vvEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Solid Waste
and Emergency Response
(5104)
EPA550-F-00-016
September 2000
www.epa.gov/ceppo/
How to Maintain Community
Confidence: Eastman Kodak Company,
Kodak Park, Rochester, N.Y.
The Chemical Safety Network is designed to share successful practices in
implementation, risk com munication, and data use. The projects detailed in the Chemical
Safety Network a re easily reproducible, low cost and promote partnership-build ing in the
community. This factsheet does not provide extensive information about a project.
Rather, it is intended to help stakeholders generate ideas, identify tools and pinpoint
funding sources for accident preparedness and prevention initiatives.
Background
Kodak Park, in Rochester, N.Y., is Eastman Kodak's largest manufacturing complex.
The site is located in the midst of a highly-urbanized area that includes thousands of
households and businesses. Over the years, eliminating the use of some highly
hazardous substances, substituting less hazardous materials, and reducing the storage
or use of hazardous materials has significantly reduced potential chemical hazards at
the site. As a result, the company's Risk Management Plan covered only two
processes - one involving a formaldehyde storage tank and the other involving a
storage tank of highly flammable vinylidene chloride. The RMP also required the
facility to report on the "worst case" impact to neighboring communities for these
two chemicals. Worst-case scenario reporting had the potential to be a community
relations nightmare. However, actions taken prior to 1999 had minimized or
eliminated risks from handling or storage of chemicals.
Public Outreach
Five times a year, the company mails a newsletter to approximately 13,500 plant
neighbors and 10,000 employees that includes information about developments at the
facility. Additionally, a staffed on-site Neighborhood Information Center is open
Monday through Friday to anyone seeking information about Kodak Park-related
issues. At the center, the public can obtain information such as material safety data
sheets, risk management plans and other health and safety-related information.
Community residents also can ask one of the center's staff to give further explanation
or answer questions about chemical hazards.
Citizens also can call a 24-hour hotline to voice concerns about plant operations. A
Community Advisory Council, with members representing local government, local
schools, plant neighbors, and special interest groups meets monthly to discuss issues
raised by the community and other topics suggested by plant personnel.
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Challenges
Kodak identified the following challenges:
• High profile c ompany in the community;
• Active local public advocacy groups; and
• How to demonstrate the two "Ps -prevention and preparedness" in the context of RMP.
Results
Outreach helped Kodak Park retain a high level of community support - an annual survey of
neighbors showed that 95% agreed the company was an asset to the community, while 89% agreed
that the facility cooperated with government to insure health and safety. Despite the absence of
community concerns, the company eliminated any off-site impact from worst-case scenario releases
covered under RMP. This was accomplished by installing improved containment capabilities at a
chemical handling facility.
Budget
Kodak Park has an annual $100,000 budget for community relations activities, such as the
newsletter, community survey, public meetings, and citizen advisory council.
Tips For Enhancing Community Relations
Kodak Park suggests the following tips:
• Know your public: plant employees, other industries, local safety personnel, media,
government officials, neighborhood groups and other interested individuals, school, hospitals,
and nursing homes.
• Communicate early and often! Key messages should be clear and concise and come directly
from you to avoid "filtering" by others.
• Tell the public what you are doing to prevent accidents and how you are prepared to handle
emergencies that do occur.
• Develop a system for keeping the public routinely informed about plant operations.
• Participate in community activities.
• Utilize newsletters, letters, brochures, meetings, and open houses to get your message out.
• Develop a mechanism to get citizen feedback.
For more information, contact...
Name: Christopher Veronda, Manager Communications and Public Affairs
Organization: Eastman Kodak Company
Address: Kodak Park Site
Rochester, NY 14652
E-Mail: Christopher.veronda@kodak.com or Cynthia Ames, neighborhood
information specialist, (716) 722-1707 ; cynthia.ames@kodakcom
Telephone: (716) 722-9627
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Additional copies of this and other pubications in the Chemical Safety Network series are available from:
National Service Center for Environmental Publications
Phone: (800)490-9198
Fax:(513)489-8695
Email: ncepi.mail@epamail.epa.gov
or you can download an electronic copy from the Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Office's
web site on the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/ceppo.
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