at showing community members how to move a brownfields
redevelopment project forward.
Completed Milestones
5/97, 11/97 Presented "A Workshop on the Language and Practice of Brownfields
Redevelopment."
5/99 Published Building Upon Our Strengths, A Community Guide to Brownfields
Redevelopment in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Contact
Bobbie Kahan, (415) 744-2191
Action Item
Increase coordination with other federal agency and state and local governments to
support brownfield redevelopment
Region 2
Region 2 is strengthening working relations with state agencies through the brownfields
program. State environmental agency representatives are invited to brownfields pilot
meetings. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has committed a staff
representative to each EPA brownfields pilot in New Jersey.
Region 2 has an employee on an inter-personnel agreementto the City of Camden to support
their brownfields redevelopment effort. Part of FY97 activities included developing
economic development symposia with HUD and EDA.
Regional staff met with General Services Administration staff to explore potential reuse of
federal properties.
Completed Milestones
FY97 Developed an economic development symposia with HUD and EDA.
Contact
Lawrence D'Andrea, (212) 637-4314
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Action Item
Support the application of innovative technologies to expedite brownfields
redevelopment
Region 2
Region 2 is implementing innovative technologies for site investigation in conjunction with
the North East Hazardous Substance Research Center, the New Jersey Department of
Environmental Protection, the Emergency Response Team, and the Newark and Trenton
brownfield pilots. Community education and involvement are a part of this brownfields
effort.
In response to local needs identified through the brownfields initiative, Region 2 is develop-
ing a rapid field assessment team, to provide a quick overview of environmental conditions
at a property of concern or a property with development priority. This information will help
decision makers allocate resources and prioritize sites for further investigation, remediation,
and redevelopment.
Contact
Lawrence D'Andrea, (212) 637-4314
Action Item
Strengthening brownfields redevelopment
Region 6
The Federal Facilities Restoration and Reuse Office's new fact sheet, "Strengthening
Brownfields Redevelopment," describes how various groups and federal agencies have
teamed up to develop new outreach strategies to clean up brownfields.
Region 6 has been pursuing training opportunities for communities impacted by contamina-
ted properties through the National Institute for Environmental Health Science's (NIEHS)
Minority Worker Training Program (MWTP) and the brownfields job training and develop-
ment demonstration pilots. The goal is to provide pre-employment job training, environ-
mental preparation, and other related construction or building skills training to communities
impacted by contaminated properties, such as brownfields or sites on Superfund's National
Priority List.
Completed Milestones
FY98 MWTP for residents in the neighborhood of the Agriculture Street Landfill Site in
New Orleans, Louisiana.
FY98 Ten students enrolled in HAZMAT (hazardous materials) training, study, life, and
math skill classes have graduated from the MWTP at the RSR Smelter Site—
Dallas, Texas.
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FY98 Awarded abrownfields-related MWTP grantto Texas A&M Engineering Extension
Service to train personnel in heavy construction and environmental classes. Three
training classes have graduated, and the next class will start in early summer 1999.
FY98 Awarded a brownfields-related MWTP grant to Xavier University in New Orleans.
Eight students are currently enrolled and will graduate in July 1999.
Action Item
Provide technical support to the Native Village of Fort Yukon to conduct a site
characterization of several sites within the Village
Region 10
Fort Yukon, Alaska, has apopulation of approximately 800, 85% of whom are native Indian
peoples. According to the 1990 census, half of the households in Fort Yukon earned less
than $18,000 in annual income. The average income falls between $5,000 and $14,000.
Several areas within the Village of Fort Yukon have been identified as potentially
contaminated. In the summer of 1999, EPA conducted a targeted brownfields assessment
and expects to provide the Village with a final report in January 2000. The Village intends
to utilize this information to determine what actions will be necessary to return the land to
productive use.
Completed Milestones
8/99 Conducted sampling at the Fort Yukon, Alaska, site.
Contact
Joanne LaBaw, (206) 553-2594
Action Item
Coordinate with an affected community to consider future land uses in Superfund
decision making
Region 10
At the Bunker Hill Superfund Site, which is located in very depressed communities, Region
10 has maintained contact with local officials as they designed and implemented cleanup
plans. An example of the Region 10's involvement is the Central Impoundment Area closure,
which occupies a large part of the community's flat land that could be reused. Region 10
worked successfully with the State of Idaho to design a closure configuration that met both
the community's request for a golf course and EPA's requirement for an environmental
protection. Although the closure design is ready and the community remains interested, a
golf course developer needs to be found.
Contact
Cami Grandinetti, (206) 553-8696
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Action Item
Support the application of innovative technologies to expedite brownfields
redevelopment
Region 2
In FY 1998, Region 2 continued to develop a rapid mobile field screening facility, which
will provide the community with information about how serious possible environmental
conditions may be at a site. This information will help decision makers allocate resources
and prioritize sites for further investigation, remediation, and redevelopment.
Completed Milestones
FY98 Developing a rapid mobile field screening facility.
Contact
Lawrence D'Andrea, (212) 637-4314
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Contracts, Grants, and Labor
Action Items:
Implement the Mentor-Protegee Program 45
Region 2 45
Promote increased use of local, small and disadvantaged businesses 45
Region 2 45
Region 7 46
Region 9 46
Provide Regional Environmental Justice Small Grant Workshops 47
Region 9 47
Encourage contractors to hire workers in "labor surplus" areas 47
Region 9 47
Award environmental justice grants 48
Region 4 48
Award Environmental Education Grants with an Environmental Justice Theme 50
Region 5 50
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Topic Area: Contracts, Grants, and Labor
Action Item
Implement the Mentor-Protegee Program
Region 2
Region 2 used the Mentor/Protegee Program to enhance opportunities for small,
disadvantaged, and women-owned environmental companies to participate in contracting
opportunities with several Region 2 prime contracts. The Mentor/Protegee program also
was used with the concurrence from the Office of Acquisition Management and Office of
Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization for Region 2's Response Action Contracts
(RACs.) Participation in the Mentor/Protegee program is designed to enable small business
firms to become familiar with EPA contract requirements under the watchful eyes of an
experienced EPA prime contractor. The goal of the program is to enable the protegee firms
to use this knowledge in the future to compete for future contracts.
Completed Milestones
FY98 The START contract is in its fifth and final year of operation.
7/98 Two RAC contracts were awarded.
Contact
Shaheer Alvi, (212) 637-4324
Action Item
Promote increased use of local, small, and disadvantaged businesses
Region 2
Region 2 reports on the status of meeting the goals established in individual ARCS contracts
for procurement of small, and small disadvantaged businesses (SBE/SDBs). This reporting
is done on a semiannual basis to EPA Headquarter's Office of Small and Disadvantaged
Business Utilization. Achievement of SBE/SDB goals are considered during the semi-annual
award fee determinations. All six ARCS contracts expired in FY 1999, but the reporting,
monitoring, and award fee requirements continued with the Response Action Contracts
(RACs), the successors to ARCs. Region 2 plans to continue reporting on this item in future
ARCS contracts.
Contact
Shaheer Alvi, (212) 637-4324
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Region 7
Region 7's Superfund contractors agreed to subcontract 30% to small businesses, 15% to
small disadvantaged businesses, and 2% to women-owned businesses at the time of contract
award. These percentage goals are monitored through semi-annual reports and through the
award fee process. In some instances, award fee scores were lowered because the
Performance Evaluation Board did not believe the contractor made its best effort to
subcontract to small disadvantaged businesses.
Negotiations with PRPs continue to encourage the use of local, small minority-owned
business for supplies and labor. Region 7 continues to explore ways to segregate portions
of its cleanup work to make contract awards to small disadvantaged businesses as prime
contracts through the SBA 8(a) program. This work would ordinarily be subcontracted by
the ERCS/ERRS prime contractor. Region 7 has successfully awarded several of these
contracts.
Completed Milestones
FY97 Region 7's contractors exceeded their small business goals by 50%, their small
disadvantaged business goals by 50% and, in some instances, by 100%; and also
met their women-owned business goals.
FY97 Region 7 awarded through subcontracts approximately $5.7 million to small
businesses, $2.1 million to small disadvantaged businesses, and $1 million to
women-owned businesses.
Contact
Alma Brent, (913)551-7212
Region 9
Region 9's Superfund program plans to promote small business through the Contracts 2000
effort, which has the goal to target small business during the next round of Superfund
contracts. The stated goal is to "increase small, minority, and women-owned business
participation in the contracting program."
Completed Milestones
FY98 A 5-year, $7.2 million oversight contract (ROC) for federal facilities was awarded
to a small business.
Contact
Caroline Ireason, (415) 744-2424
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Action Item
Provide regional environmental justice small grant workshops
Region 9
In FY 1997, Region 9's Environmental Justice Team under the Cross-Media Division
conducted a series of Environmental Justice Grant Workshops throughout the region. The
purpose of these workshops was to clarify the process involved in applying for an
environmental justice small grant and to ensure that communities impacted by
environmental justice issues are aware of this and other EPA grant programs that might be
of assistance to them. Local community groups that co-hosted each workshop include:
Don't Waste Arizona in South Phoenix, AZ; Concerned Citizens of South Central, Mothers
of East Los Angeles, and Communities for a Better Environment in Los Angeles;
Environmental Health Coalition in San Diego; and the African American Development
Corporation and Asian Pacific Environmental Network in Oakland.
In FY 1999, the Environmental Justice Team participated in four grant workshops and two
conference calls to provide information on the program. It received forty-three grant
applications and forwarded its recommended finalists to EPA Headquarters. The total grant
budget is $200,000 (a 50% reduction from FY 1998).
Completed Milestones
02/29/97 South Phoenix, Arizona. Environmental Justice grant workshop and
Strategy meeting.
02/03/97 South Central Los Angeles, California. Environmental Justice grant
workshop and community strategy meeting.
02/04/97 Barrio Logan, San Diego, California. Grant workshop, neighborhood tour,
and community strategy meeting.
02/06/97 West Oakland, California. Environmental Justice grant workshop.
FY99 Four grant workshops and two conference calls.
Contact
Romel Pascual, (415) 744-1212
Action Item
Encourage contractors to hire workers in "labor surplus " areas
Region 9
Region 9's Superfund staff continue to share employment information and opportunities with
minority training programs in the San Francisco Bay Area. These network relationships
have led to the employment of minority training students at Superfund sites. The minority
training program, which is funded by EPA through the National Institute of Environmental
Health Sciences (NIEHS), helps train and employ community members who live near
Superfund sites.
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Action Item
Award Environmental Justice Grants
Region 4
The Waste Management Division, Environmental Justice Team awarded six Environmental
Justice Small Grants during FY 1997 and FY 1998.
The first grant ($25,000) was awarded in September 1997 to Florida State University for
development of a Saturday-at-the-Sea Project, and will end on December 31, 1998. The
Saturday-at-the-Sea Project focuses on rural, low-income communities and includes teacher
workshops and ayouth camp focused on preserving Florida's coastal environment. Students
are taken to coastal areas for "open-air" classes where they gather samples to be taken back
to the classroom for analysis.
The second grant ($99,898) was awarded in October 1997 to the University of South Florida
for development of an Environmental Justice/Pollution Prevention Project that focused on
the education of household hazardous materials to reduce community pollution. The project
ended December 31, 1999. Under this grant, two of Florida's Historically Black Colleges
and Universities (HBCU's) and the Urban League were chosen to conduct demonstration
projects focused on preventive approaches to environmental management.
The third grant ($24,950) was awarded in September 1997 to the University of Louisville
Research Foundation for development of a Louisville Urban Environmental Leadership
Program. The grant expired in February 1999. The purpose of this grant is to educate
community leaders about human health threats from environmental pollutants so they can
help improve communication between disadvantaged, and low income citizens who often
bear the greatest burden of environmental justice and environmental regulatory
requirements.
The fourth grant ($48,359) was awarded to Tennessee Technological University for
development of an Environmental Curricula for the South Chattanooga Community. The
grant expired on December 31, 1998. This project will convert two existing environmental
education curricula produced in print media to digitized, multimedia compact disk (CD)
format. Through workshops, educators and community leaders will be trained to use the
curricula for both self-paced study and classroom instruction to empower students and
residents to make informed decisions regarding chemical health risks and safety issues in
their community.
The fifth grant ($20,000) was awarded in September 1997 for one-year to the Hyde Park and
Aragon Park Improvement Committee in Augusta, Georgia. This project was designed to
help residents living in the Hyde Park and Aragon Park areas to recognize warning signs of
contamination in their neighborhoods. The grant was intended to educate and improve
communication in the environmental justice community through a series of activities,
including seminars/workshops, speakers, community grass-roots activist, and environmental
activist.
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The sixth grant ($20,000) was awarded to Southern Appalachian Recycling in Ermine,
Kentucky and will last from August 1997 until May 1998. This grant was to be used to
implement a recycling education program for low-income communities, and to start
recycling programs in area schools.
Completed Milestones
8/97
9/97
9/97
9/97
10/97
7/98
Summer 1998
Fall 1998
A $20,000 grant was awarded to Southern Appalachian Recycling in
Ermine, Kentucky, to implement a recycling education program for low-
income communities and to start recycling programs in area schools.
A $25,000 grant was awarded to Florida State University for development
of a Saturday-at-the-Sea Project.
A $24,950 grant was awarded to the University of Louisville Research
Foundation for implementation of the Louisville Urban Environmental
Program.
A $20,000 grant was awarded to the Hyde Park and Aragon Park
Improvement Committee to help residents understand their environmental
problems.
A $99,898 grant was awarded to University of South Florida for
development of an Environmental Justice/Pollution Prevention Project. A
$48,359 grant was awarded to Tennessee Technological University for
transfer of an Environmental Curricula to CD-ROM for delivery to the
South Chattanooga Community.
Two additional sections will be added to Tennessee Technological
University's CD-ROM version of the environmental education curricula.
The University of Louisville Research Foundation developed the curricula
for the Urban Environmental Leadership Program and scheduled classes
to begin Fall 1998. Graduation is scheduled for February 1999 in order to
allow students to complete their community environmental projects.
A series of seminars to educate minority and poor residents on the health
risks of hazardous household materials were held.
Contact
Eddie L. Wright, (404) 562-8669
In July 1994, the first Teacher's Environmental Institute, which was developed by Region
4, was held at Clark Atlanta University (CAU). To date, more than 350 teachers have
attended the Institutes held at CAU, North Carolina State University (FY 1998), Murray
State University (FY 1998), Florida A&M University (FY 1998) and the Medical University
of South Carolina (FY 1998). Teachers trained under the Institute have trained more than
30,000 high school and middle school students.
Completed Milestones
7/94 The first Teacher's Environmental Institute was held at CAU.
FY98 Additional Teacher's Environmental Institutes were held at North Carolina State
University, and the Medical University of South Carolina.
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Contact
Eddie L. Wright, (404) 562-8669
Action Item
Award Environmental Education Grants with an EnvironmentalJustice Theme
Region 5
During the period of October 1996 through September 1997, Region 5 received
approximately 165 environmental education proposals requesting more than $1.7 million
in funds. Grant proposals went through a rigorous evaluation process and between 20 and
25 awards are made each year. Applications were screened and then rated by an internal
environmental education workgroup consisting of EPA employees with varied expertise in
the environmental and education fields. The proposals were scored according to how well
they met the evaluation criteria published in EPA's Request for Proposals. Region 5
awarded a total of $190,000 in grant funds to 25 recipients in the states of Illinois, Indiana,
Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
Completed Milestones
11/97 FY98 environmental education grant proposals due to Region 5.
Spring 1998 Announcement of FY98 grant awards.
6/99 Region 5 awards its FY99 grants.
8/99 The Environmental Education program issued its 1999/2000 Request for
Proposals.
11/99 FYOO environmental education proposals due to Region 5.
Spring 2000 Announcement of grant awards.
Contact
Suzanne Saric, (312) 353-3209
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Federal Interagency Cooperation
Action Items:
Develop pilot projects with other federal agencies to address environmental justice concerns. 52
Region 2 52
Region 7 52
Increase and improve coordination between federal agencies to avoid duplication of
efforts and ensure coordination on environmental justice issues 53
Region 2 53
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Topic Area: Federal Interagency Cooperation
Action Item
Develop pilot projects with other federal agencies to address environmental justice
concerns
Region 2
In FY 1998, Region 2 used the Regional Administrator's Work Group, the Environmental
Justice Coordinator's activities, and the Brownfields Inter-Agency Work Group to
coordinate activities with other federal agencies to address environmental justice concerns.
In addition, the Regional Administrator and Division Directors meet on a regular basis with
heads of tribes to discuss crosscutting issues.
In FY 1999, the Council on Environmental Quality convened an Environmental Justice
Initiative in New York City. The regional offices of EPA and HUD are the lead agencies
responsible for coordinating follow-up activities with other federal agencies.
Completed Milestones
FY99 Annual Senior Management/Tribal Leaders meeting.
FY99 Preliminary development of Region 2's Urban Environment Initiative.
FY99 Convening of Brownfields Interagency Work Group.
Contact
Vincent Pitruzzello, (212) 637-4354
Region 7
In FY 1997, Region 7 participated with HUD, ATSDR, Noidea, Missouri Department of
Natural Resources, Missouri Department of Health, St. Francois County Health Department,
and the Doe Run Company in a joint strategy to address elevated blood lead levels in the
children of St. Francois County. From this effort, it was found that 17% of St. Francois
County's children under six years of age had elevated levels of lead in their blood. None of
the individual agencies has the authority to address all of the identified sources in all homes
in the community. However, working jointly enabled them to develop a solution to the lead
problem.
Contact
Jack Generaux, (913) 551-7690
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Action Item
Increase and improve coordination between federal agencies to avoid duplication of
efforts and ensure coordination on environmental justice issues
Region 2
In Region 2, the Camden Pilot organized a symposia to highlight economic development
tools for small business development, business retention, and expansion in the brownfield
target area. To support local goals, EPA coordinated with HUD and EDA in the planning
of this event.
The Buffalo EPA Brownfields Pilot Manager is a member of the Buffalo Urban Resources
Partnership, a local initiative with diverse federal, state, and local agencies and non-profit
organizations addressing abroad urban environmental agenda through funding provided by
USDA.
Regional staff met with GSA staff to explore potential reuse of federal properties. The
Regional Administrator and Division Directors met with heads of tribes to discuss
crosscutting issues.
Contact
Lawrence D'Andrea, (212) 637-4314
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Native American/Tribal Issues
Action Items:
Provide technical assistance and resources for Indian tribes and Native Americans 55
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response 55
Region 5 56
Region 6 57
Region 7 58
Region 9 58
Region 10 59
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Topic Area: Native American/Tribal Issues
Action Item
Provide technical assistance and resources for Indian tribes and Native Americans
Office of Solid Waste & Emergency Response
The Office of Solid Waste (OSW) Tribal Program is responsible for developing and
implementing Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Subtitle C and D programs in
Indian Country. The goal of this program is to encourage comprehensive integrated
hazardous and solid waste management practices in Indian Country that are protective of
human health and the environment by: building tribal capacity for developing and
implementing waste management policies/programs; supporting tribal governments as they
develop sustainable organizational infrastructures; and building partnerships among tribes,
federal agencies, states, and local communities.
A major part of OSW's Tribal Program is the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Indian Team.
Since FY 1996, the MSW Indian Team has been developing a national MSW Strategy for
Indian Country. The goal of this strategy is to promote integrated solid waste management
practices on Indian lands. OSW also focused attention to hazardous waste issues to address
the growing interest tribes have for integrated waste management practices.
Completed Milestones
Financial Assistance/Technical Assistance
FY97 Initiated the MSW Grant Program for Indian Country.
