Introduction

[Kerry C. Gee <kcgee@unitedpark.com>]

Good Morning.

I work for a company that currently owns property in a historic mining district in the West.  The Company owns property on which a CERCLIS site has been disignated and is currently in the Site Inspection stage.  On another piece of land, an RI/FS is currently underway.  Much of the land the Company owns is currently slated for recreational and residential development.  Some of this development will be on lands that may be impacted by historic mining activity and could be considered as "Redevelopment" or reuse projects.  This or any change in land use requires entitlements from local governmental agencies.  This is usually a highly visible process where many groups with varying agendas can get involved.  Due to the potential for Human Health or Environmental issues as a result of the historic use, Federal and State environmental agency involvement is possible.  How these agencies get involved and interact with the public and react to the public in these issues is very critical to both public and private concerns.

In the next ten days or so I hope to gain a better understanding of the Public Involvement Process in EPA decisions.  I also hope to present one side of the public involvement process in a business where EPA involvement as a decision maker is possible and the ramifications of a decision from the Agency can be profound.