SEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS. HEALTHY COMMUNITIES.
Promising Practices to Improve
Community Performance
and Sustainability
Tips for Better CARE
' :** ^
Com
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OVERVIEW
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) Program
offers communities an innovative way to reduce the risks from pollution in their environment. The CARE process
helps communities build capacity to reduce toxics through local collaboration. CARE provides on-the-ground
technical assistance and funding to communities to help them understand, prioritize and address environmental
health threats from all sources. A recent evaluation by the National Association of Public Administrators (NAPA)
recognized CARE as a solid tested framework for engaging communities and other stakeholders. Currently, there are
68 CARE communities in 34 states and territories.
DOCUMENT PURPOSE
This publication shares promising practices and tips for communities seeking to reduce environmental health
risks. Lessons learned and anecdotes from one CARE community can inspire and fuel ideas and action in
another community. CARE seeks to promote peer-to-peer learning and this document is one way to promote
that goal.This report describes 14 successful practices CARE communities have employed to reduce risks and
improve environmental quality while creating sustainable programs. All of the examples illustrate the power of
collaboration, inclusion and being willing to take risks and do things differently.
CARE COMMUNITIES 2005-2009
Los Angeles
INSET MAP of NORTHEAST
Legend by
Level &Year
A 2005 Level I + 2005 Level
• 2006 Level I + 2006 Level
• 2007 Level I 4, 2007 Level
0 2008 Level I o 2oos Level
4. 2009 Level I * 2009 Level
Virgin Islands
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able of Contents
Tips to Improve Performance and Sustainability 2
Tip 1: Foster Environmental Sustainability 2
New Haven, Connecticut
Tip 2: Engage Local Associations and Faith-Based Organizations 4
Marquette, Michigan
Tip 3: Focus Actions around Children's Health Protection 6
Kent County/Grand Rapids, Michigan
Tip 4: Build the Trust of Local Businesses 8
Boston, Massachusetts
Tip 5: Leverage University Resources 10
Wheeling, West Virginia
Tip 6: Broker Cooperation among Local Interests 72
St. Louis, Missouri
Tip 7: Emphasize a Bias for Action 74
Pueblo, Colorado
Tip 8: Create a Partnership Agreement 76
West Oakland, California
Tip 9: Conduct Outreach through a Neighborhood Educator 18
Rochester, New York
Tip 10: Empower Environmental Ambassadors 20
Tucson, Arizona
Tip 11: Understand Local Risks by Engaging Residents 22
Martinez, California
Tip 12: Enlist Multiple Generations to Drive Change 24
Seattle, Washington
Tip 13: Utilize Resources in Indian Country 26
Billings, Montana
Tip 14: Access EPA Brownfields Funding to Revitalize Abandoned Properties 28
Los Angeles, California
Conclusion... .. 29
THE CARE PROCESS
CARE grantees follow a series of four
steps to successfully complete their
CARE projects:
1. Join Together
A broad-based partnership is
formed. Partners could be non-profit
groups, community organizations,
businesses, schools and state,Tribal
and local government agencies, EPA
and other federal agencies.
2. Identify Problems and Solutions
Working together, this stakeholder
group assesses toxics problems in their
community and considers options for
reducing risks. Many of the emission and
exposure reductions will result from the
application of EPA partnership programs.
3. Implement Solutions/Reduce Risks
The partnership identifies the
combination of programs that best meet
the community's needs. EPA funding
helps to implement these projects.
The community begins improving its
environment.
4. Become Self Sustaining
The community develops new ways to
attract funding and partners into their
broad-based collaborative to build on its
success. New problem assessments are
completed and new solutions identified.
The result: the partnership becomes
self-sustaining and continues working
to improve their environment where
community members live, work and play.
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Tip 1: Foster Environmental Sustainability
NEW HAVEN CITY GOVERNMENT
NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT
Concerned about a mix of air
quality, land use, and water quality
issues, New Haven, Connecticut,
a community with environmental
justice concerns, was searching for
ways to develop a comprehensive
air, water, and land stewardship
program. The city used its CARE
grant to hire an environmental
engineer to manage environmental
initiatives and coordinate a broad
range of projects that "greened"
municipal operations and created
the regulatory framework for a
sustainable community. Now
the city views environmental
stewardship as one of its core
missions.
A continuing thread in the project
was to build in the concept of
environmental sustainability
into city projects and policies.
These changes are expected to
be systematic and last beyond
the project's time frame, and they
culminated in the city's recent
establishment of an Office of
Environmental Sustainability.
In the CARE priority-setting process,
the city identified diesel emissions
as a high-priority air toxic risk and
was subsequently awarded an
EPA Diesel Retrofit Grant. The city
immediately retrofitted its school
bus fleet and is in the process of
retrofitting construction equipment
used near schools and vulnerable
communities as part of the $1.5
billion School Construction
Program. It implemented the use
of B50 biodiesel and introduced
more hybrid vehicles into the city's
Key Actions
Hired an environmental engineer to move the city
to environmental stewardship as a core mission
Rewrote city policies, zoning, and standards to
improve the environment
Created an Office of Environmental Sustainability in
the city government
fleet, including the mayor's car.The
city also focused on its port area,
created a no-idling program with
outreach and signage to reduce
harmful diesel emissions. Also,
the city is constructing a 14-space
electrified truck stop in the port
district to provide waiting trucks
with an alternative to idling.
To address additional air emission
sources, the CARE project:
• Conducted a series of pollution
prevention workshops and
mentoring for New Haven
manufacturing facilities
• Worked with a hospital to switch
to low-sulfur fuel
This brownfields/river site was
cleaned up and will be redeveloped
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• Negotiated with the utility
company to operate a new
facility with a net zero increase in
emissions
• Created an active Asthma
Coalition to improve residential
indoor air
• Worked with the New Haven
school system to implement
EPA's Tools for Schools, a
program that promotes the
voluntary adoption of sound
indoor air quality management
practices
• Trained and enlisted students in
monitoring of ambient air
• Installed new bike trails and bike
racks throughout the city and
promoted the use of Zipcars
Finally, in partnership with the Yale
Urban Resources Initiative, the city
developed a quantitative estimate
of the ecological system services
derived from its 32,000 street trees
and partnered to plant more than
200 trees per year. The program
encouraged planting a tree in
someone's honor and won the
Mayor's Prize for green suggestions.
