EPA/600/R-17/270 | August, 2017 | www.epa.gov/ord
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
A Collaborative
Effort to Assess
Environmental
Health in
Newport News,
Virginia
Office of Research and Development
National Exposure Research Laboratory
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SEPA
EPA/600/R-17/270 | August 2017 | www.epa.gov/ord
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
A Collaborative
Effort to Assess
Environmental Health
in Newport News,
Virginia
Office of Research and Development
National Exposure Research Laboratory
-------
A Collaborative Effort to Assess Environmental Health in Newport News, Virginia
Developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development (ORD)
National Exposure Research Laboratory (NERL)
CONTRIBUTORS:
Jonathan Essoka (EPA/Region 3/OSP)
Timothy M. Barzyk (EPA/ORD/NERL)
Erica L. Holloman (Southeast Community Action for a Renewed Environment Coalition)
Heather Arvanaghi (EPA/Region 3/Water Protection Division)
PRIMARY CONTACT
Timothy M. Barzyk
National Exposure Research Laboratory
109 T.W. Alexander Dr.
Durham, NC 27709
Disclaimer: The information in this document has been subjected to the Agency's peer
and administrative review and has been approved for publication as an EPA document
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Table of Contents
Acknowledgements 1
Executive Summary/Abstract 2
1.0 Introduction 3
2.0 Partners 5
3.0 Issue Identification 7
3.1. Enviromnental Health Concerns 9
- 3.1.1. Air Quality 9
- 3.1.2. Shipyard Facility 9
- 3.1.3. Toxic Release Inventory Facilities 9
- 3.1.4. PCB Contamination 9
- 3.1.5. Brownfields 9
-3.1.6. Lead 10
- 3.1.7. Additional Concerns 10
4.0 Data-Driven Prioritization 11
4.1. Health Data 12
4.2. Air, Water, and Soil Contamination 15
4.3. Air Quality Modeling 15
5.0 Actions to Reduce Enviromnental Health Risks 16
6.0 Additional Outcomes and Next Steps 17
6.1. Air Quality 17
6.2. Brownfields Technical Assistance 17
6.3. City of Newport News Involvement and Action 17
6.4. Equitable Development Building Blocks Workshop 18
6.5. Southeast CARE Weekend 18
6.6. Food Deserts 18
6.7. Enviromnental Justice 19
6.8. Extreme Weather Events 19
6.9. Newport News Forum 19
7.0 Conclusions 20
APPENDIX A: List of Partners A-l
APPENDIX B: Southeast CARE Coalition Ranking of Enviromnental Concerns B-l
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the following people for
their informative feedback and support: community residents
of Hampton Roads in Newport News, Virginia, U.S. EPA
Region 3, members of the Southeast CARE (Community
Action for a Renewed Enviromnent) Coalition, and Katlyn
May.
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Executive Summary/Abstract
The Region 3 "Making a Visible Difference in Communities"
(MVD) initiative for Southeast Newport News, VA has taken
a community-centric, place-based approach to identifying
and delivering service to the area's residents and the city as
a whole. Beginning with a CARE (Community Action for a
Renewed Enviromnent) Level 1 cooperative agreement (a
grant with substantial government involvement and required
outputs) in 2011, Region 3 funding helped to establish the
Southeast CARE Coalition ("the Coalition"), and quickly
formed a bond with the organization. Two years later.
Region 3, the US EPA Office of Research and Development
(ORD) and the Coalition embarked on a scientific, socio-
demographic Regional Sustainable Enviromnental Science
(RESES) research project to assess local pollutant sources
and their potential impacts to the community. These efforts
helped EPA select Newport News as an MVD community,
resulting in an expanded partnership that now includes the
City of Newport News. Through this association and the
MVD designation, the partners have identified and prioritized
enviromnental and other concerns (e.g., improving air and
water quality, adapting to extreme weather, promoting
equitable development, improving transportation). Newport
News lias recently held workshops and training on topics
such as enviromnental health, asthma, weather events,
and equitable development, and continues to improve
the community's health its knowledge of the relevant
enviromnental health issues, and its wellbeing.
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1.0
Introduction
PENNSYLVANIA
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Charlotte
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Environmental and public health impacts affect people
most significantly where they live - at the community
level. Through the MVD initiative, EPA identified more
than 50 environmentally overburdened, underserved. and
economically distressed communities for more focused
and coordinated action. This initiative involved listening to
community leaders and residents to understand their needs,
and working with local, state and other federal partners to
leverage collective resources more efficiently and effectively
in support of local goals. This report summarizes the
community involvement and coordinated local and federal
efforts to analyze, prioritize, and remediate environmental
health issues in Newport News, Virginia, one of the 'Making
a Visible Difference' (MVD) communities.
The city of Newport News, Virginia is located along the
James River, adjacent to the cities of Norfolk and Virginia
Beach (Figures 1 and 2). It lias a long history of shipbuilding,
maritime commerce, and military activity. As of the 2010
U.S. census', there were 180,719 people residing in the
city, with a racial makeup of 49.0% White, 40.7% African
American. 0.5% Native American, 2.7% Asian, 0.2%
Pacific islander, 2.7% from other races, and 4.3% from two
or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.5%
of the population. The median income for a household in
the city was $36,597, and the median income for a family
was $42,520. About 11.3% of families and 13.8% of the
population were below the poverty line, including 20.6% of
those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over.
The Southeast Community of Newport News is generally
defined by the areas within zip codes 23605 and 23607.
When compared to the city of Newport News and state
of Virginia, residents in southeastern Newport News are
predominantly African American and low-income citizens.
Residents have higher age-adjusted death rates for heart
disease, diabetes, and chronic lower respiratory disease
than the rest of Virginia. The Virginia Health Opportunity
Index (HOP) provides a composite measure of the social
determinants of health - the social, economic, educational,
demographic and environmental factors tliat relate to a
community's well-being. The southeast community also
has four out of the top five census tracts with the lowest
1 http://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/
PST045215/51700
2 http://www.vdh.virainia.gov/OMHHE/policvanalvsis/
vireiniahoi.htm
Figure 2: Port operations in Newport News
HOI. Four out of five of the top census tracts for lowest life
expectancy in Virginia are also located in southeast Newport
News.
The southeast Newport News community has a legacy
of industrialization (Figure 3), with the creation of
Old Dominion Land Company in 1880, Newport News
Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in 1890, and Coal
Pier in 1982. The community's residents are faced with
a disproportionate variety of chemical and non-chemical
stressors that impact local health outcomes, due largely in
part to the close proximity of industry to residential areas.
Figure 1: Map of Newport News, VA
3
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Figure 3: Industrial operations and coal piles in southeast Newport News
Community members in southeastern Newport News have
a history of political and social activism through both
individuals and community groups. During the course of
this Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR)
project, residents of southeast Newport News worked
with community organizations, academia, and local, state,
and federal government to identify and prioritize their
environmental health concerns. Given the relatively high
density of industrial activity and pollution sources in
southeastern Newport News, and its impact on air quality,
residents identified a number of potential issues for data
collection and exploration, including concerns related
to: port and terminal operations; an interstate highway; a
wastewater treatment facility ; stormwater and sewer line
breaks, and; access to healthy foods and transportation.
