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1997-1998 Waste
Programs Environmental
Justice Accomplishments Report
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Note From the Acting Assistant Administrator I am pleased to once again have the opportunity to share with the public the many efforts of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER) to address environmental justice. This report entitled, "1997-1998 Waste Programs Environmental Justice Accomplishments Report" documents the activities that demonstrate OSWER's commitment to address comprehensively the environmental justice concerns and related quality-of-life challenges which low-income and minority communities face. In the six years since OSWER initiated its Environmental Justice Action Agenda, we have made tremendous gains in dealing with a complex set of issues. Training and outreach have spread throughout the EPA regions and on to our state, local and community-based partners in environmental protection. We have used our staff and other resources in ever more creative ways to promote the ideas of meaningful community involvement, and stakeholder capacity building.. Environmental Justice is now intricately intertwined with all of efforts and commitments. Our collective efforts have ensured that Environmental Justice will continue to be a cornerstone of how the Agency does business in the present and the future. Timothy Fields, Jr.
Assistant Administrator Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response
About This Report On April 25, 1994, the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER) issued the "OSWER Environmental Justice Task Force Draft Final Report." As a result of this report, a major effort was undertaken in EPA's waste programs to address environmental justice concerns. In June 1994, EPA's waste programs developed detailed plans to implement the recommendations of the Task Force Draft Report. Simultaneously, OSWER solicited comments from the stakeholders on the Task Force Draft Report, and Headquarters and the Regions began implementing the activities described in the plans. As comments on the Task Force Draft Report were received, OSWER worked to address them in a final report, the "OSWER Environmental Justice Action Agenda." Simultaneously, with the release of the Action Agenda, OSWER released its first Waste Programs Environmental Justice Accomplishments Report. This, the third Waste Programs Environmental Justice Accomplishments Report updates and documents the progress made throughout the Agency waste programs at the headquarters and regional levels in fiscal years 1997 and 1998. It is divided into two sections: Cross-cutting Issues, which presents initiatives in areas that have implications for all waste programs, and Program-specific Issues, which presents initiatives that focus on a particular waste program. Individual entries in each section generally reflect actions taken since September 1996. The data gathered for this Report show the great extent to which environmental justice concerns have become institutionalized throughout all of the waste programs and in their decision-making processes.
ADEC Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation ADEQ Arizona Department of Environmental Quality ARCS Alternative Remedial Contracting Strategy ARTD Air, RCRA, and Toxics Division ASTSWMO Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials ATG Allied Technology Group ATSDR Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry BIA Bureau of Indian Affairs BRAC Base Realignment and Closure CAB Community Advisory Board CAG Community Advisory Group CBEP Community Based Environmental Protection CBO Community-Based Organization CDC People of Color and Disenfranchised Communities CDF Confined Disposal Facilities CEC Community Environmental Committee CEQ Council of Environmental Quality CERCLA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act CERCLIS CERCLA Information System CFEJ Citizens for Environmental Justice CMP Comprehensive Monitoring Plan COC Communities of Concern CRC Community Relations Coordinator CTUIR Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation DOD Department of Defense DOE Department of Energy DOJ Department of Justice DPR Department of Pesticide Regulation DTSC Department of Toxic Substances Control EDA Economic Development Administration EPA Environmental Protection Agency EPCRA Emergency Planning, Community Right-To-Know Act ERB Emergency Response Branch ERCS Emergency Response Cleanup Services ERRD Environmental Response and Remedial Division ERRS Emergency and Rapid Response Services FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency FFB Federal Facilities Branch FFERDC Federal Facilities Environmental Restoration Dialogue Committee FFRRO Federal Facilities Restoration and Reuse Office FOIA Freedom of Information Act GIS Geographic Information System GPS Geographic Positioning System HAZMAT Hazardous Materials HBCUs Historically Black Colleges and Universities HHS Department of Health and Human Services HRS Hazard Ranking System HSRC Hazardous Substance Research Center HUD Department of Housing and Urban Development IAG Interagency Agreement IIIRM International Institute for Indigenous Resource Management IPM Integrated Pest Management ITCA Inter Tribal Council of Arizona ITEC Inter-Tribal Environmental Council ITEP Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals ITF Interagency Task Force LLRW Low-level Radioactive Waste LUST Leaking Underground Storage Tank MDC Metropolitan District Commission MDA Maryland Department of Agriculture MDE Maryland Department of the Environment MOU Memorandum of Understanding MSW Municipal Solid Waste MSWLF Municipal Solid Waste Landfill MTERT Minnesota Environmental Response Team MWTP Minority Worker Training Program NAACP National Association for the Advancement of Colored People NAUP Neighborhoods Against Urban Pollution NCAI National Congress of American Indians NEIC National Enforcement Investigations Center NEJAC National Environmental Justice Advisory Council NGO Non-Governmental Organization NIEHS National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences NIOSH National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health NJDEP New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection NJDEPE New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Energy NOFA Notice of Funds Availability NPDES National Pollution Discharge Elimination System NPL National Priorities List NTEC National Tribal Environmental Council NTIS National Technical Information Service OCEPP Office of Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention OERR Office of Emergency and Remedial Response OGC Office of General Counsel OPA Oil Pollution Act OSC On-Scene Coordinator OSW Office of Solid Waste OSWER Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response OUST Office of Underground Storage Tanks OWCM Office of Waste and Chemicals Management PAHs Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons PCB Polychlorinated Biphenyl PNAs Polynuclear Aromatic Compounds POEP Pueblo Office of Environmental Protection PRHD Puerto Rico Housing Department PRP Potentially-Responsible Parties RAB Restoration Advisory Board RAC Remedial Action Contract RBCA Risk-Based Corrective Action RCRA Resource Conservation and Recovery Act RDT Regional Decision Team RIDOT Rhode Island Department of Transportation ROC Regional Oversight Contract RPM Remedial Project Manager RRB Remedial Response Branch SACM Superfund Accelerated Cleanup Model SBA Small Business Administration SBE Small Business Enterprise SBIC Small Business Investment Company SDB Small Disadvantaged Business SEDESOL Mexican Equivalent of U.S. EPA SEE Senior Environmental Employee SEP Supplemental Environmental Projects SERC State Emergency Response Commission SI Site Investigation SNEEJ Southwest Network for Economic and Environmental Justice SOW Scope of Work SPA State Program Approval SPC Science Policy Council SPCC Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure SRPB/BBS State and Regional Programs Branch Bulletin Board System SSAB Site-Specific Advisory Board START Superfund Technical and Response Team Super JTI Superfund Job Training Initiative TAB Technical Assistance Branch TAG Technical Assistance Grant TOSC Technical Outreach Support Centers TRI Toxics Release Inventory UCAB Unified Community Advisory Board UIC Underground Injection Control ULR Urban Land Redevelopment USCOE U.S. Corps of Engineers USDA U.S. Department of Agriculture UST Underground Storage Tank USTPO UST Program Office VADEQ Virginia Department of Environmental Quality VDACS Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services WMD Waste Management Division WPS Worker Protection Standard XRF X-Ray Fluorescence
Waste Programs Environmental Justice Cross-Cutting IssuesHealth, Cumulative Risk, Synergistic Effects, and Multiple Pathways Action Items: Support Agency-wide efforts to develop scientifically valid statistics for measuring cumulative risks 3 Region 2 3 Region 7 3 Region 10 4 Topic Area: Health, Cumulative Risk, Synergistic Effects, and Multiple Pathways Action Item Support Agency-wide efforts to develop scientifically valid statistics for measuring cumulative risks Region 2
Region 2 co-chaired the Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund Probabilistic/Uncertainty Workgroup to better characterize potential risks from exposures to chemicals at Superfund sites. The guidance will provide project managers with variability and uncertainty information for making risk-related decisions at specific sites. Region 2 co-chaired the Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund (RAGS) Administrative Reforms Workgroup, which is revising guidance in the following areas: public involvement, land use, background, and probabilistic/uncertainty. The workgroup developed draft guidance in each of these areas with stakeholder input. Further discussions with stakeholders are planned before the workgroup completes the reforms next year. Region 2 met with community members at several Superfund sites to discuss current and future land uses and potential exposure routes for each site. This interaction has helped ensure that site-specific risk assessments address community concerns. Contact Marian Olsen, (212) 637-4313 Region 7
Region 7 hired a Ph.D. toxicologist and risk assessor to provide technical support to the Superfund, water, and RCRA programs and facilitate the development and implementation of consistent and comprehensive risk assessment policies in the Region. Region 7 is conducting blood-lead monitoring at a large site where multiple sources of lead exposure have occurred. ARTD is coordinating an EPA grant project in St. Louis called the "University of Missouri-St. Louis/Project H.O.P.E. Community University Partnership Grant," which provides outside environmental expertise to disadvantaged neighborhoods impacted by RCRA/CERCLA projects. Contact Dave Monroe, (913) 551-718 Region 10