The city rewrote numerous zoning
regulations and standards including
those related to waste stream,
stormwater, soil erosion, anti-heat
islands, anti-light pollution, and
bike parking. It changed its waste
processing facility regulations
to incorporate environmental
standards and updated its Coastal
Program to better reflect current
best practices for protecting coastal
resources, including enhanced
review for construction projects
within the defined coastal area
management zone.
New Haven is one of three
municipalities statewide to receive
a small, 10-kilowatt wind turbine
as part of a pilot project with the
Connecticut Clean Energy Fund
(CCEF), which plans to test the
effectiveness of wind turbines in
Connecticut. These turbines are
expected to generate 6,000-7,000
kilowatt hours of power each year.
The city also worked with a printing
press facility to install a 100 kW
wind turbine that will provide
approximately half of the facility's
energy.
As part of its commitment to
implement 20 percent renewable
energy by 2010, New Haven
participated in the CT Clean Energy
Options program also sponsored by
CCEF. The city has signed up over
1,200 households and businesses
(#1 in the state) and has earned
21 kWof solar arrays. The city also
partnered with Yale University
students to reach out to ethnic
businesses and encourage them
to sign up for utility efficiency
programs. Over 50 businesses
signed up through this program,
delivering lasting energy savings.
The city created a green New Haven
brochure and a New Haven green
map to promote the sustainable
activities of the New Haven CARE
program.These are distributed
to residents at public events,
information kiosks, and through
partner organizations. A"Lean and
Green" workshop was also held for
businesses throughout New Haven.
Project Results
• Over 12,000 households made a renewable energy purchase commitment, 50
businesses signed up for an energy efficiency program, and the city purchased 20
percent in renewable energy
• Revitalized brownfield site and installed wind turbine
• No-idling zones reduced emissions from 1,000 trucks and hundreds of school buses.
Retrofitted 150 vehicles and 300 school buses in city fleet to run on biodiesel fuel
• Reduced rate of asthma and lead poisoning from home/school visits programs
• Built bike paths, installed bike racks across the city and distributed 5,000 green maps of
city
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Tip 2: Engage Local Associations and
Faith-Based Organizations
EARTH KEEPERS
MARQUETTE, MICHIGAN
People living in Marquette,
Michigan were faced with
elevated levels of mercury
entering Lake Superior, as well
as other threats to water quality,
including the improper disposal
of Pharmaceuticals and electronic
waste (e-waste).The challenge for
the community was identifying
the sources of this contamination
and engaging local businesses and
residents to implement change.
To address mercury contamination,
Earth Keepers used its CARE grant
to work with the Marquette Area
Wastewater Treatment Facility
to uncover a link between the
high concentrations of mercury
in wastewater to dental offices,
specifically mercury amalgams
used in dental fillings. Since the
wastewater treatment facility is not
capable of filtering the mercury,
it was providing a direct source of
mercury to the Carp River and Lake
Superior.
Earth Keepers teamed up with the
Superior District Dental Society
to quickly develop a community-
based mercury reduction
program. The Superior Watershed
Partnership attended a meeting of
the Superior District Dental Society
(consisting of 57 members) to
inform area dentists of the extent of
the problem and provide assistance
to develop and implement a
mercury reduction plan utilizing
amalgam separators in their offices.
This was a low cost solution ($500
Key Actions
Shared scientific data with local and state
associations
Provided cost-effective solutions to encourage
business participation
Involved 150 congregations/churches of various
faiths in collection efforts
- $1,000 to install) compared to the
alternative, a costly retrofit of the
wastewater treatment facility.
Dental Society members voted
unanimously to pass a resolution
to voluntarily install amalgam
separators in their offices. The
Superior Watershed Partnership
provided technical assistance in
identifying the appropriate mercury
amalgam separator and facilitated
a group discount through the
manufacturer.The manufacturer
that was chosen also provided a
convenient method for recycling of
the mercury amalgam.
Success of this program caught
the attention of the Michigan
Dental Association, which then
recommended this as a best
management practice for all
their member dentists statewide.
Subsequently, EPA's Office of
4
Over 320 tons ofe-waste were
collected by this CARE project
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Water shared the success of the
project with the American Dental
Association (ADA) and facilitated a
national Voluntary Dental Amalgam
Discharge Reduction Program via
a Memorandum of Understanding
(MOD) between EPA and the ADA
to have dental offices nationally
install amalgam separators and
recycle the collected amalgam
waste.
To tackle the issues of the improper
disposal of Pharmaceuticals
and electronic waste (e-waste),
the project engaged Earth
Keeper's unique coalition of faith
communities working to improve
the environment in Michigan's
Upper Peninsula.This network
includes 150 congregations/
churches and over 50 communities
representing approximately 70
percent of the Upper Peninsula's
total population including Catholic,
Lutheran, Methodist, Episcopal,
Jewish, Presbyterian, Buddhist,
Unitarian, Quaker, and Baha'i
faiths. This far-reaching network
facilitates information being
disseminated to a much broader
range of individuals than traditional
public outreach programs. Other
partners, including representatives
from the environmental sector,
industry, government, human
health, business, law enforcement,
recreation, Tribes, and academia,
further expanded the ability of the
Earth Keepers to inform and involve
the community.
In 2006, to reduce electronic
waste in landfills by increasing
recycling, Earth Keepers tapped its
vast network by using church and
temple parking lots as collection
sites. Earth Keepers collected 320
tons of defunct computers and
other electronic items that were
then refurbished, recycled and
properly disposed. Lead, mercury,
cadmium and brominated flame
retardants in electronics were
properly managed. By reusing
and recycling these materials,
natural resources were conserved
and air and water pollution and
greenhouse gas emissions that
are caused by manufacturing new
products were avoided.
Then in 2007, the Earth Keepers
Network expanded to include local
pharmacists and law enforcement
to facilitate the collection of unused
Pharmaceuticals and prevent
improper disposal. Again, using
church and temple parking lots, the
collection effort collected, properly
disposed of or provided for reuse
of over one ton of Pharmaceuticals.
This responded to studies showing
that Pharmaceuticals are present
in water bodies and may cause
ecological harm.