After a collaborative, iterative process, community members
decided on Interstate 664, the local port, toluene (CHX.H,)
emissions, and asthma rates as priority areas of focus for
an EPA RESES project. In addition to the RESES project,
a Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities project
incorporated green infrastructure (GI) into stormwater
management planning. Citizen-based air quality monitoring
was also implemented to help the community identify
sources of air pollution, and increase capacity in the southeast
community to better compete for brownfield (reclamation)
opportunities.
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2.0
Partners
The Coalition has been a driving force in this project to
assess and improve environmental health outcomes in
Newport News. The Coalition formed when it received
a CARE cooperative agreement (a grant with substantial
government involvement and required outputs) from
EPA in 2011. The Coalition is a large, community-based
partnership working to address environmental health
issues in the southeast community, and lias worked with
representatives from EPA Region 3, EPA Office of Research
and Development (ORD), the University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH), and the Sierra Club to address
cumulative impacts from multiple chemical and non-
chemical stressors present in the community (Figures 4 & 5).
The Greater Southeast Development Corporation (GSDC)
played a significant role in the Coalition. After receiving the
CARE cooperative agreement in October 2011, GSDC began
the process of accomplishing the first goal for the CARE
project: The creation of a resident-led coalition focused on
generating action around reducing exposure to toxic
pollutants and improving the environment of the Southeast
Community of Newport News, VA. The GSDC solicited
residents, businesses, academic institutions, non-profit/
grassroots organizations, and city/state/federal organizations
for committed partnersliip and participation in the Coalition.
Additional goals of the Coalition were to:
1. Fulfill an informational void regarding community
specific impacts of toxic pollutant exposure on the
environment and the health of the residents in the
Southeast Community of Newport News, Virginia,
and
2. Generate action that improves local environmental
quality and reduces associated risks and impacts.
The Coalition employed a CBPR approach that specifically
addressed historical environmental health concerns of
community members. The Coalition assembled, analyzed,
and disseminated community specific information on:
1. Toxic pollutants
2. Environmental risks due to exposure to those pol-
lutants
3. Community impacts of those environmental risks
The Coalition is comprised of both primary and secondary
partners. Primary partners were defined as residents,
community-based organizations, community-based
businesses (including local industry), local academic
institutions, and local media outlets. Secondary partners were
defined as City, State, and Federal agencies. Over the course
of the cooperative agreement period, numerous individuals
Figure 4: Community members meeting in Newport News
Figure 5: Southeast CARE Coalition group tour for
RESES collaborative
attended Coalition meetings or participated in Coalition
events. However, individuals who regularly attended
meetings and participated in Coalition activities and events
were considered Coalition partners.
Of the most active partners, a few were critical to supporting
the Coalition's partnership and endeavors. These critical
partners were residents, community-based businesses/
organizations, local academic institutions, and city/state/
federal organizations. The aforementioned residents and
community-based organizations played a critical role in
providing a diverse prospective of community guidance
as the Coalition developed and achieved their goals. An
ongoing barrier for the Coalition was the involvement of
community-based industry. Although numerous attempts
were made to engage others in this sector, only Dominion,
-------
one of the two coal piers in the community, agreed to
participate, and played the critical role of providing the
only industry perspective and guidance for the Coalition.
Local academic institutions provided important technical
support, ranging from community-specific environmental
information for the Coalition to logistical support for
Coalition events. The following list highlights some of the key
partners and their contributions. For the full list of partners,
see Appendix A.
• EPA
The EPA (Region 3 and ORD) facilitated the link between
local efforts and national research, and provided near-port
and near-road air quality monitoring.
• Sierra Club
The Sierra Club planned community events, organized
tours, and helped the Coalition stay on target and maintain
a positive attitude.
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH)
10 undergraduate students at UNC completed their
capstone project by running air quality models. They
considered roadways and ports as well as food deserts and
asthma.
• Old Dominion University (ODU)
Old Dominion University received a sub-award to
generate a report that that identified the major sources of
toxics in the community and the health risk associated
with exposure to the toxics. This report was distributed
amongst the Coalition and served as another source of
information that assisted in identifying toxic risks and
setting priorities.
6
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3.0
Issue Identification
The Coalition hosted three environmental health symposiums
throughout the Southeast Community of Newport News, VA
during the summer of 2013 in an effort to begin the process
of developing a prioritized community list of enviromnental
concerns. At the end of each symposium, participants were
asked to list all of their enviromnental concerns. Participants
were then asked to select the enviromnental concern that was
"Most Concerning", "Somewhat Concerning", and "Least
Concerning" out of all of the concerns listed. A numerical
value of 3, 2, and 1 was assigned to colored sticky dots with
the designation of "Most Concerning" (red), "Somewhat
Concerning" (yellow), and "Least Concerning" (green)
respectively. Each enviromnental concern with numeral
values was summed and divided by the total number of
individuals participating in the ranking process. The three
lists that were generated were compiled into one master list.
Concerns that received a ranking of 0 were not included in
the compiled master list.
Coalition members then grouped each concern into one of the
five categories that make up the definition of "environment"
fortius project (Table 1). In this project, the "environment"
refers to the natural (air, water, land), cultural (ethnic identity
and history of community), social (existing and lacking
public services), economic (local business, health care
cost), and political (local, state, federal) components of the
Southeast Community. Once each environmental concern
was grouped into a category. Coalition members began the
process of ranking the concerns in each category. Members
were asked to select the concern that was "Most Concerning",
"Somewhat Concerning", and "Least Concerning" out of
all of the concerns listed for each category. A numerical
value of 3, 2, and 1 was assigned to the designation of
"Most Concerning", "Somewhat Concerning", and "Least
Concerning" respectively. All concerns with numeral values
were summed and divided by the total number of Coalition
members participating in the ranking process. The rank
values were then ranked from highest to lowest and the top
three rank values were listed as the top three enviromnental
concerns for each category. The top 3 enviromnental concerns
for each category are shown in Table 1. See Appendix B for
the full ranking list.
Table 1: Newport News Coalition Prioritized
Environmental Concerns and Project Focuses
Natural (air, water, land, etc.)
Rank Value
Rank
Environmental Concern (14 participants)
1
Air Quality 1.429
2
Environmental Toxicity 1.071
3
Toluene 0.786
Cultural (ethnic identity and history of community)
Rank Value
Rank
Cultural Concern (9 participants)
1
Lack of Community 2.000
Unity
2
Lack of preserving 1.889
cultural heritage
3
Lack of local grassroots 1.111
networking
Social (existing and lacking public services)
Rank Value
Rank
Social Concern (9 participants)
1
Chronic Disease 1.333
2
Community Health 1.111
3
Apathy in the community 0.667
Economic (local business, health care cost)
Rank Value
Rank
Economic Concern (8 participants)
1
Employment opportunity 1.750
2
Unemployment 1.250
3
Food Desert 1.125
Political (local, state, federal)
Rank Value (8
Rank
Political Concern participants)
1
Socioeconomic issues; 0.750
living wage; lack of
community specific
environmental data;
brownfields
2
Desire for increased 0.625
local political support
and collaboration; Lack
of positive marketing of
SE Community
3
Unused Green Space 0.500
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In Fall 2013, the southeast Newport News community and
Region 3 received a RESES grant for a two-year project to
address multiple stressors using and applying EPA's research
and tools. The RESES approach aims to increase local
capacity for integrative decisions that lead to sustainable
outcomes in enviromnental and human health, and establish
and quantify linkages between the built and natural
enviromnent and human health and well-being. The approach
considers 3 main elements:
1. Cumulative Risk Assessment - an analysis, char-
acterization and possible quantification of the
combined risks to human health or the enviromnent
from multiple agents or stressors.
