RE: Ways EPA can Partner with Local Government

[Catherine Chertudi <cchertudi@cityofboise.org>]

I am the ground water programs manager with the city of Boise, Idaho and worked for the state Dept. of Environmental Quality for 7 years prior to coming to work for the city in 1990.  The key issue that spurred the city to establish a ground water program position was newspaper headlines regarding the state investigation of significant ground water contamination in the city in an area poised for development.  The lack of communication, coordination and cooperation was a serious impediment to addressing the contamination.  The lack of trust and team work was difficult to overcome and the news media enjoyed the dog-fight between the state and the city.  

I have also heard many comments over the years which referred to "the locals" or the providing of information that appeared to be top down rather than as a team with common problems and issues.  These approaches do not build a strong foundation for the management of ground water and/or superfund problems within a community.  

I agree with Eileen Ringnalda's suggestion that community's, including elected officials, be part of the issue discussion very early in the identification of the problem phase.  Historic knowledge, understanding of community values and needs would all be valuable to the problem assessment.  Early communication must be two-way and responsive to local issues and concerns.  EPA's experience with the Triumph Mine situation here in Idaho is another good example of local community will and needs conflicting with the Superfund project goals.  

Currently, EPA is evaluating several sites in Boise for possible Superfund listing.  I know this not from EPA, but from friends in the state DEQ.  My attempts to learn of the process and progress of the EPA evaluations have been unsuccessful and I am a knowledgeable individual.  Imagine if you were less aware of the processes and staff members involved how difficult it would be to keep up to date on issues directly affecting your community and possibly your health and livelihood.

Finally, too often information is provided in a "know it all manner".  Many folks will readily admit to a lack of knowledge or understanding of environmental or public health issues.  However, the lack of knowledge or understanding does not empower others to use information as offensive weapons, nor does it mean that these folks do not have the capability to understand complex information.  In order to build partnerships to address complex and difficult problems, we need to be willing to work together and  work to reduce mistrust, misunderstanding, and miscommunication.  Addressing Superfund or ground water contamination or protection problems is a local issue - and we are all locals somewhere and that somewhere is very important to us.  Creating a team of all people within a community with a Superfund site or an environmental problem will be the most powerful tool we have to solve our environmental problems.