EARTH KEEPING
CLEAN SHEEP COLLECTION SITE
Faith-based collection efforts get big results
Project Results
• 19 percent reduction in community's mercury effluent to Lake Superior
• State Dental Association recommended the installation of mercury amalgam
separators as a best practice to all members
• EPA's Office of Water signed an MOD with the American Dental Association (ADA) and
the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) to establish a national
program
• One ton of Pharmaceuticals, including $500,000 in narcotics collected on annual Earth
Day "Clean Sweep"
• Over 320 tons of e-waste collected and disposed of properly
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Tip 3: Focus Actions around Children's Health Protection
WEST MICHIGAN CHILDREN'S ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVE
KENT COUNTY/GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN
In Grand Rapids, where 20 percent
of children live below the poverty
line, data showed high rates of
childhood asthma (caused by
tobacco smoke, pests, mold,
and other air pollutants), lead
poisoning, mercury exposure, and
carbon monoxide poisoning caused
by poorly functioning appliances.
Focused on creating "healthier
homes for healthier children" in
Kent County, Michigan, the West
Michigan Children's Environmental
Health Initiative (CEHI), a
collaboration of community-based
and advocacy organizations,
together with federal, state, and
local government agencies, began
to tackle these problems.
After prioritizing in-home
environmental issues throughout
the community, CEHI received a
CARE grant and used children's
health as a focal point and
organizing principle to deal
with children's environmental
health issues. The goal of the
program is to empower families
to understand and take steps to
reduce environmental hazards to
children in their homes. The three
components of the program are:
• Use the existing network of social
and health in-home service
providers to assess environmental
health problems and make
referrals. CEHI identified in-
home social service and health
providers (e.g., case managers
for children with asthma or
lead poisoning, high risk
pregnancies) and created a
Key Actions
Prioritized environmental health concerns based on
their impact on children
Piggy-backed on existing in-home social service
providers network to include numerous children's
environmental health issues
Engaged same households to participate in broader
community efforts to protect the environment
joint, more comprehensive
in-home assessment tool. Now,
referrals for multiple community
resources can be made on the
basis of a common assessment.
For example, if a case manager
for lead poisoning sees cigarette
butts in ashtrays and cockroach
signs throughout the house,
he/she can now make referrals
for smoking cessation and for
integrated pest management
services available from CEHI
partners.
Follow-up with direct services
and Family-Centered Action
Plans. ClearCorps/Healthy
Homes Coalition and Kent
County Health Department now
provide direct services for the
comprehensive set of issues
including lead hazard reduction,
integrated pest management,
provision of smoke and carbon
monoxide detectors, and other
services.
EPA and CDC together invest in
children's environmental health
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• Empower these families to be
community leaders for local
projects. Local community-
driven projects have emerged
to address: lead in community
gardens; peer support for
parents of lead poisoned
children; trash and pest
management; low recycling
rates; and the community
incinerator's impact on local air
quality.
The program has been extremely
successful. $435,000 in additional
funding has been leveraged from
CDC, an EPA vulnerable populations
lead grant, and FEMA.
Children's health was used as a focal
point for this CARE project
Project Results
• 175 in-home assessments completed and referrals made
• 100 families created Family Centered Action Plans. Over 200 homes received lead or
radon testing. 187 homes installed with 72 Carbon Monoxide alarms and 311 smoke
alarms
• 67 service providers and community members trained on healthy homes principles and
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
• Over 5,000 community members reached through health fairs and community
meetings
• Residents now engaged in community-led groups addressing lead in community
gardens, trash and pests, recycling, and air quality impacts of incinerator
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Tip 4: Build the Trust of Local Businesses
BOSTON PUBLIC HEATH COMMISSION
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
The Boston Public Health
Commission had been
struggling for years with how
to tackle the health and safety
problems associated with
about 600 automotive shops
disproportionately located in low
income, minority neighborhoods.
Case files painted an alarming
picture of improperly stored
chemicals and wastes, hazardous
waste disposal, uncontrolled
releases of hazardous chemicals
into the air, and unsafe working
conditions.These dangerous
work practices were taking a toll
on employee health through
environmental hazards and direct
physical injury. Unfortunately, the
city could not shut down these
shops without severe financial
repercussions.
Through its Safe Shops
Program, the Boston Public
Health Commission - a CARE
grantee - worked to reduce the
environmental risks associated
with automotive shops. This
program helps businesses improve
operations, reduce pollution,
protect workers and neighbors, and
comply with regulations.
Focus groups had previously
identified worker and employer
needs, including what should be
included in a community safe shops
educational project. A recurring
concern that surfaced was that
employees lacked health care. Auto
shop workers work day-to-day with
chemicals yet often have no access
to health care for themselves or
Key Actions
Responded to needs expressed in focus groups
Provided free services in exchange for participation
in the program, including monthly on-site health
screenings, EPA's Design for the Environment
(DfE) health training, and business development
assistance
Required automotive shops to follow best practices
as prerequisite to securing government contracts
their families. To respond to these
and other needs, shops would
receive the following free services
in exchange for participating in the
program:
• Monthly visits from the Public
Health Van to give on-site health
screenings to shop employees
On-site workplace safety and
environmental health training
at a time convenient for the
business. The key component
of this was EPA's Design for the
Environment (DfE) workplace
safety training.
Boston Public Health's Safe Shop
Training completed at a local shop
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• Technical assistance and
other resources for business
development and environmental
compliance
The ability of the project to build
trust and gain entry into auto shops
and work in a highly collaborative
fashion set the foundation for
significant change in workplace
practices. These practices include
switching to aqueous brake cleaner,
reducing perchloroethylene-
containing aerosols, using
hydrophic mop technology, oil
and solvent recycling, waterborne
coatings to eliminate volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) as well
as labeling waste containers, oil,
anti-freeze, paints and solvents
and improving sanitary conditions.
Moreover, the project will be
sustainable beyond the EPA grant
period and replicated in other
sectors.
Instruction on Personal Protective Equipment
(PPE) was provided to workers
Project Results ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^~
• Reduced outdoor and indoor air pollutants, hazardous waste, and improper disposal
• 90 to 100 percent proper use of best work practices in 175 participating shops
• 702 workers trained and 428 shops inspected
• Model now being replicated in hundreds of other local businesses including nail salons
• Model used to help develop an EPA campaign to achieve Clean Air Act regulations
faster
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Tip 5: Leverage University Resources
WHEELING JESUIT UNIVERSITY
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA
Citizens in the Central Appalachians
have often described themselves
as "forgotten," as they watched aid
and assistance come and go over
the generations. When armed with
scientific knowledge, however, they
felt empowered to make informed
environmental health decisions.
Wheeling Jesuit University
recognized that the local area
communities'primary need was
a sustained effort to use scientific
evidence to provide credibility for
environmental decision-making.