FY97 Developed guidance for municipal solid waste landfill owners/operators, which
describes the process for MSWLF owners and operators in Indian Country to submit
requests for site-specific rulemaking to provide flexibility based on site-specific
factors.
FY97 Allocated $270,000 to EPA's Regional Offices for Regional RCRA priority projects
and to continue the RCRA Tribal Circuit Riders program and allocated $140,000
to Region 10 for Alaska Native Village solid waste demonstration projects.
Outreach
FY97 Developed several publications to support Tribal governments and their
communities directly in managing their solid waste.
Education
FY 96 Funded the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) at Northern
Arizona University, to identify training needs for Tribal environmental and solid
waste personnel.
FY 96 Initiated the development of a RCRA training component that will address Mining
Technical Information Exchange for Indian tribes.
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FY96 OSW revised the EPA Internet homepage structure to improve access to Tribal
environmental information both for EPA and for outside sources. Also, OSW
initiated development of its municipal solid waste tribal homepage.
Partnerships
FY97 Participated in the OSWER Integrated Waste Management Initiative that developed
the proposal guidance and evaluated/ranked Tribal financial assistance applications.
Four tribes were awarded Integrated Waste Management Initiative grants.
FY97 Conducted outreach to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) - Central Office, Phoenix
and Navajo Area Offices, to discuss RCRA issues.
FY97 Supported the efforts of EPA's Regional Offices in establishing Regional Inter-
Agency Workgroups and will expand activities with the other Federal agencies.
Strategic Planning
FY97 Developed an OSW Tribal Strategic Plan for Subtitle C and D program areas to
outline status, data needs and future direction of the Tribal Program.
FY97 Developed a draft MSW Strategy to guide FY 97 work activities.
FY97 Funded the National Tribal Environmental Council (NTEC) to facilitate meetings
with tribes around the country to discuss municipal solid waste issues.
Contact
Stephen B. Etsitty, (703) 305-3194
Region 5
Region 5's Superfund Division has a "blueprint" that covers the Emergency Response
Branch (ERB), the Remedial Response Branch (RRB), and the Office of Chemical
Emergency Preparedness and Prevention (OCEPP) as their program relates to Tribal
activities.
Completed Milestones
Activities performed during FY97-98 by Region 5's Superfund program:
Superfund staff attended the national train-the-trainer workshop titled "Working
Effectively with Tribal Governments."
The Superfund Division and the Minnesota Superfund Consortium (Minnesota
Environmental Response Team, MTERT) expanded the scope of work for their
existing cooperative agreement and awarded additional site assessment funds to the
MTERT to develop tribal capabilities in assessing potential hazardous waste sites
within tribal jurisdiction as well as emergency response.
• Superfund staff continue working closely with the Leech Lake Reservation in
Minnesota to develop a comprehensive work plan for further evaluation of the St.
Regis Paper Superfund Site.
Regional experts continued to assist the Bad River Reservation in Wisconsin in the
evaluation of the paper lagoons impacting the Reservation.
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The Superfund Division assisted the Prairie Island Indian Community in Minnesota
in the coordination of the Fourth National Tribal Conference on Environmental
Management, which was hosted by the Tribe.
The ERB and the OCEPP joined forces to coordinate and instruct two Title III
training sessions at a first Responder-Awareness Level courses; one hosted by the
Hannaville Reservation in Michigan and the other by the Fond du Lac Band of
Chippewa in Minnesota.
The Superfund Division assisted the Waste Management and Toxic Substances
Division in the evaluation of the Mole Lake Dump site on the Mole Lake
Reservation in Wisconsin. A similar project is being developed with the Red Cliffs
Reservation in Wisconsin.
Superfund training was offered on tribal lands in Wisconsin and Minnesota. The
Oneida Reservation hosted three training courses: Air Monitoring for Hazardous
Materials, Introduction to Preliminary Assessment, and Introduction to Site
Inspection. The Leech Lake Reservation hosted one training course: Introduction
to Groundwater Investigation.
Regional staff actively participated in the development of Headquarters' "State and
Tribal Enhanced Role in Superfund Plan."This plan resulted from a Headquarters
initiative to develop components of a comprehensive strategy to empower states and
tribes to take the lead responsibility for Superfund in the years following the
program's reauthorization. A pilot project is under development with the Leech
Lake Reservation that will develop tribally-sensitive risk assessment criteria.
Contact
Rey Rivera, (312)886-1450
Region 6
In the Summer of 1998, the Pueblo Office of Environmental Protection (POEP) submitted
three proposals and the Intertribal Environmental Council of Oklahoma (ITEC) submitted
one proposal for Superfund Tribal pilot projects, which is an initiative to enhance the role
of states and tribes in the Superfund program. In September 1998, all four proposals were
accepted and funded.
The three POEP projects were:
• The Pueblo Emergency Response Capability Pilot, which will develop a response
capability that addresses potential problems from hazardous materials spills and
accidents.
• A proj ect to demonstrate the feasibility of HRS scoring that includes Indian cultural
values. Lands important for medicinal plants or clays for pottery will be
incorporated within HRS scoring matrices and a comparative analysis performed
on a variety of waste sites.
• A project to develop a removal response capability in Pueblo Tribes to conduct
cleanups of sheep dip vats that present threats to groundwater.
The ITEC proposal was for developing the capability to conduct remedial
investigation/feasibility study (RI/FS) assessments. Two industrial sites within the Tar
Creek Superfund site will be studied by staffs of ITEC and the Quapaw Tribe. ITEC and
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Quapaw Tribe have begun a RI/FS on two industrial properties in Cardin, OK, and a second
RI/FS on the Beaver Creek Watershed.
Completed Milestones
9/98 Funded four Superfund Tribal pilot projects; three from POEP, and one from
ITEC.
4/99 As part of ITEC proposal, the Superfund staff and the DRA met with leaders of
four tribes impacted by the Tar Creek Site.
Region 7
In FY 1997, the Environmental Program Directors from five of Region 7's nine tribes
attended a meeting with EPA staff at the Regional Office in Kansas City. One half-day was
devoted to presenting the tribes with information about the Brownfields initiative. The
presentation also included general information on the Superfund program and all funding
sources related to Superfund and Brownfields for which the tribes may be eligible.
Completed Milestones
FY97 Held a meeting with Environmental Program Directors from five of Region 7's nine
tribes to present information about the Brownfields initiative.
Region 9
Region 9 hosted the Sixth Annual Tribal EPA Conference at the Presidio on November 17-
19,1998, which was attended by approximately 400 Tribal representatives. The conference
obj ective was to share with the tribe s information on environmental laws and available grant
programs, identify ways that EPA can assist the tribes, and provide the tribes with technical
assistance for developing their plans and programs. Region 9's Air, Water, Waste,
Superfund, Cross-Media, and Quality Assurance programs participated in the conference.
There were concurrent workshop sessions on GAP grants, the Drinking Water program,
Tribal Groundwater and Pesticide Management Plans, the Clean Air Act Program,
Development of Tribal Codes and Ordinances, Environment Enforcement, Internet for
Tribes, Border XXI Workgroups, Environmental Justice and Titles VI, the Solid Waste
Program, Quality Assurance and Sampling Analysis Plans, and Environmental Education.
At the conference, Region 9 hosted a Superfund Workshop titled "Superfund: Tribal
Success Stories." This workshop opened with an overview of the Region 9 Superfund
program, a summary of the chemical emergency planning needs for all tribes, and a
presentation by FEMA on their grants. This was followed by presentations by five tribes on
their success stories in developing chemical emergency planning and response programs.
Tribal representatives from Salish-Kootnai Tribe, Ak-Chin Tribe, Cocopah Tribe, Twenty-
Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians, and the Navajo Nation shared their lessons learned
and their program development successes. The Tribal representatives in the audience were
eager to network with presenters after the workshop ended.
Completed Milestones
11/98 Region 9 hosted the Sixth Annual Tribal EPA Conference.
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Contacts
Jeff Inglis, (415) 744-2348
Carolyn Douglas, (415) 744-2343
In December 1998, Region 9 and Headquarters sponsored a national Tribal Risk Assessment
Conference. More than one hundred tribal members from across the country attended,
including Alaskan native tribes. The purpose of the conference was to gain tribal perspective
on how we can better address native cultural and health risk issues as they relate to the
evaluation process of the Hazard Ranking system. OSWER's State/Tribal Enhancement Plan
recommended that EPA incorporate tribal risk factors and cultural values into EPA's risk
assessment policies and guidance, and develop associated training. Region 9 agreed to
sponsor this conference because the Washoe and several other Region 9 tribes are concerned
about the impact of releases on tribal resources. EPA risk assessors, natural resource
trustees, and other federal agencies also participated in this four-day conference.
Completed Milestones
12/98 Sponsored a four-day national Tribal Risk Assessment Conference.
Contacts
Carolyn Douglas and Vicki Rosen, (415) 744-2187
Region 10
For the last three years, Region 10 targeted 40-hour Health and Safety Training—also
known as "Hazwoper"—in areas where there is a potential for local residents to be
employed on nearby hazardous material clean-up sites. During the first year, the effort
focused on Kellogg, Idaho. The last two years focused on native villages in rural Alaska.
Twenty-one courses have been presented and two are scheduled. Native populations account
for 95% of the students. Region 10 covered the cost of the training through use of the
Ecology and Environment contractor under its START contract. The Alaska Department of
Environmental Conservation (ADEC) co-sponsored the training and provided assistance in
prioritizing the locations for training.
EPA also presented a 40-hour Hazwoper course in Colville, Washington, where many
students were from the Colville Reservation. A 6-hour awareness course and a 16-hour
operations level course are scheduled for delivery to the Clallam Tribe in Port Angeles,
Washington.
Completed Milestones
11/96 - 5/97 Ten 40-hr Hazwoper courses in Alaskan native villages.
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Contact
Walt Jaspers, (206) 553-0285
To respond to the magnitude of contaminant and waste management problems on tribal
lands, Region 10's Office of Waste and Chemicals Management (OWCM) is giving
extensive resources to single tribal communities for a period of two years, with the vision
that significant change is possible. At the same time, Region 10's contaminant/watershed
approach draws on resources from other EPA programs for sampling and assessments,
training, and educational materials, and is community-based in nature.
Region 10 also is working to determine whether subsistence foods in Alaska are safe for
human consumption. As part of this effort, Region 10 is working with the University of
Alaska-Anchorage and the Alaska Native Science Commission in a cooperative agreement
to develop a database to evaluate what we know and do not know about contamination to
the subsistence food chain.
Completed Milestones
9/96-9/97 Initiated two community-based projects; one in Alaska and another in
Washington State.
12/97 Subsistence database prototype completed.
Contact
Fran Stefan, (206) 553-6639
The Puyallup Tribe applied for and received a $100,000 brownfields grant to examine the
redevelopment potential of the Reichhold Chemicals, Inc., property, which is a former
chemical manufacturing facility located on approximately 52 acres of land in Tacoma's
Commencement Bay industrial area. This facility is contaminated with hazardous waste
from past activities at the site, and is subject to a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
(RCRA) permit. The grant will help the Puyallup Tribe prepare an environmental
assessment, economic development plan, and wetlands mitigation and drainage plan for the
site. The Puyallup Tribe's long range plans for the area include the establishment of a state-
of-the-art marine terminal on Blair Waterway.
Contact
Robbie Hedeen, (206) 553-0201
Over the last three years, Region 10's Alaska EPA AmeriCorps program has helped to build
capacity in Alaska's native villages for community-based environmental management,
focusing primarily on solid waste management and sanitation. Beginning in 1995, and each
year since then, the program has selected fifteen rural villages, recruited an AmeriCorps
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member from each village, provided them training on a quarterly basis, and given them
ongoing program support. The AmeriCorps member serves as environmental educator,
motivator, and organizer in their community to improve environmental conditions. All
AmeriCorps members are not trained as technical experts; rather they are educators and
community developers who serve as a communication link between village residents and
state and federal government agencies. In FY 1996, EPA turned the program administration
over to an Anchorage based non-profit organization, the Rural Alaska Community Action
Program (RurAL CAP). With EPA's technical assistance and continued funding, this
organization has done an excellent job of implementing the program.
Completed Milestones
1/97, Year 3 15 new AmeriCorps members received training.
Year 2 AmeriCorps members graduated from program.
Contact
Sally Edwards, (907) 271-6322
The Burns Paiute Tribe suffers from poverty and an unemployment rate of 25%, due
primarily to the massive shut-down of the forest-products industry and the failure of other
tribal ventures. The Tribe has been involved in planning-and-zoning issues in the vicinity
of the Old Campsite and envisioned the site as their best potential for an economic-
development project. However, due to the historical use of the property as a dump site, the
environmental unknowns presented a major hurdle. Through the Brownfields Program, the
Tribe requested EPA's assistance in conducting an environmental assessment of the
property.
Completed Milestones
2/98 EPA conducted a field sampling investigation of the Old Campsite.
6/98 Soil and groundwater data was provided to the Burns Paiute Tribe. Since no
significant environmental concerns or issues were identified, the Tribe actively
pursued its plans for economic development of the site.
8/98 A casino, which employs approximately 25 to 30 employees, opened for business
on the site.
Contact
Monica Tonel, (206) 553-0323
Region 10 has 267 federally-recognized tribes, which has led to major Region 10 initiatives
to develop a formal Tribal Office and tribal strategy. Region 10's waste programs are
striving to recognize tribes fully in three roles: through participation of their tribal members
in outreach activities, in their role as a Natural Resource Trustee at many Superfund Sites,
and in their role as a sovereign nation through government-to-government interactions in site
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decision-making. Superfund has supported these activities by establishing a Tribal
Coordinator for Superfund activities. Capacity building for tribal participation in Superfund
cleanup decisions and settlements has been enhanced by financial assistance from
cooperative agreements. The Site Assessment Program also has also been active in providing
both technical and financial assistance to build tribal capacity.
Contact
Eric Winiecki, (206) 553-6904
In late 1997, EPA conducted an expanded site investigation at the Rayonier pulp mill site
in Port Angeles, Washington. The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe has had a strong interest in
the Rayonier pulp mill. The Tribe is a trustee for natural resources potentially affected by
the Mill. The site is within a usual and accustomed fishing area of the Tribe. The Mill site
is located off-reservation, on ceded lands. The Tribe also has strong interests in an ancient
village and burial grounds at the Mill site, and has a desire to be involved in any
investigations and decisions that could disturb these areas.
In March 1998, EPA and the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe entered into Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU), which is a government-to-government agreement concerning an
expanded site assessment under CERCLA at the Rayonier Paper Mill Site in Port Angeles.
Under the MOU, EPA agreed to provide technical assistance to the Tribe with respect to the
identification of hazardous substances that have been or may be released from the site, the
toxicity of those substances, the pathways that have been or may be taken by those
substances, alternatives for remediation, and related matters. EPA also agreed to notify the
Tribe of activities in all stages of the CERCLA process, to offer the Tribe an opportunity
to present its issues and concerns to EPA before NPL listing decisions are made, and to
coordinate and consult with the Tribe during the negotiation of any settlements or other
alternatives to Superfund listing. In May 1998, the Tribe entered into a supporting agency
cooperative agreement to receive funding for technical support during the site assessment
activities.
Completed Milestones
FY97 Conducted an expanded site investigation at the Rayonier pulp mill site in Port
Angeles, Washington.
3/98 EPA and the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe entered into an MOU concerning an
expanded site assessment under CERCLA at the Rayonier Paper Mill Site in Port
Angeles, Washington.
5/98 The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe entered into a supporting agency cooperative
agreement to receive funding for technical support during the site assessment
activities.
Contact
Joanne LaBaw, (206) 553-2594
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In February 1992, Region 10 and the Tulalip Tribes signed an MOU to ensure that the Tribe
has substantial, meaningful involvement in the Superfund response activities at the Tulalip
Landfill, which is located on the Tulalip Indian Reservation in Washington. In March 1992,
Region 10 and the Tribe entered into a cooperative agreement, which, along with extensions
and subsequent agreements, has provided financial assistance for the Tribe's participation
in the investigation and cleanup of the landfill. The Region 10 completed multiple
settlements to provide resources for the landfill cleanup, and the Tribe is a party to all these
settlements. Region 10 coordinated with the Tribe and the other natural resource trustees for
the site to use natural resource damage settlement funds to restore and create wetlands to
compensate for those lost due to the landfill.
Completed Milestones
8/96 1s* de minimis settlement effective.
11/97 2nd de minimis settlement effective.
3/98 Three major party settlements final.
5/98 3rd de minimis settlement effective.
7/99 4™ de minimis settlement effective.
Contact
Cindy Colgate, (206) 553-1815
Region 10 made efforts to enhance Tribal capacity in Alaska. EPA expanded the scope of
site assessment activities at all the formerly used defense sites in Alaska to provide native
American villages an assessment of environmental problems.
Contact
Amber Wong, (206) 553-4061
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued the U.S. Army a permit to build
and operate an incineration facility to destroy chemical weapons stored at the Umatilla
Army Depot Chemical Weapons Destruction Facility. The Army is building five
incinerators; two incinerators to destroy liquid nerve and blister agents and three
incinerators for thermal treatment of metal parts and destruction of explosives, propellants,
and packaging materials that have been in contact with liquid nerve and blister agents.
Descendants of three Columbia Plateau Tribes occupy the Umatilla Indian Reservation: the
Cayuse, the Walla Walla andthe Umatilla Tribes. The CTUIR is the tribal government. The
Tribes have treaty rights to lands ceded to the United States, which include areas that may
be impacted by the chemical weapons incinerators. These rights include the rights to
perform activities, such as fishing, hunting, subsistence foraging, and pasturing livestock on
those lands.
The Army developed a comprehensive monitoring plan (CMP) to assess off-site impacts
from the incineration facility. As part of this plan, the Army will collect data quarterly and
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provide it to the CTUIR in quarterly reports. Region 10 provided technical assistance to the
CTUIR for reviewing and commenting on CMP-related documents, including the sampling
and analysis plan, oversight of CMP field sampling activities, review of CMP data, and
participation in project-related conference calls.
Contact
Jan Palumbo, (206) 553-6702
Residents near the Pace International facility, which is located on the Yakama reservation,
have complained of foul odors and adverse health effects that they attribute to emissions
from the waste ponds at this facility. EPA sampled ponds and sediment, conducted air
quality sampling, and plans to conduct additional sampling if the problem recurs in order
to determine the cause of the problem and to impose a remedy. EPA has consulted with the
Yakama Indian Nation throughout this effort.
Contact
Sylvia Burges, (206) 553-1254
In October 1998, DOJ and EPA settled a major enforcement action against FMC
Corporation for violations of RCRA. Claims against FMC involve the illegal placement of
ignitable and reactive hazardous waste in surface ponds, as well as the company's failure to
upgrade and/or close surface ponds without required protective liners and leachate collection
systems. EPA consulted with the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes throughout the development of
this case. The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes have disagreed with various elements of the
consent decree, particularly that the settlement allows FMC to cap the old waste ponds with
waste left in place, and filed a brief with the court on the matter. EPA has made extensive
efforts to involve the Tribes in its decision-making at this facility. The court concluded that
the consent decree was fair, reasonable, in the public interest, and fulfills the United States'
trust responsibilities to the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, and therefore approved the consent
decree.
Completed Milestones
10/98 DOJ and EPA settled a major enforcement action against FMC Corporation for
violations of RCRA.
Contacts
Sylvia Burges, (206) 553-1254
Linda Meyer, (206) 553-6636
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EPA and the State of Washington issued a permit for storage and treatment of radioactive
mixed waste and mixed PCB waste at the Allied Technology Group (ATG) facility near
Hanford, Washington. Throughout the development and issuance of this permit the Nez
Perce, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla, and the Yakima Indian Nations were involved.