Region 10's risk assessment staff continue to participate in the Agency's Science Policy Steering Committee and Risk Assessment Forum projects. The Science Policy Steering Committee, with Region 10's participation, prepared the Agency's Cumulative Risk Assessment Guidance. This document focuses on protecting women, children, elderly, and other specific populations at greater risk from environmental pollutants than the average citizen. Region 10 staff are working on a variety of Native American issues. For instance, they were invited to participate in several Native American Tribal Risk Assessment Roundtables where tribes from across the United States discussed their concerns about ensuring equity in risk assessment procedures. Region 10 risk assessment staff also participate in special projects that address issues related to minority populations. One of these projects is a fish consumption risk assessment study on Native American populations. Completed Milestones 6/97 Risk Roundtable held. 1/98 Risk Roundtable held. 4/98 Completed sample collection for the fish tissue study, "Assessment of Chemical Contaminants in Fish Consumed by Four Native American Tribes in the Columbia River Basin." Contact Patricia Cirone, (206) 553-1597 Geographic Information Systems Action Items: Develop compatible and appropriate Agency-wide approaches to using GIS to address potential environmental justice concerns 6 Region 2 6 Using GIS to address potential environmental justice concerns 7 Region 4 7 Region 5 7 Region 7 ? Region 9 8 Use a GIS system to help environmental justice communities map risks in their immediate community 8 Region 9 8 Region 10 8 Conduct a pilot proactive site assessment program 9 Region 2 9 Region 8 9 Topic Area: Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Action Item Develop compatible and appropriate Agency-wide approaches to using GIS to address potential environmental justice concerns Region 2
Region 2 is developing a GIS project for the Region's Brownfields Economic Redevelopment Initiative. This project will serve as a visual aid and resource coordination tool as well as track results. The GIS will depict where resources are concentrated and where remedial actions and emergency response dovetail in brownfields redevelopment efforts. GIS applications offer a greater understanding of a selected area's environmental, geographic, and demographic characteristics. They also increase the potential for greater Agency response to areas where data suggest a disproportionate burden of environmental pollution. Contact Chelsea Albucher, (212) 637-4291
Region 2 is developing an Environmental Justice GIS Application that supports an Interim Region 2 Policy on Identifying Environmental Justice Areas. The policy defines a five-step process for identifying and screening environmental justice areas. The process compares three factors (minority representation, low-income representation, and environmental burden) between a community of concern and one or more reference areas. A community of concern can be defined in a number of ways based on municipality, census block group, user-defined radius around a source of pollution, or a boundary drawn along physical features such as streets, streams, or railroad tracks. The demographic data can be applied to determine whether the community of concern is a potential environmental justice area. Region 2 continues to refine the Environmental Justice GIS Application to support the Draft Interim Region 2 Policy on Identifying Environmental Justice Areas, and Region 2's Information Systems Branch is training regional staff in the use of GIS software for specific programs. Contacts Linda Timander, (212) 637-3596 Daisy Tang, (212) 637-3592 Action Item Using GIS to address potential environmental justice concerns Region 4
Region 4 prepared a "Hazardous Waste Combustion Facility Environmental Justice Report" that contains a demographic analysis of the areas around each hazardous waste combustion facility in the region. Regional staff used a GIS to assess the distribution of minority and low-income populations within 0-1, 1-3, and 3-5 mile radii of each facility. Region 4 also developed the "Region 4 Action Plan for Facilities Identified in the Hazardous Waste Combustion Facility Environmental Justice Report." The purpose of this report is to review permitting and enforcement activities for the combustion facilities identified as having significant minority or low-income populations near them. Region 5 During FY 1997, Region 5 developed interim guidance on a process that management and staff can use to identify potential environmental justice cases. Previously, the Superfund Division asked a group of environmental justice experts to create environmental justice profiles (basic demographics on income and percent minorities) using Landview ll. However, since Region 5 adopted the interim guidance, the use of Landview ll to produce environmental justice profiles has become outdated. Archview ll is now being used to create environmental justice profiles that are consistent with Region 5's interim guidelines. The Environmental Justice Coordinator for Superfund and the Program Management and Information Section have identified possible environmental justice NPL sites in CERCLIS and classified them as high or medium priority. High priority sites are those sites with an evaluation that equals or exceeds two times the state percentage for low-income and/or minority populations. Medium priority sites are those that are at or exceed the state percentages for low-income and/or minority but are less than two times the state percentages. Completed Milestones FY98 Environmental justice Landview training took place. FY98 All Superfund sites were evaluated consistent with the June 1998 environmental justice guidelines. FY98 Environmental justice NPL sites were identified and placed on the Intranet. FY98 Sites out of compliance in environmental justice areas were identified and mapped on the Intranet. Contacts Oliver L. Warnsley, (312) 886-0442 Vivian Avlies, (312) 353-0324 Region 9
Region 9 has completed its environmental justice assessment project, which involved using GIS to identify areas of potential environmental justice concern. The results are a set of environmental justice demographic maps for each of the region's four states as well as several major urban areas. The demographic maps delineate areas that have a high percentage of low-income residents or a high percentage of people of color. Region 9's environmental justice program is advocating the use of these demographic maps and supporting data to focus specific programmatic activities and initiatives on potential environmental justice areas, including regional enforcement. The data underlying the demographic maps are also useful in responding to Title VI claims. Contact David Albright, (415) 744-1627 Action Item Use a GIS system to help environmental justice communities map risks in their immediate community Region 9
Region 9's Superfund program developed a GIS-based map of a large study area around the Montrose and Del Amo Superfund sites. This coverage identified TRI, LUST, NPDES, RCRA, and CERCLA facilities in the Harbor Gateway and greater Torrance area. Low-altitude, color-digitized aerial photography provided base coverage for the entire study area. Region 9 staff shared the GIS output maps and other specialized plots with the Del Amo Community Advisory Panel, Montrose/Del Amo partnership of state and local agencies, and community representatives. Future applications of the GIS coverage could include web-based or CD-ROM distribution after EPA develops standards for public access to Agency information systems. Contact Steve Simanonok, (415) 744-2358 Region 10
Investigations of groundwater contaminated with trichloroethene are underway at the Moses Lake Superfund Site in eastern Washington where a number of low-income residents rely on private water wells for drinking water and other domestic uses. As an interim action, Region 10 is evaluating several options to provide alternative water supplies to impacted residents: bottled water, filtration treatment of well water, or water hookups to a nearby municipality. Several economic issues required analysis to support EPA's decision on alternative water supplies. For instance, Region 10 considered the fact that water rights in eastern Washington are scarce and some residents are concerned about paying higher monthly water bills if they are placed on a municipal supply. A component of Region 10's deliberations included an evaluation of the Moses Lake community to determine if it is an environmental justice community, as defined by EPA's national guidelines for identifying environmental justice communities. This analysis was conducted prior to finding potential funds to assist residents who might be placed on municipal water supplies. Contact Lynda Priddy, (206) 553-1987 Action Item Conduct a pilot proactive site assessment program Region 2
In FY 1997, Region 2 began planning for the creation of a Rapid Field Screening Team that would provide assistance to brownfields pilot and non-pilot cities. The team's goals are to identify potential removal sites, which are sites requiring further evaluation, and identifying potential brownfields. Information generated by the team will assist communities and local government in environmental response, resource allocation, and development planning. Region 2 entered into a data management cooperative agreement with Barceloneta, Puerto Rico, in 1996 to develop an integrated facility data layer using Global Positioning System (GPS) and GIS software. This project was part of an effort to provide information necessary for a multi-media environmental analysis. Completed Milestones FY97 Purchased hand-held GPS units. FY97 Installed a GPS base at the Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board. FY97 Trained personnel to utilize the GPS hand-held units. FY98 Completed data dictionaries and point location procedures that are compatible with EPA's procedures. FY98 Made inspections at selected facilities utilizing this technology to field test procedures. FY98 Made inspections of all facilities within the Commonwealth and updated databases. Contacts Lawrence D'Andrea, (212) 637-4314 Harvey Simon, (212) 637- 3594 Region 8
