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Superfund Community Involvement Publications

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Community Involvement

Publications on this page provide information to community members at Superfund sites. Information found in these publications includes:

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You may download copies of the publications by using the links provided or you may order hard copies of EPA publications by contacting the National Service Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP) by email at nscep@bps-lmit.com, fax at 301-604-3408, phone at 1-800-490-9198 (toll free), or by mailing your order to PO Box 42419 Cincinnati,OH 45242-0419.

Citizen's Guides

Citizen's Guides to Cleanup Methods

A set of fact sheets describing, in general terms, cleanup methods used at Superfund and other contaminated sites. Each fact sheet answers five questions about the cleanup method: 1) What is it? 2) How does it work? 3) Is it safe? 4) How long will it take? and 5) Why use it? These guides are also available in Spanish as shown.

This Is Superfund: A Citizen’s Guide to the Superfund Program (PDF) (19 pp, 482K) (EPA 540-K-99-006)
Provides citizens with a basic understanding of the Superfund process and how they can become involved if there is a Superfund site in their neighborhoods. A Spanish version of this brochure, Guía del ciudadano para el Programa de Superfund (PDF) (19 pp, 475K) (EPA 540-K-99-006), also is available.

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Cleanup Costs

Superfund Today: Focus on Cleanup Costs (June 1996) (PDF) (4 pp, 216K) (EPA 540-K-96/004)
Describes U.S. EPA efforts to encourage and enforce those responsible for pollution to pay for cleanup of hazardous waste sites.

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Community Involvement Tools

Community Involvement Toolkit
Contains comprehensive and practical tools for use by EPA community involvement personnel and community members in promoting successful community participation in the Superfund process.

Identification and Evaluation of Community Involvement Activities in Abandoned Mine Land Communities (PDF) (21 pp, 472K)
Identifies ways to protect the public and the environment by setting priorities for the evaluation, cleanup, and redevelopment of abandoned mine sites.

Lessons Learned About Superfund Community Involvement (PDF) (26 pp, 109K)
Demonstrates how EPA Remedial Project Managers (RPMs), On-Scene Coordinators (OSCs), and Community Involvement Coordinators (CICs) have overcome obstacles, inertia, opposition, and mistrust in communities with Superfund cleanup sites.

The Model Plan for Public Participation (February 2000) (PDF) (20 pp, 475K)
Documents the recommendations of the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC), a public advisory committee providing extramural policy information and advice to the U.S. EPA, concerning methods for institutionalizing public participation in EPA environmental programs. A Spanish version of this document, El Plan Modelo Para Participación Pública (PDF) (14 pp, 2.6MB) (EPA 300-K-96-003) also is available.

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Construction Completion

Superfund Today: EPA Celebrates 400th Cleanup (December 1996) (PDF) (12 pp, 1MB) (EPA 540-K-96-009)
Documents the Superfund Program’s progress in cleaning up hazardous waste sites as of September 30, 2000.

Superfund Today: EPA Achieves 757th Construction Completion (March 2001) (PDF) (8 pp, 706K) (EPA 540-F-00-023)
Documents the Superfund Program’s progress in cleaning up hazardous waste sites as of September 30, 2000.

Superfund Today: Focus on Construction Completion, 900th Completion (August 2004) (PDF) (8 pp, 1.4MB) (EPA 540-F-05-001)
Documents the Superfund Program’s progress in cleaning up hazardous waste sites as of August 2004.

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Five-Year Reviews

Superfund Today: Focus on Five Year Reviews and Involving the Community (December 2002) (PDF) (2 pp, 424K) (EPA 540-F-01-011)
Explains the community’s role in five-year reviews EPA conducts on Superfund sites where some waste was left behind to ensure that the remedy is still protective of human health and the environment.

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Records of Decision (RODs)

Customized CERCLIS/RODs Reports
Provides information tailored to the user’s needs from the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act Information System (CERCLIS) database, which stores and maintains technical information about all Superfund sites, including information on Records of Decision (RODs), the documents that explain which cleanup alternative(s) are to be used, for National Priorities List (NPL) sites (the most hazardous) where the cost of the cleanup is to be paid from the Superfund Trust Fund.

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Reuse/Revitalization

Reusing Superfund Sites
Discusses issues related to reuse of Superfund sites, documents reuse successes, and highlights tools available to enhance community participation in reuse decisions.

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Risk Assessment

Superfund Today: Focus on Risk Assessment: Involving the Community (April 1999) (PDF) (6 pp, 95K) (EPA 540-K-98-004)
Explains the Superfund risk assessment process and provides tips on how the community can get involved in the process. A Spanish version of this document, El Superfundo Hoy Dia - La Estimación de Riesgos: Cómo Lograr La Participación De La Comunidad (PDF) (6 pp, 230K) also is available.

Superfund Today: Focus on Revisions to Superfund's Risk Assessment Guidance (February 1999) (PDF) (2 pp, 441K) (EPA-540-F-98-055)
Highlights changes made to the Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund (RAGS) in 1999.

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Ritualistic Use of Mercury

Mercury Brochure (PDF) (2 pp, 531K) (EPA-540-K-04-002)
Answers questions about mercury and provides tips on how to protect oneself and one’s family.

Ritualistic Use of Mercury Simulation: A Preliminary Investigation of Metallic Mercury Vapor Fate and Transport in a Trailer (PDF) (146 pp, 7MB) (EPA/540/-04/006)
Documents a study to assess the fate and transport of mercury vapors associated with cultural uses of elemental mercury, and evaluate real-time mercury vapor monitoring instruments results vs. modified National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Method 6009.

Task Force on Ritualistic Uses of Mercury Report (PDF) (111 pp, 980K) (EPA/540-R-01-005)
Summarizes Task Force activities, provides an overview of what is known about cultural and spiritual mercury use, and makes recommendations for further investigation, outreach, and action.

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Social Impacts of the Superfund Process

Assessing Social Impacts in the Superfund Process (PDF) (23 pp, 206K)
Provides information and resources to EPA for use in improving its consideration of the social, cultural, and economic impacts of the Superfund decision-making process.

Social, Cultural, Economic Impact Assessments: A Literature Review (PDF) (24 pp, 232K)
Identifies and describes best practices for assessing the social and cultural impacts of risk management decisions and early and appropriate involvement of all stakeholders in Superfund decision-making.

Societal, Cultural and Economic Impacts and the Superfund Process Workshop, November 6-7, 2002, Meeting Summary (PDF) (16 pp, 99K)
Documents discussions in a workshop in which EPA personnel shared their current (2002) activities relative to assessing the social, cultural, and economic impacts of the Superfund decision-making process and involving the stakeholders in that process.

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