2. Enviromnental Justice - the fair treatment and
meaningful involvement of all people regardless of
race, color, national origin, or income with respect
to the development, implementation, and enforce-
ment of enviromnental laws, regulations, and poli-
cies.
3. Sustainability - The creation and maintenance of
conditions under which humans and nature can exist
in productive harmony, permitting fulfillment of the
social, economic, and other requirements of present
and future generations.
Using the RESES approach, this project began by building
partnerships and assembling a team of collaborators and
contributors, described above. With representatives from
EPA regional offices and research laboratories, nonprofits,
universities, and community groups, the team generated a
shared set of objectives and goals for the project.
The RESES project leveraged results from the CARE
cooperative agreement. From that process, the Coalition
identified multiple potential stressors including: the widening
of Interstate 664 (1-664), port operations (i.e. expansion
of Craney Island), coal piers, toluene (from the Asheville-
Schoomnaker Mica Co.), Newport News Shipbuilding,
brownfields, Hampton Roads Sanitation District's boat harbor
treatment facility, food deserts, sewer and pipeline breaks,
and PCB contamination.
In Fall 2014, team members iteratively developed a
comprehensive list of enviromnental health stressors
and issues in the community. The Coalition prioritized
enviromnental concerns based on evidence of established
broad-based partnerships and organizational sustainability
(Table 2). Emphasis was placed on issues where
organizations worked in or with communities impacted by
ports or goods movement. The RESES project focused on
community-based cumulative risk assessments (CBCRA)
and near-source air quality, especially how it relates to
roadways and ports. The Coalition identified port operations,
coal piles, shipbuilding, toluene, 1-664, asthma, brownfields,
food deserts, wastewater treatment facility, stonnwater and
sewer line breaks, PCB contamination, and susceptible and
vulnerable populations as the enviromnental concerns for
southeast Newport News. The top four issues for the RESES
assessment were narrowed to 1-664, the (Newport News)
port. Toluene emissions, and astluna rates.
Table 2: Southeast CARE Coalition Prioritized Environmental Concerns and Project Focuses
Priority
Environmental
Concerns
Social Category
Cultural Category
Economic Category
Political Category
Air quality
Chronic disease (asthma /
cardiac)
Community unity
Employment
Socioeconomic
Toluene
Community health (full
health assessment)
Cultural sites
(preservation/ awareness)
Unemployment
Living wage
Environmental toxicity Apathy in community
Grassroots networking
Food deserts
Lack of positive
marketing and political
support
Goals Identified
Information collection
Toxic pollutant exposure
Local environmental
quality
Environmental risk
Community impacts
Legacy pollution
Air pollutants
Port and transportation
Mobile pollution sources
Industrial operations
8
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3.1. Environmental Health Concerns
3.1.1. Air Quality
Air quality is a major concern for residents of Southeast
Newport News (Figure 6). Asthma, heart disease, and chronic
lower-respiratory disease age-adjusted death rates are higher
for African Americans in Newport News than in other areas
of the Peninsula Health District and in the state of Virginia.
Local sources of contamination include 1-644, which leads
to concerns about ozone, particulate matter, acetaldehyde,
acrolein, benzene, 1,3 butadiene, formaldehyde, diesel
particles, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide (NOx), sulfur
oxide (SOx), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Newport News experiences heavy evening rush hours and
also has embarked on a number of road widening projects.
Coal holding facilities led to additional concerns about air
quality. Coal worker pneumoconiosis, also known as Black
Lung Disease, can exacerbate asthma and chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD), and create chronic bronchitis.
Coal particles also contain metals such as mercury,
chromium, and uranium. These, along with other pollutants
from coal combustion, can have negative respiratory health
impacts, contributing to astluna, lung disease, and cancer.
The coal particles may also lead to cardiovascular disease
and impact the nervous system.
3.1.2. Shipyard Facility
Newport News is home to the largest shipbuilding company
in the U.S. (Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of
Huntington Ingalls Industries), and while it is the largest
industrial employer in Virginia, its operations also lead to
enviromnental and occupational health concerns. Small
amounts of the toxic metal beryllium are found in coal slag, a
product used as a blast abrasive to prepare the hulls and tanks
of ships for coats of paint. When coal slag is blasted against
the side of ships, large clouds of dust form. While workers
in the immediate area typically wear personal protective
equipment (PPE) to avoid inhaling the dust, there is a
concern that workers nearby without protection may inhale
the dust. According to NIOSH, the National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health (20 ll)3, "workers exposed
to particles, fumes, mists and solutions from beryllium-
containing materials may develop beryllium sensitization
or chronic beryllium disease, a potentially disabling or even
fatal respiratory disease." Breathing in fumes or dusts of
beryllium compounds may injure the lungs. Beryllium may
also affect such organs as the liver, kidneys, heart, nervous
system, and the lymphatic system.
Shipbuilding and occupational health is not a new issue for
Newport News. Until the mid-1970s, the U.S. Navy used
asbestos-containing materials to build ships. Prolonged
and persistent exposure to asbestos can cause a buildup of
asbestos fibers in the lining of lungs. This can lead to tumor
growth, mesothelioma cancer, asbestosis, and other asbestos-
related conditions.
3 http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nioshtic-2/20Q38367.
html
3.1.3. Toxic Release Inventory Facilities
There are multiple Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) facilities
in Southeast Newport News. One TRI facility of primary
concern was the Asheville-Schoomnaker Mica Company,
with reported releases of toluene from 1987-2013. Toluene
was the 2nd highest chemical (lbs) released, at 2,908,751
lbs. Potential health effects from toluene include exposure
central nervous damage, fatigue, headaches, nausea, cardiac
arrhythmia, and reproductive effects.
3.1.4. PCB Contamination
In 2007, polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contamination
was found underground in the Newport News' Seafood
Industrial Park4. The EPA has required Newport News
to remove the contaminated soils, which will reduce the
potential for the contamination to spread into the adjacent
boat harbor. Exposure to PCBs may lead to disrupted
reproductive function, developmental effects, and cancer.
Fish contamination is also a concern as eating contaminated
fish may lead to PCB exposures.
3.1.5. Brownfields
Newport News' Terminal Avenue Redevelopment Project
consists of approximately 22 acres, which have historically
contained a number of residential and commercial structures,
including a restaurant and playground. In 2007, a Final
Conceptual Cleanup Plan was prepared for the site based on
the information and analytical data contained in the 2005
Phase I Enviromnental Site Assessment (ESA) and 2007
Phase II ESA.