Region 8's site assessment team began studying environmental justice GIS maps prior to conducting field work in a community. The purpose is to increase the team's awareness of the community in which it will conduct an environmental assessment. Contacts Pat Smith, (303) 312-6082 Luke Chavez, (303) 312-6512 Outreach, Communications, and Partnerships Action Items: Conduct presentations on environmental justice to establish and maintain communication with the public 12 Region 2 12 Region 4 12 Region 8 13 Enter into partnerships to resolve issues that do not fall exclusively under OSWER jurisdiction 14 Region 2 14 Region 3 15 Region 9 16 Region 10 17 Use regional environmental justice grants to promote environmental justice education 17 Region 2 17 Region 10 18 Develop program-specific and community/minority-specific environmental justice outreach strategies 19 Region 2 19 Develop a public education and outreach program for communities likely to have OSWER-related environmental justice concerns 21 Region 2 21 Region 4 21 Conduct an environmental justice workshop to lend assistance to a South Tucson environmental justice community nearby the Tucson International Airport Superfund site 24 Region 9 24 Conduct regional environmental justice public forums 25 Region 4 25 Region 9 26 Enhance outreach activities to minority and/or low-income groups 27 Region 10 27 Focus on environmental education in specific geographic areas using an environmental justice theme 27 Region 5 27 Develop an environmental justice homepage 28 Region 5 28 Topic Area: Outreach, Communications, and Partnerships Action Item Conduct presentations on environmental justice to establish and maintain communication with the public Region 2
Region 2's Environmental Justice Operating Plan (April 10, 1997) calls for region-wide and division-specific environmental justice work plans and training. Region 2's member of the Environmental Response and Remedial Division (ERRD) Regional Environmental Justice Work Group contributed to the development of the 1997 region-wide environmental justice training. In 1998, the ERRD Division Director and brownfields and environmental justice staffs delivered environmental justice training to all staff of the Emergency Response and Remedial Division and Superfund staff of the Office of Regional Counsel. EPA incorporates environmental justice into brownfields assessment demonstration pilot activities. Applicants for these pilots must submit a community involvement and environmental justice plan. Region 2 holds a kick-off stakeholder meeting for each a pilot recipient to set the stage for on-going stakeholder participation. This meeting provides a forum for learning and sharing local brownfields information. Region 2 staff also discuss the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders, including the relevance of environmental justice and the benefits of a participatory process. Completed Milestones 8/98-9/98 Region 2 Emergency Response and Remedial Division Environmental Justice Training for all division staff (3 sessions). FY98 Brownfields pilot stakeholders kick-off meetings were held for: Atlantic City, Hudson County, Long Branch, Middlesex, Morris, Paterson, Niagara County, Ogdensburg, Ulster, Utica, Yonkers, and Puerto Rico Ports Authority. Contact Chelsea Albucher, (212) 637-4291 Region 4
On May 23-24, 1997, the Waste Management Division hosted the first Environmental Justice Summit held at the regional level. The summit, which was co-hosted by the Southern Organizing Committee for Economic and Social Justice (SOC), was attended by 24 leaders from the most vocal and dissatisfied community groups in Region 4. The intent of the meeting was to give the division an opportunity to hear firsthand what affected citizens and stakeholders believe are impediments to progress, pinpoint environmental justice issues that the division could address better in communities of color and low-income communities, and identify successes that the community and the division could build upon. A second environmental justice summit, hosted by the division's environmental justice team, SOC, and Spelman College, occurred on February 6-7, 1998 and attracted more than 100 participants including representatives from numerous environmental justice groups, HUD, ATSDR, Corps of Engineers, DoD, the States of North Carolina and Georgia, Clark Atlanta University, and the Medical University of South Carolina. Under the auspices of the division's Environmental Justice Program, the Waste Management Division established and funded the Teacher's Environmental Institute in FY 1994. The institute was co-hosted by Clark Atlanta University and was the first of its kind developed at the regional level. The institute trained 40 middle and high school teachers representing all eight Region 4 states to access and understand environmental data that they can use in developing environmental lesson plans for their students. The institute lasted approximately two weeks, and teachers who completed the program were awarded continuing education credits. Region 4 expanded the institute concept to include three additional institutions of higher learning, which were funded in FY 1998: North Carolina State University, Murray State University, and Florida A&M University. Feedback from institute participants suggest that the concept is a tremendous success. Completed Milestones FY94 Under the auspices of the Division's Environmental Justice Program, the Waste Management Division established and funded the Teacher's Environmental Institute. 97-98 The Waste Management Division hosted two Environmental Justice Summits at the regional level. FY98 Renewed funding for Teacher's Environmental Institutes. Contact Eddie L. Wright, (404) 562-8669 Region 8
Region 8's Water Program provided three days of training on capacity building to the Uintah and Ouray Reservation on October 5, 1998. Topics included Underground Injection Control, Underground Storage Tank, Drinking Water, Municipal Systems, and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Systems for the tribe. The training was developed as a pilot and is being considered for continued utilization in the remaining tribal organizations. The Drinking Water Program continues to refine the Region 8's Tribal Utility Capacity Development Program and has participated in several workshops during the reporting period. These workshops are designed to bring federal agencies and tribes together to pool resources and creatively reach the common goal of "ensuring safe, economical drinking water" for tribes. Drinking Water staff participated in an environmental justice stakeholder video conference in March 1998 to address various technical issues relating to pending Drinking Water regulations. Drinking Water staff also participated in an environmental justice citizens meeting, which environmental justice and Wyoming citizens requested. Region 8 procured almost $1.4 million to initiate LUST corrective actions on tribal lands in Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The result has been eight site assessments and/or tank removals when releases were suspected for those facilities where the owner/operators have been unable, unknown, or unwilling to undertake such activities. In addition, the Region has conducted seven sampling events to evaluate groundwater contamination on tribal lands. Some of the specific tasks associated with these corrective actions where funded through 8A contract mechanisms. Completed Milestones 3/98 Participated in an environmental justice stakeholder video conference. 10/98 Three-day training on capacity building for the Uintah and Ouray Reservation. Action Item Enter into partnerships to resolve issues that do not fall exclusively under OSWER jurisdiction Region 2
FY 1997 brownfields pilots have established task forces, coordination groups, and partnerships that identify and address issues that do not fall exclusively under OSWER jurisdiction. Examples include the Glen Cove Pilot and the link Buffalo Pilot manager who is a member of the Buffalo Urban Resources Partnership, a diverse group a broad urban environmental agenda. All of the pilots focus on economic revitalization. Staff of the Emergency Response and Remedial Division (ERRD) work closely with each pilot to address issues, such as environmental liability, tax relief, and local community concerns that fall outside OSWER jurisdiction. Internally, the workgroups facilitated partnerships to address issues outside OSWER jurisdiction. Examples include the Community Based Environmental Protection Workgroup, the Regional Environmental Justice Workgroup and the Community Grants Program Workgroup. New partnerships in FY 1998 include the Brownfields Interagency Work Group and brownfields job training and development pilot. Region 2 has established a Regional Brownfields Inter-Agency Work Group, comprised of over 14 federal and state agencies, to streamline access to federal resources. The Work Group was established initially for the Region's brownfields showcase communities of Glen Cove, New York, and Trenton, New Jersey, but now works with all regional brownfields pilots and brownfields impacted communities. Region 2 is developing a web-based Brownfields Resource Manual that includes fact sheets about available community revitalization resources and how to access these resources. Region 2's ERRD continues the following partnership activities: the brownfields pilots establish multi-stakeholder task forces, EPA Brownfields Pilot Managers provide support in planning and pre-development activities, and regional staff participate in regional work groups, such as the Community-Based Environmental Protection Work Group. Completed Milestones 8/98 Brownfields Interagency Work Group decided to serve all brownfields pilots and brownfields impacted communities in the region. 9/98 Brownfields job training and development cooperative agreement for $200,000 was awarded to the New Jersey Youth Corps. Contact Vincent Pitruzzello, (212) 637-4354 Region 3
The Baltimore Urban Environmental Initiative is a major cooperative effort involving the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), Baltimore City Health Department, and Baltimore City Planning Department. The goal is to identify and rank areas of disproportionate environmental risk in Baltimore City and implement risk reduction, pollution prevention, public awareness, and other techniques to eliminate or minimize the risks. Grants awarded to the city and MDE are designed to address environmental concerns related to lead, hazardous materials incidents, indoor air quality, fish consumption, ground-level ozone pollution, and air toxics. Completed Milestones FY98 Completed and distributed two lead education and awareness videos to health care agencies in all 24 Maryland subdivisions. FY98 Provided more than 3,000 lead-dust cleaning kits and appropriate training to area citizens. FY98 Provided training to heating, ventilating, and air conditioning workers in the Baltimore City Public Schools. FY98 Established a hazardous waste database for Baltimore businesses. Established an Ozone Pollution television program. FY98 Provided grant funds to MDE for conducting a comprehensive fish consumption survey. FY98 Developed a draft risk evaluation report for Baltimore. Contact Reginald Harris, (215) 814-2988
