www.epa.gov
MAKING A IN THE COMMUNITY:
The Superfund Job Training Initiative in Newark, New Jersey
.Garfield
Passaic*
Diamond Alkalai
Superfund Site
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INTRODUCTION
The Diamond Alkali Superfund Job Training Initiative (SuperJTI) is an environmental
remediation job readiness program that provided career development opportunities for 15
trainees living near the Diamond Alkali Superfund site. Through a partnership between the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Ironbound Community Corporation,
Stuyvesant Environmental Contracting, Arcadis and the University of Medicine and
Dentistry of New Jersey, Diamond Alkali SuperJTI provided local job-seekers with new
skills and work experience linked to the cleanup of the Passaic River, which is adjacent
to the 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: JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2012
Diamond Alkali SuperJTI staff and community partner Ironbound Community
Corporation did outreach, sent out fliers and hosted orientation sessions to publicize
the job training program and attract interested candidates. During January and February
2012, over 60 people attended the program's three orientation sessions. Following these sessions, 44 people completed a preliminary
testing stage; 38 of those participants were invited to attend program tryouts. Over 30 participants decided to continue with the program
try outs.
Program tryouts included leadership, team building and role-playing activities, basic physical fitness evaluation, and observation by a team
of evaluators from the project's partners. Following the tryouts, the program selected 15 trainees.
SITE HISTORY
For about 30 years during the mid-20th century, companies manufactured pesticides and herbicides at facilities in Newark, New-
Jersey, and surrounding Essex County. These areas are now part of the Diamond Alkali Superfund site. The site includes a former
pesticides manufacturing plant and surrounding properties at 80 and 120 Lister Avenue, the Lower Passaic River Restoration Project
Study Area and the Newark Bay Study Area. The Lower Passaic River Study Area is a 17-mile stretch of river from Dundee Dam
near Garfield, New Jersey, to Newark Bay and several tributaries. The Newark Bay Study Area includes Newark Bay, portions of the
Hackensack River, and the Arthur Kill and Kill Van Kull tidal straits.
Plans for assessing and cleaning up these areas are being developed in coordination with community members, federal, state, and local
governments, and local organizations.
• Dioxin, pesticides and volatile organic compounds were detected at the Lister Avenue properties. Occidental Chemical Corporation,
a responsible party, has performed interim cleanup work at the properties, with additional site assessment ongoing.
• Sediments in the Lower Passaic River and Newark Bay are contaminated with several hazardous substances, including dioxin,
PCBs, mercury, DDT, pesticides and heavy metals. EPA is partnering with federal and state agencies on a comprehensive study
of the Lower Passaic River.
• EPA is overseeing a multi-year study of Newark Bay. The study is assessing the nature and extent of contamination in the bay and
will develop cleanup plans to address those problems, as necessary.
I U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
I Superfund Redevelopment Initiative
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TRAINING: MAY 2012
The Diamond Alkali SuperJTI training took place over 12 days
and included:
Jiamond Alkali SuperJTI is one of the many SuperJTI projects
nationwide that are making a difference for unemployed and
in environmental justice, interpersonal communication, underemployed citizens living in communities affected by
cultural competence and effective work habits. EPA Superfund sites.
Pre-Employment Training: Trainees completed courses
in environmental justice, interpersonal comm
cultural competence and effective work ha
contractor Skeo Solutions provided the training.
THE PASSAIC RIVER SUPERJTI TRAINEES:
• Live in areas affected by the Diamond Alkali
Superfund site. Many participants have lived
close to the site for their entire lives.
• Include younger and older populations.
Participants ranged in age from early twenties
to over fifty years old.
• Technical Training: Trainees completed the 40-hour
Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response
(HAZWOPER) training, OSHA's 10-hour safety training,
and CPR and first aid training. The University of Medicine
and Dentistry of New Jersey provided the training.
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.
Graduation for the program's
15 trainees took place at
the Portuguese Sport Club
in March 2012. EPA Region
2 Administrator Judith Enck
attended the ceremony and
handed out certificates to
the graduates. The program
included remarks from the
graduates as well as project
partners.
JOB PLACEMENT AND FOLLOW-UP: JUNE 2012 — NOVEMBER 2012
After graduation, trainees interviewed with subcontractors Stuyvesant Environmental Contracting and Arcadis for available site
cleanup positions. All 15 graduates were placed in a variety of positions, all focused on cleaning up the Passaic River. Two of the
15 graduates are currently in full-time river cleanup positions.
Diamond Alkali SuperJTI staff and community partner Ironbound Community Corporation followed up with the graduates and
their supervisors for six months after the graduates started work. During this time, graduates could change positions but had to
remain employed, either with one of the site subcontractors or another employer.
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SUPERJTI COMMUNITY PROFILES: Making a Difference
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Craig Burns had been unemployed and was tired of the stress and uncertainty
of searching for work. When he heard about the SuperJTI program through
^ a friend, he decided to jump at the opportunity. "The training was very
• informative and educational," Craig recalled. "In addition to learning
• technical skills, I learned tips for working well with others and that has
B made all of the difference."
• As a heavy equipment operator for on-site contractor, ARCADIS, Craig
m continued to learn new skills on the job and looks forward to what the
* future holds. "I'm very grateful for the opportunity and the knowledge,"
he said. "I have full-time employment and often work overtime."
Evonna graduated from Penn State with a degree in behavioral health.
After an internship ended, she had trouble finding work and was getting
discouraged by the job market. When her uncle mentioned the SuperJTI
training, she decided to apply.
OSHA safety training was Evonna's favorite part of the program. "It
was very informative and I've been able to use what I learned at my .
current job," she said. After her graduation, ARCADIS hired Evonna as
a Health and Safety Coordinator. "I now have a well paying career path
that relates to my studies," she said.
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Brown
Theodore Brown was looking for something different. With 30 years of
k incarceration on his record, it was hard for him to find a fresh start. When
^ a city hall worker mentioned the SuperJTI program, Theodore decided to
^^ give it a try. "I had never been involved in competitive tryouts," he said.
, "When I was selected to participate and when I was able to graduate
from the program, those were some of my proudest moments. My
daughter was so happy, she kept telling me how proud she was. That
was my motivation right there."
Theodore says he is now more marketable in the work place. "Knowledge
is power and the more certifications you have, the more valuable you are
to an employer," he noted. Immediately following graduation, Theodore
' ad ajob working with ARCADIS. He has continued to learn on the job and
s he is "open to learning anything new."
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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 exercises 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 at no cost to trainins
participants.
For more information, please visit: www.epa.gov/superfund/community/sfjti
Or contact SuperJTI's National Program Managers:
Melissa Friedland
EPA Regions 1-5
(703) 603-8864
friedland.melissa@epa.gov
Viola Cooper
EPA Regions 6-10
(415) 972-3243
cooper.viola@epa.gov
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 9200.1-115
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