Grantee Research Project Results
2003 Progress Report: Technical Outreach Services for Communities (TOSC) and Technical Assistance to Brownfields Communities (TAB) Programs
EPA Grant Number: R828772C009Subproject: this is subproject number 009 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R828772
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: National Research Program on Design-Based/Model-Assisted Survey Methodology for Aquatic Resources
Center Director: Stevens, Don L.
Title: Technical Outreach Services for Communities (TOSC) and Technical Assistance to Brownfields Communities (TAB) Programs
Investigators: Lach, Denise H. , Williamson, Kenneth J.
Current Investigators: Williamson, Kenneth J. , Lach, Denise H.
Institution: Oregon State University
EPA Project Officer: Aja, Hayley
Project Period: September 1, 2001 through August 31, 2003 (Extended to August 31, 2006)
Project Period Covered by this Report: September 1, 2002 through August 31, 2003
Project Amount: Refer to main center abstract for funding details.
RFA: Hazardous Substance Research Centers - HSRC (2001) Recipients Lists
Research Category: Hazardous Waste/Remediation , Land and Waste Management
Objective:
This Annual Report Summary describes the progress of two outreach and technical assistance programs, the Technical Outreach Services for Communities (TOSC) Program and the Technical Assistance to Brownfields (TAB) Program. The objective of the TOSC Program is to provide technical assistance and aid to communities confronted with environmental contamination by hazardous waste sites. TOSC provides interested community groups with technical information and assistance that can enable early and meaningful public participation in decisions that affect the community’s health and welfare. The TOSC Program provides a viable alternative strategy for communities that do not qualify for a Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The Western Region's TOSC (WRTOSC) Program is one of five nationally instituted community outreach programs. Centered at Oregon State University, the TOSC team is comprised of university faculty and students, as well as contracted environmental professionals with specializations in environmental engineering, risk communication, public health, information transfer, environmental justice, and community relations. The TOSC team provides communities with technical assistance related to understanding the effects of hazardous waste sites. Where appropriate, WRTOSC partners with staff of the Technical Outreach Services for Native American Communities (TOSNAC).
The TAB Program provides assistance to communities attempting to address cleanup and redevelopment of properties whose reuse has been prevented by real or perceived contamination. The TAB Program makes use of the same faculty, consultant, and research assistant staff as those involved in the TOSC Program. The TAB Program attempts to improve involvement of all affected parties in the cleanup and redevelopment process through education and training. The TAB Program also attempts to accelerate the redevelopment process through the application of Hazardous Substance Research Center and other research and through improved community involvement.
Progress Summary:
Active TOSC and TAB communities are listed below for U.S. EPA Regions 9 and 10. For each community, the organization is noted, followed by the site (if different from the organization), city, and state.
Region 9 TOSC Communities
Barrios Unidos, Environmental Justice Community, Phoenix, AZ. The community is concerned about the health of its residents, particularly as it is affected by air quality, noise, traffic, contaminated groundwater, and other environmental impacts. The contaminants of concern include volatile organic compounds (VOCs), NOx, and particulate matter (PM).
Downtown Southwest Neighborhood Association, From 19th Avenue to 7th Avenue (south of the railroad tracks to the northern banks of the Rio Salado [Salt River]), South Phoenix, AZ. The community is concerned about the health of its residents, particularly as it is affected by air quality, contaminated groundwater, and other environmental impacts. The contaminants of concern include VOCs, NOx, and PM.
Air Force Plant 42 Environmental Restoration Advisory Board, Air Force Plant 42, Palmdale, CA. TOSC is reviewing documents related to investigation and cleanup of soil and groundwater trichloroethylene (TCE) contamination at the facility.
Alameda Point Collaborative, Alameda Naval Air Station, Alameda, CA. A former naval base has been converted to housing for transitioning homeless and other distressed persons. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) found in the soil have been removed. Towers painted with lead paint have been removed. TOSC assisted in a post-cleanup community meeting to address residents' concerns about exposures during the cleanup process.
Chester Street Block Club Association, Environmental Justice Community, Oakland, CA. TOSC currently is participating in a series of mediation sessions with the community and the California Department of Toxic Substances Control representatives. The mediation is related to the cleanup of contaminated properties and subsequent development as a neighborhood park. The neighborhood association has filed a Title VI environmental justice complaint against the State of California, and the mediation sessions are an attempt to resolve the community’s concerns.
Elem Tribe, Sulphur Bank Mercury Mine, Clearlake, CA. TOSC is providing assistance to the Elem Tribe regarding contamination at the Sulfur Bank Mercury Mine, on the Elem Tribal Colony, and in Clear Lake. TOSC participates in the review of the Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study for the Sulphur Bank Mercury Mine, and the provision of other assistance as mutually agreed upon.
