Jump to main content.

Map of Boston. Click for a larger image. Progress in Boston

The Chelsea Creek Action Group "Community Based Risk Assessment" was released in Spring 2003. This document provides data on six priority issues identified by community advocates: water quality, air quality, open/green space, asthma and other respiratory disease, traffic, and noise. Produced by a team of residents and local experts, the report also includes information on environmental and public health implications as well as recommendations for state, local, and community actions.

Chelsea Creek Community Based Comparative Risk Assessment Report

You will need Adobe Reader to view some of the files on this page. See EPA's PDF page to learn more about PDF, and for a link to the free Acrobat Reader.


 

Graphic of progress pyramid for Boston. The following outlines progress made over the past several years on each of the UEP'S priority issues. The most recent achievements are listed first.
 

Asthma and Indoor Air Quality
Lead Poisoning Prevention
Ambient Air Quality
Urban Rivers/Wetlands
Vacant Lots/Green Space
Education and Job Creation
City of Boston "Indicators of Progress, Change & Sustainability
Pollution Preventing

 

 

Asthma and Indoor Air Quality
  • Urban Asthma Conference. Explored the relationship between the indoor environment and the incidence of urban asthma. April 8, 1999 at Roxbury Community College.
  • Public Health in Public Housing: A survey of West Broadway Housing Final Report, October 4, 1998.
  • Provided household allergen information to community health fairs, group homes and home visits, adult basic education, parenting classes, asthma and smoking workshops. (Dimock Community Health Center)
  • Participated in development of curricula for "Asthma in the African-American and Latino Communities" conference, 2-2-98, with Department of Public Health and Latino Health Institute. (Dimock Community Health Center)
  • With City Life/Viva Urbana, secured funding from North American Association for Environmental Education for "City Life Environmental Education for Asthma Relief", (CLEEAR), to assist Egleston Square residents with household allergens.(Dimock Community Health Center)
  • This Pilot Program conducted a 15 hour certificate course for 5 tenants and 3 health workers of public housing. (Boston University School of Public Health)
  • Formation of Community Environmental Needs Advisory Committee including members of the Boston Housing Authority. (Boston University School of Public Health)
  • April 28, 1998, First Community Advisory Committee meeting. (Boston University School of Public Health)
  • Development of Urban Asthma Coalition, consisting of BU School of Public Health, Dimock Community Health Center and Committee for Boston Public Housing. This coalition was formed to assist Boston residents who identified asthma as their major environmental health problem. (Boston University School of Public Health)
  • With EPA support, Boston Neighborhood Health Clinics conducted residential questionnaires in public housing complexes and observed that 50% of families surveyed had asthma. (Boston University School of Public Health)
  • A coalition of public housing tenant organizations and the local universities applied for an EPA "RARE" program technical support. This is an indicator of the existence an emerging community infrastructure to identify and capture resources to address asthma triggers in public housing.
  • Roxbury Environmental Empowerment Project (REEP) is an organization of alternative school Roxbury Youth. On October 22, 1998 REEP Conducted "Anti-Idling Day" to kick off "Clean Bus Campaign". (Alternative for Community and Environment)
  • REEP's "Clean Air For the Holidays" Health Fair was held on December 22, 1997 and over 200 residents participated. (Alternatives for Community and Environment)
Lead Poisoning Prevention
  • Completion of plans for a demonstration project, "Comprehensive Community Action for Primary Prevention of Childhood Lead Poisoning in Boston, MA" Lead outreach designed to inform citizens at various educational levels. (Center for Lead Safe Housing, MA Prevention Center).
  • Nine community leaders attended a 12-14 workshop series on Massachusetts Lead Law. (Center for Lead Safe Housing, MA Prevention Center)
  • New England Lead Coordinating Committee, (NELCC) provided comments to OSHA "Moderate Risk Abatement Regulations".
  • Facilitated re-financing of the Massachusetts Housing low interest loan finance program "Get the Lead Out Program". (NELCC)
  • Conducted quarterly NELCC regional conferences, including one on managed care and lead poisoned children.
  • "Healthy Housing Healthy Country" pilot campaign, targeted for do-it yourself home renovators. Kickoff in hardware stores throughout the Region, Saturday May 30, 1998. (NELCC)
  • With support from EPA staff Alice Kaufman, launched "Healthy Beginnings: Lead Safe Families", an English as a Second Language Curriculum on Lead Poisoning Prevention. It was translated into eight languages and widely distributed in 23 States and Australia.
  • Real Time Environmental Data will be gathered by EPA as a result of the EMPACT project. This project will monitor lead in soils, and will provide information for public access and community tracking. This project builds on the work of Boston UEP during the last several years, incorporating the Bowdoin Street Health Center Occupational and Environmental Health Unit resources, the Bowdoin area community, Boston University School of Public Health, the Garden Futures program including physical restoration work done by graduates of the Boston Urban Gardeners "City Gardner Certificate Program".
  • "Lead Safe Yard Program" EPA coordination of pilot to prevent primary lead poisoning, deliver real-time lead soil data and interpretation to residents of the Bowdoin Street Health Center area, and support corrective measures by the community to reduce lead exposure risk to pre-school children.
  • EPA produced lead in soils Design Charette distributed through out the Region by the "Lead in Soils workgroup". Packet includes, "Health Yard, Is Your Yard Lead Proof". "Controlling Lead in Soils, Soil Abatement Specifications", "Informational Report of the Lead in Soils Charette".
Ambient Air