Region 3 developed an international facilitated training module titled "Principles of Solid Waste Management Planning," and four EPA facilitators delivered it in Pretoria, East London, and Cape Town, South Africa, in May 1997. The training involved 65 South African participants representing NGOs, CBOs, industry, and provincial and national environmental agencies. In September 1997, three EPA facilitators returned to South Africa to coach the "in country" facilitators who delivered three train-the-trainer courses to audiences in Pretoria, Port Elizabeth, and Cape Town. One EPA facilitator worked with each group of South African facilitators, each of whom had been participants in the previous course delivery. The South Africans viewed this activity as a major success. The facilitators in Pretoria and Cape Town have held follow-up meetings to discuss plans for future course presentations in communities around South Africa. Region 3 also has been in communication with the South African Environmental Justice Network and has been providing them with technical information and environmental justice contacts in the United States. Completed Milestones 5/97 Delivered training module. 9/97 Provided coaching for South African facilitators. Contact John Armstead 215-814-3127 Region 9 In FY97, Region 9 conducted a series of outreach meetings with community-based organizations and conducted presentations on environmental justice at various conferences and forums. The Region also has participated in various conferences and forums to communicate the importance of environmental justice. On July 10 and 11, 1998, the Council of Environmental Quality (CEQ) conducted an Environmental Justice meeting in Los Angeles. This was a follow-up to a White House meeting with national environmental justice leaders in November 1997 and was the first of a series of environmental justice community meetings across the country. The Clinton Administration plans to convene follow-up dialogue with the community, local businesses and industry, and state and local government officials on the issues raised during the July meeting. The environmental justice community meetings addressed local issues and identified appropriate federal agencies to respond to community concerns. Subsequent Interagency Task Force (ITF) meetings also have been held and included a face-to-face meeting in Los Angeles on October 22, 1998, and a conference call on November 10, 1998. Region 9 has developed a draft Mission and Scope of the Task Force. CEQ and the federal agencies made a series of commitments to the community, which included for instance the ITF to monitor federal commitments, environmental enforcement, technical assistance, and Title VI training. Completed Milestones FY97-98 Operated the Environmental Justice Information Line to promote access to Region 9's environmental justice activities. FY97 Conducted outreach meetings with public schools in the Bay Area to assess environmental justice education needs. FY97 Provided EPA leadership on environmental justice issues at local, regional, and national conferences. 7/98, 11/98 Held a CEQ environmental justice meeting. 10/98,11/98 Held an ITF meeting in Los Angeles and conference call. FY98 Reinforced EPA's commitment to communities impacted by environmental justice issues through proactive discussions with community leaders and organizations in the Bay Area, Los Angeles, South Phoenix, and San Diego. FY98 Conducted outreach meetings with public schools in the Bay Area to assess environmental justice educational needs. FY98 Provided EPA leadership on environmental justice issues at eight local, regional, and national conferences. Contact Romel Pascual, (415) 744-1212 Region 10
Region 10 is providing financial assistance to the Northeast Portland (Oregon) Environmental Justice Community through co-sponsorship of two community conferences organized by the Environmental Justice Action Group of Oregon. The first conference, called "Environmental Justice and You," focused on providing key information and tools to residents and identifying environmental justice issues of significance within the communities. The second conference brought together individuals and groups working on environmental justice efforts in the four-state region. The conference focused on building a network of environmental justice advocacy within the geographic Pacific Northwest region and participating in information-sharing, education, capacity-building, and strategy sessions. This network is similar to that which exists within the Southern United States. Completed Milestones 11/97 First conference. 5/98 Second conference. Contact Joyce Kelly, 206-553-4029 Action Item Use regional environmental justice grants to promote environmental justice education Region 2
In FY 1997, Region 2 established a Community Grants Workgroup to ensure that the headquarters and regional grant programs are well coordinated. The Workgroup assists stakeholders and potential grant applicants in accessing EPA grants. The Workgroup can make internal recommendations to help the Region better address community needs. Regional Environmental Justice Grants and other Community Grants are used to promote environmental justice education. Region 2's Community Grants Workgroup developed a "How to Write a Grant Workshop" in FY 1997 for prospective environmental justice and environmental education grant applicants. The following Environmental Justice through Pollution Prevention grants also promote environmental justice education and capacity building of local constituents to address local environmental equity issues: Greenpoint/Williamsburg Environmental Education Project; Harlem Pollution Prevention Program; The Haudenosaunee Ohenton Karihwatehkwen: An Indigenous Strategy for Long-Term Pollution Prevention; Rabanal Environmental Justice through Pollution Prevention; and Paterson Pollution Prevention Program. The purpose of the environmental justice grants is to provide financial assistance to eligible community groups, and federally recognized tribal governments that are working on or plan to carry out projects to address environmental justice issues. In FY 1998, $2,500,000 was disbursed nationwide for environmental justice grants of which $500,000 was made available for superfund projects only. In Region 2, $300,000 was disbursed in FY 1998 for 13 grants in New York, New Jersey, and the Virgin Islands. Other community grant programs also supported environmental justice education. Information about other grants can be found at http://www.epa.gov/region02/cgp/cgphmpg.htm. Completed Milestones 9/98 Awarded 13 environmental justice grants in Region 2. Contact Natalie Loney, (212) 637-3639 Region 10
Region 10's Environmental Justice Program awarded a $11,300 grant to the Northwest Communities Education Center to conduct an educational campaign on proper disposal of household hazardous waste for predominately migrant farm laborers and the Hispanic community in the greater Yakima area. Completed Milestones 7/97 Grant awarded Contact Joyce Kelly, (206) 553-4029 Action Item Develop program-specific and community/minority-specific environmental justice outreach strategies Region 2
Each Region 2 brownfields pilot recipient prepares a community involvement plan that includes proactive community outreach, education, and involvement strategies appropriate to the locality. A community leadership program developed for the Trenton brownfields pilot is serving as a regional and national model of a process to foster early, on-going, and meaningful community participation. The Trenton community involvement and stakeholder education strategy includes the Leadership and Environmental Training Series (LETS) program sponsored by Rutgers University, Isles Center for Disease Control (CDC), and EPA's Technical Outreach Services for Communities (TOSC) program. The purpose of LETS is to facilitate community and group development; cultivate understanding and leadership through education and training; enable residents to participate and be involved in the decision-making processes that impact their communities; create and foster long-term sensitivity, communication and partnerships between communities, businesses, government, and other public and private institutions. The first class graduated in the summer of 1997. Completed Milestones FY97 Community involvement plans were received and approved for State of New York brownfields pilots in Glen Cove, Elmira, Niagara Falls; for the State of New Jersey in Elizabeth, Perth Amboy and Jersey City; and for the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company in the Caribbean. FY97 Community involvement plans are underway or completed for the following FY 1998 Region 2 brownfields assessment pilots: Atlantic City, Hudson County, Long Branch, Middlesex, Morris, Paterson, Niagara County, Ogdensburg, Ulster, Utica, Yonkers, and Puerto Rico Ports Authority. Contact Lawrence D'Andrea, (212) 637-4314
Prior to releasing a proposed plan announcing a change in the GM Massena Superfund site's remediation strategy, EPA held separate meetings with members of the Mohawk Tribal Council, St. Regis Mohawk Environment Division, and Akwesasne Task Force on the Environment. These meetings provided the community more time to voice their concerns and gave EPA an opportunity to understand the nature of the concerns prior to the larger public forum, which normally is EPA first contact with the community. Another change in the outreach strategy was to hold the public meetings on Mohawk Territory. EPA advertised the meeting on the Mohawk radio station and in two tribal newspapers. Completed Milestones 8/98 Individual meetings with the Tribal Council and Akwesasne Task Force on the Environment. 9/98 The proposed plan, which was published in a Record of Decision in March 1998, was discussed at a large public meeting and was not rejected by the community. Contact Anne Kelly, (212) 637-4264