Tribal concerns were of particular consideration in development of the risk assessment and
the environmental impact statement for this facility.
Contact
Cathy Massimino, (206) 553-4153
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Internal Training, Organization, and Program Implementation
Action Items:
Develop OSWER environmental justice strategy as part of EPA response to
Executive Order 12898 67
Region 7 67
Region 9 67
Develop training to educate OSWER Headquarters and waste programs personnel and
increase awareness of environmental justice issues 68
Region 10 68
Develop creative pilots for addressing environmental justice concerns in
specific geographic areas 68
Region 9 68
Establish a centralized focal point and coordinator for environmental justice issues 70
Region 9 70
Revise and expand environmental justice training module. Develop training to
educate personnel and increase awareness of environmental justice issues 71
Region 9 71
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Topic Area: Internal Training, Organization, and Program
Implementation
Action Item
Develop OSWER environmental justice strategy as part of EPA response to Executive
Order 12898
Region 7
Region 7's Superfund Division designated an Environmental Justice Coordinator for the
Division. The Coordinator is a member of the Regional Environmental Justice Team, which
meets bimonthly for coordinating, training, and disseminating environmental justice
information. The Coordinator meets with and makes presentations at staff meetings and
coordinates with individual staff members on site-specific environmental justice issues.
Contact
Tom Lorenz, (913) 551-7292
Region 9
To fully integrate environmental justice considerations in Region 9's work, each of Region
9's Divisions and Offices developed an environmental justice strategy. These strategies
provide staff with guidance on how to implement environmental justice in the day-to-day
activities of the Region. Strategies have been developed by the Air Division, Water
Division, Cross-Media Division, Superfund Division, Waste Management Division, Office
of Government and Community Relations, Office of Strategic Planning and Emerging
Issues, and the Policy and Management Division. Each strategy covers the main activities
of the various programs from an environmental justice perspective.
The Environmental Justice Team and the Enforcement Advisory Council finalized a
Regional Environmental Justice Enforcement Strategy in FY 1997. While the
implementation of this strategy is region-wide, the priority area is Los Angeles.
Completed Milestones
FY97 The Environmental Justice Team and the Enforcement Advisory Council finalized
a Regional Environmental Justice Enforcement Strategy.
Contact
Romel Pascual, (415) 744-1212
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Action Item
Develop training to educate OSWER Headquarters and waste programs personnel and
increase awareness of environmental justice issues
Region 10
Region 10's Offices of Waste and Chemical Management (OWCM) and Environmental
Justice are working on a Pilot Project where environmental justice tools of specific use to
OWCM will be explained and demonstrated to staff working in the RCRA program. After
completion, the pilot project will be modified as necessary and presented to other regional
offices. The goal of this project is to help staff better integrate environmental justice into
their day-to-day activities.
Completed Milestones
4/97 Conducted pilot project planning.
4/98 Presented environmental justice tools to OWCM.
Contact
Joyce Kelly, 206-553-4029
Action Item
Develop creative pilots for addressing environmental justice concerns in specific
geographic areas
Region 9
Region 9 currently is investigating the environmental and related issues affecting the West
Oakland community via the Urban Environmental Justice Pilot project. Among the major
issues of concern are contaminated soil and groundwater, air quality, and lead, all of which
are intertwined with local planning and zoning issues, lack of communication, and health
concerns.
To meet the project's goals of information-gathering and community-networking, EPA
convened focus group meetings to gain the community's perspective on environmental
issues. A wide variety of issues were raised at these meetings, including concerns regarding
zoning, contamination from past and present industrial activities, truck traffic, and perceived
impacts of the new Cypress freeway construction. In addition, a CERCLIS record search
was conducted to assist the City of Oakland's Community Building Team (CBT) efforts to
avoid siting grassroots vacant lot beautification projects on contaminated areas.
Region 9 also is involved in an Environmental Task Force, which was established after vinyl
chloride contamination was found on an industrial property adjacentto residential property.
This Task Force, which is comprised of residents, regulators, and other environmental health
professionals, meets monthly to respond to community concerns and develop a long-term
collaborative strategy for addressing environmental concerns in West Oakland.
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Two grant projects requested by the community have been completed. The first project, the
West Oakland Defensible Space Assessment, focused on mapping all known
environmentally-sensitive sites and spills, projecting impact zones in the event of a release,
and training community members on how to respond to a HAZMAT Emergency. The
second project, the development of an "Oakland Responding to Emergencies: Hazardous
Materials Awareness and Preparedness Training" workbook, was developed in partnership
with the West Oakland Defensible Space Assessment to provide training for community
members on how to read HAZMAT symbols, how to recognize HAZMAT hazards in the
home, and what to do during and after a chemical emergency.
In the future, Region 9 plans to hold a West Oakland Environmental Justice Conference to
celebrate the community's success in leadership of environmental issues; conduct further
sampling at the DC Metals Site to further characterize the site; and provide oversight on the
Caltrans cleanup and development of the South Prescott Neighborhood Park.
Completed Milestones
FY98 Developed innovative urban model for multi-stakeholder partnerships to address
community-based environmental justice issues.
FY98 Facilitated environmental actions at facilities in West Oakland, including Precision
Cast, DC Metals, and Cal Tech Metal Finishers.
FY98 Encouraged the City of Oakland to apply general plan restrictions on mixed use
zoning in West Oakland.
FY98 Promoted community empowerment efforts through EPA training and technical
support.
FY98 Facilitated a strong local, state, and federal partnership through the development of
a regulator task force.
FY98 Coordinated with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and the Port of
Oakland for the placement of two air monitors to collect data on particulates (PM-
10 and PM-2.5), an issue raised by the community in relation to truck traffic.
FY98 Meet monthly with regulators and other participating agencies to take a more
proactive approach to coordinating community involvement and development of
environmental management strategy.
Contact
Carla Moore, (415) 744-1938
Region 9 is participating in an Environmental Justice Pilot Project in Watsonville,
California, to help identify and implement environmental solutions. Region 9's primary role
in this effort has been to facilitate discussions among stakeholders to work towards solutions
to the environmental issues facing Watsonville. Based on discussions with
stakeholders—particularly community and regulatory representatives—the pilot project
team has decided to focus its attention on farm worker safety and housing issues.
As part of this effort, Region 9 recently convened an interagency meeting with HUD to
discuss Watsonville's housing issues. Region 9 invited to this meeting several other agencies
that deal specifically with housing issues, including the County Housing Authority and City
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Housing Staff, as well as community members who could share their knowledge and
experience. As a follow-up to this meeting, Region 9 is planning additional meetings with
other stakeholders to identify solutions to the concerns raised at the meeting. For example,
Region 9 will work with USDA's Rural Development Office, the Rural Community
Assistance Corporation, and local planning entities to address the housing needs in
Watsonville. Region 9 also will continue to work with Cal-OSHA and other regulators in
regards to farm worker safety issues.
The Watsonville Environmental Justice Pilot Project team also is working closely with the
Pajaro Valley Unified School District to reduce the use of chemicals for pest management
on school grounds using Integrated Pest Management (IPM). EPA and the School District
have assembled a committee of parents, teachers, and district staff to find alternative
methods for controlling indoor and outdoor pests on all campuses in the District. The
California Department of Pesticide Regulation also joined in this collaboration.
Completed Milestones
FY98 Developed an innovative rural model for multi-stakeholder partnerships to address
community-based environmental justice issues.
FY98 Increased communication among affected parties through the development of
Regulator/Stakeholder Workgroup.
FY98 Conducted UST/LUST inspections in coordination with County regulators.
FY98 Initiated partnerships between local government and nonprofit organizations to
address housing shortages.
FY98 Championed farm worker health and safety issues locally and at the state level.
FY98 Assembled a committee of parents, teachers, school district representatives, and
California DPR staff to help develop an IPM program for the Pajaro Valley School
District.
FY98 Awarded a $30,000 grant to the Pajaro Valley School District to hire a technical
consultant to provide IPM training to school maintenance staff.
Contact
Norman Calero, (415) 744-1586
Action Item
Establish a centralized focal point and coordinator for environmental justice issues
Region 9
Region 9 established an Environmental Justice Team to develop and implement a strategy
responsive to the needs and concerns of communities impacted by environmental justice
issues. The Environmental Justice Team recently added two additional staff members and
currently consists of seven full time staff. The Team coordinates its environmental justice
efforts on a geographic and policy-driven framework. To support this effort, Region 9
designated Environmental Justice Program Liaisons to function as points of contact for
environmental justice issues within Region 9's various Divisions and Offices. In addition,
a Regional Environmental Justice Steering Committee, which consists of senior
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management, was established to develop and guide Region 9's environmental justice
strategy.
Completed Milestones
FY98 The Environmental Justice Team added two additional staff members.
Contact
Romel Pascal, (415) 744-1212
Action Item
Revise and expand environmental justice training module. Develop training to educate
personnel and increase awareness of environmental justice issues
Region 9
The Environmental Justice Team in Region 9 conducted a series of environmental justice
training sessions for EPA staff. These training sessions aim to raise awareness and
knowledge of environmental justice and share insights and approaches for incorporating
environmental justice concepts into daily work. These sessions also are designed to
encourage participant interaction through lecture, interactive exercises, and brainstorming
sessions. Currently, Region 9 offers two types of environmental justice training: ageneral
training course, which discuss concepts, theories, and practical applications of
environmental justice; and a division/media-specific training course, which focuses on
strategic planning and implementation of environmental justice in daily operations.
Completed Milestones
FY97 Increased environmental justice awareness through region-wide environmental
justice training; 150 staff members attended.
FY98 Provided region-wide environmental justice training to increase environmental
justice awareness.
FY 97-98 Provided divisional/program specific environmental justice training for
Superfund, Air, Toxics Section, Border Team.
FY 97-98 Held brown bag discussions with environmental justice leaders, including
NEJAC members Richard Moore and Dr. Charles Lee.
FY97-98 Conducted environmental justice training sessions for three external agencies:
Alameda County's Environmental Service Division, DOD, and the Bureau of
Reclamation.
Contact
Running Grass, (415) 744-1205
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Waste Programs
Environmental Justice
Program-Specific Issues
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Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
Action Items:
Siting of new facilities—evaluate location standards, environmental justice issues, and setback
distances and develop guidance to provide technical assistance to state, tribal, and local
governments 74
Office of Solid Waste 74
Utilize the geographic information system in RCRA 75
Region 8 75
RCRA Corrective Action—conduct an investigation and cleanup of a RCRA facility 75
Region 1 75
RCRA Corrective Action—incorporate public involvement into post closure requirements . . 77
Office of Solid Waste 77
RCRA Corrective Action—enhance community involvement including greater
public access to information on cleanup progress 77
Office of Solid Waste 77
Incorporate environmental justice priorities into the RCRA Beginning of Year Plan (BYP) . . 78
Office of Solid Waste 78
Spatial Analysis of the Potential RCRA Hazardous Waste Facility Sitings in Relation to
Demographic Information for Environmental Justice Concerns: GIS evaluation
of new facilities 78
Office of Solid Waste 78
Conduct a State Siting Study 79
Office of Solid Waste 79
Implement RCRA Subtitles C and D programs in Indian Country 80
Office of Solid Waste 80
RCRA tribal implementation issues—respond to tribal concerns regarding the
Backcountry Against Dumps v. EPA decision 82
Office of Solid Waste 82
RCRA Tribal implementation issues—expand program assistance to native Alaskan
villages on solid waste management issues 83
Office of Solid Waste 83
RCRA tribal implementation issues—enhance training and outreach activities, seek to
leverage resources, and coordinate environmental activities among federal agencies . 83
Office of Solid Waste 83
Identify environmental justice communities impacted by RCRA decisions 85
Region 10 85
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Topic Area: Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
Action Item
Siting of new facilities—evaluate location standards, environmental justice issues, and
setback distances and develop guidance to provide technical assistance to state, tribal,
and local governments
Office of Solid Waste
In 1997, OSW published "Sensitive Environments and the Siting of Hazardous Waste
Management Facilities." This publication informs communities of the technical
considerations in locating hazardous waste management facilities in certain areas, which,
because of their soils, terrain, groundwater, or weather conditions, may pose significant risks
of releases and possible exposures to humans and the environment.
As a companion brochure, per a suggestion by the National Environmental Justice Advisory
Council (NEJAC) Waste and Facility Siting Subcommittee, OSW has been developing a
social siting brochure that addresses some of the social considerations in locating a
hazardous waste management facility. This draft brochure, however, is directed at industry
and state, tribal, and local government agencies. Its intent is to develop an increased
awareness of the quality-of-life concerns that become real issues in the siting of hazardous
waste management facilities. The draft document also provides some information on the
basic tools and mechanisms used to address issues that often fall outside the scope of the
RCRA mandate to protect human health and the environment.
The draft social siting brochure was submitted for an internal EPA review and review by the
NEJAC Waste and Facility Siting Subcommittee. Following this internal review, OSW
sponsored a Roundtable to obtain stakeholder views on addressing quality-of-life issues in
relation to the siting of RCRA hazardous waste facilities. This Roundtable is an
intermediary step towards improving the accuracy and utility of the current draft social
siting brochure. Points and comments from the Roundtable discussions will assist the EPA
in developing a brochure that realistically portrays community quality-of-life concerns and
the possible tools and mechanisms for addressing them. The projected date for the
fmalization of the brochure is January 1, 1999.
Completed Milestones
FY97 Published "Sensitive Environments and the Siting of Hazardous Waste Management
Facilities."
8/98 Completed initial draft of the social siting brochure.
12/98 Presented and submitted for review the draft social siting brochure to the NEJAC
Waste and Facility Siting Subcommittee at Baton Rouge NEJAC meeting.
12/98 Submitted the draft social siting brochure to NEJAC Public Participation
Subcommittee members via e-mail.
1/99 Distributed the draft social siting brochure for review via e-mail to environmental
justice coordinators.
3/99 Distributed the draft social siting brochure to RCRA Permit Contacts for review.
4/99 The draft social siting brochure reviewed by OGC.
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5/99 Revised the draft social siting brochure based on internal reviews.
7/99 Held a Stakeholder Roundtable.
Contact
Freya Margand, (703) 605-0633
Action Item
Utilize the geographic information system in RCRA
Region 8
Region 8 used GIS technology to identify and address environmental justice issues and
prioritize sites in the region.
Completed Milestones
5/97 Developed GIS applications that facilitate the gathering of demographic and facility
data. The data, which are site and/or county specific, allow for the identification of
environmental justice concerns.
7/97 Planned outreach and training programs for EPA, state staff, and community
minority groups on use of GIS information.
Contact
Elisabeth Evans, (303) 312-6053
Action Item
RCRA Corrective Action—conduct an investigation and cleanup of a RCRA facility
Region 1
Under RCRA Corrective Action authority, Region 1 is conducting an investigation and
cleanup of the Lake Success Business Park (also known as Sporting Goods Properties,
formerly Remington Arms) in Bridgeport and Stratford, Connecticut. Region 1 is
approaching this 422-acre site in a phased manner to allow for its redevelopment as a
business park.
Completed Milestones
FY98 Completed the removal of lead-contaminated soil in several areas on the Stratford
portion of the property.
The RCRA, SPCC, UST, and EPCRA programs conducted approximately 100 inspections
in urban areas during FY 1998. These programs initiated 21 formal enforcement actions,
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which proposed over $1,710,000 in penalties, and settled 19 formal actions, resulting in
penalties amounting to $562,000.
Region 1's Public Agency Team supported a major enforcement action against the Rhode
Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT), Hartford City of Public Works, and Hartford
MDC for penalties totaling over $800,000. This enforcement action resulted in development
of the Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP), which will provide nearly $400,000 to
remove lead from dozens of day care facilities deemed to be at high risk.
Region 1's Urban Enforcement and Assistance Team addressed health and environmental
concerns in targeted urban areas. The Team has been responsible for directing Region 1 in
addressing specific environmental concerns, such as EPCRA non-reporting and dioxin in
the Woonasquatucket River. The EPCRA program has been successful in targeting fish
processors who do not report their storage of ammonia, which is a major concern for New
Bedford's fire department. In an effort to address the contamination in the Woonasquatucket
River, a reconnaissance effort was launched in the River Basin. To date, over 50 inspections
have occurred. The Team also supported an enforcement action against the Genzyme
Corporation, which resulted in a SEP to support restoration efforts in the Charles and Mystic
Rivers.
Completed Milestones
FY98 The RCRA, SPCC, UST, and EPCRA programs conducted approximately 100
inspections in urban areas.
FY98 Region 1's Public Agency Team supported a major enforcement action against
RIDOT, Hartford City of Public Works, and Hartford MDC for penalties totaling
over $800,000.
FY98 Region 1's Urban Enforcement and Assistance Team addressed health and
environmental concerns in targeted urban areas.
During FY 1998, compliance and pollution prevention assistance activities were conducted
throughout New England, with a strong emphasis on an urban area surrounding the Lower
Charles River in Massachusetts, which is surrounded in part by environmental justice
communities. Eighty-eight of 104 visits were made to the communities surrounding this
urban river. These visits consisted of audits at repair and body shops and education of shop
employees about proper floor drain connections and the results of mismanagement of fluids.
In addition to these site visits, eight workshops were conducted in both urban and rural
environmental justice areas. The New England Environmental Assistance Team is in the
process of evaluating these efforts to determine whether compliance improvements have
been made after receiving assistance.
Completed Milestones
FY98 Made 104 visits to the communities surrounding the Lower Charles River in
Massachusetts.
FY98 Conducted eight workshops in environmental justice areas.
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Action Item
RCRA Corrective Action—incorporate public involvement into post closure
requirements
Office of Solid Waste
OSW incorporated public involvement provisions in its Post-Closure Rule. This rule
removed the requirement to issue a permit to address post-closure care in all cases. A permit
remains an option, but the rule allows regulators to use other mechanisms as well, depending
on the circumstances at the facility. The rule requires public involvement at three key stages
of the cleanup process when alternate authorities are used in lieu of post-closure permits:
1) at the beginning of the cleanup process; 2) at remedy selection; and 3) when the Agency
decides corrective action is complete.
Completed Milestones
10/98 Final rule published.
Contact
Barbara Foster, (703) 308-7057
Action Item
RCRA Corrective Action—enhance community involvement including greater public
access to information on cleanup progress
Office of Solid Waste
On July 8, 1999, EPA announced the RCRA Cleanup Reforms, which are designed to
achieve faster, more efficient cleanup at RCRA sites that treat, store, or dispose of
hazardous waste and have potential environmental contamination. An important component
of these reforms is enhanced public involvement.
EPA will continue to emphasize the importance of meaningful public involvement
throughout RCRA cleanups. EPA also will convene workshops with stakeholders in 1999.
Through these workshops, EPA's Regions hope to better understand the public's concerns,
as well as gather suggestions for further improvements to the corrective action program.
EPA will post information on cleanup progress for individual facilities on the Internet. With
this information, the Regions hope to generate greater public interest and awareness in
corrective action at individual facilities and enhance the community's ability to become
more involved in decisions about the cleanup. This information will allow stakeholders to
monitor progress at facilities in their area as well as overall progress in the corrective action
program. Additional information is available at: www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/cleanup.htm.
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Completed Milestones
07/99 RCRA Cleanup Reforms Press Announcement.
Contact
Kevin Donovan, (703) 308-8761
Action Item
Incorporate environmental justice priorities into the RCRA Beginning of Year Plan
(BYP)
Office of Solid Waste
The Beginning of the Year Plan (BYP) has served as a forum for EPA's Regions to highlight
accomplishments and identify implementation problem areas in the RCRA program. In
addition, the BYP provides a view into the Regions' approach to, and success at, meeting
Agency-wide goals. Although a discussion of environmental justice initiatives were
encouraged in past BYPs, the FY 1999 BYP was the first to require Regions to report on
their strategies and activities for addressing environmental justice concerns within the
RCRA program.
