Community InvolvementOutreach Tools Techniques Tips

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Community Involvement/Outreach? Tools ?
Techniques ? Tips

• Eileen Palese
• Community Involvement Coordinator
• Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
  (ADEQ)
• Superfund Programs Section
• Public Involvement and Outreach Unit
• July 22, 2003

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Overview

• Arizonas Superfund Program
• Community Involvement Requirements
• Tools to Use
• Photo Tour
• Ideas for Discussion
  Community Involvement Challenges

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Arizonas Superfund What is WQARF?

• Water Quality Assurance Revolving Fund (WQARF).
• Originally enacted in 1986 as part of the Arizona
  Environmental Quality Act.
• WQARF statutes were rewritten in 1997 and now
  include extensive public involvement.
• Arizonas program is similar to the federal
  (CERCLA) Superfund program.
• ADEQ actively manages 33 WQARF Sites.

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WQARF Funding

• WQARF is funded through several sources including
  corporate income tax, special fees, and cost
  recovery from responsible parties.
• WQARF was previously appropriated 18 million a
  year by state legislature.
• Budget for 2004 reduced to 5 million.

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Public Involvement Staff

• ADEQ employs four full-time community involvement
  coordinators, two are bilingual.
• Staff located in both Phoenix and Tucson.
• Skills and education in communications,
  environmental science, project management and
  facilitation.

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Community Involvement Requirements

• Before work begins at a site, the state statute
  requires ADEQ to
• Designate a Community Involvement Area (CIA)
• Produce a Community Involvement Plan (CIP)
• Mail a notice/newsletter with Community Advisory
  Board (CAB) application
• Assemble a Selection Committee
• Establish a Community Advisory Board
• Create an Information Repository

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Community Involvement Area (CIA)

• CIA boundaries are determined using default
  distances around the contamination area.
• Map goes on file designating the CIA area.
• CIA determines where written notices should be
  delivered to residences and businesses.

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Community Involvement Area Map
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Community Involvement Plan (CIP)

• Prior to CAB selection, ADEQ prepares a CIP.
  This document outlines site-specific community
  outreach strategies and contains
• Site Background
• Community Profile/Demographics
• Communications Methods
• Estimated Schedule of Activities
• Appendices (fact sheets, media lists, repository
  locations, glossary of terms, etc.)
• CIPs are reviewed and updated every two years.

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Community Advisory Boards (CAB)

• A CAB must be formed for any site undergoing a
  remedial investigation.
• CAB applications are initially solicited by
  mailing a fact sheet/application to the CIA.
• CAB applications are reviewed and voted on by a
  Selection Committee.
• Effort is made to select a diverse membership.

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CAB Purpose and Responsibilities

• CAB members serve as liaisons between ADEQ and
  their communities and provide public comment.
• A CAB must meet at least four times per year can
  consist of 5 to 20 members.
• CABs are led by 2 elected Co-Chairs.
• CAB meetings must comply with Open Meeting Law.

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Meeting Requirements

• CABs are public meetings requiring public notice.
• Held in a facility accessible to the general
  public.
• Co-chairs set agenda including a Call to the
  Public.
• New member applications are voted on at board
  meetings.

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Beyond the Requirements

• ADEQ conducts surveys of CAB members and analyzes
  feedback to improve the program.
• Some of Arizonas federal Superfund and
  Department of Defense sites are also supported by
  state community involvement staff.
• Community Involvement staff also participate in
  many community outreach activities and events to
  bring visibility to the program.

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Tools to Use HANDOUTS

• Handouts can be
• fact sheets/newsletters
• maps/technical reports
• newspaper articles
• information repository locations
• board application form
• glossary of terms
• ETC!

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PHOTO TOUR

• Community Advisory Board Meetings
• Field Work/Doorhangers
• Site Tours/Open Houses
• Dedication Ceremonies
• School Presentations
• Outreach Events

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CAB Meeting Broadway-Pantano
WQARF Site
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Neighborhood Well Drilling Broadway-Pantano
WQARF Site
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Field Office El Camino del Cerro Soil Cleanup
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Landfill Site Tour El
Camino del Cerro WQARF Site
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Open House
Broadway-Pantano WQARF Site
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Dedication Ceremony Broadway-Pantano Treatment
System
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Treatment Facility Kick-Off Motorola 52nd
Street Superfund Site
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School Days Frontier ElementaryPayson WQARF
Site
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Cleanup Celebration Event East
Washington Fluff WQARF Site
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Outreach Events Scottsdale Realtors Expo
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IDEAS FORDISCUSSION

• How to promote a community involvement culture
  within your organization.
• How to work with technical staff.
• How to keep board members involved over time.
• How to measure success without numbers.