Superfund Job Training Initiative MAKING A DIF FERENCE AT THE WESTSIDE LEAD SUPERFUND SITE oEPA Introduction The Westside Lead Superfund Job Training Initiative (SuperJTI) is an environmental remediation job readiness program that provided career development opportunities for 20 trainees living on or near the Westside Lead Superfund site in Atlanta, Georgia. Through a partnership between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), local partners Quest Community Developmental Corporation and Integrity Transformations Community Development Corporation, and site cleanup contractor CMC Environmental Services, Westside Lead SuperJTI provided local job seekers with new skills, certifications and hands-on training linked to construction and cleanup. EPA's goal is to help identify employment opportunities available for affected communities during the cleanup and redevelopment process, and to provide workforce development skills needed to take advantage of those opportunities. The Westside Lead site is located in Atlanta, Georgia. Area industries operated near the site since the 1800s. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, Microsoft, Esri Community Maps contributors, Map layer by Esri Atlanta Lead i Site NORTH TENNESSEE CAROLINA Chattanooga SOUTH CAROLINA GEORGA ALABAMA 160 Miles U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Superfund Job Training Initiative ------- &-- Outreach and Screening: August September 2023 Westside Lead SuperJTI and EPA Region 4 reached out to the community through local and regional stakeholders, unemployment offices and non-profits, and by advertising on area radio stations, local newspapers and social media. Local partners Quest Community Development Corporation and Integrity Transformations Community Development Corporation helped publicize the program to attract interested candidates, SuperJTI and Quest Community Development Corporation staff hosted information sessions about the program in Atlanta. In August and September 2023, over 125 people attended the program's 15 information sessions. After these sessions, 60 people returned and submitted required documents. 40 people participated in program tryouts. The tryouts included leadership, team building and role- playing activities, a physical fitness component, and observation by a team of evaluators from the program's partners. All 20 trainees selected during tryouts went on to complete the program. \JL/ -O- Training and Job Placement: September 2023 The 2.5-week Westside Lead SuperJTI training program took place in Atlanta. The training was held at Integrity Transformations Community Development Corporation. EPA contractor Skeo provided the Work Readiness training. Occupational Safety and Environmental Education, a local business, provided the 40-Hour Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER), OSHA 10- hour Construction Safety and Health, Lead Based Paint Worker, and CPR/First Aid trainings. Courses consisted of: Work Readiness Training: Trainees completed courses in environmental justice, interpersonal communication, building cultural competence, finance management and effective work habits. 40-Hour Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER): Trainees earned their HAZWOPER certification and learned about cleanup and safety topics such as environmental legislation and standards, toxicology, hazardous material site/spill control and containment, decontamination, and isolation. Trainees participated in hands-on training scenarios using actual equipment and protective gear. OSHA-10 Construction Safety and Health: Trainees earned their OSHA-10 certification and learned about topics such as hazard communication, personal protective equipment, electrical safety and excavation process safety management. Lead Based Paint Worker: Trainees earned their Lead Based Paint Worker certification and learned about topics such as Site Background The Westside Lead site is a 637-acre area in Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia, it includes residential, commercial, recreational and public service areas. Since the 1800s, industries have used areas north and east of the site, generating slag and metal-containing wastes. This slag may have been used as fill at the site. In 2018, sampling found elevated lead levels in soil samples in Atlanta's Westside neighborhood. Since then, EPA has overseen residential soil sampling in an area around English Avenue and Vine City. EPA added the site to the Superfund program's National Priorities List (NPL) in 2022. Cleanup activities include excavation and disposal of contaminated soil and backfilling of excavated properties with clean soil. Over 260 properties have been addressed. Sampling is ongoing. More properties may require cleanup. To learn more about the site, please visit www.eDa.aov/ suoerfund/westsidelead. identifying and evaluating lead-based paint hazards, risk assessment, health effects of lead exposure, regulations