Completed Milestones
11/98 BYP guidance submitted to the Regions for comment.
12/98 - 4/99 Calls to discuss Regional BYP submissions.
8/99 FY 2000 BYP Guidance completed.
Contact
Freya Margand, (703) 605-0633
Action Item
Spatial Analysis of the Potential RCRA Hazardous Waste Facility Sitings in Relation to
Demographic Information for Environmental Justice Concerns: GIS evaluation of new
facilities
Office of Solid Waste
OSW decided to update and analyze potential RCRA hazardous waste management facility
sitings over the next ten years with regard to environmental justice issues. The original
Location Standards Rulemaking Questionnaire was sent to EPA's Regional Offices in the
fall of 1995. Questionnaire responses gave OSW information on the status, identification,
location, and associated attributes of these facilities. The coordinates of these proposed
facility sites were corrected by contractors as of June 11,1998. Regional staff also reviewed
the coordinates and added additional facilities to the original list. Maps were generated for
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the facilities on the list (about 80 sites). The maps depict population density, people of color,
and poverty level for each site at the five and two mile radius.
The information from this effort will enable OSWto perform spatial analysis using standard
demographic maps in relation to these particular sites. This siting information will be able
to link to the associated census data to aid in determining potential environmental justice
issues. In addition, this analysis will assist in laying the groundwork to determine where
OSW can concentrate its efforts in the near future.
Completed Milestones
Fall 1995 Location Standards Rulemaking Questionnaire sent to EPA's Regional
Offices.
6/98 Coordinates identified and the list of facilities amended.
4/99 Maps and demographic information developed for the facilities on list.
9/99 Information to be made available on the web.
Contact
Tab Sommer, (703) 605-0636
Action Item
Conduct a State Siting Study.
Office of Solid Waste
In an attempt to understand the siting provisions at the state level, OSW gathered
information for about half of the states on the following topics: administration (duties and
responsibilities), local community needs and involvement, public participation, siting
restrictions and prohibitions, environmental justice and equity considerations, and economic
and other practical criteria. One purpose for this study was to determine the considerations
the states have for environmental justice issues. The information received from the
contractors was sent to each state-implementing agency to review, and their suggested
changes were incorporated, as were other corrections suggested by EPA Headquarters. This
information will be made available on the Intranet at the PSPD website under
"Environmental Justice."
Completed Milestones
12/95 The initial state siting study was delivered by the contractors.
6/98 The provisions were sent to the states for review.
4/99 The suggested changes were received and incorporated.
4/99 The environmental justice considerations from the states were reviewed and
consolidated in a document.
8/99 Additional changes to the study were made (as suggested by EPA Headquarters
staff).
9/99 The provisions are to be made available on the Intranet.
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Contact
Tab Sommer, (703) 605-0636
Action Item
Implement RCRA Subtitles C and Dprograms in Indian Country
Office of Solid Waste
OSW is working to implement RCRA Subtitles C and D programs in Indian Country
through grant programs, technical assistance, its web site, and fact sheets. OSW developed
a GranTrack Database to track progress and expenditures of municipal solid waste (MSW)
grants that are awarded to tribes. Database entries include regional and OSWER/OSW
awards, as well as MSW management grant awards from other offices. OSW is responsible
for distributing grant funds from the Municipal Grant Program for Indian Country and Tribal
Hazardous Waste Grant Program. In addition, OSW awarded a grant to the National
Congress of American Indians for the Tribal Lands Military Munitions Rule Outreach
Project. This grant enables the transfer of technical information and training on the Military
Munitions Rule to tribes through several meetings, and provides tribes the opportunity to
discuss military impacts with representatives from DOD. OSW also awarded a grant to the
National Tribal Environmental Council to hold nine meetings to facilitate interaction
between EPA, tribes, and other federal agencies with trust responsibility for solid waste
issues in Indian Country.
OSW also entered into a cooperative agreement with Northern Arizona University' s Institute
for Tribal Environmental Professionals for development of a course syllabus for an
introductory solid waste management course and initiated development of a technical
assistance and training directory and a website for tribal programs. OSW published two new
tip sheets to assist tribal governments with implementing their integrated solid waste
management programs and donated eight computers to the Havasupai and Jicarilla Apache
Tribes for training on networking concepts, electronic mail, and conducting environmental
research. OSW also sponsors an Internship Program and contributes funds to the EPA Tribal
Lands Environmental Science Scholarship program, which is implemented by the American
Indian Science and Engineering Society. OSW also was involved in a visit to the Badlands
Bombing Range to obtain information on the coordination and partnership between the
principals involved in the project.
In FY 1999, OSW plans to continue the internship programs 99 through ECO, and WINS
and contribute funds to the EPA Tribal Lands Environmental Science Scholarship program,
which was implemented by the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES)
programs. In return for its contribution, OSW will receive one AISES intern in FY 1999. In
the spring of 1999, OSW expects to publish a technical assistance and training directory,
which will contain information on organizations that offer assistance to and courses
available to tribes on solid waste issues. In April 1999, OSW will expand the "Municipal
Solid Waste Management in Indian Country Web Site" to include hazardous waste
information.
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Completed Milestones
11/96-12/97 Through a grant to the National Tribal Environmental Council, held nine
focus meetings around the country to facilitate interaction with EPA, tribes,
and other federal agencies with trust responsibility for solid waste issues in
Indian Country.
11/97-6/98 Funded an Environmental Careers Organization (ECO) Associate, who
assisted with the Fourth National Tribal Conference on Environmental
Management and the publication of the Native American Network.
12/97 Completed distribution of Year 2 funding for tribal recipients of Municipal
Solid Waste Grant Program for Indian Country grants. These grants were
awarded to eight capacity-building projects in amounts ranging from
$50,000 to $100,000 per year for up to three years.
12/97 Published two new tip sheets to assist tribal governments with implementing
their integrated solid waste management programs: Preparing Successful
Grant Proposals and Partnerships in Solid Waste Management.
FY98 Provided comments to NTEC on the Interim Final Report.
1/98 Developed the "Municipal Solid Waste Management in Indian Country Web
Site," which provides easy access to OSW information that specifically
targets MSW management issues in Indian Country.
2/98 Received approval to continue funding the Navajo Nation's (Region 9) and
Menominee Tribe's (Region 5) Hazardous Waste program development
activities and reprogrammed funds to Region 10 for three hazardous waste
projects in the native Villages of Barrow, Tanana, and Yakutat.
4/98 Donated eight computers to the Havasupai and Jicarilla Apache Tribes for
training tribal environmental staff on basic networking concepts, electronic
mail, and environmental research on the Internet. OSW plans to donate ten
additional computers to tribal elementary schools in FY 1999.
4/98 Received a course syllabus for an introductory solid waste management
course, which was developed by the Institute for Tribal Environmental
Professionals with contributions from tribal solid waste managers, the
Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Indian Health Service. This syllabus was
developed in response to tribal requests for basic training on solid waste
management issues. OSW expects delivery of atraining course based on the
syllabus from ITEP in April 1999.
6/98-8/98 Supported one native American intern from Shoshone-Bannock Tribes in
Idaho through the Washington Internships for Native Students (WINS)
program.
8/98 Traveled to Ellsworth Air Force Base, the Oglala Sioux Reservation, and the
Badlands Bombing Range near Rapid City, South Dakota, to obtain more
information on the coordination/partnership between the principals involved
in the Badlands Bombing Range Project.
9/98 Awarded a grant to the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) for
the Tribal Lands Military Munitions Rule Outreach Project, which provides
technical information and training on the Military Munitions Rule to tribes
through several meetings.
10/98 Attended the first Tribal Lands Military Munitions Rule Outreach Project
meeting, which was held in conjunction with NCAI's 55th Annual
Convention. Additional meetings are being planned for FY 1999.
11/98 Received Solid Waste Management in Indian Country - Tribal Focus
Groups Final Report.
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12/98 Updated the "Municipal Solid Waste Management in Indian Country Web
Site."
Contact
Stephen B. Etsitty, (703) 305-3194
Action Item
RCRA tribal implementation issues—respond to tribal concerns regarding the
Backcountry Against Dumps v. EPA decision
Office of Solid Waste
OSW addressed heightened tribal government concerns about RCRA Subtitles C and D,
which arose from the October 29, 1996, Backcountry Against Dumps v. EPA ("Campo")
decision. The U.S. Court of Appeals, DC Circuit, ruled that EPA cannot approve Tribal
Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Permitting Programs, and that EPA cannot treat tribes as
states under RCRA for purposes of awarding program development grant funds to tribes and
approving Tribal Subtitle C Programs. The Court stated that RCRA explicitly defines tribes
as municipalities, not as states.
OSW developed a process for MSWLF owners and operators in Indian Country to submit
requests for site-specific rulemaking to provide flexibility based on site-specific factors. The
Site-Specific Flexibility Requests for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills in Indian Country:
Draft Guidance was developed with significant input from EPA Regional and Headquarters
offices and tribal representatives.
Completed Milestones
8/97 Published and distributed draft guidance for use by landfill owners/operators in
Indian Country, and received comments.
Contact
Beverly Goldblatt, (703) 308-7278
OSW developed a resolution to RCRA Subtitle C funding issues that were raised by Regions
5 and 9. The Menominee Tribe of Wisconsin in Region 5 and the Navajo Nation in Region
9 reached the five-year term under RCRA Section 8001 grant authority for Hazardous Waste
program development. As a result of the Backcountry Against Dumps v. EPA ("Campo")
decision, EPA cannot authorize tribal hazardous waste programs, nor can EPA award tribes
grants under RCRA 3011 grant authority. Working with the tribes through the Regions, the
American Indian Environmental Office (AIEO), and the Office of General Counsel (OGC),
OSW secured concurrence to use authority under the Indian Environmental General
Assistance Program to transfer FY 1997 RCRA Section 3011 funds. These funds will be
transferred to the GAP program to continue hazardous waste program capacity-building
activities for the Menominee Tribe and Navajo Nation in FY 1998.
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Completed Milestones
9/97 Obtained concurrence to transfer RCRA Section 3011 funds into the General
Assistance Program for FY 1998.
Contacts
Stephen B. Etsitty, OSW, (703) 305-3194
Tom Wall, AIEO, (202) 260-7939
Action Item
RCRA tribal implementation issues—expand program assistance to native Alaskan
villages on solid waste management issues
Office of Solid Waste
In September 1997, OSW's Acting Director traveled to Alaska with the Director of the
American Indian Environmental Office (AIEO) to discuss waste management issues with
Alaska Native Village government representatives and Alaskan tribal organizations. OSW
allocated $100,000 to Region 10 for continued support for the Alaska Solid Waste
Management Demonstration Grant. The Alaska Native Health Board is the recipient of this
grant and awarded a number of small grants to Alaskan Villages to allow for site-specific
solutions to solid waste management problems. OSW also allocated $40,000 to Region 10
to assist the native Village of Selawik in addressing their uncontrolled solid waste problems
and the potential impacts to the village drinking water sources.
Completed Milestones
9/97 OSW's Acting Director toured five native Alaskan villages and met with two
Alaskan tribal organizations.
9/97 Additional resources were allocated to Region 10 for Alaska Native Village solid
waste demonstration projects.
Contact
Stephen B. Etsitty, (703) 305-3194
Action Item
RCRA tribal implementation issues—enhance training and outreach activities, seek to
leverage resources, and coordinate environmental activities among federal agencies
Office of Solid Waste
OSW initiated the Municipal SolidWaste Grant Program for Indian Country. OSW solicited
proposals from all federally-recognized tribes and tribal organizations for integrated solid
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waste management demonstration proj ects, and selected eight tribal solid waste management
projects for award. The award amounts ranged from $50,000 to $100,000 per project per
year for up to three years.
OSW funded the National Tribal Environmental Council (NTEC) to facilitate meetings with
tribes around the country to discuss municipal solid waste issues. Seven meetings were held
in FY 1997. Additional meetings were scheduled for FY 1998. The information gathered
during the meetings will assist OSW in finalizing its draft MSW Strategy and further define
the Agency's role in Tribal MSW management.
OSW, in cooperation with the Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management
Officials (ASTSWMO), sponsored the attendance of six tribal representatives to the August
1997 National RCRA Conference in Washington, DC. OSW Tribal Program staff presented
sessions on Subtitle C and D program issues.
OSW funded the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEM) at Northern
Arizona University to identify training needs for tribal environmental and solid waste
personnel. In FY 1997, ITEM submitted two reports of its findings. Based on the reports,
EPA provided additional funding to ITEM to 1) develop a course outline, 2) develop a
directory of solid waste training courses, and 3) investigate the adaptability of existing
training materials and course delivery mechanisms for tribal audiences.
OSW developed the following publications to support tribes directly in managing their solid
waste: Grant Resources for Solid Waste Activities inlndian Country, Publications on Solid
Waste Management in Indian Country, Publications on Mining Waste Management in
Indian Country, Tribal Tipsheet: Do You Know About the Upcoming Municipal Waste
Landfill Deadlines?
OSW published an issue of its revived Native American Network, a national newsletter that
provides information on tribal environmental issues.
Completed Milestones
12/96 Published and distributed Grant Resources for Solid Waste Activities in Indian
Country.
12/96 Published and distributed Publications on Mining Waste Management in Indian
Country.
2/97 Published and distributed Publications on Solid Waste Management in Indian
Country.
4/97 Received ITEM final report on tribal training needs.
5/97 Published and distributed Tribal Tipsheet: Do You Know About the Upcoming
Municipal Waste Landfill Deadlines?
8/97 Tribal representation at the 1997 National RCRA Conference.
9/97 Published and distributed Native American Network
9/97 Received Interim Report from Tribal Solid Waste Focus Meetings.
9/97 Completed awards for MSW Grant Program for Indian Country.
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Contacts
Stephen B. Etsitty, (703) 305-3194
Beverly Goldblatt, (703) 308-7278
Action Item
Identify environmental justice communities impacted by RCRA decisions
Region 10
The RCRA program identified facilities in Region 10 where environmental justice
communities may be impacted by EPA's RCRA decisions. The RCRA program also worked
with Region 10's Office for Civil Rights and Environmental Justice to develop a training
package for environmental justice issues and programs.
Contact
Jan Palumbo, (206) 553-6702
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Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act (CERCLA)
Action Items:
Develop interim guidelines on Community Advisory Groups (CAGs) and establish CAGs
at ten pilot Superfund sites 88
Office of Emergency and Remedial Response 88
Region 2 88
Region 5 90
Region 7 90
Region 8 91
Establish site-specific Federal coordination groups for issues outside Superfund jurisdiction. 91
Region 2 91
Region 9 91
Examine whether priority setting methods adequately consider environmental justice
concerns 96
Region 8 96
Develop supplemental risk assessment guidance 97
Office of Emergency and Remedial Response 97
Region 2 99
Region 9 99
Coordinate indoor lead paint removal with other agencies 100
Office of Emergency and Remedial Response 100
Region 2 100
Region 8 101
Assist Indian tribes financially and technically to build hazardous waste response capacity. . 101
Office of Emergency and Remedial Response 101
Region 2 102
Region 8 103
Establish a pilot program to train minority and/or low-income workers in the
hazardous waste cleanup field 104
Office of Emergency and Remedial Response 104
Region 2 104
Region 5 105
Region 6 106
Incorporate community involvement during site assessments to reduce
potential environmental inequities 106
Region 2 106
Region 3 106
Region 8 107
Develop a nationally consistent policy that outlines whether to relocate citizens living near
Superfund sites as part of the site remedy 107
Office of Emergency and Remedial Response 107
Develop a regional environmental justice policy and report on environmental justice
demographic thresholds at Superfund sites 108
Region 4 108
Participation in national/regional agenda 109
Region 4 109
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Establish an internal work group to better integrate Environmental Justice concerns into
Superfund Program Activities 109
Region 10 109
Establish site-specific Federal coordination groups for issues outside Superfund jurisdiction. 110
Region 2 110
Cleaning up a Chicago Community with an Environmental Justice Issue (Methyl Parathion). 110
Region 5 110
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Topic Area: Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act
Action Item
Develop interim guidelines on Community Advisory Groups (CAGs) and establish CAGs
at ten pilot Superfund sites
Office of Emergency and Remedial Response
OERR supports the formation of Community Advisory Groups (CAGs) at Superfund sites
as a mechanism to help communities participate in the Superfund site cleanup process. A
CAG is made up of representatives with diverse community interests and provides a forum
for community members to present and discuss their concerns related to the Superfund
process. This is beneficial to communities with minority and low-income populations that
may have been overlooked in past public participation. Superfund Regional Community
involvement staff are working with over 41 CAGs in nine EPA Regions.
Completed Milestones
09/97 Developed a working draft of the CAG Toolkit to assist citizens in setting up and
maintaining CAGs.
09/97 Developed a CAG Toolkit for EPA Staff.
Contact
Leslie Leahy, (703) 603-9929
Region 2
Region 2 chose the Diamond Alkali Superfund site for a pilot CAG. The Diamond Alkali
site is located in the Ironbound section of Newark, New Jersey. This location is a mixed use
industrial/residential neighborhood with potential environmental justice concerns. The
community is predominately working-class with a mixture of nationalities; predominantly
Hispanic (Portuguese) and African American.
Region 2 worked with local, vocal community members to help establish the CAG in 1994.
EPA hired a community relations contractor to assist with establishing a comprehensive
mailing list. Self-nomination forms were issued by mail to the entire mailing list to solicit
members for the CAG.
The CAG membership now includes representatives from the local neighborhood who are
also members of the Ironbound Committee Against Toxic Waste. Other members include
representatives from the Friends of the Passaic River, the Passaic River Coalition, the New
Jersey Agent Orange Commission, the American Littoral Society (Baykeeper), and the City
of Newark. In the coming year, Region 2 hopes to get more participation from residents of
the public housing community located in close proximity to the site because the more vocal
members of the CAG usually have not been local residents. While these members have a
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great interest in the Passaic River, their issues may not reflect those of the local residential
community.
The CAG membership originally decided to meet on a quarterly basis. Meetings generally
occurred quarterly but were held more frequently or less frequently depending upon site
activities. Meetings included general site updates, as well as discussions on specialized
topics, such as: EPA's dioxin reassessment work; State of New Jersey Department of Health
epidemiological work completed in the area; the Newark Bay seafood consumption
advisories; and Region 2's Harbor Estuary Program.
To update the community on site activities and status, Region 2 created a web page and
distributed trilingual (English, Portuguese, and Spanish) fact sheets in 1994 (summer, fall,
and winter); 1995 (spring, summer, and fall), and the winter of 1996. Site activities were
infrequent from 1996 to 1997. The NPL fact sheets with updates were provided to CAG
members and other community members during various CAG and public meetings in 1997-
1999. The Ironbound Committee Against Toxic Waste and Region 2 decided to revise the
trilingual fact sheet, which will be distributed in winter 1999.
In addition to the CAG meetings, additional public meetings were held to discuss special site
issues, such as construction of the on-site remedy and the possibility of using an on-site
incinerator. Members of the CAG and other community members have toured the site on
various occasions.
Completed Milestones
6/23/97
6/8/98
6/29/98
7/13/98
8/3/98
8/24/98
9/10/98
10/19/98
1/20/99
1/25/99
2/9/99
2/26/99
3/18/99
3/22/99
4/21/99
5/5/99
6/25/99
9/9/99
Contact
CAG Meeting.
CAG Meeting.
CAG Meeting.
CAG Meeting.
