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Office of Solid Waste and Emergency ResponseOffice of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation
The U.S. EPA Superfund Program: Building Community Capacity through
Technical Assistance
NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE CONFERENCE & TRAINING PROGRAMApril 2013
2 Technical Assistance
The U.S. EPA Superfund Program:Building Community Capacity through
Technical Assistance
• Introduction to Superfund and community involvement
• Overview of Superfund technical assistance programs
Overview:
• Understanding the technical needs of communities
• Challenges when federal agencies provide technical assistance
3 Technical Assistance
Introduction to Superfund and Community Involvement
4 Technical Assistance
Congress established the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) in 1980.
CERCLA, informally called Superfund, gives EPA the funds and authority to:
• Protect human health and the environment by cleaning up polluted sites
• Involve communities in the Superfund process
• Make responsible parties pay for work performed at Superfund sites
Introduction to Superfund and Community Involvement
5 Technical Assistance
Superfund sites are “discovered” when the presence of hazardous waste is made known to EPA.
• EPA uses the Hazardous Ranking System (HRS), to score sites according to the danger they may pose to human health and the environment.
Introduction to Superfund and Community Involvement
• The National Priorities List (NPL) is a list of the nation’s highest priority hazardous waste sites that are eligible for federal funding under the Superfund remedial program.
o Over 1,600 sites have been added to the NPL
o All 50 states, Puerto Rico, DC, Guam and Virgin Islands
6 Technical Assistance
EPA follows a step-by-step process to determine the best way to clean up the site and protect human health and the environment
• This process can take many (many, many) years
• Information from the local community should be used as part of the decision making process to ensure the cleanup is appropriate and relevant
• Technical assistance is important to build community capacity to participate in technical and scientific decision making
• Community involvement and technical assistance should occur early in the cleanup process
Introduction to Superfund and Community Involvement
7 Technical Assistance
EPA provides community members with opportunities to participate in the decisions that affect the Superfund sites
Specifically, EPA:
Introduction to Superfund and Community Involvement
• Is required to conduct community interviews and develop a Community Involvement Plan (CIP)
• Holds public meetings and opportunities for review and comment on site decision documents
• Encourages Community Advisory Groups
• Gives the authority to award Technical Assistance Grants (TAGs) and a myriad of technical assistance opportunities
8 Technical Assistance
Overview of Superfund Technical Assistance
Programs
9 Technical Assistance
Overview of Superfund Technical Assistance Programs
Technical Assistance Grant (TAG)
Technical Assistance Services for Communities (TASC)
Technical Information Assistance
Process Facilitation
Superfund Just In Time (JIT)
Superfund Site Technical Assistance Areas
Job Training
10 Technical Assistance
Overview of Superfund Technical Assistance Programs
Document review & interpretation
TrainingInformational
materials
Technical Information Assistance(TAG & TASC)
Process Facilitation
(JIT)
Focus Areas for Technical Assistance Programs
Meeting facilitation
Dispute resolution
Community Advisory Group Formation & Function
Workshops & decision-making
11 Technical Assistance
TAG TASC JIT
Review technical documents
Meet with community to explain site information
Evaluate reuse plans
Interpret and explain health-related information
Conduct TA needs evaluation and plan preparation
Prepare and present training
Plan and hold community meetings about site reuse
Assist groups through organizational issues and capacity building
Conduct conflict/situation assessment, mediate disputes, and provide other ADR services
Facilitate sessions or meetings
Coach parties in conflict management, dispute resolution or consensus building
Overview of Superfund Technical Assistance Programs
How are programs used?
12 Technical Assistance
• Reopening final EPA decisions
• Lawsuits or legal actions
• Collect new health or primary data
• Lobbying
• Travel expenses of group members
12
Prohibited uses of programs?