    Graphic of program pyramid for air quality. Graphic of leveraged resources for air quality.
    Click images for larger view

  • Alternatives for Community and Environment: Launched and maintain "AirBeat," an EMPACT pilot project enhanced in 2000 that provides real time monitoring information for ozone and fine particulates so local residents in Roxbury can protect their health and the environment and adjust their activity depending on air quality. There is also a public education and outreach campaign that hosts a detailed, interactive website, outreach to citizens and schools, and a multi-color flag system to instantly alert local residents on air quality.
  • Clean Buses for Boston–held a "breathe out" on September 23, 1998 at Dudley Square. For sixty seconds the buses in Roxbury's Dudley Station were turned off to dramatize the need for cleaner buses and better transit service in Roxbury.
  • Communities respond to #2 solid waste issues. Working with ACE staff, citizen activists from Merrimack Valley persuaded Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to include tough, innovative measures in the new role such as eliminating a loophole in the mercury emission. July 28, 1998.
  • Healthy Hair Show, September 26, 1999 at Dorothy Quincy Suite in John Hancock Hall. This show was created to address concerns about the health effects of chemicals in hair products. Sponsors included ACE, REEP, and the Toxic Use Reduction Institute at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell.
  • An Analysis of the Impact of Traffic on Air Pollution and Safety in Boston and Chinatown. Prepared and submitted by Doug Bugge, Ph.D., M.S. for the coalition to protect Chinatown, February, 1998.
  • Fourth Annual Environmental Justice in the ‘Hood,' April 10, 1999 at Roxbury Community College.
  • Second Annual Youth Environmental Justice Summit held at Dudley Library sponsored by ACE's Roxbury Environmental Project (REEP), July 1998.
  • Hazard and traffic mapping by Chinatown Youth. (Coalition to Protect Chinatown)
  • Production and Distribution of report, "An Analysis of the Impact of Traffic on Air Pollution and Safety in Boston Chinatown". (Coalition to Protect Chinatown)
  • Planing under way to provide environmentally friendly Auto Mall, a facility for Auto Body repair shops in Roxbury. (Nuestra Comunidad, Swifty Auto Mall)
  • Secured a $15,000 cooperative agreement from UEP, through the Urban Resources Partnership. (Nuestra Comunidad, Swifty Auto Mall)
  • NAUP and NESCAUM conducted local air particulate monitoring with groups in Chelsea, Chinatown, and others to get ambient air quality information in areas of heavy traffic.
  • The Harvard School of Public Health is assisting with a particulate matter examination.
  • Motor Vehicle Mileage Team. EPA, Academy For Educational Development funded coalition of community and youth, to reduce air pollution and traffic in urban Boston along major Boston urban roadways. Coalition consists of ACE, Bikes Not Bombs, Egleston Square Neighborhood Association, Environmental Diversity Forum.
  • REEP youth on Boston cable TV "Part of the Solution".
  • Boston Public School students actively working for free bus passes.
  • Youth working on Clean Buses for Clean Cities.
  • May 22, 1998 "Bikes Not Bombs" Great Commuter Race, which pit bikers, transit riders, and car drivers against one another in a race from Greater Egleston Community High School to City Hall. Followed by a teach-in about the cost-benefits of various modes of transportation.
  • April 16 Egleston Square Neighborhood meeting to publicize asthma and the connection to traffic emissions. Promoted and staffed by VMT youth team.
Urban Rivers/Wetlands

    Graphic of program pyramid for urban rivers. Graphic of leveraged resources for rivers.
    Click images for larger view

  • East Boston and Chelsea residents received $100,000 to identify environmental hazards along Chelsea Creek through an innovative community-based comparative risk assessment.
  • Massachusetts Department of Fish, Wildlife and Law Enforcement Riverways program created and administers an Urban Rivers Program which conducts education, outreach, technical assistance, and small grants to support urban rivers work.
  • East Boston Ecumenical Community Council is leading a Comparative Risk Assessment in Partnership with Neighborhood for Affordable Housing and Chelsea Green Space and Recreation Committee.
  • Chelsea Creek Boat Tour, February 1998.
  • Mill Creak Festival, July 25, 1999.
  • Chelsea Environmental and Educational Community Right-to-Know Project.
  • Cross-Median Compliance/Enforcement in the Mystic Watershed to perform a short-term environmental investigation.
  • Chelsea Creek Action Group (CCAG) Earth Day Festivities and tour of Mill Creek., April 22, 1998.
  • CCAG Environmental Fair, May 16, including boat tours of the Chelsea Creek.
  • EPA and ROCA cleaned solid waste from Rumney Marsh in Revere.
  • ROCA and MA Riverways conducted mapping, photographs of Mill creek, developed plan of action for Mill Creek.
  • Riverways conducted Stream Team Training for Charles River Lower Basin.
  • Provided May 9, 1998 Riverways' Urban Rivers Forum, Holyoke Heritage State Park.
Vacant Lots/Green Space

