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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