involving the public

[Connie Nahhas <sosehas@aol.com>]

I am very concerned that there are two toxic waste sites identified in my community, and that it is likely that very few people are even aware of them.  Granted, I know little about how the Superfund is supposed to work, but why have relatively few identified sites been cleaned up?  Isn't that what the Superfund was intended to do?  I think each community with identified sites needs to have focused local community involvement and EPA accountability, but that is not likely to happen if people are not more aware.  Certainly local government and the EPA have  important roles to play in getting the community more educated and involved.  

One effective method of getting environmental info out and people involved is through partnering with local schools.  Most parents are already busy with work and home life, but many are also involved and willing to take time to participate in activities at their child's school.  Schools in our area have parent night once per quarter with many attendees - that would be a good place and time to set up displays and have area EPA reps on hand.  Our local high school and community college could also be more involved via science club projects, etc. that focus on local environmental issues.  One simple method we plan to utilize at my daughter's elementary school this next year is for each grade to "adopt" an animal family with each specific class (3 each grade) choosing a specific endangered animal in that family as their "class mascot". They can use this choice as a focus for learning more about endangered species and our environment. Of course, each school needs an environmental champion to serve as the contact and reference for plans and activities.  I realize that this grassroots approach may be simplistic, but you have to start somewhere, and we've got a lot of work to do in my community.

As for risk communication, I for one am very concerned about the health impact of our local environment.  I believe our leukemia rate is higher than average, as well as other cancer rates, and I am convinced that our environment has much to do with this. I have not seen much specific data about our area except from the community scorecard I recently located on the internet.  I wish there was more data out there and that it could be more widely available to the general public in other formats.  Is there any type of health impact report the EPA distributes to area hospitals or other health care providers that is specific to the local region?    

Has the EPA ever had a community forum to discuss the toxic waste sites locally?  Does the Chamber of Commerce have an environmental officer who specializes in keeping others up-to-date on this field?  Who is the environmental champion in my local government?  Does the school board have an Integrated Pesticide Management Plan in place to keep pesticide usage to a minimum in schools?  Does the EPA work closely with other agencies such as Arkansas Fish and Wildlife?  Do area farmers employ a buffer zone to keep aerial pesticide drift out of populated areas?  What can I do to get involved?  These are all questions that I need to have answered in my community.

Thanks, Connie