The Vega Baja Waste Disposal Site is an inactive, unlined, uncapped, 19-acre parcel of land in a rural area of Río Abajo Ward, Vega Baja, Puerto Rico. The Municipality of Vega Baja disposed of (open burned) an estimated 1,108,540 cubic yards of waste at the site from 1948-1979. Today, approximately 213 houses are located on 11 acres of the site. In 1984, the Puerto Rico Land Authority transferred the landfill property to the Puerto Rico Housing Department (PRHD). The PRHD has in turn given title to some of the residents for the parcels on which they constructed houses. Funds, estimated to be about $2 million, have been requested to conduct a time-critical removal action of lead contaminated soil on two residence and a church. The levels of lead in the soil exceed EPA's removal action levels. A Scope of Work for an Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis (EE/CA) was prepared to investigate the most cost effective method of remediating or removing the lead contaminated soil at approximately 42 residences. At this time, only $117,000 are available to prepare the EE/CA documents. No funds are available for the studies. An Action Memorandum has been prepared requesting $150,000 to initiate a groundwater investigation for the site as part of the remedial investigation and feasibility study for the site. Completed Milestones FY97 Children's blood study, fruits and vegetable sampling. FY97, 1/98, 8/98 Several public meetings. 8/98, 12/98 Residential soil sampling XRF screening. 11/98 Public Health Assessment. 9/99 Time-critical removal of lead. 10/99 EE/CA prepared. 10/99 Groundwater RI/FS. Contact Ramón Torres, (787) 729-6951, ext. 262 Action Item Develop a public education and outreach program for communities likely to have OSWER-related environmental justice concerns Region 2
Region 2 publishes a Quarterly Brownfields Community Report, which addresses the information needs of regional brownfield stakeholders. The distribution list includes state contacts, municipalities, civic associations, and non-profit groups. The Quarterly often includes articles specific to environmental justice issues and articles have highlighted community organizations pro-active brownfield redevelopment activities. In addition, the Quarterly invites article submissions to better serve regional information needs. Region 2's Communications Division staff respond to public information and education requests related to waste issues. In addition, many of the community grants, such as the Superfund supported portion of Environmental Justice Small Grants, enable community-based entities to meet local information and education needs. In FY 1997, Region 2 developed a brownfields Web page that links to headquarters, regional environmental justice information, and other resources. Completed Milestones 97 Summer and winter Brownfield Community Involvement Quarterlies were published and distributed. 98 Summer and winter Brownfield Community Involvement Quarterlies were published and distributed. FY98 Community Involvement Plans underway or completed for FY 1998 for Atlantic City, Hudson County, Long Branch, Middlesex, Morris, Paterson, Niagara County, Ogdensburg, Ulster, Utica, Yonkers, and Puerto Rico Ports Authority. Contact Lawrence D'Andrea, (212) 637-4314 Region 4
Region 4 has established Community Advisory Groups as a way of ensuring community involvement in decision making at sites where environmental justice concerns occur. Community Advisory Groups (CAGs) have been established for Superfund Sites and Community-Based Environmental Protection (CBEP) projects. Region 4 has two active CAGs on environmental justice sites. The Charleston/North Charleston Community-Based Environmental Protection Project Community Advisory Group was established as a result of the numerous interactions of Superfund staff in the area. Area residents have told EPA about other environmental concerns in the area. After deciding to institute the CBEP approach, efforts to establish a Community Advisory Group were made to ensure community involvement in the CBEP. Completed Milestones 6/97 Solicited interest in forming a CAG. 8/97 Informational session conducted with those expressing interest. 10/97 Partner Agencies developed list of suggested members. 12/97 Organizational session, interim officers established. 1/98 First CAG meeting run by interim officers and subcommittee was established.
At an EPA public meeting on the Tennessee Products Superfund Site in the spring 1997, City Councilman John Taylor and a City liaison, Moses Freeman urge community leaders to form a Community Advisory Group. EPA's guidance documents concerning CAGs provided the framework for the CAG, which provides a communication mechanism between EPA and the community. Since there were several community groups actively participating in the remedial process, formation of the CAG has made decision making and the flow of information more efficient. Completed Milestones Summer 1997 Community leaders come together and formed a CAG. Summer 1997 Community groups, S.T.oP. and its leader Milton Jackson received an EPA Technical Assistance Grant (TAG). The CAG selected a technical advisor soon after the CAG formed. 1999 Technical reports, sampling data, and field updates are presented to the CAG through the technical advisor in a timely manner. The technical advisor is treated as a team member and has unrestricted access to the field activities and information being generated.
Region 4's environmental justice work for the Brunswick/Glynn County area in FY 1998 is summarized in the following milestones. Completed Milestones 11/97 The Alabama/Georgia/Mississippi Section of the South Site Management Branch hosted a field trip for Zack Lyde, Save the People, Inc., to the Terry Creek Dredge Spoil Site. 1/98 The Alabama/Georgia/Mississippi Section of the South Site Management Branch presented the results of the CBEP sampling project on a local radio show. NAACP Community Relations Coordinator Robert Griffin hosted the radio show. 2/98 Region 4 staff met with Zack Lyde and members of Green Cross, an International Christian Environmental organization. FY98 Acting Assistant Administrator of OSWER Tim Fields visited the communities of Brunswick, Tifton, and Ft. Valley, Georgia. FY98 The Emergency Response and Removal Branch continued to remove contamination from the LCP Chemicals Site and Terry Creek Dredge Spoil Site. FY98 Remediation of the Hercules 009 Landfill is currently taking place. FY98 Remedial planning for the Terry Creek Dredge Spoil Site, the Brunswick Wood Preserving Site, and the LCP Chemicals Site is underway. The Air Management Division and the RCRA Enforcement Branch inspected the Hercules, Inc. Plant. Contact Brian Holtzclaw, (404) 562-8684
Region 4's environmental justice work for Bennettsville, South Carolina, in FY 1998 is summarized in the following milestones. Completed Milestones 3/98 Held a public meeting on March 6, 1998 to inform citizens about the cleanup at the Southern Asbestos plant. As a result of the public meeting, 85 former employees were interviewed to determine if any other employees had taken asbestos to their homes for insulation or other uses. 11/98 Relocated 15 residences and moved 13 residences back within ten days. Two residences are still under relocation. Soil samples were taken in over 30 lots adjacent to the plant and six were positive. These lots were re-sampled and only one will have asbestos removal work. FY98 Met with local officials and media to inform them of the work to be performed at Southern Asbestos. FY98 OSC gives updates on the site on a local radio station (WBSC 1550) every Thursday morning at 7:45 a.m. FY98 Attended a district meeting and gave a presentation to 13 minority church leaders to enlist their help in getting information to people and to try to locate former employees who may have taken asbestos to their homes. FY98 Met with families in homes adjacent to the Southern Asbestos plant. FY98 Hosted another public meeting on the status of the cleanup and answered questions that some of the residents and former employees had asked during interviews. FY98 Waste Management Division staff organized and held a health fair/information meeting, which involved the SC Workmen's Compensation Commission, the Social Security Administration, the Health and Human Services Office, and several specialists in occupational health and pulmonary medicine. Contact Brian Holtzclaw, (404) 562-8684
Region 4's environmental justice staff participated in announcing the Project XL-Atlantic Steel, Atlanta, Georgia, initiative in September 1998. In FY 1999, the Region plans to continue attending local meetings and form an environmental justice focus group to flesh out environmental justice issues associated with proposed redevelopment activities. Region 4's environmental justice staff is working with EPA Headquarter's environmental justice staff to ensure that the proposal meets the XL criteria and respects the Executive Order on environmental justice, as well as EPA's environmental justice policies and guidelines. Completed Milestones 9/98 Announced Project XL-Atlantic Steel. Contacts Michelle Glenn, (404) 562-8674 Brian Holtzclaw, (404) 562-8684
Region 4's Waste Management Division (WMD) environmental justice team continues to work with Marasco Newton Group, LTD, to develop an innovative environmental justice training program for EPA staff in Region 4. The final environmental justice training package will be shared with headquarters and other regions for use as a prototype for employee training Agency-wide. For five months, a WMD staff person participated in the development of a work plan and agenda for the Brunswick Environmental Justice Community Pilot Training Course (Unit #1). Environmental justice staff attended training during which "Communities for a Better Environment" presented practical fundamentals and successes in community-based air sampling and efforts to protect communities from adverse fish consumption. Georgia Tech presented the basics of the TOSC, TAB and ICORE grants available to communities. For the past three months, WMD staff has worked with the Community Involvement Coordinator on the IMC and the Arkwright Superfund sites, complex and controversial sites. The staff has also facilitated communication with the environmental justice group, Re-Genesis and the EPA at critical occasions, participated in EPA coordination sessions, and supported the community interviews with former plant employees. The interviews helped the sampling plan narrow down the hot spots that should be sampled based upon historical site practices. Contacts Eddie L. Wright, (404) 562-8669 Brian Holtzclaw, (404) 562-8684 Action Item Conduct an environmental justice workshop to lend assistance to a South Tucson environmental justice community nearby the Tucson International Airport Superfund site Region 9
