Untied States Office of Publication 9230.0-OSFSi
Environmental Protection Solid Waste and September 1992
Agency Emergency Response
&EPA Superfund Fact Sheet:
Community Interviews
Office of Emergency and Remedial Response Quick Reference Fact Sheet
Hazardous Site Control Division (5203G)
More than ten years of experience with the Superfund program has demon-
strated the value of community input in planning a successful hazardous
waste site cleanup. One important way EPA gathers information from the
community is through personal interviews. By speaking with, and listening
to, a variety of community residents, EPA can identify the issues that are
most important to the people who live or work near a hazardous waste
cleanup site. Community interviews can also help EPA uncover additional
information about operations and disposal practices that contributed to con-
tamination at the site. This fact sheet answers questions about the commu-
nity interview process.
What are community Community interviews are EPA's informal discussions with community mem-
Intervlews? bers interested in a Superfund site. People interviewed include community
leaders, local government officials, concerned citizens, environmental groups,
potentially responsible parties (PRPs), and other persons interested in site
activities. During the interviews, EPA representatives ask questions to gather
information about the site and to learn more about people's attitudes and
issues concerning its cleanup. In choosing whom to interview, EPA tries to
get the broadest possible range of perspectives about the site.
Why does EPA Since no two sites or communities are alike, EPA gathers community-spe-
COndUCt community cific information and uses it to plan how best to keep the public informed
Interviews? an<^ involved during site cleanup. Among the many factors influencing
public attitudes toward Superfund sites are: proximity to a public water
supply; site accessibility; local experience with other hazardous waste sites,
other government agencies, or PRPs; and the activity of local interest groups.
The information gathered during interviews may also be helpful in planning
the cleanup. For example, local citizens who have witnessed dumping may
be able to suggest locations for sampling.
What kind Of EPA is seeking first-hand information about the site and people's concerns
Information Is EPA about it. The Agency also wants to know how people in the community
seeking and how want to be involved in the cleanup process. Based on the specific concerns
will It be used? People have, EPA can develop a Community Relations Plan that responds to
local needs for information and participation. The goal is to gather informa-
tion, such as appropriate times and locations for public meetings, that will
help ensure effective two-way communication and full public participation.
What is a A Community Relations Plan (CRP) specifies how EPA will ensure that
community local residents can express their opinions and concerns, and how the public
relations plan? wiu be kept informed of all cleanup actions at a site. A CRP is prepared for
each site and typically contains:
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a capsule site description providing the basic historical, geographical,
and technical details necessary to understand wh, EPA is addressing the
site under Superfund;
an outline of key local issues and community concerns, including how
the community has reacted to the site;
the types of community relations activities to be conducted at the site,
their timing, and contingency planning;
a list of useful resources, such as local organizations and meeting places;
and
a contact list of key community leaders, government contacts and inter-
ested parties. (The names and phone numbers of private citizens are not
included in the public copy of the Community Relations Plan without
their consent.)
Will I be able to see
the Community
Relations Plan once
it has been
developed?
Yes. The Community Relations Plan will be available for public review.
The plan may also be provided to government officials, community groups,
and environmental groups, as appropriate. For most site cleanups, EPA will
establish at least one local information repository, where information such as
the CRP, press releases, fact sheets, technical documents, and other informa-
tion about a site is kept. Information repositories are usually located in
public buildings such as libraries, schools, or town halls.
Who conducts the
community
interviews?
Community interviews are conducted by EPA personnel, including remedial
project managers, community relations staff, and enforcement specialists.
EPA contractors may also participate in community interviews. Interviews
are arranged at mutually convenient times, at the interviewee's home, work-
place, or at a local library, restaurant, or meeting hall, as preferred. Most
interviews are with one or two individuals, although small group interviews
of up to five or six people are not uncommon.
Will I be able to
learn what's going
on at the site during
the community
interview?
The primary purpose of the community interview is to collect, rather than
disseminate, information. EPA realizes that citizens have many questions
about sites in their communities, and EPA will try to answer your questions
during the community interview. Mostly EPA is there to listen and learn
from the interviewees. These interviews are opportunities for citizens to tell
EPA what types of information they want and how they would like to be
involved. Meetings to report to citizens about site activities are scheduled
throughout the cleanup process separately from the interviews.
Will my name be
released if I am
interviewed?
