science in ACTION
INNOVATIVE RESEARCH FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
a
ASSESSING COMMUNITY VULNERABILITY TO POLLUTANT RELEASES
DUE TO EXTREME EVENTS
Problem
Communities continue to be hit,
often unexpectedly, by the effects of
prolonged droughts, excessive heat,
floods, and wildfires. In places
where contaminated sites and
hazardous waste facilities are
present, communities are vulnerable
to potential exposure to pollutant
releases following extreme events.
The City of Phoenix needed to
assess the current and future effects
of rising temperatures and drier
conditions on their communities and
nearby contaminated sites.
Action
The City of Phoenix, in partnership
with EPA and RTI International,
assessed which areas of the city
might be vulnerable to pollutant
releases due to extreme events.
Mapping sites and facilities, extreme
weather conditions, and community
characteristics support local
decisions and planning for
adaptation, mitigation, and response.
This factsheet outlines the steps
taken for the assessment, w hich can
be customized for specific needs and
interests.
Steps
1.	Identify the target community
stakeholders for scoping project
(Box 1).
2.	Determine the area, extreme
events, and vulnerabilities (e.g.,
physical, environmental, social) to
be assessed (Box 2).
3.	Work with local practitioners and
community members to identify
indicators (e.g., climate,
environmental, social) to map and
explore.
4.	Select and validate appropriate
datasets.
City of Phoenix Inset
¦; ir.i
.. . ¦,/.» •: > k1 .. ii
, Li		 ¦ T W ^
Maximum Summer Temperature (F) by Block Group - Maricopa County, AZ
Averaged Over Time Period: 1986-2005; Historical
Sites and Waste Facilities
I | City of Phoenix
Block Group Boundary
121.7-123.9(0)
HI 119.5-121.6(0)
¦¦ 117.3-119.4 (38)
115.1 -117.2 (581)
_ 112.9- 115.0(1,780)
[T 1 110.7-112.8 (102)
108.4-110.6(4)
Figure 1. Extreme Heat: Maximum Summer
Temperature (Source: www.phoenix.gov/oep/cap)
5.	Analyze data and create maps for
selected indicators based on input
from Step 3 (Fig. 1, 2).
6.	Re-evaluate indicators with
community members. Did we pick
the right indicators? Do they need to
be adjusted? Revise maps as needed.
7.	Communicate results.
Box 1. Coordination with Local
Stakeholders Throughout the
Process Is Crucial	
8 Determine scope and area to study
•	Collaborate with stakeholders to
identify key areas of vulnerability
and indicators
•	Review methods and data needs
with the community so the selected
indicators are community relevant
•	Seek feedback on terminology and
visuals for clearly communicating
key results to the community	
J City of Phoenix Inset?
J I
Count of Drought (defined by SPEI-6) Months
by Block Group - Maricopa County, AZ
Total Over Time Period: 1986 - 2005; Historical
Sites arid Waste Facilities
I City of Phoenix
	| Block Group Boundary
(#) is the number of block groups per category
63 - 65 (0)
58 - 62 (0)
53 - 57 (0)
48 -52 (103)
43 - 47 (1,062)
38 - 42 (1,236)
34-37 (104)
Figure 2. Drought: Count of Drought Months
(Source: www.phoenix.gov/oep/cap)
Box 2. Potential Sources of
Pollutant Releases
•	Hazardous waste operations
•	Contaminated sites: Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act
(RCRA) Corrective Action sites;
Brownfields; Superfund sites;
Removal/emergency response sites
•	Other sites and waste facilities
Benefits
The results have benefitted the City
of Phoenix by:
1.	Providing a greater understanding
of the type and magnitude of
potentially hazardous sites in the
local area.
2.	Mapping sites that could be used
for emergency preparedness and
response.
3.	Providing scenarios and maps of
extreme heat, drought, wildfire, and
flooding.
1
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development

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4. Providing characteristics of the
population, particularly those most
vulnerable.
Results
The community vulnerability
indicators and hazards maps
developed by the EPA Office of
Research and Development and RTI
International for the City of Phoenix,
and in collaboration with EPA
Region 9, Maricopa County, and
Arizona Department of
Enviromnental Quality have been
used to communicate, plan, and take
action to address community
vulnerabilities in the Phoenix
Climate Action Plan
(www.phoenix.gov/oep/cap).
CONTACT: EPA: Meridith Fry
(Fry.Meridith@epa.gov); Susan Julius
(Julius.Susan@epa.gov); Ann Carroll
(Carroll.Ann@epa.gov); Jessica Dominguez
(Dominguez.Jessica@epa.gov); Laurie Amaro
(Amaro.Laurie@epa.gov); RTI International:
Par ami ta Sinha (psinha@rti.org)
www. ep a. g ov/ord
2
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development

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