Community members of the Unified Community Advisory Board (UCAB) requested the Environmental justice program present an informational workshop detailing Region 9's environmental justice program. Environmental justice staff attended a UCAB meeting to assess the needs of community members, and with their assistance, they developed an agenda for a two-hour workshop, which was held in February 1999. All important segments of the community attended including business, corporations, city, county and state governments, organized neighborhood groups, and individual citizens. A follow-up visit to the UCAB the next month offered an opportunity to evaluate the workshop and identify next steps. During that visit, environmental justice staff toured the neighborhood with community representatives to understand the broader environmental justice concerns in the area. Subsequent to these events, EPA received correspondence from Ms. Joanne Mesa of the UCAB on behalf of her community requesting more detailed environmental justice assistance including an extensive community workshop, communication assistance with the Air National Guard and other agencies on the expansion and impact of their activities in the community, Environmental Justice Program participation on the EPA superfund site team, and a formal environmental justice analysis of South Tucson. The Environmental Justice Program is responding to her requests. Completed Milestones 2/99 Informational workshop detailing Region 9's environmental justice program. 3/99 Follow-up visit to the UCAB to evaluate the workshop and identify next steps. Contact Running-Grass, (415) 744-1205 Action Item Conduct regional environmental justice public forums Region 4
On December 11-13, 1997, EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance and Region 4 sponsored the Environmental Justice Enforcement Roundtable. Region 4's Waste Division helped plan as well as attend this event, which was held in Durham, North Carolina, after the NEJAC meeting of December 1997. Hundreds of environmental justice grassroots activists participated along with local, state, and federal environmental agency personnel. Waste Division environmental justice staff and managers delivered addresses and participated on panels and breakout sessions. As a result of the conference, a Summary of Recommendations was generated and leads were assigned. In July 1998, Waste Division environmental justice staff compiled a status report on these recommendations. Completed Milestones 12/97 Held the Environmental Justice Enforcement Roundtable. 7/98 Compiled a status report containing recommendations from the Roundtable meeting. Contact Connie Raines, (404) 562- 9671 Region 9
Region 9 conducted a series of outreach meetings with community-based organizations and gave presentations on environmental justice at various conferences and forums. The outreach meetings were designed to assess environmental justice concerns, develop viable strategies to address those concerns, and foster strong working relationships. Region 9 conducted outreach meetings in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco Bay Area, South Phoenix, and Tucson. The groups the Region met with included the Environmental Health Coalition, Asian Pacific Environmental Network, Communities for a Better Environment, Don't Waste Arizona, Arizona Environmental Justice Advisory Council, Mothers of East Los Angeles, First African Episcopal Methodist Church of Los Angeles, Community Coalition for Change, and the Southwest Network for Environmental and Economic Justice. Region 9 has participated in the following conferences and forums to communicate the importance of environmental justice: Federal Facilities Conference, American Bar Association Annual Conference, Association of Environmental Professionals, International Right of Way Association, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Upward Bound Program and Second Annual Youth Leadership Summit, the National Hispanic Sustainability Conference, National Environmental Justice Conference in South Carolina, Association of Environmental Professionals, and Senator George Miller's Congressional District Grant Workshop. Completed Milestones . Operation of the Environmental Justice Information Line to promote informational access to Region 9 environmental justice activities. . Reinforced EPA's commitment to communities impacted by environmental justice issues through proactive discussions with community leaders and organizations in the Bay Area, Los Angeles, South Phoenix, and San Diego. . Conducted outreach meetings with public schools in the Bay Area to assess environmental justice education needs. . Provided EPA leadership on environmental justice issues at local, regional, and national conferences including: Los Angeles Environmental Justice Workshop; Los Angeles Town hall Meeting on Air Rule 1610; Environmental Conference of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists; National Brownfields '97 Conference; Southwest Network for Economic and Environmental Justice (SNEEJ) Gathering; National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC) Meeting; Western Alliance of Farmworker Advocates Conference, and the National American Bar Association Conference. Contact Romel Pascual, (415) 744-1212 Action Item Enhance outreach activities to minority and/or low-income groups Region 10
Region 10's goal is to enhance EPA's community involvement efforts by being responsive to the unique needs of groups that may otherwise be under-represented through EPA's traditional outreach efforts, and by being adaptable to the existing forms of communication within communities. For instance, Superfund outreach staff issues fact sheets to non-English speaking community members in eastern Washington where there is a high percentage of Hispanic migrant farm workers. Similarly, in the Puget Sound area, EPA's Superfund activities affect Asian-speaking populations who rely on fisheries for a higher proportion of their diet. EPA in conjunction with local authorities has provided fish advisories in several Asian dialects to warn of the potential exposures to shellfish. Contact Debra Packard, (206) 553-0247
Grant Warehouse was the site of a time critical removal by EPA's Emergency Response Unit. The site is in a high-density residential neighborhood with mixed-use commercial property in NE Portland, Oregon. Large quantities of chemicals were stored in this warehouse, which was used as a metallurgical laboratory for 20 years. Neighborhood groups in the community are highly active. The removal project was very visible and resulted in a high level of community interest. As a result, Region 10 devised intensive community outreach efforts to address community concerns and conducted door-to-door visits to all homes in the immediate block. Fact sheets were maintained at the perimeter of fenced areas to keep community members informed of progress throughout the process. EPA conducted all of its outreach through existing community group forums and activities. Contact Jeffry Rodin, (206) 553-6709 Action Item Focus on environmental education in specific geographic areas using an environmental justice theme Region 5
Region 5 supports and participates in teacher education activities throughout the Region's six states. In the past, EPA has sponsored, co-sponsored, or participated as a partner in teaching workshops in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. These workshops cover a wide variety of environmental topics and are presented from an interdisciplinary perspective. Completed Milestones 2/27 Educator's Conference on Biodiversity. 7/97 National Environmental Education Material Guideline Workshop for the City of Chicago and Springfield, Illinois. 7/97 Southeast Michigan Teacher's Institute on Environmental Education.. 8/97 Pollution Prevention Workshop for Chicago Public School. Contact Suzanne Saric, (312) 353-3209 Action Item Develop an environmental justice homepage Region 5
Region 5's Superfund Division has developed a homepage that contains a section on environmental justice. The environmental justice section identifies CAGs, with possible environmental justice concerns and contains the FY 1997 and FY 1998 Environmental Justice Implementation Plan for Superfund, Superfund policy on identifying possible environmental justice concerns, and much more. Completed Milestones FY98 Updated homepage as needed. Contacts Oliver L. Warnsley, (312) 886-0442 James Rittenhouse, (312) 886-1438 Action Items: Continue to implement brownfields pilot projects 30 Region 1 30 Region 2 32 Region 4 33 Region 7 34 Region 9 34 Regional support to San Francisco Brownfields Advisory Board 35 Region 9 35 Region 10 36 Develop and implement job training and community outreach activities 36 Region 2 36 Region 9 37 Explore the use of enforcement tools to stimulate brownfields development 38 Region 2 38 Support private efforts to conduct and define all appropriate inquiry related to property transfers 38 Region 2 38 Build a technical and organizational infrastructure to assist economic development in environmental justice communities 39 Region 2 39 Region 9 39 Increase coordination with other federal agency and state and local governments to support brownfield redevelopment 40 Region 2 40 Support the application of innovative technologies to expedite brownfields redevelopment 41 Region 2 41 Strengthening brownfields redevelopment 41 Region 6 41 Provide technical support to the Native Village of Fort Yukon to conduct a site characterization of several sites within the Village 42 Region 10 42 Coordinate with an affected community to consider future land uses in Superfund decision making 42 Region 10 42 Support the application of innovative technologies to expedite brownfields redevelopment 43 Region 2 43 Topic Area: Economic Redevelopment Action Item Continue to implement brownfields pilot projects Region 1
In FY 1998, Region 1 awarded nearly $1.8 million in grants and services to eighteen New England municipalities for brownfields activities. A total of 38 New England communities have been selected to receive brownfields assessment demonstration pilots ("assessment pilots") through FY 1998. These assessment pilots will provide up to $200,000 to local, tribal, and state governmental entities to conduct site assessments and related activities at brownfields sites. The assessment pilots are distributed throughout New England, although the majority are located in the more industrialized states of Connecticut and Massachusetts. The current breakdown by states is: Connecticut (9), Maine (3), Massachusetts (20), New Hampshire (3), Rhode Island (2), and Vermont (1). Very few cities and towns have been spared the blighting effect of brownfields properties, but the highest concentrations tend to be associated with environmental justice communities. For this reason, an important goal of the assessment pilot program is the inclusion of the community in local planning and decision-making processes. Region 1's brownfields team actively monitors existing pilots, continues to emphasize the need for effective community involvement throughout each phase of the brownfields' process, and assists where possible on technical or legal issues. In addition, the brownfields team continues to work with these and other communities to inform them of its various assistance programs. Cities and towns with a large number of brownfields sites and those with significant environmental justice populations and issues are especially targeted for this outreach. Completed Milestones FY98 Awarded 38 brownfields assessment demonstration pilots in New England.