Based on available data, the limited human health risk
screening found that site soil contained arsenic and
chromium at concentrations greater than EPA residential
soil risk-based concentration (RBC) values, and the soil had
arsenic at concentrations greater than EPA RBC values in the
industrial soil. However, due to regional soil characteristics,
which include naturally occurring concentrations of metals
greater than EPA RBCs, the site soil was not considered for
mitigation efforts.
The human health screening found that site's groundwater
contained arsenic, barium, chromium, lead, and mercury
in concentrations that exceeded their respective maximum
contaminant levels (MCLs). In addition, the groundwater
samples were found to contain arsenic, barium, chromium,
mercury, selenium, and naphthalene exceeding their
respective tap water RBCs. These RBCs are also used
to screen for potential adverse effects on others, such as
construction workers, who may come into contact with
groundwater for use in non-drinking purposes. Since the
shallow groundwater is not normally potable due to naturally
occurring aesthetic issues such as color and odor, and the
City of Newport News lias a restriction on consumption
and use of groundwater, the constituents that exceeded their
MCLs were not considered a significant source of risk to
potential receptors (e.g., humans, animals, etc.) with respect
4 http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nioshtic-2/20038367.
html
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to drinking water consumption, as the exposure pathway is
mitigated by the city's ordinance. Those metals that were
detected on-site and above their RBCs have been identified
as potential sources of risk for future on-site receptors.
However, the groundwater samples were collected through
an unfiltered Geoprobe bore hole, a method that is prone
to collecting samples with overly high concentrations of
suspended solids. Samples with high levels of suspended
solids can overestimate the concentrations of metals in
groundwater due to the addition of acid to the sample,
required for sample-preservation purposes. This condition
is believed to have biased the analyses. The groundwater
investigations at the site have focused solely on the
uppermost aquifer. Additional investigation into risks are
planned to continue in order to determine the risk and reuse
of tliis site.
3.1.6. Lead
Lead is also an issue in Newport News. In January 2016,
an elementary school was closed after finding lead paint5. A
playground, basketball court, and community garden were
5http://wtkr.com/2016/01/12/newport-news-
-school-elosed-after-lead-based-paint-
also shuttered in 2007 because of high lead concentrations
found in soil nearby. Lead can cross the placental barrier,
which means pregnant women who are exposed to lead also
expose their unborn child. Exposure to lead (even at low
levels) can damage a developing-baby's nervous system,
affecting behavior and intelligence. Lead exposure can cause
miscarriage, stillbirths, and infertility (in both men and
women). People with prolonged exposure to lead may also be
at risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease,
and reduced fertility.
3.1. 7. Additional Concerns
Residents were also concerned about the Hampton Roads
Sanitation District's Boat Harbor Treatment Facility,
including its water discharges, releases, and spills, that could
potentially impact coastal, surface, and groundwater sources.
They were also concerned about air emissions from the
facility. In addition, stormwater and sewer line breaks were
also a concern, especially with respect to potential flooding
and overflow.
found-inside
Kcwpocl Nrwi SI
Figure 6: Multiple Pollutant Sources in SE Newport News. (A) Port/terminal operations, (b) Interstate 644, (C)
Shipyard facility, (D) Wastewater treatment facility, (E) Coal holding facilities, (F) Other industrial facilities. Photos
courtesy of Southeast CARE Coalition.
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4.0
Data-Driven Prioritization
The RESES project employed a collaborative process to
integrate community knowledge, scientific analysis and
programmatic activities to address select stressors. Models,
databases, local knowledge, and expert input were used
extensively to determine stressors' impacts on the community
and enviromnent. Table 3 shows the concerns, data, and
potential actions for each of the priority enviromnental issues.
Table 3: Issues, data, and potential approaches identified in RESES project
Issue
Concerns
Potential Actions
Ports
Increased traffic
Air emissions from port activity
Daily imports/exports (Goods
movement)
Before/after expansion plan
Water quality - effluent
Water quality - coast
C-PORT, C-LINE
NEI (National Emissions
Inventory), NATA (National Air
Toxics Assessment), C-PORT
Ambient air quality (AQ) data
(Air Quality System: AOS)
Results from prior studies
TRI emissions/spills
Connect with Port Authority
Run C-LINE and C-PORT air quality
models
Organize core group of community
members
Cooperative agreement template proposal
Coal Piles Coal dust pollution (AQ) Results from prior studies Proximity analysis of local schools
Numbers of piles Coal pier/pile surface area and
Locations of piles locations and prevailing wind
How long piles stay at terminal direction
Shipbuilding
Air emissions
Water quality near facility
NATA, NEI
TRI emissions/spills
Characterize possible emissions and
exposures
Toluene
Ambient air concentrations NATA
Sources (including Asheville- RCRA (Resource Conservation
Schoonmaker Mica Company) and Recovery Act)
Production, use, and disposal of Ambient AQ data (AQS)
industrial and consumer products Results from prior studies
(haz waste) C-LINE Results
Toxicity (dose/response)
NEI (main sources and
volume)
Related chemicals
Health impact analysis
1-664
Traffic patterns and congestion
Trucks through neighborhoods
Diesel pollution
Benzene pollution
Diesel emissions and PM
associated w/heavy traffic during
rush hour and the detour traffic
uses to bypass the congestion
Asthma and respiratory illnesses
Traffic Counts
Local truck counts
NATA, C-LINE
Ambient AQ data (AQS)
Results from prior studies
Hotspot Analysis
Run C-LINE to isolate high-concentration
areas
Determine target audience using C-LINE
Incorporate truck counts into model runs
Create educational material package
11
-------
Table 3: Issues, data, and potential approaches identified in RESES project (continued).
Issue Concerns Data Potential Actions
Asthma
Asthma incidences
Missed days of school/work
Hospitalizations
Ambient air pollution
Medical costs
Ambient AQ data (AQS)
NATA
Results from prior studies
Near-road populations
(C-LINE results)
Asthma educational packages
Characterize asthma health data
Organize trigger and exposure reduction
information
Brownfields Decreased property values
Increased crime rates
Aesthetic
Chase Bag Company brownfield
site
Zoning
County reports
Green space data
Phase I ESA; Freedom of
Information Act: FOIA
# Brownfields
(disproportionate impacts)
Brownfields characterization and potential
exposures
Food Deserts Number of grocery stores in
community
Number of families that qualify
for food stamps/school lunches
Access to fresh produce
Malnutrition; BMI
USDA food desert maps Map local food sources
Public transportation to stores Education on healthy eating
Encourage infrastructure development
Wastewater
Treatment Facility
Water quality near plant
Air emissions near plant
Respiratory issues including
asthma
Flampton Roads Sanitation
District's Boat Flarbor
Treatment Facility
NEI, NATA
Ambient AQ data (AQS)
TRI emissions/spills
Characterize emissions and potential
exposures
Stormwater and
Sewer Line Breaks
Infrastructure
Water quality
n/a
Connect with local agencies to understand
conditions
PCB contamination
in Lower James
Watershed, Greater
Chesapeake Bay
Watershed
Beach closings
Concerns about subsistence
fishing
Results from prior studies
TRI emissions/spills
Water sampling
Vulnerable
Populations
Income (poverty level)
Education (< HS)
Race/Ethnicity
Mixed zoning
Proximity
Density
# Children
# Elderly
EJ Screen
Map hotspots and potentially vulnerable
populations
4.1. Health Data
Community knowledge, and local and national sources
of health data were gathered together for this project. The
Virginia State Health Department, Health Profile for Newport
News6 lists information on births, deaths, and pregnancies.
