www.epa.gov
MAKING A iUFPi^SKHS IN THE COMMUNITY:
The Superfund Job Training Initiative in Ottowa County, Oklahoma
INTRODUCTION
The Tar Creek Superfund Job Training Initiative (SuperJTI) is an
environmental remediation job readiness program that provided
career development opportunities for 26 trainees living near the
Tar Creek Superfund site. Through a partnership with the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the L.E.A.D. Agency,
the Northeast Technology Center at Afton and CH2M Hill, Tar
Creek SuperJTI provided local job-seekers with new skills and
work experience linked to the cleanup of the Tar Creek site.
EPA's goal is to help the community create job opportunities and
partnerships that remain in place for the long-term.
CANDIDATE OUTREACH, RECRUITMENT
AND SCREENING: MARCH 2010
Tar Creek SuperJTI staff and community partner the L.E.A.D.
Agency created a hotline, distributed fliers and hosted
orientation sessions to publicize the job training program and
attract interested candidates. Local radio stations and Workforce
Oklahoma also publicized the program. During March and April
2010, 412 individuals contacted the hotline and 248 interested
candidates attended the program's three orientation sessions.
Following these sessions, 111 people completed a preliminary
testing stage and 51 of those participants were invited to attend
the program's tryouts. Thirty-five participants decided to
continue with the program tryouts.
Program tryouts were conducted over two days and included
leadership, team building and role-playing activities, basic
physical fitness evaluation, and observation by a team of 10
evaluators representing the project's partners. Following the
tryouts, 26 trainees were selected.
I U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
I Technical Assistance Services for Communities
SITE HISTORY
Underground mining for lead and zinc in northeastern
Oklahoma began in 1891. Following decades of productive
mining, major mining operations ceased in the early 1970s.
The mining era left a legacy of open mine shafts, acid mine
water, areas prone to subsidence, and large volumes of
mining and milling wastes contaminated with lead, zinc and
cadmium. The site was listed on EPA's National Priorities List
(NPL) of top-priority Superfund sites in September 1983. The
site consists of approximately 43 square miles (27,520 acres)
and is part of the Tri-State Mining District, which includes
parts of northeastern Oklahoma, southeastern Kansas, and
southwestern Missouri.
To date, the site's cleanup has included relocation of some
residents and the excavation of lead-contaminated soils from
over 2,295 residential yards and high-access areas located
within the five-city mining area, which includes the historic
mining towns of Picher, Cardin and Hockerville. Other
cleanup activities have included surface water management
and the plugging of abandoned wells. These activities have
significantly reduced the exposure of the population, especially
young children. Residential relocation and the cleanup of
mining and milling wastes are ongoing. Longer-term cleanup
of the area's groundwater is expected to take several decades,
with completion by approximately 2040.
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TRAINING: APRIL 2010
The Tar Creek SuperJTI training consisted of two parts and
took place over the course of three weeks.
• Pre-Employment and Lifeskills Training: Trainees
completed courses in career planning, interpersonal
communication, money management and effective work
habits. The training was provided by project partner
Northeast Technology Center.
• Technical Training: Trainees completed the 40-hour
Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response
(HAZWOPER) training, asbestos and lead abatement
training, and CPR and first aid training. The training
was provided and partially coordinated by the Northeast
Technology Center.
Upon completion of the program, trainees possess the
marketable skills needed to begin a successful career in
environmental remediation and become valuable members
of the workforce in these communities.
THE TAR CREEK SUPERJTI TRAINEES:
• Are a diverse group. The trainees include 8 Native
Americans, 16 Caucasians, and 2 Hispanics. Six
trainees are military veterans.
• Live predominantly in areas affected by the
Superfund sites. Forty-six percent of the trainees
(12 people) are relocated residents from the
communities of Picher or Hockerville. Fifty-four
percent of the trainees (14 people) live in areas
surrounding the site.
• Include younger and older populations. Thirteen
trainees are in their 3 Os or younger and 13 trainees
are in their 40s or older.
Tar Creek SuperJTI is one of the many SuperJTI projects nationwide
that are making a difference for underserved citizens living in
communities affected by Superfund sites.
Graduation for the program's 26 trainees was held at
the Miami Civic Center in Miami, Oklahoma in June
2010. TASC National Program Manager Karen L.
Martin emceed the ceremony, which also included
class awards and remarks from the graduates.
