Get Involved
Get involved in Federal Facility Superfund sites in your community.
Community Involvement
Community members can learn about federal facilities near them and participate in decision making under provisions of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), also known as Superfund. According to Executive Order 12580, at federal facilities that are on the National Priorities List (NPL), the agency that owns and operates the facility has the lead responsibility for cleanup activities, including community involvement.
Additional Community Involvement Opportunities
Stakeholders have an additional opportunity to participate in federal facility cleanups in their communities through advisory boards established by the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy.
- Department of Defense (DoD) Restoration Advisory Boards (RABs)
- Department of Energy (DOE) Site-Specific Advisory Boards (SSABs)
Technical Assistance to Communities
Community members can access technical information about specific sites through Technical Assistance Grants and Technical Assistance to for Communities.
Technical Assistance Services for Communities (TASC) is an EPA program that provides independent, non-advocacy educational and technical assistance to communities affected by hazardous waste sites regulated by the RCRA and Superfund programs, including sites on federal facilities and tribal land.
Technical Assistance Grants (TAGs) provide money for activities that help communities participate in decision making at eligible Superfund sites. An initial grant of up to $50,000 is available to qualified community groups so they can contract with independent technical advisors to interpret and help the community understand technical information about their site.
Tribes and Federal Facilities
Tribal governments have distinct roles in cleanups of federal facilities under treaties with the U.S. government. Accordingly, EPA works in partnership with tribal governments, both at the facility level and at the national policy-making level. The framework for EPA tribal involvement is a tribal strategy that is designed to address the needs of—and mitigate impacts to—American Indian tribes, including Alaskan Native villages, living on or near federal facilities. It includes:
- Working with tribes on a government-to-government basis consistent with EPA's trust responsibility to protect tribal health and environments.
- Involving tribes in the cleanup process through meaningful dialogue that respects the unique needs of each community.
- Developing partnerships that will enhance capacity and participation in the environmental decision-making process at federal facilities.
Communication with Tribes
An important focus of the tribal strategy is improved communication with American Indians living on or near federal facilities regarding progress made throughout the environmental-restoration process. To strengthen this communication, EPA is working to involve tribes in the cleanup process through various forums. The Federal Facilities Restoration and Reuse Office Tribal Program offers a general brochure about EPA's involvement at federal facilities around Indian Country.
Federal Facility Restoration and Reuse Office Tribal Program Brochure (pdf)