The data show that in 2009, Newport News had a higher rate
of infant deaths, a higher age adjusted death rate of heart
disease, cerebrovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, chronic
liver disease, and primary hypertension and renal disease
compared to the rates in Planning District 21 and the state of
6 https://www. vdh.virginia.gov/healthstats/New-
portNews09.htm
Virginia. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation also ranked
Newport News as 83rd out of 133 counties in Virginia for
health outcomes7. EPA also assessed the National Cancer
Institute Cancer Mortality Maps and Graphs8.
7 http://www.countvheaIthrankings.org/app/vir-
ginia/2014/rankings/newport-news-citv/ county/
outcomes/overall/snapshot
-------
Table 4: 2005 NATA Risk Estimates9
Cancer Risk Neurological Respiratory
(Persons per Million) Hazard Risk Hazard Risk
HAMPTON (CITY), VA 46.03 (91.6 Percentile)
.05 (83.9 Percentile)
1.65 (86.9
Percentile)
NEWPORT NEWS (CITY), VA 45.98 (91.5 Percentile)
.05 (86 Percentile)
1.67 (87.2
Percentile)
Virginia 46.29 (75 Percentile)
.05 (51.9 Percentile)
1.76 (63.5
Percentile)
9 http://www.epa.eov/ttn/atw/nata2005/ Values are derived
from 2005 National-Scale Air Toxics Assessment (NATA)
Cancer Risk Estimates and Non-Cancer Hazard Index
Scores. Percentiles are ranking of Counties and States from
0 (lowest) to 100 (highest).
Table 5: US EPA National Air Toxics Assessment (NATA), 2005. Data processing by C/T-FERST.
Indicators and Indices
User Defined
Polygon
Newport News
city
Virginia
National
Average
Environmental Concentration Estimates
Outdoor Air - Acetaldehyde (|Jg/m3)
1.8
1.7
1.9
1.9
Outdoor Air - Acrolein+ (|Jg/m3)
0.03
0.02
0.03
0.04
Outdoor Air - Arsenic (|Jg/m3)
0.0034
0.0034
0.0022
0.0006
Outdoor Air - Benzene (|Jg/m3)
1.0
0.9
0.9
1.1
Outdoor Air - Butadiene (|Jg/m3)
0.06
0.06
0.05
0.06
Outdoor Air - Chromium (|Jg/m3)
0.0026
0.0026
0.0017
0.0009
Outdoor Air - Diesel PM (|Jg/m3)
NaN
NaN
NaN
NaN
Outdoor Air - Formaldehyde (|Jg/m3)
2.02
1.79
1.99
2.09
Outdoor Air - Lead (|Jg/m3)
0.004
0.004
0.003
0.002
Outdoor Air - Naphthalene (|Jg/m3)
0.02
0.02
0.03
0.07
Outdoor Air - PAH (|Jg/m3)
0.005
0.005
0.010
0.010
Human Exposure Estimates
Outdoor Air - Acetaldehyde (|Jg/m3 annual avg in
human breathing Zone)
1.4
1.3
1.5
1.5
Outdoor Air - Acrolein+ (|Jg/m3 annual avg in human
breathing Zone)
0.02
0.01
0.02
0.03
Outdoor Air - Arsenic (|Jg/m3 annual avg in human
breathing Zone)
0.0017
0.0017
0.0010
0.0003
Outdoor Air - Benzene (|Jg/m3 annual avg in human
breathing Zone)
0.9
0.8
0.8
0.9
Outdoor Air - Butadiene (|Jg/m3 annual avg in human
breathing Zone)
0.06
0.05
0.05
0.06
Outdoor Air - Chromium (|Jg/m3 annual avg in human
breathing Zone)
0.0024
0.0024
0.0013
0.0008
Outdoor Air - Diesel PM (|Jg/m3 annual avg in human
breathing Zone)
NaN
NaN
NaN
NaN
Outdoor Air - Formaldehyde (|Jg/m3 annual avg in
human breathing Zone)
1.6
1.4
1.6
1.7
Outdoor Air - Lead (|Jg/m3 annual avg in human
breathing Zone)
0.0022
0.0023
0.0016
0.0013
Outdoor Air - Naphthalene (|Jg/m3 annual avg in human
breathing Zone)
0.03
0.02
0.03
0.06
Outdoor Air - PAH (|Jg/m3 annual avg in human
breathing Zone)
0.004
0.004
0.007
0.010
-------
Table 5: US EPA National Air Toxics Assessment (NATA), 2005. Data processing by C/T-FERST (continued).
. ,. ^ I,.- User Defined Newport News ... . . National
Indicators and Indices „ . .. Virginia .
Polygon city & Average
Health Risk Estimates
Cumulative Air Toxics Cancer Risk1 (risk per one million ^
persons)
Outdoor Air - Acetaldehyde Cancer Riskl (risk per one
million persons)
Outdoor Air - Arsenic Cancer Riskl (risk per one million
persons)
Outdoor Air - Benzene Cancer Riskl (risk per one million
persons)
Outdoor Air - Butadiene Cancer Riskl (risk per one
million persons)
Outdoor Air - Chromium Cancer Riskl (risk per one
million persons)
Outdoor Air - Formaldehyde Cancer Riskl (risk per one
million persons)
47.1 46.3 49.8
3.1 3.0 3.2 3.3
7.3 7.4 4.1 1.3
7.1 6.5 6.6 7.4
1.91 1.69 1.57 1.95
2.4 2.4 1.5 1.4
21.3 18.8 20.9 22.5
1.3 2.3
Outdoor Air - Naphthalene Cancer Riskl (risk per one ^ q g
million persons)
Outdoor Air - PAH Cancer Riskl (risk per one million
persons)
Cumulative Air Toxics Non-Cancer Respiratory Risk , n-, , -,0 , -,c
... , „ .. .. 1.9/ 1./3 1./6
(Hazard Quotient)
Outdoor Air - Acetaldehyde Non-Cancer Respiratory Risk n 9 n , n 9
(Hazard Quotient)
Outdoor Air - Acrolein Non-Cancer Respiratory Risk+ , , , n , , , 7
(Hazard Quotient)
Outdoor Air - Chromium Non-Cancer Respiratory Risk „ nn9n n m9n n nm 9 n nm
(Hazard Quotient) u.uuzu u.uuzu u.uuiz u.uun
Outdoor Air - Diesel PM Non-Cancer Respiratory Risk
(Hazard Quotient)
0.9 1.5
2.28
0.2
NaN NaN NaN NaN
0.2
Outdoor Air - Formaldehyde Non-Cancer Respiratory Risk „ „ „ , „„
(Hazard Quotient) u'z Ul1 u'z
Outdoor Air - Napthalene Non-Cancer Respiratory Risk „ „ „ nno „ „ „ „„„
(Hazard Quotient) 0'010 0'008 0'010 0'020
Cumulative Air Toxics Non-Cancer Neurological Risk „ „ ^r- „ ^r- n
i , „ ° 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.06
(Hazard Quotient)
Outdoor Air - Lead Non-Cancer Neurological Risk „ nmo nmn n nno
/i ¦ i /-v I* U.UJ.£. U.U-Lo U.U-LU U.UUo
(Hazard Quotient)
14
-------
\ sL- /\
<9
m : 4
9
L
i m
\ -i
Mt \
Figure 7: C-PORT Benzene concentration deferences after expanded port scenario
4.2. Air, Water, and Soil Contamination
The Southeast Community's highest priority concern was
air quality, and EPA's Community-Focused Exposure
and Risk Screening Tool (C-FERST) was used to assess
air concentrations, exposures, and risks. C-FERST is a
community mapping, information access tool to help inform
community assessments and decision-making. C-FERST
is available at: https://www.epa.gov/c-ferst. and was used
to process EPA's National Air Toxics Assessment (NATA)
data from 2005 (Table 4) to estimate environmental
concentrations, human exposure, and health risks of air toxics
in southeast Newport News (Table 5).