As an adjunct to the pilot program, Region 1 has expanded its efforts under the Targeted Site Assessment Initiative. Targeted Site Assessments differ from pilots in that the actual site investigation work is conducted by EPA contractors on behalf of local governments. Sites are selected through a competitive process in which these local entities nominate abandoned or underutilized sites that represent high priority redevelopment projects. By their nature, most of these sites are located in areas where environmental justice issues are a major concern. Region 1 has completed or is currently conducting site assessment work at 20 sites with plans to add more sites in FY 1999. Completed Milestones FY98 Completed or currently conducting site assessment work at 20 sites with plans to add more in FY 1999.
The job training pilots provide training for residents in communities impacted by brownfields. Pilot funds are used to ensure that trainees include, but are not limited to, the unemployed, welfare to work, environmental justice communities, and other disadvantaged populations. The goals of the pilots are to prepare trainees for employment related to the assessment, cleanup, and redevelopment of brownfields properties whose reuse has been impeded by contamination. The trainees typically become certified in Lead/Asbestos and OSHA 40 Hour HAZWOPER. In FY 1998, EPA-NE awarded two pilots to Jobs for Youth-Boston and the City of New Bedford, Massachusetts, for $200,000 each. An estimate total of 35 trainees have graduated during the first year from the two pilots. The grantees were two of only eleven entities nationwide to receive the funding under the "Brownfields Job Training and Development Demonstration Projects" initiative. Completed Milestones FY98 Awarded two job training pilots for Youth-Boston and the City of New Bedford, Massachusetts, for $200,000 each.
In March of 1998, Lowell, Massachusetts, Stamford, Connecticut, and the State of Rhode Island were designated as three of the nation's 16 "Brownfield Showcase Communities." The showcase community designation takes the EPA's brownfields program one step further by bringing more agencies and other federal resources into the mix. EPA teamed up with 15 other federal agencies--Housing and Urban Development, Department of Commerce, and the Small Business Administration among them--to address the brownfields issue using a holistic approach. The collective knowledge and resources of this broad-based government coalition translates into a richer, more inclusive brownfields program. In addition, beginning in October of 1998, EPA-NE assigned a full-time employee to work exclusively in each community. Using a $200,000 brownfields grant provided by Region 1 in FY 1997, Lowell, Massachusetts, was able to start addressing contamination at the site of the Paul Tsongas Arena. One year and millions of leveraged dollars later, Lowell has begun to address, and ultimately redevelop, properties such as Lawrence Mills and the Gilmore Trust building. Stamford officials have devised an ambitious, yet attainable goal of redeveloping the former Northeast Utilities Gas Plant, the Fuel Oil Depot Site, and the Yale & Towne Site. The city's proposal is part of a comprehensive strategy to reclaim the harbor as a major economic and recreational resource, and as a result, revitalize Stamford's two lowest income neighborhoods. For the State of Rhode Island, the Showcase Community designation builds upon some very impressive efforts, specifically those of the Woonasquatucket River Greenway Project, which is aimed at restoring green space and spurring development along some of the river's most neglected banks. With federal assistance, the Greenway Project's goals of turning the Riverside Mills and Lincoln Lace and Braid sites into commercial and green space and creating upwards of 100 jobs in the process will be realized. Completed Milestones 3/98 Lowell, Massachusetts, Stamford, Connecticut, and the State of Rhode Island were designated as brownfields showcase communities. 10/98 EPA-NE assigned a full-time employee to work exclusively in each New England showcase community.
In an effort to maximize the use and availability of other relevant federal programs, Region 1 has been developing partnerships with other federal agencies to exchange information and explore potential opportunities for collaboration. Information is then shared with the pilot cities/towns who are in the best position to make effective use of these programs. Region 1 continues to seek opportunities for advancing its brownfields agenda outside of core program areas. An example is the Morse Cutting Tool site located in the Cape Verdean community in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Previously, EPA assisted the State of Massachusetts by conducting a search of previous site owners to support a possible Superfund claim for past remediation. The state used this information to approach the current owner, resulting in a voluntary consent agreement to investigate and clean up the site. Two large abandoned structures have since been demolished and debris removed, and site remediation is ongoing. Since the project directly impacts the surrounding Cape Verdean community, EPA provided technical assistance through the Hazardous Substance Research Center (HSRC) to review and comment on the environmental assessment and cleanup studies prepared by the property owner. This provides the community with a third-party review of the environmental work being performed at the site. Region 2
In FY 1997, Region 2 awarded a Brownfield Assessment Demonstration Pilot of $50,000 to Glen Cove, New York, and $200,000 to Elizabeth, New Jersey. The brownfields award recipients in FY 1997 include Elmira and Niagara Falls in New York; Perth Amboy and Jersey City in New Jersey; and the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company. Regional procedure calls for each pilot to submit a community involvement plan which integrates environmental justice and fosters informed, meaningful involvement. In addition, FY 1997 activities include inter-Agency coordination and program development to meet regional brownfields needs. Currently, Region 2 is developing a field screening team to quickly screen environmental conditions at sites selected by pilot cities as potential brownfields development candidates. Region 2 is preparing issue papers, a brownfields redevelopment manual, and a computerized decision model to address many of the concerns and issues encountered in the pilots. Completed Milestones FY97 Awarded regional Brownfield Assessment Demonstration Pilot grants to Glen Cove, New York, and Elizabeth, New Jersey. FY97 Awarded National Pilot grants to Elmira and Niagara Falls in New York; Perth Amboy and Jersey City in New Jersey; and the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company. Contacts Lawrence D'Andrea, (212) 637-4314 Chelsea Albucher, (212) 637-4291
In FY 1998, 12 Brownfields Assessment Demonstration Pilot Cooperative Agreements were awarded in Region 2. Regional procedure calls for each pilot to submit a community involvement plan which integrates environmental justice and fosters informed, meaningful involvement. FY 1998 activities include establishment of the Regional Interagency Brownfields Work Group and grantees workshop; "Life After the Grant: From Developing a Pilot to Sustainable Brownfields Program." Each Pilot has an EPA liaison designated to provide assistance and facilitate access to EPA engineering, science, and emergency response resources. Region 2's brownfields assessment demonstration pilots awarded in FY 1998 are: Atlantic City, Hudson County, Long Branch, Middlesex, Morris, Paterson, Niagara County, Ogdensburg, Ulster, Utica, Yonkers, and the Puerto Rico Ports Authority. Region 2's brownfields job training and development pilots awarded in FY 1998 include the New Jersey Youth Corps. Completed Milestones FY98 Awarded 12 brownfields assessment pilot cooperative agreements. FY98 Awarded one brownfields job training and development pilot. Contact Lawrence D'Andrea, (212) 637-4314 Region 4
In support of the Healthy Community Initiative, Region 4's Waste Management Division and the Medical University of South Carolina's Environmental Hazards Assessment Program co-sponsored a symposium on December 5, 1996, called "Doing Business with the Federal Government: Establishing Partnerships for Sustainable Community based Economic Development." More than ten federal agencies participated in the symposium, which attracted more than 100 minority contractors and small business owners. Region 4 worked with EPA Headquarters and the local community to determine the possibility of establishing a jobs training program at the Wingate Road Landfill Site in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. During 1998, the Region plans to develop a Memorandum of Agreement with a training provider following resolution of the funding issues. Three brownfields pilots have been awarded using Revolving Loan Fund grants: St. Petersburg, Florida; Birmingham, Alabama; and Louisville, Kentucky. These grants will be used to provide seed money to state and local governments to test funding models and facilitate coordinated public and private cleanup efforts. Completed Milestones 12/96 Co-sponsored a symposium called "Doing Business with the Federal Government: Establishing Partnerships for Sustainable Community based Economic Development." FY98 Region 4 will develop a Memorandum of Agreement with a training provider for the Jobs training program at the Wingate Road Landfill site, following resolution of funding issues. Region 7
Region 7 continues to explore opportunities to implement brownfields pilot projects in support of its environmental justice implementation plan. Region 7 assists in application development when there is definitive interest. Region 7 provided a grant to the Great Plains/Rocky Mountain Hazardous Substance Research Center at Kansas State University to assist communities with brownfields pilot projects in acquiring information and data, organizing and distributing information, interpreting technical information, and participating in planning and implementation phases. Region 7 has encouraged its new pilots (in Kansas City Metro Area; Wellston, Missouri; and Des Moines, Iowa) to implement community involvement aspects into their projects. Region 7 also has encouraged selection of a site for assessment in the Kansas City pilot that West Side neighborhood residents are most concerned about. EPA has been meeting with citizens about pilot projects in Kansas City and Bonne Terre, Missouri, and has been meeting with a number of communities to encourage participation in the brownfields pilot program. Completed Milestones 4/97 Awarded a brownfields assessment pilot to Wellston, Missouri. 9/97 Awarded a brownfields assessment pilot to Des Moines, Iowa. Contact Kerry Herndon, (913) 551- 7286 Region 9