JOB PLACEMENT AND FOLLOW-UP:
JUNE 2010-JUNE 2011
After graduation, trainees interviewed with CH2M Hill
sub-contractors Etech for available site cleanup positions.
Fourteen graduates have since been placed into a variety
of positions including environmental technicians, dump
truck drivers and heavy equipment operators. Remaining
graduates will interview with site subcontractors as
additional remediation contracts are awarded.
Tar Creek SuperJTI and L.E.A.D. Agency staff will conduct
program follow-up with the graduates and their supervisors
for one year after entering into employment. During this
time period, graduates may change positions but are
required to maintain employment, either with one of the site
subcontractors or another employer.
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TAR CREEK SUPERJTI COMMUNITY PROFILES: Making a Difference
Natasha McKibben found the perfect opportunity in Tar Creek SuperJTI. This former
Head Start teacher's aide first learned of the program from the Oklahoma Community
Action Agency, decided to attend an orientation session, and was selected for the
training after SuperJITs rigorous selection process, which included several days
of evaluations. McKibben and her husband both successfully completed the
program in April 2010.
McKibben recalls particularly enjoying the training's interactive exercises,
which fostered cooperation and teamwork among the program's 26 trainees. "I
also found the classes so informative," she said, "particularly regarding issues
of environmental justice as well as the technical aspects of lead abatement."
McKibben, who grew up in nearby Miami, Oklahoma, now works for site sub-
contractor Etech as a field technician, performing such tasks as setting up silt tents
and marking off mine shafts. "It was a really good experience," she said. "With all
the skills I learned, even if my current position were to end, I feel I would be able to be
hired anywhere."
Virgil Tarter is no stranger to hard work. Several years ago, Tarter built an entire home
from scratch using his hands and his construction knowledge. So, when the former
local government employee heard about Tar Creek SuperJTI through a newspaper
advertisement, he pursued the opportunity immediately. Following interviews and A
participation in leadership, team building and role playing activities, Tarter was ^1
selected as one of the program's trainees. ^
An avid hunter and fisherman, Tarter has always been concerned about the
condition of the natural world. "The classes taught us how to address hazardous
waste issues and help protect our health and the environment," he said. "The
[lifeskills] training has helped me manage my time and finances better."
Tarter also distinguished himself as a leader during the training: his classmates
requested that he speak at the program's June 2010 graduation. "It felt good
to share our experiences with our families and friends," he reflected. Tarter is
currently working as a remediation specialist for site contractor and project partner
CH2MHill.
\\orn
Early one morning, Adam Horn got a call from his stepdaughter about an environmental
job readiness program she had read about in the newspaper. Horn, a welder and
coal miner by trade, had been unemployed for several months and was eager to
learn more about Tar Creek SuperJTI. The problem: the orientation started in 30
(minutes. He made it there in 20.
Selected as one of the program's trainees following tryouts, Horn immersed
himself in Tar Creek Super JTI's career planning, team-building exercises and
technical training in environmental remediation. The training enabled Horn to
build on and expand his professional skills. "I had previous experience managing
some hazardous chemicals," he said. "Now, I am well-prepared to deal with a
wide range of different situations and materials." Horn currently works as an
equipment operator building roads that will transport contaminated wastes from
abandoned lead and zinc mines at the site. "This is a career opportunity for me,"
he said. "I think if anyone is thinking about participating in the program, they should
definitely do it. The skills you learn can be applied to a variety of jobs all over the country."
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What is the SuperJTI Program?
The Superfund Job Training Initiative, or SuperJTI, supports job readiness programs in
communities affected by nearby Superfund sites and encourages the employment of
trainees at local site cleanups. The SuperJTI program combines extensive classroom
instruction with hands-on work experience for each participant. Upon completion of
the program, each participant possesses the marketable skills required to become a
valuable member of the community's workforce. EPA offers SuperJTI training through
its Technical Assistance Services for Communities (TASC) contract at no cost to training
participants.
For more information, please visit:
www.epa.gov/superfund/community/sfjti
L
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation (5204P)
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20460
EPA 540-FS-10-0001 February 2011 I www.epa.gov/superfund/community/tasc
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