The university's partnership,
which consists of seven rural West
Virginia communities, used the
CARE Roadmap to prioritize 140
environmental concerns voiced by
citizens, the most pressing of which
was drinking water quality.
The partnership established a
working dialogue among citizens
and researchers from regional
universities to provide citizens
access to the academic expertise
necessary to plan remedial actions.
Through public forums, citizens
were able to ask researchers about
their environmental and health
concerns. University experts
met with citizens in comfortable
environments such as churches,
colleges, and homes so they could
speak freely about their concerns.
Wheeling researchers asked for
and received funding from private
foundations to test well water
in communities where heavy
metal pollution was suspected.
Test results confirmed residents'
Key Actions
Used the CARE Roadmap to prioritize environmental
concerns
Supported community concerns with scientific
evidence
Held forums where community members interacted
with researchers
suspicions of pollution and
consequently attracted additional
funding for more detailed studies.
In light of the new data, the Agency
for Toxic Substances and Disease
Registry (ATSDR) then re-evaluated
and changed their previous finding
of'no public health concern"to
"health concern."
Experts from regional universities
shared test results and explained
the water problems. Through
this process, researchers gained
the trust of individuals and
citizens began to develop
strategies for getting help. More
knowledgeable and empowered,
many of these same citizens
10
Coal sludge impoundment plant and nearby
community, one CARE project focus area
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provided testimony about their
water issues before West Virginia
legislative subcommittees. Citizens
proclaimed,"CARE has given us a
voice."
The work completed as part of the
CARE project got the attention
of the state legislature, which
mandated a study of underground
injection of coal slurry on
groundwater and community
health. Two outcomes of that study
were a temporary moratorium
on the underground injection of
coal slurry and the extension of
water lines into the three rural
communities through funding
from the state legislature and
the West Virginia Department of
Environmental Protection (WV
DEP).
Collaborative negotiations are
currently being held among
community residents, the coal
industry, and key legislators to find
technology-based solutions for the
problem of coal slurry production.
The legislature is investigating
the economic and technological
feasibility of alternative coal
processing methods that would
protect human health and the
environment.Through the work of
the CARE project, the public and its
elected officials have moved from a
discussion on the potential impacts
of coal slurry to discussing how the
state can stop producing slurry and
how much it will cost.
The grantee is now replicating
the CARE model in neighboring
communities, leveraging additional
funding from three other
foundations, working with MSHA,
the U.S. Geological Survey, WV
DEP, local organizations, and other
universities. With additional access
to data and additional state and
local partners garnered during the
CARE process, the Wheeling Jesuit
University will continue to help the
local communities address their
environmental concerns.
Project Results
• Three communities and 500 families were provided with temporary potable water
supplies
• Municipal water lines were extended to hundreds of families
• State legislature mandated a study of the underground injection of coal slurry
on groundwater and community health. A temporary moratorium was placed on
underground injection of coal slurry. Additional testing has been initiated
• Model now being replicated to reach other West Virginia communities
11
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Tip 6: Broker Cooperation among Local Interests
GRACE HILL SETTLEMENT HOUSE
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI
A number of low-income
neighborhoods in St. Louis were
impacted heavily by air pollutants,
including diesel particulate
matter. Grace Hill Settlement
House, a nonprofit organization
in St. Louis and a CARE grantee,
engaged citizens in reducing
a range of indoor and outdoor
air toxics. Grace Hill successfully
brokered among local interests
to leverage community resources
and build new relationships in the
community.
Grace Hill was well-known and
respected in the community for
their previous work helping low-
income residents. This served
as an entre to its role as broker,
convener, and catalyst for the
CARE project, even though
environmental protection was
a new arena for it. It was able
to leverage existing knowledge
of the city's bureaucracy and
decision-making processes, which
helped the organization achieve
real environmental changes.They
brought in and engaged multiple
stakeholders to remove obstacles
by being open to different
solutions, while acknowledging
that the parties (e.g., school boards,
chemical companies) had many
other pressing issues.
Grace Hill involved the St. Louis
school district, parents, principals,
school bus drivers, and bus
company managers to create an
Anti-Idling School Campaign, which
ultimately resulted in measurable
Key Actions
Served as a catalyst for change by brokering
dialogue between numerous parties
Established "no-idling"zones at all schools
Achieved voluntary participation of businesses to
reduce air pollution
air emissions. Businesses and
governmental entities followed
suit with bus and truck anti-idling
practices.The St. Louis Equipment
Services Division also implemented
"no-idling" practices for its fleet of
2,500 diesel vehicles. Now St. Louis
school children and other residents
are exposed to considerably less air
pollution each day.
To expand upon these successes,
Grace Hill worked with local
businesses, some of them
significant contributors to point-
source emissions on pollution
prevention strategies. A local coal
distributor, located near a school,
reduced its fugitive air emissions by
75 percent and agreed to contain
the coal piles drifting into the
school buses. St. Louis Covidien
12
Efforts with local businesses included work with a local
coal distributor to move coal piles away from school
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Chemical Company, heavily
dependent on truck transportation
for the operation of its plant in
north St. Louis, volunteered to post
"no-idling"signage at its facility
as well. A local pharmaceutical
company installed a scrubber and
new filters after collaborating with
Grace Hill.
Additional work with other
community representatives
and local businesses resulted
in further building the capacity
of the community to address
its environmental issues. Grace
Hill took care to value these
voluntary partnerships between
the companies and the local
neighborhood residents, serving
as a broker of dialogue among the
parties, and ultimately developing
positive relationships where none
previously existed.
Experience gained from the CARE
project allowed the grantee to
secure an additional $3 million
dollars for diesel engine retrofits
(including 520 school buses, 91
airport support vehicles, 50 fire
department trucks, 33 refuge
haulers, 35 commercial trucks, and
a tugboat). An additional 929.8 tons
of emissions and 98,430 gallons of
fuel will be saved annually.
Anti-Idling poster contest
Project Results ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^~
• Anti-idling zones reduced emissions of 1,102 tons of nitrogen oxide, 29 tons of
particulate matter and 2,491 tons of carbon dioxide near schools
• Three school bus companies have saved an estimated 224,000 gallons of fuel, worth
approximately $785,610
• The children of St. Louis are exposed to considerably less air pollution at school each
day
• 75 percent reduction in fugitive air emissions from a local coal distributor, located near
a school
• Local pharmaceutical company installed new scrubber and new filters
13
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Tip 7: Emphasize a Bias for Action
CITIZENS FOR CLEAN AIR IN PUEBLO
PUEBLO, COLORADO
In Pueblo, Colorado, air emissions
of mercury from the steel mills and
a power plant comprised more
than half of the mercury emissions
in the state. A coal-fired power
station was under construction,
and a limestone strip mine and
coal-fired cement kiln were in their
first year of operation. In spite of
or perhaps because of this legacy,
Pueblo neighborhoods never came
together to resolve air pollution
issues.