No. Private individuals' names and addresses will be added to the commu-
nity relations coordinator's files and mailing lists, but they will not be re-
leased. Community interviews are confidential. Only the names of official
community representatives and government officials will appear in the docu-
ment that is available to the public.
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Why would EPA
continue to
conduct community
Interviews once the
CRP has been
dratted?
As cleanup activities proceed, concerns may change and new issues may
emerge. By conducting additional community interviews, EPA has an
opportunity to revisit community opinions and stay current with public
concerns. EPA can also make sure it is providing citizens with the infor-
mation they want and need. The Agency may even revise a CRP if the
community desires greater participation in site activities.
Aren't community
Interviews and
CRPs Just "window
dressing?"
No. EPA views these interviews and the CRP as its most valuable tools
for ensuring that EPA and the community exchange information through-
out the site investigation and cleanup, and that EPA selects the best rem-
edy for a site.
People who want to be more involved with how EPA is handling the site
investigation and cleanup, or its community relations activities, have other
options. If independent technical expertise is desired at a site that is listed
(or proposed for listing) on the National Priorities list (NPL), citizens can
work with local community groups to apply to EPA for a Technical Assis-
tance Grant (TAG) of up to $50,000. TAGs can be used to hire a technical
advisor who may: 1) review site-related documents and attend site-related
hearings and meetings, 2) explain technical information to the group and
the community, and 3) communicate group concerns to the EPA.
Will EPA listen to
what citizens have
to say?
Yes. For example, at one site in the Northeast, local citizens and an envi-
ronmental group took a very active role in the Superfund process and
achieved good results. They expressed concern that wells not originally
included in the State's sampling plan were contaminated, and EPA agreed
to expand the sampling plan. At a site in the Midwest, local residents and
businesses were concerned that EPA's proposed cleanup plan would limit
the use of a nearby lakeshore. In response, EPA developed a cleanup
alternative which allowed the town to use the lakeshore.
EPA is developing the Superfund Accelerated Cleanup Model (SACM) to
make hazardous waste cleanups more timely and efficient. This will be
accomplished through more focus on the front end of the process and
better integration of all Superfund program components. The approach
involves:
• A continuous process for assessing site-specific conditions and the
need for action.
• Cross-program coordination of response planning.
• Prompt risk reduction through early action (removal or remedial).
• Appropriate cleanup of long-term environmental problems.
SACM will operate within the existing statutory and regulatory structure.
As SACM develops, there may be modification of certain policies noted
in this fact sheet. However, overall priorities will remain the same: deal
with the worst problems first; aggressively pursue enforcement opportuni-
ties; and involve the public in every phase of the process.
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Regional Superfund Community Relations Offices
Region 1
Superfund Community Relations
Office of Public Affairs
EPA Region 1 (RPA-74)
#1 Congress Street
Boston, MA 02203
(617) 565-3425
Region 2
Community Relations Branch
External Programs Division
EPA Region 2 (2-EPD.)
26 Federal Plaza
New York, NY 10278
(212) 264-7054
Region 3
Superfund Community Relations
Office of External Affairs
EPA Region 3 (3EA21)
841 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 597-9905
Region 4
Superfund Community Relations
Waste Management Division
EPA Region 4
345 Courtland Street, N.E.
Atlanta, GA 30365
(404) 347-2643
Region 5
Superfund Community Relations
Office of Public Affairs
EPA Region 5
Metcalfe Federal Bldg.
77 West Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604
(312)353-2073
Region 6
Superfund Community Relations
Hazardous Waste Mgmt. Division
EPA Region 6 (6H-SS)
1445 Ross Avenue
12th Floor, Suite 1200
Dallas, TX 75270
(214) 655-2240
Region 7
Community Relations
Office of Public Affairs
EPA Region 7
726 Minnesota Avenue
Kansas City, KS 66101
(913)551-7003
Region 8
Community Relations Branch
Office of External Affairs
EPA Region 8 (80EA)
1 Denver Place
999 18th Street, Suite 1300
Denver, CO 80202
(303)294-1144
Region 9
Superfund Community Relations
Hazardous Waste Mgmt. Division
EPA Region 9 (T-l-3)
75 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 744-2178
Region 10
Community Relations Section
Hazardous Waste Division
EPA Region 10 (HW117)
1200 6th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 553-6901
c/EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency (5203G)
Washington, DC 20460
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