Meeting with Ironbound Committee Against Toxic Waste and the general
public.
Meeting with local residents (Millard Terrel Homes).
Meeting with Ironbound Committee Against Toxic Waste Chairperson.
CAG Meeting.
Meeting with Newark Waterfront Redevelopment Office.
Meeting with Newark Planning Board.
Meeting with NJDEP and USCOE on Newark's Minish Park Project.
Site tour for attendees of the Environmental Law Conference and the
Newark/Ironbound Committee Against Toxic Waste.
Meeting with the New York/New Jersey Harbor Estuary Program and
Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission on Passaic River.
Meeting with Newark Planning Board.
CAG Meeting (on Passaic River RI work).
Meeting with Newark Brownfields Team.
Meeting with Baykeeper.
Meeting with CAG (review of ecological sampling program completed on
river).
Sharon Jaffess, (212) 637-4396
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Region 5
Since the CAG guidance was issued from EPA Headquarters in December 1995, Region 5
initiated 12 CAGs. These CAGs range from remedial to removal sites with various stages
of cleanup activities underway. These CAGs developed a mission statement and basic
operational procedures and are in the process of reviewing and providing comments to both
the state and EPA Headquarters on documents. These CAGs developed fact sheets and
newsletters and made efforts to involve the community at large in the site activities.
To help understand how the CAG process works, EPA Headquarters developed a CAG
Toolkit. This Toolkit consists of sample mission statements, a guide to developing
operational procedures, information on incorporation, and other items that might help a
CAG get started. Region 5 gave this Toolkit to three of its CAGs and received excellent
responses from the CAGs.
Region 5 conducted an informal review and evaluation of its support to CAGs at Superfund
sites in order to develop a Lessons Learned document. This document provides information
on six CAGs in Region 5, and was shared with EPA Headquarters and some of EPA's
Regional Offices. It is available to anyone upon request.
Completed Milestones
2/97 Began to identify CAG candidates.
FY98 Continued to identify CAG cases and evaluate progress.
FY97-98 Initiated 12 CAGs.
09/98 Developed a Lessons Learned analyses for six Region 5 CAGs.
Contact
Oliver L. Warnsley, (312) 886-0442
Region 7
Region 7 conducted a Community Advisory Group workshop for the Clinton Coal Gas
Superfund Site in Clinton, Iowa. The purpose of this workshop was to facilitate interaction
between the community and the EPA. After a successful meeting, the community agreed to
continue holding CAG meetings, which encourage on-going community involvement at the
Clinton site.
Contacts
Hattie Thomas, (913) 551-7762 (Community Involvement Coordinator)
Diana Engeman, (913) 551-7746 (Remedial Project Manager)
The 57th and North Broadway Superfund site in Wichita, Kansas, contains volatile organic
compounds in the groundwater. To respond to community concerns, Region 7 conducted a
CAG workshop to encourage community involvement at the site.
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Contacts
Hattie Thomas, Community Involvement Coordinator, (913) 551-7762
Steve Kinser, Remedial Project Manager, (913) 551-7728
Region 8
Region 8 is facilitating the formation of a CAG for the future redevelopment of the RAMP
site. RAMP is a processed, low-level radioactive waste (LLRW) and mixed waste site,
which was a state-regulated and radioactive hazardous waste management facility that
declared bankruptcy because of state enforcement. In 1994, RAMP was designated as a
Time Critical Removal Site by EPA.
Contact
Wendy Thomi, (303) 312-6025
Action Item
Establish site-specific federal coordination groups for issues outside Superfund
jurisdiction
Region 2
Region 2's Environmental Justice Coordinator investigates and responds to environmental
issues and complaints made to the EPA. EPA's responses are coordinated with other federal
agencies, and state and local governments. Regional protocols have been issued to facilitate
the response process.
Region 2's Community Based Environmental Protection (CBEP) workgroup coordinates
responses to environmental concerns raised by community groups that fall outside of
Superfund jurisdiction and do not readily speak to another program. Region 2's Coordinator
investigates and responds to environmental justice issues raised to EPA by concerned citizen
groups. Many times, environmental justice complaints involve other federal, state, and local
agencies, which require extensive coordination. To facilitate faster responses, Region 2
developed protocols that are successfully implemented when there is an environmental
justice complaint; this helps to ensure coordination among the agencies.
Contact
MelvaHayden, (212) 637-5027
Region 9
In 1995, several residents of McFarland, California, a small, mostly Latino community,
petitioned the EPA to investigate environmental conditions in their community due to
ongoing health concerns. EPA agreed to conduct an investigation in McFarland to assess the
environmental conditions in drinking water, soil, and air to determine if any contaminants
present are above health-based action levels, with particular concern for children.
In January 1998, Region 9 reported that the drinking water wells and the storage tank used
by the community met current health standards, with the exception of two wells
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contaminated with nitrates, which were treated and blended by the local water company to
meet the Maximum Contaminant Level for California. In July 1998, a second round of
sampling was completed, which included drinking water wells, the storage tank, water
collected from faucets at all public schools and parks, and sixteen residential locations
throughout the town.
In October 1998, EPA solicited public comment for its proposed soil sampling plans, which
is Phase II of the investigation. In February and March 1999, soil samples were collected at
nine current or former facilities where hazardous substances may have been used, two public
parks, a drainage basin, and seven residences. Sampling depths ranged from the surface to
50-feet deep at some locations in response to community concerns regarding possible past
disposal practices.
EPA Region 9 continues to work closely with the affected community on proposed sampling
activities. The community has been actively encouraged to review and comment on
proposed sampling plans as they are drafted. Staff continue to meet with members of the
community on a regular basis. Current plans call for air monitoring to take place in calendar
year 2000.
Completed Milestones
3/97 Conducted community outreach to define community concerns and issues.
4/97 Draft Phase I: submitted the Drinking Water Sampling Plan for public comment.
7/97 Sampled drinking water wells and storage tanks.
11/97 Draft Phase II: submitted the Drinking Water and Faucets Sampling Plan for public
comment.
1/98 Shared with the community the first round of drinking water wells and storage tank
results.
7/98 Drinking Water Phase II: implemented the second round of drinking water
sampling, which included residential faucet sampling.
10/98 Submitted the Draft Field Sampling Plan for Soil Investigation for public comment.
3/99 Soil Sampling Completed.
Contact
Mark Calhoon, (415) 744-2376
In late 1996, Region 9's Superfund office investigated a predominantly African-American
community in the vicinity of the former Quality Printed Circuits circuit board manufacturing
facility after complaints were made against the Arizona Department of Environmental
Quality's (ADEQ's) investigation of a 1992 fire at the facility. ADEQ's investigation
concluded that the community was not being exposed to levels of contaminants that
exceeded health-based levels. However, the community has reported a high incidence of
illness and death, which they attribute to emissions from the fire.
In December 1996, Region 9 met with the community to describe its plan to evaluate
environmental conditions in the community and determine whether there is current exposure
to contaminants above health-based action levels. In May 1997, a public meeting was held
to present Region 9's Phase I sampling plans. In June 1997, sampling of soil, indoor house
dust, and air duct dust was performed. In September 1997, a public meeting was held to
present the results from the Phase I sampling effort, which indicated that dust and soil
samples were below health-based action levels. However, the community was still
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convinced that action was needed because contaminants in air duct dust samples were
statistically higher than corresponding samples in control homes. Therefore, Region 9
performed Phase II sampling, which indicated that there were not contaminants present in
air above health-based action levels.
Upon receiving the Phase II results, EPA held several meetings with all stakeholders to
obtain commitments from them to participate (financially or with services) in cleaning
ventilation ducts in study areahomes. These meetings and negotiations continued for several
months until it became apparent that EPA would have to proceed alone if ventilation duct
cleaning was to take place. In March 1999, Region 9 held a community meeting to inform
the community of the Phase II results and to announce that EPA would clean the ventilation
ducts of homes and schools located in the study area.
Completed Milestones
12/96 Held initial meeting with community.
6/97 Completed Phase I Sampling.
9/97 Held a meeting with community to present Phase I results.
11/97 Phase II Sampling began.
4/98 - 10/98 Held meetings with community representatives and other stakeholders.
3/99 Held a meeting with the community to present Phase II results and
announce that EPA will perform ventilation duct cleaning.
10/99 Estimated time frame to begin ventilation duct cleaning.
12/99 Estimated time frame that ventilation duct cleaning ends.
Contact
Nancy Riveland-Har, (415) 744-2371
Puna Geothermal Venture (PGV) is a 25-megawatt geothermal power plant on the Island of
Hawaii. A nearby Native Hawaiian and Native Alaskan community raised concerns about
the power t's use of culturally significant lands, past problems with hydrogen sulfide releases
from well blowouts and plant operations, and their possible impacts to the aquifer and
underlying geology. In 1995, Region 9 and the National Enforcement Investigations Center
(NEIC) conducted a multi-media inspection of the PGV facility and issued an inspection
report in March 1997, which indicated that PGV was not in compliance with all regulatory
requirements.
In FY 1997, Region 9 issued PGV a draft permit for the installation of 10 UIC wells and
held public informational meetings in Pahoa to answer questions on the draft permit. A
public comment period for the draft permit was held and 161 comments were received. After
reviewing the comments, Region 9 revised PGV' s draft permit and issued it to PGV on June
16,1999. Atthe end of FY 1997, EP A awarded Puna MalamaPono an environmental justice
grant for $32,000 to follow-up and expand the neighborhood's air monitoring program and
to develop an additional work to implement a pilot citizen alert system using data from the
neighborhood air monitoring program.
EPA is working with Hawaii's Department of Housing to lower the intake probes for the
stationary air monitors, facilitate better community access to air monitoring data, and
implement suggestions for changes to the air permit, which was revised and issued on July
2, 1999. In addition, EPA issued a draft report for public comment in February 1999 on its
review of the emergency response plans for PGV and Hawaii County. EPA is in the process
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of compiling a comprehensive response to pertinent comments. As folio wup to one of the
report recommendations, EPA provided assistance to Hawaii County for Planning and
completing its first tabletop Hazmat response exercise in June 1999 and provided $25,000
in grant funds to Hawaii County for updating and upgrading the Hazmat portion of the
Hawaii County Emergency Operations Plan, which should be completed in September 2000.
Region 9 also is working with the Department of Housing and ATSDRto review the validity
of the methods used by Dr. Legator in an initial health symptom survey, which began in
1996 with help from 100 volunteers in the Puna area.
Completed Milestones
1995 Multi-media inspection of PGV conducted.
3/97 Final report for the multi-media inspection issued by EPA Region 9 and the
National Enforcement Investigations Center (NEIC).
Fall 1997 EPA, in collaboration with NEIC, responded in writing to PGV
management regarding PGV's complaints about findings in the report.
FY97 PGV submitted an application for a federal underground injection control
permit.
3/98 EPA issued a draft permit for 10 injection wells.
3/98 - 4/98 Public informational meetings were held in Pahoa to answer questions on
the draft permit.
4/98 EPA and DOH held public hearings on their respective draft permits.
6/99 EPA issued its draft permit.
End of FY97 EPA awarded Puna Malama Pono a second environmental justice grant for
$32,000.
7/99 EPA revised and issued PGV a new air permit.
2/99 The draft report on review of the emergency response plans for PGV and
Hawaii County released for comment.
5/99 Comment period for the emergency response plans ended; EPA received 20
letters.
6/99 Region 9 provided assistance to Hawaii County for Planning and
completing its first tabletop hazmat response exercise.
Contacts
Shannon FitzGerald,(415) 744-1830 (Water Division Lead)
Michael Ardito, (415) 744-2328 (Superfund Division)
Midway Village for Children's Health and Environmental Justice is a group of
predominately African-American residents who state they have been served an injustice due
to their exposure to toxic waste [specifically polynuclear aromatic compounds (PNAs)] from
past activities at the Martin Service Center (now known as the PG&E-Martin Service
Center). The PG&E-Martin Service Center operated on the same property where the
Midway Village housing complex currently sits. In response to the Midway community's
concerns, EPA agreed to look into their claims.
After reviewing and analyzing data from the 1993 and 1994 removal action that took place
on the site, EPA presented its conclusions and recommendations to the community at a
meeting on March 20, 1999. The recommendations included the following: 1) previously
landscaped areas: EPA recommended that additional unpaved areas in Midway Village be
sampled and excavated. EPA addressed these concerns with the state and decided to develop
a field soil sampling plan. 2) Areas where concrete and asphalt were installed: The cleanup
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objectives were to prevent direct exposure to residents to contaminated soil. EPA concluded
that no additional actions are required in these areas. 3) Cleanup goal: EPA is currently
having discussions with the Department of Toxic Substances Control to establish a new
cleanup goal based on the most up-to-date scientific methods. In response to the
community's health concerns, ATSDR is working with the community. In addition, Region
9 met with most of the responsible parties to gain a better understanding of their
involvement in past activities at the site, and to ask them to join the mediation process.
Region 9 also responded to the Midway community's request to test their tap water because
it is frequently discolored. EPA tested the residents' tap water, and the results were negative.
In the fall of 1999, soil sampling of unpaved areas will begin and a community meeting on
soil sample results and next steps will be held.
Completed Milestones
03/99 Tested the tap water.
03/99 Held a community meeting on "EPA Conclusions of 1993 and 1994 State
Cleanup."
04/99 Sent letters to residents announcing the tap water test results.
08/99 Held a community discussion on Department of Toxic Substances
Control's Draft Soil Sampling Plan and Drainage Project.
08/99 Daly City began its Drainage Project on Martin Service Center land.
Contact
Michelle Schutz, (415) 744-2393
The Verdese Carter Park site is located in the Elmhurst District of East Oakland, California.
The southern half of the 3-acre site was occupied by a lead battery manufacturing facility
from 1912 to 1975. The City of Oakland acquired the property in 1976, demolished the
battery factory, and developed Verdese Carter Park in 1978. During the development of the
park, the City of Oakland conducted two removal actions—one in 1976 and another in
1978—to remove lead-containing soil.
In September 1994, the African American Development Association petitioned EPA to re-
evaluate the Verdese Carter Park project because of widespread concern that the Park had
caused health, learning, and behavioral problems of residents living in the vicinity of the
park. A "Strategic Plan for Verdese Carter Park" was developed and approved by EPA,
Alameda County Public Health Department, ATSDR, the City of Oakland, and Alameda
County Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. A Community Assistance Panel for the project
area was developed, as well as an Interagency Working Group, to coordinate activities that
addressed the cleanup of the park, environmental investigations and remediation plans of
residential properties, public education, and community outreach. In FY 1999, the final soil
cleanup plan, which includes cleanup and restoration work at ten properties and soil
sampling at six additional residential properties to determine if soil cleanup is needed should
be completed.
Completed Milestones
1997-1998 44 additional properties were sampled to find out if lead dust from the
former battery factory at Verdese Carter Park affected nearby residential
properties.
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6/99 EPA held a community meeting to discuss the proposed final soil cleanup
for the Verdese Carter Park project area. EPA solicited public input,
answered questions raised by property owners, and considered the
community's concerns.
Contacts
Alana Lee,(415) 744-2217 (Project Manager)
Angeles Herrera, (415) 744-2185 (Community Involvement Specialist)
Region 9's Site Assessment Program provided $30,000 to the California Department of
Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) to conduct site discovery efforts in the Bell Gardens and
South Central Los Angeles areas of southern California. The Bell Gardens project identified
facilities that may have released contaminants to the environment in the immediate area
surrounding the Suva School and adj acent Chrome Crankshaft facility in this predominantly
Latino community. The community is primarily concerned about the incidence of cancer
among students and teachers at the Suva School and possible links between health issues
and environmental contamination. A total of 19 sites have been identified for further
assessment, which will be initiated by the California DTSC under the FY 2000 Site
Assessment grant.
The South Central Los Angeles project identified 62 facilities that may be contributing to
hexavalent chromium in groundwater in a one-mile radius surrounding, but not including,
the Jefferson Middle School. Environmental assessment and remediation at the Jefferson
Middle School is ongoing by the LA Unified School District under the California DTSC
lead and oversight. Mixed industrial and residential land use, environmental justice issues
raised by the African American community in this area, and known regional groundwater
contamination have been considered as part of this project. Gathering of facility-specific
information for the newly identified properties will be partially funded by the FY 2000 Site
Assessment grant with the California DTSC, and partially funded by the California DTSC.
Completed Milestones
FY98 Awarded a $30,000 grant to the California DTSC to conduct site discovery efforts
in the Bell Gardens and South Central Los Angeles areas of southern California.
Contact
Rachel Loftin, (415) 744-2347
Action Item
Examine whether priority setting methods adequately consider environmental justice
concerns
Region 8
In Region 8, environmental justice concerns were factored in with the other site concerns
in establishing priorities. Environmental justice maps and demographic data were
considered.
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Contact
Lisa Reed Lloyd, (303) 312-6537
Action Item
Develop supplemental risk assessment guidance in coordination with Agency-wide
efforts to address environmental justice concerns
Office of Emergency and Remedial Response
OERR is undergoing efforts to revise and enhance the way EPA uses risk assessments in the
Superfund program. This initiative will improve current national Superfund risk assessment
guidance by selectively updating the 1989 Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund
(RAGS). OERR met with various stakeholder groups (including citizens and environmental
justice groups) to solicit ideas for improvements to RAGS. At the two major stakeholder
forums that were held, stakeholders identified key areas where improvement is needed and
offered suggestions to improve RAGS. EPA identified four key issues to address:
community involvement in the risk assessment process; land use considerations,
establishment of background for risk assessment purposes; and uncertainty/probabilistic
analysis.
Completed Milestones
10/96 Held stakeholder forum in San Francisco, California.
11/96 Held stakeholder forum in Washington, DC.
10/97 Developed a fact sheet that provided a summary of activities and status of
RAGS revision efforts.
3/98 Held follow-up meeting in Atlanta, Georgia.
Contact
Jayne Michaud, (703) 603-8847
In OERR's effort to standardize risk assessments in the Superfund program, an initiative to
create a concise, helpful, user-friendly reference was developed to provide risk assessors and
community members with suggestions for working together in designing and carrying out
good risk assessments.
Completed Milestones
02/97 Formed a workgroup to develop the reference document.
09/97 Developed draft of reference document titled "Community Participation in
Superfund Risk Assessments Supplement to RAGS" for review within
EPA.
03/98 Presented draft at RAGS Forum in Atlanta, Georgia.
Contact
Bruce Engelbert, (202) 260-6204
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OERR is undergoing a series of efforts to revise and enhance the way EPA uses risk
assessments in the Superfund program. At the December 1997 National Environmental
Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC) meeting, the Waste and Facility Siting subcommittee
resolved that EPA hold a risk assessment roundtable. OERR, along with several NEJAC
representatives are working together on this risk assessment roundtable. The goals are to
identify community concerns on risk assessment; clarify basic risk assessment information;
explore risk assessment issues relevant to environmental justice (e.g., cumulative risk,
sensitive populations); build bridges among the stakeholder groups; and explore viable
alternatives to risk assessment.
Completed Milestones
1/98 Held initial conference call to scope out planning for the risk assessment
roundtable.
3/98 Formed planning committee to develop risk assessment roundtable with
monthly/weekly conference calls.
Contact
Pat Carey, (703) 603-8772
OERR is undergoing a series of efforts to revise and enhance the way EPA uses risk
assessments in the Superfund program. The purpose of one reform is to promote
standardization in the planning, reporting, and review of Superfund risk assessments and to
provide assistance in achieving the goals of the 1995 Browner memo: consistency, clarity,
transparency, and reasonableness of Superfund risk assessments. A draft guidance was
developed by a national workgroup and reviewed by EPA's Regional Offices, states, DOE,
and DOD personnel. A revised draft, Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund-Human
Health Evaluation Manual (Part D), Standardized Planning, Reporting, and Review of
Superfund Risk Assessments, was released in January 1998 and is available from NTIS and
EPA's Internet site. This guidance will be used on a pilot basis until the end of FY 1998 and
then revised based on the results of the pilot.