A bias for action involves looking
for and acting on opportunities
to proactively engage in projects
that make a community healthier
and safer.This engagement can
bring diverse neighbors together to
improve the community and create
an appreciation for the power of
collective action. Citizens for Clean
Air in Pueblo formed a coalition
called PuebloCARES, which
would use its CARE grant to help
community members strengthen
their capacity for environmental
decision making.
PuebloCARES reached out a
number of times to demonstrate its
concern for the larger community.
None of the projects initially
tackled by Pueblo CARES were an
expected part of their CARE Work
Plan; however, together, these
efforts worked to bring more
neighbors and organizations onto
the CARE team and, thereby, make
the CARE project a more powerful
and vital force in Pueblo.
Key Actions
Empowered community members to believe they
could make a difference in their community
Engaged a variety of stakeholders in projects
Responded to flooding as it happened
PuebloCARES assisted the
Peppersauce Bottoms community
in its efforts to remove a hazardous
rail facility from this residential
neighborhood.This small Latino
community within Pueblo is located
in an area subject to serious,
periodic flooding and close to a rail
facility with thousands of creosote-
treated railroad ties. Ultimately, as a
direct result of community action,
the rail facility relocated.
In 2006, PuebloCARES responded
to local flooding issues by
providing labor and materials
to clean up and rebuild flooded
homes. PuebloCARES also used EPA
Brownfields funding to assess the
contamination of the largest lake in
Pueblo and the area surrounding it.
The assessment cleared the way for
Pueblo to acquire and develop the
property as a recreational area that
will also help with flood control.
14
Railroad ties burning in Peppersauce Bottoms
before CARE engaged with the community
-------
This new park project is valued at
approximately $20 million.
The grantee also worked with
local school districts, the Pueblo
City/County Health Department,
a local energy company, the
State of Colorado and statewide
environmental groups to retrofit
all of the publicly operated buses
in Pueblo County to reduce inside
particulate emissions by more
than half. Subsequent to that,
the grantee applied for and was
granted two awards to allow
for testing for radon across the
county. Radon levels were found
to be, on average, more than twice
the EPA recommended Action
level at which remedial action is
recommended.The community
now has an active radon testing
and mitigation program underway.
Finally, collaborative efforts led
to the local steel mill agreeing
to install a Continuous Emission
Monitoring System (CEMS) on its
stack to provide continuous data
on mercury emissions.
Each of these efforts brought new
partners to the table. In acting
on each of these issues, residents
began to develop confidence in
their ability to cause change.This
sense of community contributed
to a robust engagement in the
process of identifying and ranking
the environmental issues of
greatest risk and importance for
the residents of Pueblo. A bias for
action can help neighbors come
together to better serve the entire
community.
Creosote-treated railroad ties stored in the
neighborhood prior to CARE engagement
Project Results ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^—^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^—
• 50 percent reduction in particulate emissions inside buses
• Reduced radon levels. Leveraged radon grants to test and initiate radon program
• Leveraged EPA Brownfields funding to revitalize land and transform it into a park
• Relocated rail facility, cleaned up or rebuilt flooded homes
• Agreement with steel mill to track mercury emissions data
15
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Tip 8: Create a Partnership Agreement
WEST OAKLAND ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS PROJECT (EIP)
WEST OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA
Entirely surrounded by freeways
and located directly adjacent to the
Port of Oakland, the fourth largest
container port in the United States,
West Oakland was the community
most highly impacted for air toxics
in the San Francisco Bay area. Using
its CARE grant, the West Oakland
Toxic Reduction Collaborative
successfully broadened an existing
set of stakeholders and established
a structure in which to operate.
After concluding a small-scale
study of the air quality impacts
of diesel trucks including 13
recommendations, the West
Oakland Toxic Reduction
Collaborative brought together
a broader set of stakeholders
to address air quality and a
broader set of toxics issues facing
the community. To structure
the CARE partnership, the
Collaborative worked with EPA
Region 9 to develop a formal,
written partnering agreement
providing for a neutrally facilitated,
multi-stakeholder collaboration.
The agreement defined the
collaboration and its goals, as well
as the roles of the co-leads (EIP and
EPA), the steering committee, and
member partners, and includes
community co-chairs and neutral
facilitation. Defining goals and roles
helped to minimize conflict and
increase partner understanding of
the purpose of the collaboration.
Key Actions
Developed written, forma I partnering agreement
for the CARE partnership
Hired a neutral facilitator to be present at all
partnership meetings
Ensured that residents co-chaired each of eight
action teams
Several key aspects contributed to
the effectiveness of the agreement.
• Representatives of the impacted
community co-chaired the
collaboration at every level,
including every workgroup and
the steering committee.
• A paid neutral facilitator
knowledgeable about the
community's environmental
issues attended meetings to
ensure that all the key sectors
were equally represented and
heard.
The collaborative was
orchestrated so that all
key sectors are effectively
represented and heard.
16
Workgroup members meet to tackle issues and
are guided by the partnering agreement
-------
• A special emphasis was placed
on actively engaging the
impacted community, because
low-income communities lack
the resources and capacity
in comparison with other
sectors such as industry and
government agencies. This led
to the first-time appointment of a
"fenceline" community member to
the port commission.
• On-going evaluation was
essential. Not all of the
workgroups or all aspects of
the project were seen by the
community as productive.
Evaluation of such less successful
aspects of the program and
incorporation of changes are
ongoing.
The success of this collaborative
structure has served as a model
for other agencies that foster
community engagement and
multi-stakeholder involvement.
Project partners have observed
that collaborations often work best
when it is generally understood
that other less collaborative
options, such as lawsuits and
political action, remain available"in
the wings" if progress is not made
during the collaborative process.