Overview of Superfund Technical Assistance Programs
13 Technical Assistance
TAG TASC JIT
Group of individuals in the community
Tribal governments
Local governments (e.g., small townships)
National organizations
Academic institutions
Responsible Parties
13
Overview of Superfund Technical Assistance Programs
Eligible Recipients
14 Technical Assistance
Overview of Superfund Technical Assistance Programs
Superfund Site Technical Assistance Areas
Job Training
Technical Information Assistance(TAG & TASC)
Process Facilitation
(JIT)
Superfund Job Training Initiative (Super JTI)
15 Technical Assistance
Overview of Superfund Technical Assistance Programs
Job Training(Super JTI)
Life skillsMarketable job skills
Fosters community economic growth/opportunities
Enables community to take active role in community restoration
Increases understanding of site cleanup
16 Technical Assistance
Superfund Job Training Initiative (Super JTI)
• Web - http://www.epa.gov/superfund/community/sfjti/index.htm
• Contacts – Melissa Friedland, friedland.melissa@epa.gov (EPA Regions 1-5); and Viola Cooper, cooper.viola@epa.gov (EPA Regions 6-10)
TAGS
• Web - http://www.epa.gov/superfund/community/tag/
• Contact – Freya Margand, margand.freya@epa.gov
TASC
• Web - http://www.epa.gov/superfund/community/tasc/
• Contact – Freya Margand, margand.freya@epa.gov; and Tina Conley, conley.tina@epa.gov
Superfund Just in Time (JIT)
• Web - http://www.epa.gov/adr/
• Contact – Lois Gartner, gartner.lois@epa.gov 16
Overview of Superfund Technical Assistance Programs
For More Information
17 Technical Assistance
Overview of Superfund Technical Assistance Programs
Technical Information Assistance
Process Facilitation
Technical Assistance Programs
Technical Assistance Grant (TAG)
Technical Assistance Services for Communities (TASC)
Superfund Just In Time (JIT)
18 Technical Assistance
Understanding the Technical Needs of Communities
19 Technical Assistance
Background on Technical Assistance Needs Assessments (TANAs)?• The Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response
(OSWER) began the Community Engagement Initiative (CEI) in 2009. Goal 2 of the CEI Evaluate and Improve EPA Technical Assistance Processes.
Understanding the Technical Needs of Communities
• June 2010, OSWER established National Technical Assistance Workgroup that recommended EPA:o develop best practices for conducting a
technical assistance needs assessment as part of a community engagement plan.
Website: www.epa.gov/oswer/engagementinitiative
20 Technical Assistance
What is a Technical Assistance Needs Assessment (TANA)?
Understanding the Technical Needs of Communities
• Process to determine community’s technical assistance needs.
• Conducted by EPA site team and/or contractor.
• Discussions with 8-10 community members.
• What is learned is summarized in a TANA working document.
• TANA acts as a blueprint to meet community’s technical assistance needs.
21 Technical Assistance
Understanding the Technical Needs of Communities
Are TANAs required?
• Not required by statute or regulation.
• EPA devised a TANA “tool” specific to Superfund sites. o The Superfund-specific TANA closely
dovetails with the interviews conducted by the Community Involvement Coordinator (CIC) during the Community Involvement Plan (CIP) process.
• Can be conducted concurrently with CIP or at a later date.
Website: http://www.epa.gov/superfund/community/pdfs/toolkit/tana.pdf
22 Technical Assistance
Understanding the Technical Needs of Communities
• Often informal technical assistance provided by site team is sufficient to meet community’s technical assistance needs.
• If site team cannot easily meet needs, a TANA should be conducted.
• TANAs are most effective when completed early in the Superfund cleanup process.
When is a TANA Conducted?
23 Technical Assistance
Understanding the Technical Needs of Communities
How is a TANA Conducted?
• Prior to conducting a TANA, the EPA site team meets to discuss anticipated site technical issues.
• EPA staff and/or contractors engage in discussions with 8-10 community members.
• Discussions are summarized into a succinct (4-6 page) document detailing the community’s technical assistance needs.
• Summary is shared with community.
• Best ways to provide technical assistance are determined.
24 Technical Assistance
Understanding the Technical Needs of Communities
Why Conduct a TANA?
• Aids site team in determining the technical assistance needs of the community.
• Provides EPA with a record of unmet technical assistance needs.
• Provides a working document from which the appropriate technical assistance can be identified and delivered.
• Enhances opportunities for EPA to partner with other organizations to address technical assistance needs.
• Ensures the most efficient utilization of TAG grants, TASC program, etc.
• Avoids unnecessary duplication of technical assistance.
25 Technical Assistance
Understanding the Technical Needs of Communities
Examples of Technical Assistance Services
• Provide basic information about science and environmental programs.
• Read and explain technical reports.
• Research and explain public health and risk.
• Conduct community outreach and involvement.
• Assist with redevelopment planning.
• Support formation of groups to enable the community to receive technical assistance.
• Build capacity of groups.
• Provide neutral facilitation, mediation and dispute resolution services.
26 Technical Assistance
Understanding the Technical Needs of Communities
Lessons Learned
• Superfund has conducted TANAs on about 10 sites
• Ensure all affected stakeholder groups are represented in the TANA discussions
• It is helpful to distinguish between immediate vs. long term assistance needs.