Completed Milestones
9/96 Draft guidance completed for peer review.
9/97 Revised guidance completed for EPA regional review.
12/97 Guidance approved for release as Interim Draft for pilot phase.
Contact
Jim Konz, (703)603-8841
OERR is increasing its efforts to work with tribes, particularly in the area of risk assessment.
The focus of these efforts is to discuss ways to incorporate tribal cultural values into the
Superfund risk assessment process. This includes evaluation of cultural values in the
Hazardous Ranking System process as well as in the baseline risk assessment. OERR has
identified several tribal groups interested in discussing risk assessment issues. One tribe
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prepared a paper describing the need to incorporate cultural values into the HRS model.
Several other tribes prepared a journal article describing exposure scenarios for tribes.
OERR is proposing pilots for several tribes to explore new approaches for incorporating
cultural values into the Superfund process.
Completed Milestones
2/97 Met with National Tribal Environmental Council.
12/97 Met with Intertribal Risk Assessment Committee.
2/98 Participated in the Tribal Risk Roundtable.
Contact
Jim Konz, (703)603-8841
Region 2
Region 2 co-chaired the Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund Administrative Reforms
Workgroup, which is revising EPA's guidance in the following areas: public involvement,
land use, background, and probabilistic/uncertainty. The workgroup has developed draft
guidance in each of these areas and will have discussions with stakeholder's to gain input.
The plan is to update RAGS in the coming year.
At the site level, Region 2 met with community members on specific sites to discuss land
use and potential routes of exposure to assure that the risk assessment addressed community
concerns.
Region 2 also actively participates in the Agency's IRIS pilot project to review proposed
documents for IRIS and assure that the latest scientific information is used in the
development of the risk assessment. This approach assures that the toxicological component
of the risk calculation is protective of public health.
Contact
Marian Olsen, (212) 637-4313
Region 9
Region 9 hosted a forum for soliciting input from stakeholder groups on specific risk
assessment guidance that requires updating and elaboration. Stakeholders included citizens,
environmentalists, industry, and local, state, and tribal governments. Region 9's technical
support team served as resources for this forum.
Region 9 co-chaired a workgroup that developed the "Community Participation in the Risk
Assessment Process" draft guidance, which provides Superfund employees and community
members with ideas on working together during the risk assessment process. It identifies the
best opportunities for input by community members. An internal EPA review is presently
underway and a draft for external review will be available in FY 1998.
The external review document (Community Participation in the Risk Assessment Process
draft guidance) was provided to the Washoe Indian Tribe in Nevada to assist in preparation
of an RI/FS for the Leviathan Mine study area.
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Completed Milestones
FY98 External review of "Community Participation in the Risk Assessment Process" draft
guidance.
Contact
Sophia Serda, (415) 744-2307
Action Item
Coordinate indoor lead paint removal with other agencies
Office of Emergency and Remedial Response
Superfund continued to work with HUD and EPA's Regional OSCs and RPMs to address
indoor lead paint removal. HUD's initial grant offering in FY 1996 was expanded in FY
1997 to include Brownfields and Indian tribes. Criteria were modified to allow broader
participation from "orphan sites" so that communities with environmental issues were not
unjustly penalized.
HUD grants provided funds to state and local governments for lead-based paint abatement
of low-income homes on and around Superfund sites. In October 1997, HUD awarded $4
million to the Grand Gateway Council of Governments, the city of Butte-Silver Bow,
Montana, the city of Boston, Massachusetts, and the County of Alameda, California. These
awards represent a major step forward in environmental justice efforts. This was the first
time that an award was made to a grantee that included a consortium of Indian tribes. The
grant to Alameda County resulted in lead-based paint abatement activities in the Verdese
Carter Park neighborhood, a minority community near the Allied Signal Superfund site.
Completed Milestones
10/96 Signed award agreements for FY 1996 grants.
4/97 Modified grant award criteria to include Brownfields and Indian tribes.
6/97 Published Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) in the Federal Register.
8/97 Grant applications due to HUD.
10/97 HUD announced four grants for lead-based paint abatement.
Contact
Melissa Friedland, (703) 603-8864
Region 2
Region 2's lead program coordinates with HUD on lead paint hazard response. In FY 1997,
Region 2 initiated enforcement per the Disclosure Rule of the Residential Lead Based Paint
Hazard Reduction Act of 1992 (Title X, Section 108). An example of interagency
coordination includes Region 2's exchange of inspection candidate information with HUD
on a quarterly basis. The lead program is responsive to all communities via tips and
complaints and via the priority to address the environments of children under six years of
age and when elevated blood lead levels are reported. In addition, the lead program is
particularly responsive to environmental justice populations and communities as
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enforcement and response action is taken to ensure safety in environments where pre-1978
housing and low income neighborhoods are likely indicators of potential hazard.
Contact
Louis Bevilacqua, (732) 321-6773
Region 8
Region 8 and its grantees participated in a tri-regional meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada, and
a national meeting on lead issues in Breckenridge, Colorado, which was hosted by the
Region. Lead grants were issued to seven tribes and three states:
• Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, Eagle Butte, South Dakota
• Chippewa Cree Tribe, Box Elder, Montana
• Crow Creek Sioux Tribe, Fort Thompson, South Dakota
• Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, Lower Brule, South Dakota
• Oglala Sioux Tribe, Pine Ridge, South Dakota
• Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Rosebud, South Dakota
• Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Fort Yates, North Dakota
• The State of Colorado
The State of Utah
• The State of Wyoming
Action Item
Assist Indian tribes financially and technically to build hazardous waste response
capacity
Office of Emergency and Remedial Response
OERR is developing a plan to enhance the state and tribal role in the Superfund Program.
This plan contains a comprehensive national approach to more fully share Superfund
responsibilities with interested and capable states and tribes, with the ultimate objective of
quickly cleaning up more sites. Workgroups consisting of EPA, state, and tribal
representatives were formed.
The plan is in the draft and pilot stage and is being widely distributed. EPA is committed
to conducting at least nine pilots in Indian Country to test the plan. These pilots will be
based on the recommendations of the tribal workgroup and are included in the plan. The
primary purpose of the pilots will be to gain working experience with the plan's integrated
process of readiness assessment and negotiated assistance and agreements. Lessons learned
will be used to make appropriate changes prior to full-scale implementation.
Completed Milestones
11/97 Presented the plan to Acting Assistant Administrator Tim Fields.
02/98 Discussed portions of the tribal recommendations at the Albuquerque Forum.
03/98 Presented the plan to Division Directors.
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Contact
Lisa Boynton, (703) 603-9052
OERR began to develop an inventory of all Superfund sites in Indian Country. To start this
project, OERR developed and distributed to EPA's Regional Offices a memo requesting
information on sites in CERCLIS and the Open Dumps Act list. OERR will ask the Regional
Offices to verify additional information on sites in Indian Country. This information will be
compiled and reviewed before establishing the next steps for the project.
Completed Milestones
12/97 Distributed a memo requesting that information be sent to EPA's Regional Offices.
03/98 Compiled lists of tribal sites.
Contact
Lisa Boynton, (703) 603-9052
Region 2
Region 2 continues to work with Native American tribes to build Superfund capacity.
Region 2 continued to fund its core grant to St. Regis Mohawk for infrastructure and
environmental response support. Region 2 continues to provide removal assessment and
emergency response actions as necessary to address imminent environmental hazards.
Contact
Richard Salkie, (732) 321-6658
Region 2 is providing the Haudensaunee Environmental Task Force with $100,000 to
develop an Indigenous Strategy for long-term pollution prevention. The task force will
support its existent clearinghouse on environmental information by designing community
education programs that promote pollution prevention in a culturally-relevant manner,
publish a book based on Haudenosaunee environmental philosophy, and coordinate a
conference that brings together experts and the community on topics in environmental law,
pollution prevention, and the Haudensaunee culture.
Contact
Marian Olsen, (212) 637-4313
Prior to releasing a proposed plan announcing a change in the GM, Massena Superfund site's
remediation strategy, EPA held separate meetings with members of the Mohawk Tribal
Council, St. Regis Mohawk Environment Division, and the Akwesasne Task Force on the
Environment. The meetings were effective in allowing the community more time to voice
their concerns and allowed EPA to understand the nature of the concerns prior to the larger
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public forum. One change in the EPA's outreach strategy was to hold public meetings on
Mohawk Territory. Prior to this year, meetings were held both in the town and on tribal land.
EPA advertised the meeting on the Mohawk radio station as well as two tribal newspapers.
Completed Milestones
8/98 Held individual meetings with tribal council and Akwesasne Task force on the
Environment.
9/98 Discussed the proposed plan at a larger public meeting.
3/99 The plan was accepted by the community and was published in a Record of
Decision.
Contact
Anne Kelly, (212) 637-4264
Region 8
Region 8 is working with tribes to develop Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Plans
and is conducting an array of Hazardous Materials Response Training for tribes. Region 8
has conducted several removals of hazardous materials on tribal lands. These removals
included leaking drums, insecticides, unsecured poisons, and sewage waste water. In
addition, Region 8 spill investigations on tribal lands found that the spills may be a threat
to human health, land, or the environment.
Completed Milestones
Northern Ute Tribe. Utah
FY98 Removal action at the Ute Manufacturing Facility and a removal Action at the Ute
Tribe Chemicals.
Ute Mountain Ute Tribe. Towaoc. Colorado
FY98 Removal action at the Towaoc day care center.
Spirit Lake Nation. Fort Totten. North Dakota
FY98 Removal action at Saint Michael's Lagoon.
Oglala Sioux Tribe. Pine Ridge. South Dakota
FY98 Removal action at the Pine Ridge Landfill and a removal action at Manderson
Community Lagoons.
Contacts
Suzanne Stevenson, (303) 312-6122 (Core Contact)
Eric Steinhaus, (303) 312-6837 (Emergency Response Training Contact)
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Action Item
Establish a pilot program to train minority and/or low-income workers in the hazardous
waste cleanup field
Office of Emergency and Remedial Response
OERR established a pilot program called the Superfund Job Training Initiative (Super JTI)
to provide environmental cleanup training to and promote employment of community
residents during the Superfund site cleanup. The Super JTI was developed in response to
public demand for more local economic benefit from Superfund site cleanups. Through the
Super JTI, OERR partnered with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
(NIEHS) Minority Worker Training Program to provide training to minority workers in the
hazardous waste cleanup field. In situations where the community is committed to
establishing its own training program, the Super JTI facilitates the inclusion of the
community in current or developing job training and employment programs that may lead
to a sustainable local program. The key to success for each Super JTI lies in partnership with
the community that is affected by the Superfund site; federal, state, and local jobs training
and service providers; site cleanup contractors; local businesses; and community
organizations.
OERR and EPA Regional Staff encourage Superfund cleanup contractors to employ
community residents who have been trained through the Super JTI to work at their local
Superfund site. In addition, OERR is developing strategies to place these workers in
environmental careers when work is completed at the Superfund site.
Completed Milestones
02/97 Formalized partnership with NIEHS.
04/97 Distributed memo to National Superfund Managers.
07/97 Presented Super JTI to EPA Contractor Forum.
09/97 Partnered with the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization.
01/98 Initiated Super JTI pilots at the following sites: Agriculture Street Landfill site in
New Orleans, Louisiana; RSR Smelter site in West Dallas, Texas; AT&SF site in
Albuquerque, New Mexico; Tennessee Products site in Chattanooga, Tennessee;
Washington Navy Yard, District of Columbia.
02/98 Established Super JTI pilot at the N.L. Taracorp site in Granite City, Illinois.
Contacts
David Ouderkirk, (703) 603-9039
Region 2
In FY 1998, Brownfields Job Training and Development Pilots were awarded. Region 2
provided grant outreach and application assistance. The New Jersey Youth Corps was one
of 11 Brownfields Job Training Pilots awarded nationwide. This $200,000 grant will initiate
a pilot program providing 150 hours of environmental technician training, including training
on innovative treatment technologies. The trainees are 30 underemployed and unemployed
people aged 18-25 from Camden and Newark, New Jersey.
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Completed Milestones
FY98 Provided grant outreach and application assistance to Brownfields Job Training and
Development Pilot applicants.
Contact
Chelsea Albucher, (212) 637-4291
Region 5
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) awarded Chicago's
DePaul University a cooperative agreement to train qualified individuals under the NIEHS
Minority Workers Training Program. Due to the program's high level of success, EPA
created the Superfund Job Training (Super JTI) program. This program began as a pilot
program for disadvantaged minority persons to receive life skills, pre-employment,
environmental, and technical training.
Super JTI was established as a result of the EPA's growing sensitivity to the reality that
many of the Nation's most contaminated sites are located in severely-disadvantaged
communities. Super JTI addresses the public's repeated request to participate in the
environmental cleanup and restoration of Superfund sites residing in communities. To date,
the Super JTI has been implemented at the NL Taracorp site in Granite City, Illinois; the
Douglas Road Landfill site in Mishawaka, Indiana, and the Dutch Boy site in Chicago,
Illinois. EPA and DePaul worked together to train over 65 community residents during the
three training sessions. Super JTI also involves EPA partnering with DePaul and other
community organizations to host a graduation ceremony and job fair where community
residents are given the opportunity to meet with local contractors to enhance employment
opportunities. EPA also provides participants with a "Yearbook" to document their job
training experience and commitment to complete the program.
Completed Milestones
3/97 Explained to Representatives from DePaul University how the Minority Worker
Training Program (MWTP) works.
5/97 DePaul University held a seminar on "Contract Forecast and Job Projections in FY
1997 and Beyond."
9/97 Region 5's Superfund Division identified Granite City, Illinois, as a site to train
individuals under MWTP.
3/98 Implemented Super JTI at the NL Taracorp site in Granite City, Illinois.
5/98 Provided Super JTI presentations at the National Community Involvement
Conference in Boston, Massachusetts, and the National Brownfields Job Training
and Development Workshop in Chicago, Illinois.
Contacts
Oliver L. Warnsley, (312) 886-0442
Noemi Emeric, (312) 886-0995
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Region 6
In late fall 1998, Region 6 received a request for training of community residents impacted
by the MDI Superfund site in Houston, Texas. The EPA worked with several community
non-profit groups, including Houston Works, Make Ready, and Service of the Emergency
Aid Resource Center for the Homeless (SEARCH) to recruit and screen approximately 30
students. The original 11 students who secured positions in the environmental remediation
field, and the one student hired at National Space and Aeronautics Administration, are still
employed.
Completed Milestones
Fall 1998 Received a request for training of community residents impacted by the
MDI Superfund site in Houston, Texas.
Action Item
Incorporate community involvement during site assessments to reduce potential
environmental inequities
Region 2
In the brownfields pilots, community involvement is an integral factor in the selection of
sites for assessment and in the subsequent decision making about the sites.
Contact
Lawrence D'Andrea, (212) 637-4314
Region 3
Region 3's project managers (including site assessment managers) briefed management on
site-related issues using GIS maps that depict minority and poverty distribution. In FY 1996,
the Region's Regional Decision Team (RDT) committee screened more than five pre-
remedial NPL caliber sites with potential environmental justice implications and identified
two environmental justice population sites surrounding the presently-evaluated NPL caliber
sites. Since August 30, 1994, the RDT committee filtered 22 sites with possible
environmental justice implications using GIS maps and SACM criteria forms—which add
specific data regarding significant minority and poverty populations—in efforts to identify
environmental justice populations.
Completed Milestones
1/97 The RDT decided that Region 3's project managers should evaluate, identify, and
recommend pre-remedial NPL caliber sites with environmental justice implications
for RDT review.
3/97 Site Assessment Managers volunteered to help provide peer review comments for
some of the 40 candidates applying for $20,000 small grants.
4/97 Site Assessment Managers volunteered to give an environmental speech to fourth
graders.
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12/97 Site Assessment Managers provided input in the Washington, DC, Control Board's
City-State Environmental Program, which serves more than a 92% non-white
population.
12/97 Site Assessment Managers received 300 GIS maps that mapped sites with potential
environmental justice implications. These maps were in addition to the 46 GIS maps
requested in January 23, 1997.
Contacts
David Wright, (215) 814-3293
Robert Guari, (215) 814-3265
Region 8
The EPA assessment teams incorporated community participation at sites that are being
assessed for potential hazardous contamination. If contamination is found, then the
community will play a key role in the next phase.
Contacts
Patricia Smith (303) 312-6082
Luke Chavez (303) 312-6512
Action Item
Develop a nationally consistent policy that outlines whether to relocate citizens living
near Superfund sites as part of the site remedy
Office of Emergency and Remedial Response
OERR is developing a relocation policy that will provide guidance for a nationally
consistent approach for determining when to relocate citizens away from neighboring
Superfund sites as part of the site remedy. This effort is due, in part, to a January 1995
National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC) resolution that stated the need
for such a relocation policy.
OERR held a series of stakeholder forums to solicit and obtain input from community
members and other stakeholders on criteria EPA should consider in determining whether or
not to conduct a relocation at a Superfund site. In May 1996, OERR, along with several
NEJAC representatives, held a Relocation Roundtable meeting that drew over 90
participants; 50% of which were community citizens affected by hazardous wastes sites. At
the Roundtable, OERR obtained comments on relocation issues and obtained citizen input
on criteria that could be used to determine when to conduct relocations. Seven additional
stakeholder forums were held between March 1997 and October 1997. OERR obtained
valuable information and recommendations from the various stakeholder groups, including
community and environmental justice concerns. OERR plans to incorporate
recommendations made during these outreach efforts into relocation guidance.
Completed Milestones
03/97 Held relocation stakeholder forums in Washington, DC.
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9/97 Held several forums representing various interest groups, including industry,
public health, and federal, state, and local governments.
10/97 Held relocation stakeholder forum in Seattle, Washington, with Native
Americans and tribal government representatives.
10/97 Held relocation stakeholder forum in Charleston, West Virginia, with
environmental justice representatives.
12/97 Briefed NEJAC' s Waste and Facility Siting subcommittee at a NEJAC meeting
in Raleigh, North Carolina.
02/98 Developed draft summaries of all the relocation stakeholder forums.
02/98 Distributed draft relocation policy to EPA's Regional Offices for comments.
Contact
Pat Carey, (703) 603-8772
Action Item
Develop a regional environmental justice policy and report on environmental justice
demographic thresholds at Superfund sites
Region 4
Region 4's Environmental Justice Team, which is housed in the Waste Management
Division, participated in drafting Region 4's interim environmental justice policy document,
which is currently under review. This regional-based document recommends the integration
of environmental justice into functional aspects of EPA business, such as permitting,
enforcement, and remediation.
Region 4 completed a report titled "NPL Superfund Sites: Evaluation of Environmental
Justice Demographic Thresholds in Region 4 (Interim Draft Rev. #1)." This report was an
initial effort for complying with an upcoming Headquarters guidance requiring the Regions
to evaluate potentially-responsible-party compliance at Superfund sites (starting with
environmental justice communities). Preliminary findings indicate that 89% of our nation's
NPL Superfund sites may have local communities that meet or exceed environmental justice
demographic thresholds. A customized internal environmental justice program that uses
state threshold values for minority and two low-income indices was developed. Each of the
238 NPL sites were evaluated by looking at the broader community surrounding the site
(0-1, 1-2, and 2-3 mile radius) and the fence-line community (0-0.5,0.5-1.0, 1.0-1.5 radius).