Reducing port-related dieselpollutants
is a priority for the CARE collaborative
Project Results ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^—
• Adoption of 85 percent risk reduction goal for port-related diesel pollutants; significant
progress underway
• Resident training on indoor air, clean truck pilot programs, land use siting
• Plans developed for reusing Army base and relocating industrial recyclers
• Established a truck information center to support the 2,000 truckers serving the port as
their industry is converted to cleaner technologies
17
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Tip 9: Conduct Outreach through a
Neighborhood Educator
CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION
ROCHESTER, NEW YORK
Residents living in Rochester
were exposed to some of the
highest levels of toxic emissions
in the northeast. Lead, household
hazardous materials, air pollution
from mobile and stationary
sources, water pollution, mercury,
radon, pesticides, and indoor air
pollutants, were among the issues
that residents faced. Like many
communities across the country,
Rochester did not have the means
to access information on toxic
pollutants; much less access it in a
form they could understand.
A neighborhood toxics educator,
trusted by the community, can
deliver information so that
residents can take preventive
measures to reduce exposure to
pollution sources. The Center for
Environmental Information (CEI)
in Rochester successfully used this
approach. Those most affected
by toxics in the community are
those least knowledgeable about
toxics and their effects. After
examining the needs of the city,
CEI recognized that there was an
urgent need for a "neighborhood
toxics educator."A Neighborhood
Toxics Education program was
developed to disseminate
information on selected toxics
issues (e.g., lead, household
hazardous materials, air pollution
from mobile and stationary
sources, water pollution, mercury,
radon, pesticides, and indoor air
pollutants).
Key Actions
Hired a neighborhood toxics educator
Developed a toxic education program to explain
toxic issues in plain terms to residents
Formed relationships with citizen leaders, block
clubs and neighborhood groups
The neighborhood toxics educator
delivered toxics information
directly to urban neighborhoods by
reaching out to the citizen leaders
of each city sector, including the
39 resident-driven neighborhood
associations and block clubs.
Through this mechanism, the
educator reached approximately
2,000 residents with environmental
health information.
18
Rochester's Healthy Home Learning Center
-------
The program effort included
presentations at health fairs,
strategic door-to-door work, and
outreach to the media to ensure
the program and its information
were disseminated widely. Eastman
Kodak provided in-kind support to
this neighborhood work through its
Neighbor Information Center and
its technical and outreach staff and
programs. As a result of improved
coordination with and referrals
from the neighborhood educator,
the Monroe County Department of
Health improved their responses to
health emergencies. For instance,
one family was relocated due to the
extremely poor indoor conditions.
The Neighborhood Educator
program was just one of the CARE
grantee's six mini-projects. The
program also worked in concert
with the City of Rochester's
Neighbors Building Neighborhoods
program to address local
environmental concerns.
Residents learn how to reduce
household environmental health risks
Project Results
• More than 50 percent of those reached reported changing their behavior
• 39 groups and over 2,000 residents reached with environmental health information
• Improved responses to health emergencies due to greater coordination with the
Department of Health
19
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Tip 10: Empower Environmental Ambassadors
COMMUNITY ASSIST OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA PROGRAM OF
THE SONORA ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
TUCSON, ARIZONA
Southern metropolitan Tucson is a
low-income, predominantly Latino
community heavily impacted by air
toxics emissions from commercial
businesses in the residential
areas as well as lead and asthma
problems. For years the community
unknowingly consumed drinking
water from a contaminated aquifer
and was affected physically and
emotionally by the experience. The
community felt disenfranchised by
the minimal input they had in the
groundwater remediation efforts
underway, and people developed a
distrust of the government.
The community sought a model for
educating businesses and homes
about tangible practices to improve
their environmental health.
As part of their CARE project,
Sonora Environmental Research
Institute, Inc. (SERI) partnered
with neighborhoods that were
under economic, environmental
and health stress to help them
determine the environmental risks
and possible actions to reduce
those risks.
SERI's Community Assist of
Southern Arizona (CASA) program
utilizes the promotora method
of community outreach and
provides services in a culturally
appropriate manner and
language. The promotora idea,
which was developed in Mexico,
is slowly being adopted in the
United States. Promotora, the
Spanish word meaning "expert"
or "advocate," is used to describe
Key Actions
Used the promotora model to gain community trust
and change practices
Provided skills, training and opportunity for local
college credit
Visited homes, businesses and schools
a lay health advisor within the
Latino community.The promotora,
usually a woman, is accepted and
trusted in the community where
many times agency personnel
are not. SERI, in collaboration
with its partners, trained 105
individuals from the neighborhood
in environmental health issues
and then conducted community
outreach and assistance.
These environmental ambassadors
visited homes, schools and
businesses to provide information
and training that resulted in real
changes in their neighborhoods. In
a period of three years, they visited
over 3,500 homes, conducted over
50 outreach events at schools,
neighborhood centers and
community fairs and distributed
relevant outreach materials. They
20
Promo toras after completing their training
-------
provided information through
peer interactions by developing
trust in the community where they
spoke the same language, shared
a similar cultural background, and
shared some life experiences with
the community members that they
served. All educational materials
were translated into Spanish.
Through their training and
community achievements,
promotoras developed a self-
confidence that empowered
them to become community
leaders. Training topics included
air and water quality, household
hazardous waste, asthma triggers,
lead analysis and prevention, and
leadership and communications
skills. In addition, for every visit
that a promotora makes to a home
or business, she may get credit
toward the Community Health
Advisor certificate at the local
community college. This program
gives residents access and entry to
a college program, encouraging
some to take additional courses
and others to complete a four-year
bachelor degree program.
Finally, the project has developed
a broad-based partnership with
23 members from educational
institutes, businesses, and local
and state agencies. $734,000 in
additional funding was leveraged
from EPA's Pollution Prevention
program, EPA's Indoor Air program,
the Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD) and the
City of Tucson.
County Supervisor distributing certificates
of training completion to promotoras
Project Results
• Reduced over 30,000 pounds per year of volatile organic compounds from businesses;
saved over 138,000 kWh in electricity per year
• 105 promotoras trained in environmental health issues
• 3,608 home visits and many revisits, referrals for lead testing and asthma care
• 803 visits to auto, print and woodworking shops, hair and nail salons, drycleaners
• Provided access to colleges and increased employment opportunities
21
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Tip 11: Understand Local Risks by Engaging Residents
BAY POINT LATINO ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION PROJECT
BAY POINT, CALIFORNIA
The city of Bay Point, California,
is an environmental justice
area of concern that has been
disproportionately impacted by
toxic emissions from industrial
facilities, refineries, railroad lines
and a heavily used highway, as well
by drinking water contamination.
Although toxic health exposure
had been documented, community
residents had not been adequately
engaged on these issues, and
a plan for action needed to be
developed.