4.3. Air Quality Modeling
The C-LINE and C-PORT models (available at: littps://
www.cmascenter.org/c-tools/) were used primarily for data
collection related to the interstate and port, modeling current
conditions and alternative scenarios based on potential
changes to highway and port traffic patterns. C-LINE is a
web-based model that estimates emissions and dispersion of
toxic air pollutants for roadways in the U.S. This reduced-
form air quality model can examine 'what-if' scenarios for
changes in emissions, caused by changes in traffic volume,
fleet mix and vehicle speed. C-LINE accesses inputs,
performs atmospheric dispersion calculations, visualizes
results, provides options to manipulate input variables, and
performs basic data analysis to present model results in
an interpretable manner. C-PORT is a similar web-based
tool that models emissions related to port-related activities
- including, but not limited to ships, trucks, cranes, - and
is capable of identifying potential locations of elevated
air pollution concentrations in nearby areas. It is based on
dispersion algorithms, local emissions and meteorology, and
GIS methodology.
Students from the University of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill (UNC-CH) helped to expand the geographic scope of
C-PORT in order to increase the model's coverage of the
southeast community. They ran multiple scenarios, including
expansion of port operations (Figure 7). In 2028, Craney
Island is expected to open, increasing the container volumes
that post-Panama Canal ships will be able to deliver to
Newport News. Students modeled particulate matter 2.5
(PM2 5), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), elemental carbon (EC, 5),
and benzene. Additional scenarios considered the expansion
of 1-644 interstate, Newport News Shipbuilding, and the
Asheville-Schoonmaker Mica Production Company . These
scenarios took the community's concerns about asthma,
cardiovascular disease, and diabetes into account. The
students also worked to collect and organize data related to
astluna and toluene emissions, and presented their findings to
EPA employees and community members in May 2015.
15
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5.0
Actions to Reduce Environmental Health Risks
After data collection, the RESES project contributors
discussed different risk-reduction options for each of the
main issues, and eventually determined which options would
be most effective and practical, and in what timeframe. The
team decided that potential future actions could include
development of a near-roadway educational package,
an asthma educational package, a template cooperative
agreement proposal, and to establish a line of communication
with the Virginia Port Authority. These actions extended
beyond the timeframe of the RESES project, and most were
carried out in some fashion by the Southeast CARE coalition
after the collaborative RESES project ended.
The near-roadway package would organize and present
various sources of information on health effects and pollution
dispersion from mobile sources of emissions, including,
C-LINE model runs which include locally-collected truck
and car count data, showing how different traffic pattern
scenarios affect local air quality, as well as who is most
impacted by those emissions. The Coalition was supplied
with model runs and information resources to implement this
effort.
The astluna educational package will include educational and
outreach materials that are targeted to three main audiences,
adults in the community, children, and the housing authority.
Information for the adults focuses on personal risk-reduction
actions in the home for relatively immediate, low-cost
mitigation options. Information for the housing authority will
emphasize the importance of integrated pest management
(IPM), and how it can affect astluna triggers and attacks. The
EPA Region conducted additional astluna outreach after the
RESES project ended.
By drafting a template cooperative agreement proposal,
the southeast community members will be able to tailor it
to each specific funding source they would like to apply
for to continue learning about and characterizing the
local air quality in their community, in the hopes of better
understanding of both where pollution sources are, and
what can be done to mitigate their impacts. While a specific
template was not created within the RESES timeline, the
Southeast CARE Coalition had access to all presentations,
data files, and informational resources to assist with future
cooperative agreement-related funding requests.
Finally, by establishing a relationship with the Virginia Port
Authority, the community will open a line of communication
for potential collaboration on ways to make port expansion
and operations sustainable and incorporate community
concerns. Using C-PORT results can help bolster the
community's calls for changes and improvements to some
port operations, while establishing a rapport with the Virginia
Port Authority will likely make them more receptive to
changes. This type of partnership building is an ongoing
effort by the Southeast CARE Coalition and the EPA.
16
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6.0
Additional Outcomes and Next Steps
The Newport News community projects described above
resulted in a number of activities, partnerships, and plans for
future improvements for the residents of southeast Newport
News. Ongoing and future activities are described below.
6.1. Air Quality
Based on the air modeling results, potential solutions were
proposed to mitigate health effects related to port operations
and other industrial-source stressors. Individual/interpersonal,
community, and state/federal solutions were investigated
and provided. These solutions have revealed the importance
of academic and community partnerships with federal
involvement for addressing issues related to air quality in
Newport News, VA.
EPA hosted a training webinar to share tools used to
conduct citizen science projects involving Next Generation
Air Monitoring (NGAM) technology (e.g., miniature air
pollution sensors) and to educate interested groups and
individuals on best practices for successful air monitoring
projects. Participants learned about air quality basics, air
pollution monitoring, how to start a citizen science program,
citizen science study design, how to obtain funding, what to
look for in an air pollution sensor, sensor applications and
performance goals, how to collect useful data using sensors,
data management and quality, maintaining sensors, and
interpreting and communicating data.
The Coalition also reached out to EPA to receive assistance
understanding the air permit renewal public comment
process for the Mica Company, a major source of local air
emissions in the community. EPA worked with the Virginia
Department of Enviromnental Quality (VADEQ) to conduct a
tutorial for this community group on the public participation
process for facilities applying for or renewing permits in the
Commonwealth of Virginia. The spirit of this engagement
was also to make initial introductions to the VADEQ staff, as
well as to set expectations for fuller discussions in the future
with the community. As further follow-up, EPA sponsored
a webinar with Melissa Collier, Office of Community
Engagement, and Mississippi Department of Enviromnental
Quality. The webinar presented information to the Coalition
on effective community engagement in the Title V permitting
process. It not only reinforced the information given to the
community earlier, but also helped them to better construct
and present their concerns from a community's perspective.