and standards of lead abatement, containment and controlling of lead-based paint hazards, exterior dust cleanup and disposal. CPR/First Aid: Trainees earned their CPR/First Aid certification and learned about topics such as soft tissue injuries, burns, shock, rescue breaths, methods to stop bleeding, bloodborne pathogens, poisoning, CPR, and injuries to muscles, bones and joints. After completion of the program, SuperJTI provided graduates' information to site cleanup contractor CMC Environmental Services to assist with their job placement efforts. CMC Environmental hired five trainees to work on site cleanup efforts. Other trainees have found job opportunities that include working as heavy equipment operators, security guards and insurance agents. Through SuperJTI, trainees are provided with the marketable skills needed to begin a successful career in environmental remediation, helping empower communities affected by Superfund sites. 2 ------- GRADUATE PROFILES Graduation for the program's 20 trainees took place at New Life Covenant Church in October 2023. EPA Region 4 Acting Regional Administrator Jeaneanne Gettle attended and spoke at the ceremony. EPA Region 4 Superfund and Emergency Management Division Director Caroline Freeman handed out certificates to the graduates. The ceremony included remarks from program partners as well as the graduates. Dante Hill Dante Hill was looking for work when he received an email from Integrity Transformations Community Development Corporation with an advertisement for SuperJTI. Dante attended one of the information sessions. He said it gave him "hope to find a job and help the community". He decided to apply for the program and was accepted. During the program, Dante found learning about the hazards of lead and asbestos to be the most memorable part of the training. He also enjoyed the hands-on parts of the training. After completing the program, Dante was offered a position with site contractor CMC Environmental Services. He works on-site, helping guide operators, backfilling and placing new soil. Dante said that SuperJTI "without a doubt is an awesome program" and a great opportunity for job seekers. Dvante Davis Dvante Davis was out of work and looking for a new job opportunity when he saw an advertisement for SuperJTI on Instagram. Having prior experience in construction, Dvante felt it might be a good fit. He attended one of the information sessions and decided to apply for the program. After going through the recruitment process, Dvante was one of the 20 trainees selected to join the program. He says he learned a lot about the environment during the program. He also said the other trainees and staff were great and it felt like "it was meant to be". After completing the program, Dvante interviewed with site contractor CMC Environmental Services and was offered a position. He works on-site, where his duties include assisting operators with remediation, backfilling and assisting with traffic control. Dvante said that SuperJTI "is a veiy good program. I like helping my neighborhood and the people in my community." Paris Taylor Paris Taylor was an out-of-work real estate agent when she heard an advertisement for SuperJTI on the radio. Interested in learning more about the Superfund site, Paris and her son Edward Turner decided to attend an information session. After going through the SuperJTI recruitment process, Paris and her son were accepted into the program. Paris said the information she learned was very interesting and that she enjoyed the bonds she created with the other trainees. Her favorite part was seeing all the different personalities in class and how they all came together. After completing the program, Paris interviewed with site contractor CMC Environmental Services and was offered a position. Paris works as a dump truck driver bringing clean soil to the site. She is also training to move into a safety-related position at the company. Overall, Paris reflected that "SuperJTI is an excellent program. I now have a good job that I enjoy." WESTSIDE LEAD SUPERJTI TRAINEES: Live on or near the Westside Lead site: 80% of the trainees (16 people) live in the greater Atlanta Metropolitan area. The other four trainees live in neighboring areas. Include men and women: 55% of the trainees (11 people) are women. The other 45% of trainees (nine people) are men. ------- What is the Westside Lead SuperJTI is one of many SuperJTI projects nationwide that are making a difference for people living in communities affected by Superfund sites. 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. EPA's 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 training participants. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT: www.epa.gov/superfund/superfund-job-training- initiative Or contact SuperJTI's National Program Managers: Devon Martin (202) 566-0976 martin.devon@epa,gov Chelsea Sebetich (202) 566-1151 sebetich.chelsea@epa.gov ------- |