Following the CARE Roadmap
as a guide, the Bay Point Latino
Environmental Action Project
(LEAP) developed a 43-question
survey of community perceptions
of health risks using non-EPA funds.
Bay Point community members,
including Spanish-and English-
speaking adults and students,
took the survey door-to-door to
144 homes. After the results were
tabulated, a town hall meeting was
held to discuss the top health issues
identified by the survey as well
as the results from a 2006 study
on toxic emissions. The meeting
and a voting process identified six
primary environmental concerns:
outdoor air, accidental releases,
indoor air, waste and illegal
dumping, drinking water, and water
availability.
To discuss these primary concerns,
the CARE collaboration hosted
11 workshops for residents and
students. These workshops
provided in-depth information
about the issues and associated
Key Actions
Surveyed community perceptions of health risks
using non-EPA funds
Held in-depth workshops to educate residents on
specific risks
Engaged residents to be part of the process to
prioritize risks
health risks. Comparative risk
training classes were also provided
to residents as well as other
members of the collaborative in
order to identify which pollutants
would be more harmful than
others. These workshops were
critical in engaging residents
and empowering them to fully
participate in prioritizing risks
when the entire partnership was
convened.
Once the community was educated
about their various environmental
concerns, the collaboration
convened a meeting where small
groups of citizens discussed the
pollutants of greatest concern,
based on their known risks. Each
group was composed of four or five
members of the partnership and
one EPA or county leader. Then,
through facilitated consensus they
were able to rank the risks from
more risky to less risky.
22
Residents meet at a public forum to share
information on local health issues
-------
To prioritize issues, a facilitated
roundtable meeting was held in
which the collaboration members
brainstormed the feasibility of
various projects to address each of
the ranked risks. With the guidance
of a skilled facilitator, members
considered:
• Was the project addressing the
issue feasible
• Was there political support for
the issue or political pressure
against the issue
• Was the project cost-effective
• Was funding available to support
the project
• Could the project be completed
in a timely manner
• Was there community and/or
institutional support
• Was there a need for social
change and regulatory change
A voting process ranked all issues
and a consensus was reached
on the order in which each issue
would be addressed. As a result
of this consensus building, LEAP
developed a detailed action plan
to reduce environmental toxics
that community members plan to
implement.
Residents prioritize environmental health issues
Project Results
• 144 homes surveyed on community perceptions of health risks
• 11 workshops hosted for residents on specific issues
• Detailed action plan developed to address indoor and outdoor air, water quality, and
illegal dumping
23
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Tip 12: Enlist Multiple Generations to Drive Change
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT HOUSING ALLIANCE
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
With more than 40 different
ethnic groups, the International
District of Seattle is one of the
oldest and most ethnically
diverse neighborhoods in Seattle,
Washington. Addressing issues
such as air toxics as well as lead
paint, mold, and asthma within
such a diverse community
presented challenges, but also
presented a wealth of resources
to leverage the variety of
backgrounds and perspectives. In
this community, the majority of
residents and business owners are
immigrants with limited English
proficiency, almost 50 percent of
the population lives below the
poverty level, and many are elderly.
The International District Housing
Alliance (IDHA), a CARE grantee,
crafted a unique program in which
youth and elders (residents are
called "elders" in this community)
collaborate to tackle community
environmental concerns. By
working together on community
projects, IDHA's Wilderness Inner-
City Leadership Development
(WILD) program's youth gained
a greater commitment to their
community while improving their
leadership capabilities, cultural
understanding, and language
skills. IDHA and its partners would
first train the youth to be local
environmental leaders. The youth
would then reach out to the elders
through workshops and home visits
to raise awareness about the issues
and encourage them to actively
participate in and help the CARE
project.
Key Actions
Empowered local youth to become environmental
leaders
Engaged youth and elders to identify and
investigate hot spots
Performed outreach campaign on environmental
issues
Working together, youth and
elders used a survey system called
ComNet. Hand-held computers
were used to identify issues and
investigate 'hot spots' or areas of
concern for specific toxics within
the community. ComNET surveys
served as a useful monitoring
tool for observing change over
time in a manner that was easy
for community members to use
and understand.This information
was key in helping CARE project
partners identify and then prioritize
issues.
A massive outreach campaign was
launched by youth and elders to
24
Elders and youth meet to identify local risks
-------
address the priorities. Multilingual
issue-specific information was
provided to over 1,000 individuals
and 160 businesses on indoor air
quality, recycling, composting,
pesticide use, energy conservation,
water quality and conservation,
seafood safety, household
hazardous waste, and outdoor air
quality. Resources were produced
in five languages and interpreted in
nine languages/dialects. Business
owners were trained on green
business practices in the owner's
or manager's native language.
One-on-one outreach was given
to restaurant owners and/or staff
on alternatives to styrofoam,
recycling waste oil and grease,
and composting food waste. The
youth created a hands-on Eco-
Village for the annual International
District Summer Festival in which
700 people visited.They also held
a conference on environmental
justice providing training for local
residents, businesses and local
organizations.
CARE work continues through
the Community Advisory Board
comprised of elders and the
WILD's youth. Youth have become
community leaders and a high
percentage have sought and been
accepted into college and local
government internships. Finally,
the intergenerational cooperation
that took place during the project
educated and engaged youth and
elders about pressing problems in
their community, and promoted
a sense of community essential
for tackling future environmental
issues.
Diesel trucks drive through the
international district's downtown
Project Results
• 250 neighborhood surveys documented environmental toxics and land-use patterns
• 90 in-house assessments and guidance to improve indoor environmental health
• Over 1,000 individuals and 160 businesses provided with targeted multilingual
information to reduce risks
• 180 residents trained on recycling and food waste composting and 88 households
educated through door-to-door outreach
• 2,267 gallons of food waste diverted from landfill; 145 kitchen food scrap containers
distributed
25
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Tip 13: Utilize Resources in Indian Country
MONTANA INDIAN COUNTRY CARE PROJECT
BILLINGS, MONTANA
The American Indian communities
of Fort Peck, Fort Belknap, Northern
Cheyenne, and Crow shared
similar environmental challenges
including emissions from coal-fired
power plants; close proximity to
mining activities, cement plants,
and abandoned mines; leaking
underground storage tanks;
hazardous and non-hazardous
waste; water quality and indoor
air problems. Located in remote
areas and with few services and
little environmental protection
infrastructure, the tribes felt
isolated. They knew they could
benefit from a collaborative process
and structure such as CARE to
address their environmental issues.