Contacts
Brian Holtzclaw, (404) 562-8684
Eddie L. Wright, (404) 562-8669
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Action Item
Participation in national/regional agenda
Region 4
Working in consultation with the Medical University of South Carolina, Region 4's
environmental justice team and senior staff participated on a focus group and worked to
establish a position paper to determine if environmental justice and Title VI impede
economic redevelopment. Region 4's position is that environmental justice and Title VI do
not impede economic redevelopment. In FY 1999, Region 4 plans to present an agenda for
the position paper at the Congressional Black Caucus.
Contact
Rosalind Brown, (404) 562-8633
Members of Region 4's environmental justice team participated in Superfund and RCRA
State Director's meetings, which were held in Atlanta, Georgia, and Charleston, South
Carolina, respectively. The discussion at these meetings focused on environmental justice
and Title VI.
Contact
Eddie L. Wright, (404) 562-8669
Action Item
Establish an internal work group to better integrate environmental justice concerns into
Superfund program activities
Region 10
Region 10's Environmental Cleanup Office (ECL) established an ad hoc group of employees
to focus efforts on increasing the visibility of environmental justice in Superfund program
activities. The group consists of Remedial Project Managers, On-Scene Coordinators,
Community Relations Specialists, and Contracting Officers. This group will build on
existing efforts by Region 10's Office of Civil Rights and Environmental Justice. Staff
efforts may include evaluating national guidance from EPA Headquarters for identifying
environmental justice communities at Superfund Sites or identifying opportunities to expand
existing efforts to conduct outreach to environmental justice communities.
Contact
Peter Contreras, (206) 553-6708
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Action Item
Establish site-specific federal coordination groups for issues outside Superfund
jurisdiction
Region 2
In FY 1998, Region 2 provided site specific federal coordination in three ways: through the
Environmental Justice Coordinator; through the Brownfields Interagency Work Group; and,
as necessary, at sites undergoing hazardous waste emergency response actions and
remediation.
Pursuant to protocols developed by two of Region 2's Environmental Justice Program
Initiatives ("Standard Operating Procedures for Environmental Justice Matters in Region
2" and "Procedures for Handling Environmental Justice Complaints"), Region 2's
Environmental Justice Coordinator facilitates investigation and response to environmental
justice issues and complaints. As per Region 2's environmental justice protocols, response
is coordinated internally with appropriate program offices, and, as necessary, with other
federal, state, tribal, and local government agencies.
Relevant participants from the Brownfields Inter-Agency Work Group have been called
upon to assist on site-specific issues outside of Superfund jurisdiction. Region 2's
Emergency Response and Remedial Division regularly coordinates with other federal
agencies to address issues at hazardous waste emergency response and remediation sites.
Regular coordination occurs with agencies such as ATSDR and NOAA.
Contact
Vincent Pitruzzello, (212) 637-4354
Action Item
Cleaning up a Chicago community with an environmental justice issue (methyl
parathion)
Region 5
During FY 1997, Region 5's Emergency Response Branch initiated testing of residences
on Chicago's Westside where they believed homes were sprayed with the pesticide
Methyl Parathion. Of the 99 homes referred to EPA for relocation and decontamination,
35 households were relocated, 77 homes were decontaminated with confirmation results,
and two homes were decontaminated without confirmation results; one of the referrals
refused to be relocated. A total of 51 households will be moved back to their homes after
successful decontamination and restoration. Of the 99 referrals, only one household
willing to participate has yet to be relocated.
Completed Milestones
FY98 The Emergency Removal program will continue biological monitoring and
environmental sampling as needed. Relocation of residents, decontamination,
restoration of homes, and return of residents to their homes will continue.
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Contacts
Steve Aryan, (312) 353-9351
Brad Benning, (312) 353-7613
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Oil Pollution Act (OPA)
Action Items:
Identify the types and characteristics of oil storage facilities most likely to be located in poor or
minority areas and target inspections and enforcement in these communities 113
Region 2 113
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Topic Area: Oil Pollution Act
Action Item
Identify the types and characteristics of oil storage facilities most likely to be located in
poor or minority areas and target inspections and enforcement in these communities
Region 2
Region 2's Emergency Response and Remediation Branch (ERRD) implements demographic
screening for communities of concern (COC) surrounding all potential removal actions and
provides that information to on-scene coordinators (OSCs) in the Removal Program. This
demographics screening is performed using LandView III software. No definitive
environmental justice determination is made. However, the demographic data for the COC
is used to determine if a removal action is within a potential environmental justice area and
if public outreach tools, such as fact sheets in Spanish, need to be developed. The
demographics screening addresses population income and minority distributions.
Region 2 currently is in the process of conducting environmental justice training for Region
2 employees and refining an ArcView GIS application designed to analyze demographic
data in a manner consistent with Region 2's Draft Environmental Justice Policy. Upon
completion of training and refinement of the ArcView GIS application, the removal program
intends to implement demographic analysis for COC using the ArcView GIS.
Completed Milestones
FY98 Environmental justice training completed.
Contact
Bruce Sprague, (732) 321-6656
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Underground Storage Tanks
Action Items:
Provide guidance for states and local agencies on considering environmental justice as a qualitative
factor in priority-ranking for state-lead cleanups and enforcement activities 115
Region 2 115
Region 3 115
Region 4 115
Region 6 116
Region 9 116
Provide outreach to states, Indian tribes, and local agencies 117
Region 1 117
Region 2 118
Region 3 118
Region 9 119
Incorporate environmental justice criteria into UST state grants and
cooperative agreements 120
Region 2 120
Region 3 120
Region 8 120
Region 9 121
Find ways to provide funds and technical assistance to state and tribal governments 121
Region 5 121
Region 9 122
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Topic Area: Underground Storage Tanks
Action Item
Provide guidance for states and local agencies on considering environmental justice as
a qualitative factor in priority-ranking for state-lead cleanups and enforcement activities
Region 2
Region 2 developed and delivered environmental justice training to its compliance and
enforcement staff. This training addressed how to apply enforcement tools and policies in
minority and low-income communities that have been disproportionately impacted by
environmental pollution. Demographic data will be used to implement inspections of
potential environmental justice communities where Underground Storage Tanks (USTs) are
located. All states in Region 2 expressed interest in attending the environmental justice
training.
Completed Milestones
12/97 Completed five training sessions.
Contact
Dervel Thomas, (212) 637-4028
Region 3
In West Virginia's hazardous waste program, the state Department of Environmental
Protection focused on the environmental justice community of Manilla Park in
Morgantown. Six RCRA facilities were inspected: three were hazardous waste handlers, two
were non- handlers of hazardous waste, and one was a non-notifier handling hazardous
waste. The inspections noted the violation of the party that failed to notify as a handler. The
facility was cited, and it submitted the necessary paper work to come into compliance. The
state concluded that there was not a disproportionately high incidence of adverse
environmental or health impacts on this community from hazardous waste activities.
Completed Milestones
10/97-9/97 Conducted inspections and issued citation.
Contact
Sharon McCauley, (215) 814-3376
Region 4
Region 4 and South Carolina's Division of Underground Storage Tank Management
continued to participate in the CBEP project in North Charleston, an environmental justice
community. EPA provided the state with global positioning systems to locate all active
underground storage tank sites and all leaking underground storage tanks in the CBEP area.
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The state located these sites and provided the data to the GIS mapping group for inclusion
on area-wide maps. South Carolina reviewed all leaking underground storage tank sites to
ensure that corrective action proceeds on schedule.
Completed Milestones
Ongoing Provided assistance to the CBEP project by addressing questions on UST
management and by monitoring corrective action sites.
Contact
Maryann Gerber, (404) 562-9462
Region 6
During FY 1997, Region 6 encouraged its states to evaluate whether leaking underground
storage tank sites affected citizens of minority or low-income neighborhoods inequitably.
They also evaluated whether cleanup efforts or claim reimbursements in these
neighborhoods took longer than average cleanup efforts. High priority sites—those with
impacts to receptors—received the quickest attention. Region 6 also conducted UST
programmatic, technical, and compliance training for Indian tribes in Oklahoma and the
Inter-Tribal Environmental Council of Oklahoma. Classroom training and field training at
UST sites in New Mexico and Oklahoma was provided. Tribes with UST releases were
provided with direct assistance from EPA and the Indian Consortia in Oklahoma and New
Mexico. Region 6 also worked with other federal agencies—primarily the Bureau of Indian
Affairs and the Indian Health Service—to remove or upgrade selected tanks on Indian lands.
Over 3 0 tanks were permanently removed, and over 3 5 tribes initiated upgrading procedures.
Completed Milestones
9/97 Free product recovery training to Citizen Band Potowatomie of Oklahoma.
Ongoing Compliance assistance to selected tribal facilities in New Mexico and Oklahoma;
assistance to tribes with UST notification requirements with Regional Tribal
Liaison; and review of UST closures and site assessments on Indian Country.
Contacts
Willie Kelley, (214) 665-6760
Harold Dail, (214) 665-2234
Region 9
In FY 1997, the City of Oakland's Urban Land Redevelopment (URL) Program, a multi-
agency effort to address the many issues associated with petroleum-contaminated
brownfields, moved into the implementation phase. To ensure the proper management of
residual contamination, an innovative institutional control was designed and implemented
in the City's computerized permit tracking system. A Community Review Panel issued a
report on brownfields-related issues, and the regulatory agencies assessed ways to
implement the recommendations. Tier 1 cleanup numbers based on Oakland-specific data
were calculated and reviewed by the California EPA. These and other facets of the program
were tested at three identified sites in 1998.
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In September 1998, construction of the three pilot sites began. All three pilot sites were
scheduled to be completed by November 1,1999. Peerreviews and soil studies that finalized
Oakland's Tier 1 input parameters and screening levels were completed in July 1998. A
draft guidance document was completed in March 1998. A final version will be available
at the completion of the grant. New well construction standards were developed for the City
of Oakland. The ULR completed a draft report recommending protocols for soil vapor
analysis under risk-based assessments in Oakland. Final protocols were available in early
1999. The final versions of the ULR Program Guidance documents and the Oakland RBCA
Technical Background documents will be posted on the City of Oakland's URL web site.
Completed Milestones
3/97 Designed and implemented innovative institutional controls for managing residual
contamination.
4/97 Calculated Oakland-specific Tier 1 risk-based screening levels.
4/97 Drafted report justifying input parameters for Tier 1 screening level calculations.
8/97 Formed and provided guidance over a ten-month period to a Community Review
Panel that issued a report of recommendations.
11/97 Undertook soils characterization study to differentiate between geologic units in
Oakland.
12/97 Acquired access to sites for pilot testing of the program.
12/97 Acquired additional funding to continue the program.
3/98 Completed peer reviews.
5/98 Completed pilot sites.
6/98 Completed soil study.
7/98 Used peer reviews and soil studies to finalize Oakland Tier 1 input parameters and
screening levels.
8/98 Drafted guidance document.
9/98 Compiled a collection of background metal concentrations found at Oakland sites
and in nearby areas. This task was completed in May, a review is needed to
determine what concentrations will be included in the tables.
10/98 New well construction standards.
10/98 Reports summarizing the soil vapor data collected at the ULR pilot sites.
11/98 Report recommending protocol for soil vapor analysis under risk-based assessments
in Oakland.
8/99 Posted final versions of the ULR Program Guidance documents and the Oakland
RBCA Technical Background documents on the City of Oakland's URL web site.
Contacts
Lester Kaufman, (415) 744-2079
Matthew Small, (415) 744-2076
La Donna Thomas, (415) 744-2082
Action Item
Provide outreach to states, Indian tribes, and local agencies
Region 1
During FY 1997, Region 1 conducted outreach and training on UST inventory control
measures for Maine's Passamaquoddy Pleasant Point Tribe. This training enabled the tribe
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to manage and operate its fueling systems more effectively, and it allowed it to come into
compliance with Maine and federal UST regulations.
Region 1's OUST program also worked with Maine's Passamaquoddy Indian Township
Tribe to develop an appropriate assessment of an isolated groundwater petroleum
contamination problem. This tribe resides adjacent to the Pleasant Point Tribe. On
September 18, 1997, Region 1's OUST program awarded a $9,569 grant to the
Passamaquoddy Indian Township Tribe to conduct a study and discovery process about
USTs on Indian Township lands. After this project's completion, OUST will work with the
tribe to properly close USTs that pose threats to human health and the environment.
Completed Milestones
9/98 Conclusion of project period.
Contact
Thomas Burns, (617) 573-9663
Region 2
Region 2 provided a Spanish interpreter at a public hearing on EPA's decision to delegate
the UST program to Puerto Rico's Environmental Quality Board. The interpreter ensured
that all concerned citizens, including low-income residents and those residents unable to
speak and comprehend English, could understand the proceedings and provided them with
an opportunity to participate in the process.
Completed Milestones
9/97 Held public hearings in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Contact
John S. Kushwara, (212) 637-4232
Region 3
In the Virginia UST program, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VADEQ)
hired 30 summer interns to conduct 5,000 outreach inspections at UST facilities. VADEQ
plans to continue compliance assistance and outreach inspections until all UST facilities in
the Commonwealth have been inspected. The Commonwealth believes this kind of
state-wide effort will help improve UST management in environmental justice communities
throughout Virginia.
Completed Milestones
5/97-9/97 Outreach inspections.
Contact
Rose Nino, (215)814-3377
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Region 9
In FY 1997 and in FY 1998, Region 9 had a major outreach presence in Indian Country.
Region 9 staff visited several tribes, conducted compliance assistance inspections, and
provided on-the-job training to tribal agency staff conducting compliance inspections.
Region 9 also obtained funds from the Office of Underground Storage Tanks to conduct leak
detection and 1998 deadline UST upgrade workshops at five locations in Indian Country;
to conduct site assessments for abandoned sites on Navajo Nation lands; and to provide
training in risk-based corrective action to the tribal attendees during the Regional Tribal
Conference. Region 9 and its Circuit Rider in Arizona worked with Tribal environmental
agencies to complete inventories of active, closed, and abandoned tanks; to request owners
and operators to ensure formal notification of any changes to UST facility status; to oversee
UST closures; and to monitor progress on corrective action.
Compliance assistance and outreach continued to be a top priority in anticipation of the
December 22, 1998, UST program deadline for upgrading, replacing, or closing sub-
standard USTs. USTPO conducted a mass mailing effort to Tribal Chairpersons and
Environmental Program Directors of each of the 141 tribes in Region 9. These letters
reminded the tribe about the December deadline, that there would be no extension, and
offered USTPO technical assistance and guidance in each tribe's efforts to meet the
deadline. In another major outreach effort, USTPO mailed a letter to each California tribe
explaining what the State of California Fuel Ban meant to gas deliveries on California
reservations. Many of the tribes were concerned about how the State law may impact their
gasoline deliveries (even though the State law had no jurisdiction on tribal land). Due to this
massive mailing outreach effort, when the State fuel ban went into effect on January 1,
1999, there were very few incidents or problems with tribes getting fuel.
Completed Milestones
3/97 Renewed the Circuit Rider program in California, Arizona, and Nevada.
6/97 Issued the first two field citations to an UST owner on tribal land.
7/97 Region 9 UST staff were present for on-site activities in Tuba City to remove old
USTs and check for leak sources and evidence of contamination in the pits (7003
Tuba City Order).
9/97 Leak detection and 1998 compliance workshops held in Indian Country.
FY98 Provided funds for Inter Tribal Council of Arizona (ITCA) to develop and
coordinate the American Indian Underground Storage Tank inspector certification
program.
6/98 Arranged meetings for representatives of Hopi and Navajo Tribes to update
communities on the cleanup process in Tuba City.
10/98 Navajo Nation passed the Navajo Nation UST code into law.
Contacts
Lester Kaufman, (415) 744-2079
Mary Keil, (415)744-2080
Chris Prokop, (415) 744-2104
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Action Item
Incorporate environmental justice criteria into UST state grants and cooperative
agreements
Region 2
Grants, an updated computer system, and field equipment (Hnu and PID) were given to the
Seneca Nation Indian Tribe to inspect and manage USTs on its jurisdiction. Similar
assistance will be given other Indian tribes.
Completed Milestones
• Gave computer and field equipment to Seneca Nation.
• Awarded grants to Seneca Nation.
Contact
John S. Kushwara, (212) 637-4232
Region 3
Region 3 used the Subtitle C and I grant process to increase state management and staff
awareness of environmental justice concerns. Most states initiated community assessments
to identify areas that may be prone to environmental justice issues. Our states have become
more aware of the need to ensure that permitting work, inspections, and enforcements
protect human health and the environment indiscriminately.
In FY 1997, the District of Columbia's UST Program conducted 48 UST inspections of the
60 UST systems located in Wards 7 and 8. The Districts's most socio-economically
challenged communities exist in these wards.
In FY 1998, the District of Columbia's Underground Storage Tank Division conducted 28
UST inspections in Wards 7 and 8. Although the UST Division conducted a total of 192
inspections in FY 1998 across the District, these activities are usually initiated by the owner,
and inspections throughout the District are conducted on demand.
Completed Milestones
10/96-9/97 Conducted inspections.
Contact
Karen Bowen, (215) 814-3382
Region 8
Region 8 held tank upgrade seminars on three Indian reservations. The seminars explained
the 1998 tank upgrade requirements, monthly monitoring requirements, and associated
deadlines. Arrangements also were made to have the tribal environmental office attend each
session.
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Region 8 awarded grants to five tribes under RCRA 8001 authority. The grants were used
for equipment, program training, abandoned tank identification, building tribal capacity, and
developing a tank database. Region 8 reprogrammed funding for a Superfund contract and
a RCRA contract to include corrective action work on reservations. Region 8 held an All
Tribes UST meeting in Denver to discuss direct implementation for the UST program. This
discussion included corrective action processes, compliance inspection schedules, grant
processes and deadlines, and enforcement procedures.
Completed Milestones
11/97 Final approval for use of RCRA and Superfund contract mechanisms.
9/97 Completed tank upgrade and leak detection seminars.
9/97 Awarded five grants (total of $200K).
2/97 Held an all Tribes UST meeting.
Contact
David Hogle, (303) 312-6137
Region 9
Region 9 continued to emphasize environmental justice in state grant guidance by
encouraging work plan activities that incorporated environmental justice goals in leak
detection inspections and prioritization of LUST sites. Region 9 also required the states to
inform EPA of any environmental justice activities in quarterly reports. These on-going
activities have been fully-integrated into the operations of Region 9.
Completed Milestones
3/97 Completed draft grant guidance.
3/98 Completed grant guidance.
Contact
Norwood Scott, (415) 744-2081
Action Item
Find ways to provide funds and technical assistance to state and tribal governments
Region 5
Region 5 provided grants totaling $104,000 to four tribal reservations to survey for
unregistered tanks; to distribute literature on leak detection and 1998 upgrade requirements;
and to update existing UST Notification Data. Another grant for $8,000 was made to the Ho
Chunk Tribe of Wisconsin to conduct a training session for operators of tribally-owned gas
stations on proper leak detection procedures and record keeping. Four on-going grants from
the previous year allowed the Menominee Tribe of Wisconsin to develop tribal-specific UST
regulations and codes; the Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin to conduct a risk-based corrective
action demonstration project; the Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan to conduct an inventory
and GIS survey of Michigan Indian Land UST sites; and the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe
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Consortium to provide technical assistance for safe tank removals, investigation of
suspected and confirmed releases, and LUST technical assistance.
Region 5 conducted compliance assistance visits to over 150 sites within 20 tribal
reservations. During these inspections, Region 5 also provided literature on proper leak
detection and on the upcoming 1998 upgrade requirement.
As part of Region 5's Tribal Outreach Program, a presentation on UST requirements was
made at the Bad River Reservation in Wisconsin to 75 UST owners, operators, and tribal
representatives. UST section personnel met with Tribal Environmental Representatives
during Region 5's annual GAP program.
