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s	U.S. Environmental Protection Agency	2007-P-00016
% WBL, \ Office of Inspector General	Apnl 2 2007
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%; At a Glance
Catalyst for Improving the Environment
Why We Did This Review
Three members of the
New Jersey congressional
delegation requested that the
Office of Inspector General
"conduct an investigation into
the history and continued
inadequate characterization
and remediation of the
Ringwood Mines/Landfill
Superfund site." This report
addresses whether environ-
mental injustice exists and if
EPA employed effective
community relations. Envi-
ronmental justice is fair treat-
ment and meaningful involve-
ment of all people in imple-
menting environmental laws.
Background
About 500 acres around the
Ringwood mines became a
Superfund site in 1983
because of dumped hazardous
paint sludge. Paint sludge was
removed several times, and
the water was being
monitored, so EPA deleted it
from the list of such sites in
1994. Cleanup activities at the
site resumed after residents
reported finding more paint
sludge in 2004.
For further information,
contact our Office of
Congressional and Public
Liaison at (202) 566-2391.
To view the full report,
click on the following link:
www.epa.qov/oiq/reports/2007/
20070402-2007-P-00016.pdf
Environmental Justice Concerns and
Communication Problems Complicated
Cleaning Up Ringwood Mines/Landfill Site
What We Found
We did not find evidence to indicate that the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency's (EPA's) actions or decisionmaking to investigate or remediate
environmental conditions at the Ringwood Mines/Landfill site were affected by
the area's racial, cultural, or socioeconomic status. However, residents living near
the site continue to believe they were unfairly treated because of their racial
makeup and socioeconomic status. Several residents believe their health was
adversely affected by exposure to site contamination. Ringwood residents said
that multiple cleanups at the site beginning in 1987, and a lack of effective
communication with EPA Region 2, contributed to this perception. Additionally,
residents believe that EPA is pursuing the current activity because of outside
pressures. Region 2 plans to address environmental justice concerns by cleaning
up the site.
Problems with communications and relationships impeded effective cooperation
between EPA and residents. Although Region 2 has increased its community
relations efforts at the site, the new community relations plan being prepared must
address these impediments.
What We Recommend
We recommend that the Regional Administrator, Region 2:
•	Address the Ringwood community's perception of unfair treatment and
concerns regarding completely cleaning up the site by ensuring that the new
Record of Decision includes a detailed comparison of current and prior site
investigations and cleanups.
•	Prepare and implement a new community involvement plan for the Ringwood
site.
•	Help the community correct the deficiencies in the Community Advisory
Group so its meetings are regularly held and productive.
•	Increase communication with the community about Region 2 efforts to ensure
that the Ford Motor Company properly performs the correct work at the site.
Region 2 concurred with our recommendations.

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