6.2. Brownfields Technical Assistance
In July 2015, Newport News participated in a Brownfields
101 Workshop hosted by EPA, VADEQ, the New Jersey
Institute of Technology (NJIT) Technical Assistance to
Brownfield (TAB) Communities, and the City of Norfolk.
The purpose of the seminar was to teach communities in
the Hampton Roads, VA area how to identify brownfields
opportunities and to develop a vision of what sustainable
revitalization can be. Topics discussed included an
overview of the brownfield process, grant and other funding
opportunities, and examples of three communities who have
successfully completed brownfields redevelopment projects.
6.3. City of Newport News Involvement
and Action
In the summer of 2015, the City of Newport News, VA
considered the community work and concerns that came out
of the Coalition's actions, RESES project, and MVD work.
The city identified five key priorities:
1. Increase Trust - Engage local groups that repre-
sent different perspectives to reduce the mistrust
between these groups and the City. Have City em-
ployees get a better comfort level with community-
based organizations.
2. Encourage Business Development - Secure HUD
funds from programs like Choice Neighborhoods
Initiative for the Southeast community for proper-
ties including Chase Bag. Create an environment for
small business to open and thrive to make the city
more livable.
3. Transportation - Many jobs are located well north
of the Southeast community. The City wants quick,
reliable transportation options to shuttle workers
to jobs without lengthy bus rides to facilitate local
employment and create more livable circumstances
in the community.
4. Promote Home Ownership - Develop a rental
rehabilitation and rental inspection program with
the goal of encouraging affordable housing for city
workers by offering funds to rehabilitate properties
without bankrupting employees. Explore an educa-
tion program for banks and borrowers to promote
relationship with the banks to assist with financing
property rehabilitation and renovation. Explore a
demolition program to take down old infrastructure
and vacant lot rehab.
5. Infrastructure - Promote building of a new grocery
store. Work to increase natural landscape by plant-
ing trees.
-------
Figure 8: EJSCREEN of Environmental Justice Indexes and Water Discharger Proximity.
6.4. Equitable Development Building Blocks
Workshop
Through the Office of Sustainable Communities, EPA
Region 3 coordinated with the Coalition and the City of
Newport News to host a Building Blocks workshop to
address Equitable Development in Newport News, VA.
The Building Blocks program supports the priorities of the
Partnership for Sustainable Communities, a collaborative
effort among the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD), the U.S. Department of Transportation
(DOT), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) to improve access to affordable housing, increase
transportation options, and lower transportation costs while
protecting the enviromnent. The 1.5-day facilitated workshop
incorporated multiple methods including self-assessments,
community input, and municipal planning to identify and
create an action plan for moving forward on a limited number
of discrete projects promoting equitable development.
Events were held on March 17 -18, 2015, beginning with
an extensive community tour and a community meeting/
strategy session. Community members, neighborhood
organizations and the Coalition were joined by local
luminaries such as Mayor McKinley Price, Delegate Marcia
Price, Councilwoman Sandra Perry, Councilwoman Tina
Vick. Assistant City Manager Cyntliia Rohlf, state senate and
house representatives, local police, academia, and numerous
city and school board personnel. Commercial representatives
from the Port of Newport News, local banks and the
Economic Development Agency also attended. The workshop
culminated with the core planning group developing a draft
action plan/next steps table based on stakeholder input.
Facilitators will use the information to craft recommendations
into a report and distribute to participants.
6.5. Southeast CARE Weekend
On September 11-12, 2015, the Coalition, EPA, and
Southeast Newport News Community sponsored and
participated in activities promoting asthma awareness,
improving air and water quality, understanding climate
change impacts, increasing community resiliency, and
establishing organizational partnerships at an outdoor
information session/cookout for community residents. These
and other topics are part of the Coalition's effort to contend
with local environmental challenges. Later at the monthly
community meeting, the Coalition was joined by the Hip Hop
Caucus9 whose "Act On Climate" National Bus Tour was
traveling the country to communicate how climate change is
disproportionately impacting people of color and low-income
communities.
The 25th amiual Southeast Community Day Parade also
featured participation by the Southeast Asthma Network,
which marched to promote astluna awareness and health.
Additionally, Region 3's Janice Bolden joined with the
Southeast Astluna Network and the Boys & Girls Club to
distribute asthma-related materials to hundreds of parade-
goers.
6.6. Food Deserts
Food deserts are areas where fresh fruit, vegetables, and other
healthful whole foods are not readily available. These areas,
usually in impoverished areas, tend to lack grocery stores,
fanners' markets, and healthy food providers. Southeastern
Newport News was identified as a food desert, and over 35%
9 http://www.hiphopcaucus.org/act-on-climate-
national-bus-tour/
18
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of the population does not have cars to reach healthier food
options. The Southeast Community Redevelopment plans
included raising awareness and implementing solutions to
help solve the community's obesity problem. Additionally,
the redevelopment plans will aid in the development of
recreational areas, safe walkways, fanners' markets, local
restaurants, and community gardens.
6.7. Environmental Justice
EJSCREEN was used to assess the proximity and prevalence
of pollution, the prevalence of health effects, disproportionate
impacts compared to other areas, and the history of
enviromnental justice in the community (Figure 8). The
EJView Enviromnental Report for southeast Newport News
listed potentially hazardous sites, including 29 air facility
systems, 8 toxic releases, 130 hazardous waste, 8 water
dischargers, 4 brownfields, 1 radiation information database
site, 1 Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) site, 8 impaired
water bodies, 1 impaired stream, and 7 Storage and Retrieval
(STORET) water quality monitoring sites.
During the past several years, VADEQ has received
approximately $20,000 each year for the hiring of two
summer interns from Norfolk State University (NSU) and/
or Hampton University (HU) to work in the field office
with the Air Compliance & Monitoring team, conducting
air monitor testing/analysis to monitor compliance and
enforcement requirements. EPA Region 3 Air Protection
Division (APD) will be working with VADEQ to enhance
the internship by incorporating real-world experience and
promoting enviromnental stewardship with the summer
interns by training them to use the EPA guidance tool
called EJSCREEN. The interns and VADEQ will present
the outcomes to local community organizations or their
respective Universities. The project will require two students
to create an EJSCREEN map for VADEQ focusing on a
proximity analysis to assist VADEQ in achieving carbon
pollution reduction from sources in the Commonwealth of
Virginia.