Region 9 is fully committed to promoting the Brownfields National Partnership Action Agenda by managing the brownfields pilots, creating partnerships, conducting outreach to environmental justice communities, and conducting targeted brownfields assessments at selected properties. Currently, there are 30 brownfields pilot grants, five revolving loan fund pilots, and two job training pilots in Region 9. In 1998, Los Angeles and East Palo Alto were selected as showcase communities. Region 9 also provided a staff member on loan to the East Palo Alto, Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency, and to the California Center for Land Recycling--a non-profit organization. Completed Milestones 12/97 Thirteen brownfields site assessment pilots and one revolving loan fund pilot is in place in Region 9. 5/97 Stationed staff in East Palo Alto, Los Angeles, Richmond, and the nonprofit organization California for Land Recycling. 8/97 Targeted site assessments provided to: Hawaii Department of Health, North Fork, California, and Yuma, Arizona. 2/97 Los Angeles established a $1 million brownfields revitalization fund that was increased in 1998 and 1999 to a total of $2.4 million. 3/98 East Palo Alto and Los Angeles were selected as brownfields showcase communities. 7/99 Thirty brownfields site assessment pilots, six revolving loan fund pilots, and three job training pilots in Region 9. 7/99 Seventeen targeted brownfields assessments were completed or are underway. Contact Bobbie Kahan, (415) 744-2191 Action Item Regional support to San Francisco Brownfields Advisory Board Region 9
San Francisco was awarded a regional brownfields pilot grant of $100,000 in September 1996 to revitalize the Bayview Hunters Point community. The grant was increased to $200,000 in 1997. The city has established a Brownfields Advisory Board made up of community members, academia, local business owners, local representatives, and lenders. The board has just completed the development of site selection criteria to select a site(s) for the sampling phase (II) of the project. Completed Milestones 2/97 Hired a contractor and two community members to assist with a phase I site assessment. 8/97 Completed an area-wide phase I site assessment report for the Bayview Hunters Point neighborhood and entered the environmental information into a geographic information system data base. 10/97 Drafted site selection criteria to select a site for environmental sampling. Contact Person Bobbie Kahan, (415) 744-2191 Region 10
Region 10 provides brownfields grants for pilot projects, funds brownfields site assessment activities, funds states to develop Voluntary Cleanup Programs, and conducts outreach to educate businesses and lenders on existing protections to liability associated with contaminated properties. Region 10 has increased its brownfields efforts from one full time employee to nearly three full time employees. Region 10 has eight brownfields pilot projects. One of the goals of the brownfields pilots is to inform and involve the nearby communities. Four pilots are directly benefitting environmental justice communities. The City of Portland has a grant to focus redevelopment on the city's Enterprise Community, which has a poverty rate of 35%. Another pilot will allow the Puyallup Tribe to address a contaminated property that is necessary for a planned marine terminal development. The Ketchikan Gateway Borough project and the Oregon Mills pilot have addressed site characterization and redevelopment needs for mill sites in distressed timber communities. In addition, Region 10 is conducting targeted brownfields site assessments for two tribal communities--the Burns Pauite Tribe of Oregon and the Metlakatla Indian Community in Alaska. Completed Milestones 9/95 Grant awarded to Duwamish Coalition project and Oregon Mill sites. 9/96 Grant awarded to Panhandle Health District, Port of Bellingham, Puyallup Tribe. 3/96 Grant awarded to City of Tacoma, City of Portland. 4/97 Grant awarded to Ketchikan Gateway Borough. Contact Lori Cohen, (206) 553-6523 Action Item Develop and implement job training and community outreach activities Region 2
As part of the Jersey City Brownfields Pilot, Region 2 has partnered with local stakeholders to develop brownfields related job training for students at New Jersey State College. The Trenton Leadership Environmental Training Series (LETS) held its first graduation in the summer of 1997. LETS developed in conjunction with the Trenton Brownfields Pilot and with support from the Northeast Hazardous Substance Research Center and Technical Outreach Services for Communities program. The LETS mission is to facilitate community and group development, cultivate understanding and leadership through education and training, enable residents to participate and be involved in the decision-making processes that impact their communities, and create and foster long-term sensitivity, communication, and partnerships among communities, businesses, government, and other public and private institutions. In FY 1998, Region 2 conducted outreach and provided application assistance for the brownfields job training and development pilots. The national review panel selected an application from the region. In addition, public agency personnel and students were able to access EPA environmental training program courses, such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration required 40-hour health and safety course for hazardous waste site workers. Completed Milestones FY98 Awarded a brownfields job training and development pilot to the New Jersey Youth Corps to train 18-25 year old underemployed and unemployed people of Newark and Camden. Contact Lawrence D'Andrea, (212) 637-4314 Region 9
In August 1997, Region 9 piloted a technical training and jobs placement program for the community surrounding the East Palo Alto brownfields site. Sixteen students received seven weeks of extensive training from DePaul University in hazardous waste handling, lead and asbestos abatement, and underground storage tank cleanup and removal. EPA provided the funding for this program to DePaul through an existing grant the university has with the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences. Classroom training was followed by 90 days of paid on-the-job training with several environmental cleanup firms in the area. Throughout the training program, Region 9 conducted extensive outreach activities with large industry companies. There were more permanent jobs than students available. In FY 1999, Region 9 assisted the cities of East Palo Alto and San Francisco with developing a minority worker training program with funds from the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences. This program teaches residents living near brownfields sites environmental remediation and construction skills. Several rounds of training have taken place and have resulted in very high placement and retention rates of program graduates in the environmental field. EPA also funded brownfields job training pilot grants to the cities of Richmond, Oakland, and San Francisco, California. Completed Milestones FY98 Began the second round of training in East Palo Alto, California. FY99 Funded environmental job training in the cities of East Palo Alto, Richmond, San Francisco, and Oakland, California. Contact Sherry Nikzat, (415) 744-2360 Action Item Explore the use of enforcement tools to stimulate brownfields development Region 2
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection partners with Region 2 to provide support to EPA brownfields pilots in New Jersey. Many of the pilot target sites are addressed through the respective state's voluntary cleanup program to allow the flexibility necessary to stimulate brownfields redevelopment. Region 2 is developing strong ties with the New York Department of Environmental Conservation to address many of the brownfields pilot city sites through the state voluntary cleanup program and brownfields program of the recently enacted Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act. Region 2 also entered into prospective purchaser agreements. Region 2 explained the policy on various enforcement tools and liability guidance offered by the Agency through meetings with each of the pilots and through public presentations from Region 2 staff. Completed Milestones FY98 Partners with New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to assist brownfields pilots. FY98 Entered into prospective purchaser agreements. Contact Lawrence D'Andrea, (212) 637-4314 Action Item Support private efforts to conduct and define all appropriate inquiry related to property transfers Region 2
Region 2 actively responds to informal information requests and formal FOIA and webpage FOIA information requests about properties. When EPA has no information on a brownfields site, people are referred to appropriate state and local agencies and information resources, such as New Jersey's Known Contaminated Sites database available on the Internet. Contact Jenny Delcimento, (212) 637-4296 Action Item Build a technical and organizational infrastructure to assist economic development in environmental justice communities Region 2
For each brownfields pilot, Region 2 convenes resource meetings with key partners to present the EPA resources available to localities (counties, cities, and towns). These meetings, which are tailored to each pilot's needs, involve EPA representatives from emergency removal and pre-remedial site assessment and may include representatives from the Office of Regional Counsel to clarify liability issues and from contracts and grants to share information on other EPA programs. These face-to-face meetings build the relationships necessary for beneficial partnership and local capacity building to address the environmental aspects impeding economic development in environmental justice communities. The Region 2 brownfields team has worked with state environmental agencies to support site assessment activities and brownfields redevelopment in economically depressed areas. In FY 1998, EPA met with all brownfields pilot communities to present the range of technical assistance available through Superfund, and information about community grants that are available from other divisions and programs. Also in FY 1998, Region 2 convened the Brownfields Inter-Agency Work Group comprised of over 14 federal and state agencies. This work group provides the organizational infrastructure necessary to support holistic community revitalization. Active members of the work group include the Economic Development Administration, the U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and state environmental and economic development counterparts. The brownfields team has been able to connect brownfields pilot communities to federal and state agencies and departments that can address issues outside of EPA's jurisdiction. EPA has provided technical assistance and a resource network to increase local economic development capacity. Completed Milestones |