• EPA may not be able to meet all needs, but allows us to:o have honest conversations about what EPA can and can’t
do; ando reach out to others who may be able to assist.
27 Technical Assistance
Challenges for Federal Agencies in Providing Technical Assistance to Community Based Organizations
Stephen Lester Science Director
Center for Health, Environment & Justice
Center for Health, Environment & Justice
• Founded in 1981• Born out of Love Canal Crisis• Lois Gibbs Executive Director • Based in Falls Church, VA• Staff of 11• Provide organizing and technical assistance to
grassroots community groups nationwide
P.O. Box 6806 Falls Church, VA | o 703-237-2249 |f 703-237-8389 | www.chej.org
My work as Science Director
• Help people understand scientific and technical information – Engineering reports– Health studies– Environmental test results
• The role of science in addressing community contamination problems
P.O. Box 6806 Falls Church, VA | o 703-237-2249 |f 703-237-8389 | www.chej.org
Experience Providing Technical Assistance
• Hired by NYSDOH to provide technical assistance to Love Canal residents (1978-1981)
• Science Director at CHEJ since 1981 • Provided wide range of technical assistance to
thousands of community based organizations
P.O. Box 6806 Falls Church, VA | o 703-237-2249 |f 703-237-8389 | www.chej.org
Lessons Learned Providing Technical Assistance to Communities
• Listen to people, understand their concerns • Build trust• Be honest and transparent• Residents are experts on their communities • People quickly assimilate technical knowledge
and information • Put it in writing
P.O. Box 6806 Falls Church, VA | o 703-237-2249 |f 703-237-8389 | www.chej.org
Challenges for Federal Agencies in Providing Technical Assistance
• Government does not share the same goals as the community
• Community’s prime concern is the health of the family whereas the government is primary concerned with its regulatory responsibilities
• Building trust • History of government agencies at site
P.O. Box 6806 Falls Church, VA | o 703-237-2249 |f 703-237-8389 | www.chej.org
Challenges for Federal Agencies in Providing Technical Assistance
• Providing information on the testing, risks, cleanup and other issues of concern to the community in a timely and comprehensive way
• Being transparent• Involving the community in decision-making • Accepting and integrating community
knowledge and information • Making clear the range of technical assistance
they can provide
P.O. Box 6806 Falls Church, VA | o 703-237-2249 |f 703-237-8389 | www.chej.org
What Community Organizations Are Looking for
• Someone they can trust• Help to interpret and understand technical data
and information• Someone who will make it clear what the
technical data and information they have tells them about the risks they are facing
• What the technical data and information they have does NOT tells them about the risks
P.O. Box 6806 Falls Church, VA | o 703-237-2249 |f 703-237-8389 | www.chej.org
Recommendations
• Involve the community at the ground floor of any site investigation
• Provide the necessary resources to make it possible for community members to participate fully
• Budget for community involvement• Establish regular means of communicating• Be flexible and adapt to public input on the site
assessment P.O. Box 6806 Falls Church, VA | o 703-237-2249 |f 703-237-8389 | www.chej.org
• Listen to and understand the needs and concerns of the community
• Work with the community to find a way to address their concerns that is meaningful and honest
• Involve/accept outside experts/organizations who are credible (to the community) in the development and oversight of the site assessment
P.O. Box 6806 Falls Church, VA | o 703-237-2249 |f 703-237-8389 | www.chej.org
Recommendations
37 Technical Assistance
The U.S. EPA Superfund Program:Building Community Capacity through
Technical Assistance
• Community involvement is supporting through law, regulation, and policy in the Superfund program
• Technical assistance is an important aspect of capacity building to engage in meaningful community involvement
• Technical assistance can help meet both the technical and organizational capacity needs of a community
• Understanding the technical needs of communities is an important first step to providing assistance
• There are challenges to overcome when federal agencies provide technical assistance
Take Away Points:
38 Technical Assistance
ABCD
Contact Information
Stephen Lester Science Director
Center for Health, Environment & Justice
slester@chej.org
703-237-2249
www.chej.org
Suzanne WellsBranch Chief
Community Involvement and Program Initiatives (CIPIB)
Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation (OSRTI)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Wells.Suzanne@epa.gov
www.epa.gov/superfund/community
Freya MargandCIPIB, OSRTI | U.S. EPA
Margand.Freya@epa.gov
Yolanda SanchezCIPIB, OSRTI | U.S. EPA
Sanchez.Yolanda@epa.gov