    Graphic of program pyramid for open space. Graphic of leveraged resources for open space
    Click images for larger view

  • Boston Public Health Commission new regulation regarding dumpster storage lots and junk yards now includes provisions regarding cumulative effects and public hearings. This victory was secured by ACE, DSNI, Bowdoin Street Health Center, and their community partners.
  • Dirty Dozen Award–Eastern Minerals Salt Pile was selected in 1998 as a winner of this award. The site was nominated by Chelsea Green Space. Massachusetts Toxic Action Campaign sponsors the award.
  • Turning Brown Fields into Green Space, October 26, 1998. Environmental Conference to educate the residents of Chelsea about environmental issues in the community.
  • Chelsea Creek Revitalization as Pilot Project and Partnership priority of the Boston Urban Resources Partnership (URP).
  • Chelsea Creek Action Group (CCAG), a member of URP begins to lead the Chelsea Creek Revitalization to engage residents and local organizations, particularly youth, in activities to improve the Chelsea Creek Watershed.
  • URP initiates "On the Ground" small grant and services program RFP developed and delivered. Ten projects selected totaling $150,000.
  • Initiation of EPA funded "City Gardner Certificate Program." (Garden Futures)
  • 6 Students were awarded certificates during granting period, 7/30/97–1/30/98. (Garden Futures)
  • April 25, 1998, twenty five students awarded certificates. (Garden Futures)
  • Sixteen consultations and topical workshops conducted for seventy three gardeners by CGCP students. (Garden Futures)
  • Gardeners Gathering, at Roxbury Community College "Building Community in Community Gardens Conference," March 21, 1998, More that 150 people attended. (Garden Futures)
Education and Job Creation
  • Roxbury Community College (RCC) Center for Environmental Education. The Center received State of Massachusetts certification as a lead-abatement training facility in 1998. It offers lead abatement worker, supervision/contraction, and lead abatement refresher courses; this year the Center trained fifty one people.
  • RCC hosted the Fourth Annual "EJ in the Hood" and an Urban Asthma Community Conference.
  • Full time Director for Center for Environmental Education hired.
  • Lead Abatement Training State Licence granted.
  • First Lead Abatement Certification Program to begin in September 1998.
City of Boston "Indicators of Progress, Change & Sustainability
  • Released Indicators Document, Spring 1999.
  • Nominated for Boston 2000 Commission's "Creativity in the Community Building" category.
Pollution Preventing
  • Greater Boston Urban Resource Partnership: In 2000, awarded $265,000 from the Department of Agriculture to non-non-profit groups in greater Boston to address issues including contaminated rivers and wetlands, soil erosion, urban forestry, composting and education and outreach.
  • Chelsea and Mill Creek: In 2000, completed GIS Mapping of 21E Hazardous Waste Sites in Chelsea and East Boston and worked with partners to survey over 300 residents there about environment, public health and social concerns.
  • Alternatives for Community and Environment: Continues to build community capacity through a number of outreach and technical assistance activities including Neighborhoods Against Urban Pollution, the Greater Boston Environmental Justice Network and the Massachusetts Environmental Justice Network.
  • Development of "Neighborhoods Against Urban Pollution, A Manual for Residents and Communities to Improve Their Urban Environment", Spring, 1997. (Neighborhoods Against Urban Pollution) (NAUP)
  • Four part project to demonstrate the application of multi-media community-based pollution prevention measures, and, provide CEC groups with organizing capacity, education and technical and legal tools. (NAUP)
  • NAUP, working in two pilot neighborhoods, cleaned up three illegal trash transfer stations and addressed 10 lots for cleanup.
  • Bringing together neighborhood representatives to begin building a City-wide coalition of CEC's (Community Environmental Committees). (NAUP)
  • Developing new workshops and publications to help other groups implement the NAUP approach.
  • Supporting new mapping and environmental assessment projects now underway in six new neighborhoods.(NAUP)
  • Continue to achieve concrete results in the existing campaigns on vacant lots, auto-related businesses, contaminated sites, and polluting facilities.(NAUP)
  • Provided community assistance and Train the Trainer hazard identification and mapping program to 6 organizations Community Environmental Committees, (CEC's) working toward reduction of pollution in vacant lots, auto body shops and asthma triggers. (Bowdoin Street Health Center and NAUP)
  • Assisted with development of 2 additional CEC's.(Bowdoin Street Health Center and NAUP)
 

Serving Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, & Tribal Nations

Local Navigation

Jump to main content.