A Tribal Database using UST-Access was completed for 455 facilities within Region 5's
Indian Country. This database included all notification data for these sites and the
compliance status for sites visited. Individual files and atracking system for 136 identified
LUST sites within Indian Country were established.
Completed Milestones
8/97 Updated tribal grants for surveys and data.
5/97 Held an outreach seminar at Bad River.
7/97 Completed UST-Access notification data.
9/97 Conducted risk-based corrective action grant field work.
Contact
Arturo Cisneros, (312) 886-7447
Region 9
Region 9 continued to work with individual tribal governments and the Bureau of Indian
Affairs (BIA) to modify the lease language requiring cleanup of contaminated sites on
Indian lands. In FY 1997, Region 9 assisted the Navajo Nation in modifying the lease
language to provide that property improvements come under the ownership of the tribe upon
termination of a lease. Implementation of this provision could result in the tribe becoming
responsible for UST sites that were contaminated by the lessee. The Navajo Nation has been
discussing environmentally sensitive portions of its lease language with the Navajo
Department of Justice and the BIA. In FY 1998, Region 9 announced that the Navajo Nation
made these changes, and all of its new leases include strict environmental provisions.
Region 9 anticipates that other regional tribes will begin to do this. Region 9 plans to
continue to raise this issue with the tribes and the BIA.
Completed Milestones
1/97 Navajo Nation began incorporating environmental conditions in new leases.
1/97 Various tribes worked with BIA and local agencies to change lease language to
protect tribal lands from being contaminated.
9/97 Continued a $30,000 RCRA 8001 grant to Gila River Indian Community.
9/97 Contributed $70,000 toward a RCRA GAP grant for the Navajo Nation's UST
Program.
9/97 Awarded a $40,000 RCRA 8001 grant to the Hopi Tribe.
FY98 Made the following awards:
• $103,000 towards the RCRA GAP Grant to the Navajo Nation UST Program.
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• $65,000 RCRA 8001 Grant to the Hopi Tribe.
• Continued a three-year $30,000 RCRA 8001 Grant to the Gila River Tribe.
• $200,000 RCRA 8001 two-year grantto Inter Tribal Council of Arizona (ITCA).
• $40,000 to conduct upgrade and closure training for tribal staff at 5 locations.
• $30,000 for Circuit Rider.
• $20,000 to train tribal staff in Northern California and Nevada on conducting
inspections.
Contacts
Mary Keil, (415)744-2080
La Donna Thomas, (415) 744-2082
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Federal Facilities
Action Items:
Fully integrate the Federal Facilities Environmental Restoration Dialogue Committee's
(FFERDC) environmental justice principle into decision making at
federal facilities cleanups 125
Federal Facilities Restoration and Reuse Office 125
Region 3 126
Provide information on and sensitize federal agencies to environmental justice concerns
related to base closures and other high-priority federal facility sites 127
Region 2 127
Region 3 128
Region 7 128
Ensure meaningful participation by the full range of stakeholders, particularly
communities of color and low-income communities, in the cleanup process 129
Federal Facilities Restoration and Reuse Office 129
Encourage decision-making processes that harness and build upon local and indigenous
leadership and expertise 129
Region 10 129
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Topic Area: Federal Facilities
Action Item
Fully integrate the Federal Facilities Environmental Restoration Dialogue Committee 's
(FFERDC) environmental justice principle into decision making at federal facilities
cleanups
Federal Facilities Restoration and Reuse Office
In FYs 1997 and 1998, OSWER's Federal Facilities Restoration and Reuse Office (FFRRO)
continued to implement the environmental justice principle from the final report of the
Federal Facilities Environmental Restoration Dialogue Committee (FFERDC). FFRRO's
aggressive environmental justice agenda focused on three primary areas: (1) partnerships;
(2) capacity building grants; and (3) information exchange.
FFRRO entered into partnerships and awarded cooperative agreement grants to several
community-based organizations. These grants have been used to conduct research; train
impacted community members; enhance the effectiveness of community members in
environmental planning and restoration; empower communities by providing access to
information; and implement the FFERDC principles. These grants offered opportunities to
leverage precious resources, build trust, and reach a wide audience.
FFRRO partnered with EPA's Regional Offices to support site-specific environmental
justice and public participation efforts. FFRRO worked with DoD and DOE to ensure that
issues related to environmental justice were addressed by Restoration Advisory Boards
(RABS) and Site-Specific Advisory Boards (SSABs). FFRRO also served as the EPA
representative to the People of Color and Disenfranchised Communities (CDC)
Environmental Health Summit. The CDC released the 1997 People of Color and
Disenfranchised Communities Environmental Health Summit Report. The summit produced
the Environmental Justice Protocol for Department of Health and Human Services Agencies
in Addressing Radiation and Health Issues in People of Color and Disenfranchised
Communities.
Completed Milestones
2/97 CFEJ hosted FFERDC Emergency Training Institute on Cleaning -up Contaminated
Communities, Savannah, Georgia.
2/97 Howard University's Urban Environment Institute hosted Federal Facility Public
Participation Seminar planning session.
4/97 EPA-Howard University Partnership's Capacity Building for Federal Facilities
Communities press announcement.
4/97 Howard University's Urban Institute donated computer to Vint Hills Farm
Restoration Advisory Board.
5/97 CFEJ co-sponsored with EPA, ATSDR, CDC, and NIOSH a "People of Color
Environmental Health Summit," Wave land, Mississippi.
7/97 San Francisco State's Urban Institute hosted Northeast Federal Facilities Cleanup
Workshop, Amherst, Massachusetts.
8/97 Howard University's Urban Environment Institute hosted Federal Facility Public
Participation Seminar.
8/97 CFEJ and Xavier hosted a series of five environmental health education workshops.
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8/97 San Francisco State' s Urban Institute released a draft of "Stakeholder' s Guide to the
Cleanup of Federal Facilities" for comment.
FY98 Supported a special Roundtable on Environmental Justice: Institutionalizing
Capacity Building through Aca-Net. Representatives from seven academic
institutions, five communities, and DOE attended.
FY98 Formed partnership with Howard University's Urban Environment Institute (UEI)
7/98 EPA and UEI sponsored a Collaborative Partners Community Empowerment
Research Conference in Charleston, South Carolina.
FY98 EPA and Howard University developed a Stakeholder to Stockholder Program
FY98 Awarded grant to the International Institute for Indigenous Resource
Management (IIIRM).
FY98 Awarded grant to Resource Solutions.
Contact
Marsha Minter, (202) 260-6626
Region 3
Region 3 entered into an Administrative Consent Order (ACO) with the Department of the
Navy to investigate and remediate releases of PCBs, PAHs, and heavy metals from the
Washington Navy Yard in the District of Columbia. These pollutants have been detected
onsite and in the Anacostia River. The project is being conducted under the authority of the
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The ACO combined the requirements
of RCRA and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability
Act (CERCLA), also known as Superfund, to develop remediation plans and to address the
contamination. The project included coordination between EPA's RCRA and CERCLA
programs and the District of Columbia's Environmental Regulatory Agency. This
coordination provided federal and state oversight of both regulatory requirements.
The Washington Navy Yard is located within two miles of the White House, and is
surrounded by a substantially minority community. The surrounding community has raised
environmental justice concerns regarding the remediation of the Washington Navy Yard. In
response to ACO requirements, the Navy established the Restoration Advisory Board to
facilitate community relations and to address environmental justice concerns. The board met
monthly and provided a forum for the citizens to participate in the investigation and
remediation processes. The cleanup process included an assessment of the human health and
ecological risks for the surrounding community and the environment. The Navy also
considered training and employing local residents for site-related cleanup activities.
The site is currently under consideration for listing on the National Priority List (NPL).
Once added to the NPL, the project will be completed under a Superfund Interagency
Agreement (IAG). By the year 2003, the Navy will transfer 6,000 jobs into the renovated
Washington Navy Yard under the Navy's Base Realignment and Closure program. Based
on its geographical location and its substantial minority population, the facility will be a part
of Region 3's Anacostia Initiative and Region 3's Environmental Justice Initiative.
On June 30, 1999, EPA, the Department of the Navy, and the District of Columbia entered
into a Federal Facilities Agreement to continue the investigation and remediation of the
Washington Navy Yard contamination. The project began under the authority of a RCRA
Administrative Consent Order (ACO) that combined the requirements of RCRA and
CERCLA. The project now involves coordination between EPA's RCRA and CERCLA
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programs and the District of Columbia Department of Health. This coordination continues
to provide federal and state oversight of both regulatory requirements.
Completed Milestones
3/97 Public meeting and public comment period on issuance of EPA order.
7/97 RCRA administrative consent order effective.
11/97 Interim measures and removal actions at substantially contaminated areas.
4/98 EPA approved of interim measures/removal actions workplan.
6/98 Site listed on NPL.
5/99 EPA approved the corrective action management plan update one for the
Washington Navy Yard.
5/99 RCRA facility-wide facility investigation work plan approved.
5/99 EPA approved work plan for sites 7,11, and 13.
6/99 EPA approved work plan for site 16.
6/99 FFA signed.
8/99- 10/99 Public comment period for the FFA.
Contact
Vernon Butler, (215) 814-3425
Action Item
Provide information on and sensitize federal agencies to environmental justice concerns
related to base closures and other high-priority federal facility sites
Region 2
Region 2 collected demographic data on low income and minority groups within the region.
This data was used to develop general and site-specific screening procedures to target
environmental justice communities for all Region 2 activities, including Superfund activities
[ 1 ]. The data currently is available in tabular format from the regional database. To facilitate
the presentation of the environmental data in map format, the data is being entered into GIS.
Environmental justice data is provided to agencies at federal facilities.
Region 2 established a Regional Environmental Justice Coordinator and Environmental
Justice Division Contacts. Formal environmental justice sensitivity training is mandatory
for all Region 2 staff.
Completed Milestones
FY98 Completed entry of demographic data into GIS database. Provided database to
federal facilities.
FY98 Completed Region 2 environmental justice training.
Contacts
Robert Wing, (212) 637-4332
MelvaHayden,(212) 637-5027 (Regional Environmental Justice Coordinator)
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Region 3
Under the authority of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Region 3
completed negotiations of the Administrative Consent Order to conduct interim measures
to stabilize onsite releases and to investigate the releases of hazardous constituents at the
Washington Navy Yard. Releases of PCBs, PAHs, and heavy metals were detected onsite.
The General Services Administration (GSA) owned and operated its portion of the facility
since 1963. The Southeast Federal Center (SEFC) project and the Washington Navy Yard
project had similar contaminants and similar environmental justice concerns. Both the
Washington Navy Yard and the SEFC projects planned to assess the risks of the
contaminants to the environment and to the local community. SEFC began initial
investigation and remedial activities.
Completed Milestones
9/98 Completed negotiations for issuance of RCRA 3013 order.
11/98 Reviewed RCRA facility investigation workplan.
7/99 Completed negotiations for issuance of RCRA 3013 order.
11/99 Reviewed RCRA facility investigation workplan.
12/99 Completed interim measures.
Contact
Vernon Butler, (215) 814-3425
Region 7
Region 7 continued to encourage the formation of Restoration Advisory Boards (RABs) at
each federal facility. EPA regularly participated in RAB meetings at these sites to facilitate
community outreach, education, and participation in the cleanup process. Before the
establishment of RABs at each site, community participation was nearly non-existent. Now
15-20 community members meet monthly or semi-monthly. EPA's participation in and
commitment to the RABs at these sites has increased community awareness about the
decision-making process. The RAB process also has increased the community's confidence
that regulatory decisions are consistent with community desires.
Completed Milestones
12/96 - 8/97 Established five RABs.
Contact
Tom Lorenz, (913) 551-7292
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Action Item
Ensure meaningful participation by the full range of stakeholders, particularly
communities of color and low-income communities, in the cleanup process
Federal Facilities Restoration and Reuse Office
EPA's environmental justice support to other federal agencies helped these agencies focus
their public outreach efforts to serve their communities more equitably. EPA and DoD
issued joint guidelines for establishing Restoration Advisory Boards (RABs) on September
27, 1994. During environmental restoration efforts at military installations, RABs provided
frameworks for partnerships among installation representatives, regulatory agencies,
communities, and other stakeholders. These partnerships increased the efficiency, cost-
effectiveness, and focus of the restoration efforts.
DoD policy required the establishment of RABs at all closing installations and at non-
closing installations where local communities express interest or concern. As of September
30, 1997, more than 270 installations in the United States and its territories participated in
RABs. RAB members reflected the diverse interests within local communities. RABs also
facilitated the flow of information in affected communities. Through its Technical
Assistance Grant (TAG) program, EPA provided funds to community groups focused on
increasing community involvement. As of September 30, 1997, TAGs were awarded at 32
federal facilities.
EPA also worked with the Department of Energy (DOE) to ensure that environmental justice
issues were addressed by the Site-Specific Advisory Boards (SSABs). Similar to the DoD
RABs, SSABs encouraged stakeholder involvement in the cleanup decision-making process.
SSAB members represented residents. These representatives were from surrounding
communities, local industries, environmental groups, Indian tribes, local government, state
agencies, and federal agencies. Currently, SSABs exist at 12 DOE sites.
Contact
Marsha Minter, (202) 260-6626
Action Item
Encourage decision-making processes that harness and build upon local and indigenous
leadership and expertise
Region 10
As an ongoing effort under EPA's trust obligations, Region 10 involved tribes in decision
making and oversight at the cleanup of DOE's Hanford site. Special efforts were made to
respond to tribal input, and the input has shaped the Hanford cleanup program. EPA's
Hanford Project Office issued fact sheets, supported the Hanford Advisory Board
(stakeholder, citizen, and tribal representation), issued press releases, and worked with DOE
on four information repositories.
A document was issued about Hanford contamination in the Columbia River. This document
was produced by a team of representatives from EPA, DOE, the states of Oregon and
Washington, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the Yakama Indian
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Nation, and the Nez Perce Tribe. The tribes participated in budget prioritization discussions
with DOE; they also participated in the Hanford Advisory Board, the Natural Resource
Trustee council, and the Cultural Resources Board.
Contact
Larry Gadbois, (509) 376-9884
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Emergency Planning, Community Right-To-Know Act (EPCRA)
Action Items:
Incorporate environmental justice criteria into inspection targeting strategy and enforcement. 132
Region 3 132
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Topic Area: Emergency Planning, Community Right-To-Know Act
Action Item
Incorporate environmental justice criteria into inspection targeting strategy and
enforcement
Region 3
The main goal of the EPCRA Section 313 Compliance Program is to help ensure that the
Toxic Chemical Release Inventory System is complete and accurate by encouraging
nonreporters and inaccurate reporters to comply in the future. The EPCRA Section 313
Enforcement Program has been focusing its efforts toward identifying non-reporters, late
reporters, and inaccurate reporters for the time frame encompassing the three most recent
reporting years. Emphasis was put on inspecting facilities in counties with high densities of
potentially vulnerable population groups.
Completed Milestones
FY97 Performed 10 inspections in low income and/or minority areas in Philadelphia, PA
Issued three civil complaints to facilities located in these areas.
FY98 Performed approximately 10 inspections in low income and/or minority areas in
Erie and Bethlehem, PA . Issued four civil complaints to facilities located in these
areas.
Contact
Craig E. Yussen, (215) 814-2151
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Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)
Action Items:
Ensure the consideration of Environmental Justice in FIFRA enforcement activities 134
Region 3 134
Develop Program-specific and community/minority specific outreach strategies 135
Region 3 135
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Topic Area: Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act
(FIFRA)
Action Item
Ensure the consideration of Environmental Justice in FIFRA enforcement activities
Region 3
The Region 3 Fiscal Years 1997-2001 Pesticides Regional Grant Guidance incorporates
environmental justice language that promotes Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, West
Virginia, Virginia and the District of Columbia to superimpose environmental justice
principles in targeting enforcement/compliance activity, particularly as it relates to the
Worker Protection Standard.
Completed Milestones
FY96 Developed Regional Grant Guidance that incorporates environmental justice into
Regional priorities
FY97 Awarded grants to states incorporating environmental justice principles into their
workplans.
FY98 Awarded state grants, all of which incorporated environmental justice concepts into
their performance priorities, with special emphasis on worker protection.
Contact
Don Lott, (215)814-2041
In implementing the Worker Protection Standard, Region 3's states have made partnerships
with non-traditional organizations or pursued agriculture health education proj ects of direct
benefit to the agricultural worker population.
Completed Milestones
FY97 The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA), as well as the Virginia
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), contracted with
Telemon Corporation to sponsor Americorp volunteers. The Americorp volunteers
provided pesticide safety training to 1,891 agricultural workers.
FY97 The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture continued its participation in the
Pennsylvania Agromedicine Program; a program that, among other things, has
generated worker safety outreach materials, such as the video titled, "Worker
Protection Down on the Farm". During FY 1997, the Agromedicine Program
provided health care providers that interface with the agriculture community with
training opportunities on recognition and management of pesticide poisoning.
FY 98 The Pennsylvania and West Virginia Departments of Agriculture continue to
implement agro-medicine programs in their respective states. These programs have
a specific worker protection component through education and promotion of
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pesticide related health issues that impact workers and others involved in
agriculture.
Contact
Magdal. Rodriguez-Hunt, (215) 814-2128
Action Item
Develop Program-specific and community/minority specific outreach strategies
Region 3
Region 3 initiated efforts to meet with agricultural workers protected under the 1992 Worker
Protection Standard (WPS) to provide and clarify information on their rights under the
standard, to provide guidance on how to initiate a complaint to the appropriate authority
should occupational pesticide exposure occur, and to solicit information from workers on
their experiences, positive and or negative, with respect to the implementation of Worker
Protection provisions in the field. On April 1, 1997, Region 3 met with mushroom workers
from the Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, area and worker advocate representatives to discuss
WPS issues of concern to this population of workers.
Completed Milestones
FY 97 Met with Pennsylvania Mushroom workers to clarify provisions of the standard and
its complaint process. Region 3 obtained valuable insight from mushroom workers
on WPD concerns.
FY 98 Initiated discussions with the Pesticides Control Program, New Jersey Department
of Environmental Protection and Energy (NJDEPE), to explore the possibilities of
conducting, in partnership, WPS outreach to educate labor contractors operating
across the Pennsylvania-New Jersey state line. The desired outcome of this outreach
was to educate labor contractors on the WPS regulation to ensure that they are
aware of and understand their role and responsibilities under the regulation and can
more effectively protect agricultural workers from occupational exposure to
pesticides. A definitive strategy has not been developed. However, options are being
explored.
Contact
Magdal. Rodriguez-Hunt, (215) 814-2128
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Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)
Action Items:
Outreach and education on lead-based paint poisoning prevention 137
Region 3 137
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Topic Area: Toxic Substances Control Act
Action Item
Outreach and education on lead-based paint poisoning prevention
Region 3
Region 3 awarded environmental justice grants to two local groups: the Tinbridge Hill
Neighborhood Council in Lynchburg, Virginia, and the African American Men on a Mission
in Baltimore, Maryland. These local groups developed activities to promote awareness
among their communities on the dangers of lead-based paint. Both groups provided
opportunities to young adults to get training and education on lead poisoning prevention.
During the project period the groups helped distribute cleaning kits and teach local
neighborhoods how to improve their cleaning methods.
Completed Milestones
FY97 Prepared cleaning kits for the communities.
FY97 Developed a local video program for education on cleaning techniques and
methods.
FY97 Provided free lead screening services.
FY97 Provided lead dust reductions cleaning instructions sessions.
Contact
Enid Gerena (215) 814-2067
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