Southeast Newport News received an enviromnental justice
grant for the project, Commimitv-basedParticipatory
Approach for Southeast Community Resilience and Adaption
to Address Lung Health Impacts Exacerbated by Climate
Change. This project aims to build an effective, resident-
led partnership that uses a coimnunity-based participatory
research approach for lessening impacts to respiratory
health as a result of increased air pollution associated with
climate change in the Southeast Community, Newport News,
VA. Specific goals are to: 1) create a resident-led coalition
that implements an educational program to improve the
health of residents in the Southeast Coimnunity; 2) increase
residents' awareness about respiratory disease; 3) increase
residents' awareness about air pollutants and climate stressors
associated with respiratory disease, and; 4) develop self-care
strategies for respiratory health as a mechanism for adapting
to climate change. Southeast Newport News will host forums.
workshops and a summer camp to disseminate scientifically
sound and coimnunity specific information to educate
residents about respiratory disease risks, air pollutants,
and climate stressors. Additionally, they will aim to assist
residents to develop common-sense, flexible approaches for
sustaining self-care management as a long-term approach to
adapting to climate change.
6.8. Extreme Weather Events
Through the Conflict Prevention and Resolution Center, EPA
Region 3, working with Old Dominion University (ODU) and
Coalition and community leaders, is funding and developing
a workshop to engage with underserved communities at the
neighborhood level to promote preparedness for extreme
weather events, with the goal of increasing the capacity of
citizens and other stakeholders to respond to flooding and
sea level rise. The project will establish a lasting dialogue
among the diverse interests of the Southeast community
of Newport News and thereby create an authentic, long-
term collaborative effort, one based on shared power and
reciprocity, one addressing coimnunity response to the
impacts of sea level rise and recurrent flooding.
• Training sessions on extreme weather events for
lay-educators among the Southeast coimnunity of
Newport News are also being planned. The training
sessions will create an authentic, long-term, educational
platform among community members. The project will
use existing educational materials to deliver a train-the-
trainer session for lay educators in the coimnunity that
will address questions including:
• What are extreme weather events?
• What are the causes and effects coastal flooding?
• What are preparedness measures for extreme weather?
The project lead will partner with the Southeastern Childhood
Asthma Coalition to develop an asthma educational
outreach project. The asthma education outreach project will
incorporate information from the train-the-trainer sessions
to identify the adverse impacts of weather on enviromnental
astluna triggers and identify astluna mitigation techniques.
The final task will include creating a community adaptation
asset list, which will incorporate regional educational
materials (factsheets, web links, podcasts, etc.) into a
resource guide for the coimnunity.
6.9. Newport News Forum
In September 2016, Newport News held a forum to
present best practices (case studies, success stories) for
addressing local priorities in Newport News. It will also
highlight quantifiable outcomes of experiences and provide
information on how city and local organizations can secure
resources (cooperative agreements, grants, contract funds,
etc.). Federal agencies, philanthropic organizations,
universities, and coimnunity/city representatives were
invited.
19
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7.0
Conclusions
Southeast Newport News lias demonstrated the importance
of strong partnerships between community groups, industry,
and government for improving the quality of life and health
in a community. Beginning as a grassroots effort from an
EPA CARE cooperative agreement, the work to improve
health outcomes and improve the southeast Newport News
community now involves multiple partners and has the
attention of the local city government. Newport News
has developed the capacity to educate individuals in their
community, influence political decisions that impact their
quality of life, and promote sustainable solutions.
-------
APPENDIX A:
List of Partners
List of partner affiliations representing all aspects of work
within this report, including Southeast CARE Coalition,
Regional Sustainability and Environmental Sciences (RSES),
Making a Visible Difference (MVD), and related ancillary
projects and collaborations (in no particular order).
Southeast CARE Coalition
1. EPA Region 3
2. University of North Carolina Lecturer
3. UNC College Undergraduate (Self-Guided)
Capstone Course (9 students)
4. Virginia Sierra Club
5. EPA Office of Research and Development (ORD)
6. Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education
(ORISE) Research Fellow
7. Greater Southeast Development Corporation
8. Southeast Newport News Community
9. Communities in Hampton Roads Planning District
(including cities of Hampton Norfolk)
10. Huntington Ingalls Industries (parent company of
Newport News Shipbuilding)
11. Kinder-Morgan
12. Mica Company
13. Virginia Port Authority
14. Virginia Department of Transportation
15. Tidewater Department of Enviromnental Quality
16. Dominion Terminal and Associates
17. Southeast Newport News residents
18. All From One Inc.
19. Pearlie's Restaurant
20. Old Dominion University (ODU)
21. Hampton University (HU)
22. Office of Congressman Robert "Bobby" C. Scott
-------
APPENDIX B:
Southeast CARE Coalition
Environmental Concerns
Ranking of
Natural (air, water, land, etc.)
1. Environmental Concentration
2. Lead
3. Toluene
4. Coal Dust
5. Port Issues
6. Chemical Pollution
7. Air Quality
8. Enviromnental Toxicity
9. Water Contamination
10. Flooding Issues/drainage/stonnwater
11. Lead and asbestos in homes and enviromnent
12. Soil quality
13. Water quality
14. Food Contamination/Fish
Cultural (ethnic identity and history of
community)
1. Lack of Community Unity
2. Parks
3. Mentor Programs (STEM: Science Technology
Engineering Mathematics)
4. Lack of preserving cultural heritage
5. Lack of local grassroots networking
Social (existing and lacking public services)
1. Throat Issues
2. Chronic Disease
3. Community Health
4. Mental Health
5. Pulmonary Disease
6. Asthma
7. Swimming Pool
8. Community Leadership
9. Labeling of Community Children
10. Building Community Relations
11. Reaching out to Community with mailing of list of
toxics released
12. Lack of Safe After School Program
13. Stray animals/rodents
14. Lack of Health Care Facilities
15. Litter
16. Youth Violence/gangs
17. Lack of Youth Leadership
18. Increase in diabetes
19. Chronic Diseases
20. Lack of parental support programs
21. Infant Mortality
22. Lack of parental control of children 18 under
23. Poverty Pimps
24. Lack of info dissemination
25. Apathy in the community
26. Drug traffic
Economic (local business, health care cost)
1. Employment Opportunity
2. Food Desert
3. Company/Industry Participation
4. Import/Export Issues
5. Scholarship Assistance
6. No Grocery Stores
7. Unemployment
8. Over Policing of citizens
9. Lack of community Investment (public and private)
10. Guns
Political (local, state, federal)
1. Children Recreational Parks
2. Lack of youth programs
3. State/City participation
4. Interstate/Highways
5. Socio Economic Issues
6. Unused Green Space
7. Longitudinal Study for ADHD: Attention-Deficit
and Hyperactivity Disorder Chemicals
8. Installation of Enviromnental Quality Monitoring
Systems/Programs
B-l
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Reaching out to Community with mailing of list
of toxics released
1. Retesting of Children in the Community
2. Lack of Trees/Green Space
3. Living Wage
4. War
5. Lack of community specific enviromnental data
6. Lack of resources for Vets
7. Flooding Issues/drainage/storm water
8. Political
9. Desire for increased local political support and
collaboration
10. Easy access to tobacco and alcohol
11. Over Policing of citizens
12. Over Policing of citizens
13. Lack of traffic control
14. Redevelopment and razing of older homes and
potential environ. Health effect
15. Absentee landlord/substandard housing
16. Structural safety concerns of residential and public
buildings
17. Brownfields
18. Guns
19. Lack of positive marketing of SE Community
20. Lack of renovation of local community centers
B-2
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SCIENCE
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