The Montana Indian Country
CARE Project (MICCP) found that
bridging tribal environmental
departments with tribal colleges in
all four communities created new
synergies and new successes. Tribal
environmental departments served
an important purpose because they
can utilize regulatory measures
and promote environmental
stewardship and environmental
best practices.Tribal colleges
served as neutral forums where
tribal members could discuss
local issues and solutions.The
colleges provided labs, computer
applications, meeting places and
held classes for 88 community
members on GIS/GPS and 21
members on remote sensing.
MICCP collaborated with
Montana State University to
train tribal members on health,
Key Actions
Connected tribal colleges with tribal environmental
departments in four communities
Accommodated a large number of participants with
flexible project timelines
housing, environmental threats,
including asthma, and convened
environmental professionals
from 11 different tribes to learn
about solid waste compliance
and enforcement. The project
gained momentum and was
able to leverage over $ 100,000 in
additional resources.
Because CARE focuses on
community-based identification of
environmental priorities to facilitate
change, many organizations came
together through MICCP because
they shared a common interest
in improving the health of their
community and the environment.
26
CARE project residents
learning about green cleaners
-------
The MICCP facilitated partnerships
that bridged many organizations
and documented the following
lessons learned which may be
useful to other tribal recipients or
multi-community recipients:
• Flexibility in time.The continuum
of time proved both beneficial
and challenging. Community
based projects took longer
than expected, and in general,
the greater number of people
involved, the more time taken.
• Monetary support. Partnership
members felt it was important
to pay project staff for their time.
Unemployment and poverty
levels are high.
• Education to see change.
Bringing community members
into a tribal college to learn
a new skill relating to toxic
reduction pays off. This was
extremely effective in growing
the partnership and the
knowledge of communities.
• Change as the community
changes.There were a number
of partners who left the project
and some new partners that
joined.The project changed over
time and modified the work plan
accordingly.
If a community does not show
commitment to a specific
project, then stop. There were a
number of times when original
activities were cancelled
because the project did not have
adequate commitment from the
community.
Services to community. It was
important that CARE be visible
to community members, not a
brochure. Communities want
action and results through
service and opportunities for
service.
One size does not fit all. When
there is not a brochure or
resource available on a certain
topic (i.e., junk vehicles in Indian
Country), then make one. It is
important to share pertinent
resources with a community that
will enable them to address their
needs.
University students sample for
water contaminants
Project Results
• Over 7,000 pounds of hazardous chemicals removed from 13 schools, protecting 1,233
students
• 295,460 pounds of metal from cars, 34 tires, 780 pounds of toxic fluids, 12 truckloads of
scrap metal, tons of cardboard, rubber carpets, plastic PCB components,! 02 mercury
switches from cars, 19.2 pounds of mercury from school labs, 57 car transmissions and
oil, and 102 car batteries recycled and/or disposed of
• 93 homes reached with healthy homes visits on indoor air quality and asthma
• 3,500 people contacted about illegal dumping, signs posted at 8 sites. Overall Project
touched the lives of 21,910 people.
27
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Tip 14: Access EPA Brownfields Funding to
Revitalize Abandoned Properties
PACOIMA BEAUTIFUL
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
Pacoima, a low-income community
in Los Angeles, California, was
heavily impacted by air and
land pollution. Abandoned,
contaminated properties located
near residential areas were a
particular cause of concern.
Cleaning up these sites was
essential in order to reinvest in
them, increase the local tax base,
facilitate job growth, and create a
healthier, safer community.
Numerous brownfields were
uncovered during Pacoima's
CARE process of identifying and
understanding environmental
health issues from all sources in
the community.The community
applied for and received $50,000
in EPA Targeted Brownfields
Assessment funding to conduct
environmental site assessments
and assist with community
redevelopment of these sites.1
Pacoima Beautiful staff worked
with EPA contractors to identify
an area with 230 parcels that was
littered with auto dismantlers,
plating facilities, construction
yards and granite cutters. All of
these were suspected of posing
potential health and environmental
risks in the community. The area
was targeted because of its close
proximity to residents. Phase I
environmental site assessments
were conducted on the 25
properties. The report found that
many of the 17 auto dismantlers
were storing chemicals, waste and
car parts in unprotected areas;
allowing liquid waste to empty
Key Actions
Worked with EPA to determine opportunities for
additional federal funding to address issues
Prioritized areas close to residential neighborhoods
Used results of assessment to establish a dialogue
with local businesses
into stormwater drains without
permits; and storing solvents and
other chemicals improperly. Similar
hazards were uncovered at plating
shops, construction yards and
granite-cutting operations.
EPA and state environmental
regulatory staff met with Pacoima
Beautiful to discuss the results
of the site assessments, hazards
from local industries and potential
next steps. Pacoima Beautiful's
staff, health educators from the
community and others then shared
the results with businesses and
obtained agreement on instituting
more environmentally-friendly
practices. Pacoima is continuing
to expand outreach to additional
businesses.
I AUTO DISMANTLING
28
Seventeen auto dismantlers agreed to
engage in environmentally sound practices
-------
Project Results
• 25 properties assessed, including sites of auto dismantlers, plating facilities, lumber
yards, and granite cutters
• Agreements with 17 auto dismantlers to engage in environmentally-sound practices
• Conference for auto dismantlers to reduce environmental degradation in cooperation
with regulatory agencies, CA Auto-Dismantlers' Association, local officials
• 34 of 47 unregulated granite-cutting operations trained on practices to reduce air
pollution and worker exposure
'Note: All CARE grantees with brownfields contamination or suspected contamination are eligible for Targeted Brownfields
Assessment funding. See http://epa.gov/brownfields/mmatters.htm to find out about brownfields funding and the types of
support provided.
Concl ision
EPA will continue to collect promising
practices and lessons learned from CARE
communities and to provide forums
for exchanging this type of information
between communities. CARE communities
can provide valuable information on what
works and what does not in addressing
environmental health challenges. If you
would like to learn more about EPA's CARE
program, please see the CARE Web site
(www.epa.gov/CARE) or www.epa.gov/care/
comments.htm for an updated list of EPA
CARE Regional Coordinators in the 10 EPA
Regional Offices.
29
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The CARE Process
COMMUNITY
Level I
Agreement
Level II
Agreement
Cooperative Agreements and Technical Suppor
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
EPA-530-F-10-005
June 2010
www.epa.gov
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