Fort Ord Environmental Justice Network, Fort Ord, Marina, CA. TOSC is assisting the community in participating in the base cleanup and redevelopment process. TOSC will assist the community by providing document review and information on health effects. The contaminants of concern include ordnance and explosives, landfill gases, carbon tetrachloride, and TCE.
Involved Neighbors Seeking Information, Safety and Truth (INSIST), Wyle Laboratories, Norco, CA. The community is concerned about the redevelopment of a defense contractor facility for housing and the potential contamination and exposure to hazardous substances manufactured or used at the facility. The contaminants of concern are TCE, metals, and perchlorate.
San Martin Perchlorate Citizens Advisory Group, San Martin, CA. Groundwater in the vicinity of the cities of San Martin and Morgan Hill has been contaminated with perchlorate, which originated from a flare manufacturing facility. The contaminant plume affects hundreds of domestic water supply wells.
South Bay Cares, Palos Verdes, CA. The community is concerned about potential health effects, which may result from developing an old landfill as a golf course. The contaminants of concern are the landfill by-products.
Tustin Remediation Advisory Board (RAB), Marine Corps Air Facility, Tustin, CA. The TOSC Program provides assistance to the established RAB dealing with remediation activities at a Marine Corps Air Station. TOSC assistance involves review and comment on Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) documents and ongoing educational programs for RAB members related to remediation plans and activities. The concern is for TCE and VOC contamination in groundwater.
Valley Center Community Group, Valley Center, CA. Residents are concerned about cancer incidence in this community and have asked TOSC to help them understand a cancer study performed by the University of California at Irvine. The contaminants of concern are pesticides, petroleum by-products, and methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE).
West College Neighborhood Association, Santa Rosa, CA. The community is concerned about health effects from the contamination of groundwater with perchloroethylene (PCE), with health-related outreach activities, as well as with the cleanup of groundwater contamination.
Willits Citizens for Environmental Justice, Abex-Remco Hydraulics, Willets, CA. TOSC has assisted this community during the investigation and remediation of the Abex-Remco facility. A TOSC member has served on the Site Team, which includes representatives from the community, the Regional Water Quality Control Board, and the California Department of Health Services. TOSC is providing assistance related to health impacts and cleanup of chromium and VOC contamination.
Region 10 TOSC Communities
Oregon State Penitentiary Community Group, Oregon State Penitentiary, Salem, OR. TOSC is providing assistance to the Oregon State Penitentiary Community Group regarding an interim removal action measure (IRAM), health concerns related to PCE and TCE exposures, and a permanent remedial action for cleanup of groundwater contamination. TOSC also has helped evaluate air quality concerns in local residential basements and possible exposures through ingestion of local produce, soil contact, and incidental ingestion of soil.
Victims of TCE Exposure, Mattel/Tyco/ViewMaster, Beaverton, OR. Former employees and their family members are concerned about exposures to TCE in drinking water and the workplace, and the health effects that may have resulted from these exposures. Community members are working to have a health study conducted on exposures and associated health effects.
Klickitat County, Champion International Corporation Mill Site, Goldendale, WA. TOSC reviewed and provided comments on documents related to the investigation and cleanup of an abandoned wood treatment facility. TOSC also has provided comments on a health consultation prepared by the Washington Department of Health.
Inactive TOSC Communities That May Require Future Assistance
Arizona Communities
South Phoenix, AZ
Union Hills, Phoenix, AZ
California Communities
Aerojet, Rancho Cordova, CA
Waste Disposal Inc., Sante Fe Springs, CA
Region 9 TAB Communities
City of East Palo Alto, CA. TAB will assist the Agency with community outreach concerning redevelopment of several former nursery properties. TAB recently attended a presentation on the site assessment methodology the city is using to obtain data about possible pesticide contamination on these properties.
Richmond Redevelopment Agency, Richmond, CA. TAB is assisting the Agency with community outreach concerning a large brownfields redevelopment project on the San Francisco Bay. TAB has written a Community Involvement Plan and has been involved in a community meeting, giving technical assistance to community members. TAB will continue to assist the Agency at future community meetings.
Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP), NV. TAB explored opportunities to collaborate with NDEP brownfields coordinator Connie Lewis. TAB met with NDEP to discuss planning and presented at a rural brownfields conference. NDEP subsequently staged a very successful conference using both private consultant and TAB input. We also have met staff from Nye County, a recent U.S. EPA Brownfields grant recipient, and discussed providing assistance with that Brownfields project.
Region 10 TAB Communities
Clackamas County, Clackamas County, OR. TAB assisted in the Request for Proposal (RFP) for consultant services and served on a committee to select a consultant.
Portland Development Commission, Portland, OR. TAB has been asked to provide technical assistance to a group of neighborhood groups adjacent to a large brownfields redevelopment site on the Willamette River. TAB also has assisted the Portland Development Commission with the selection of an environmental consultant by serving on the selection committee.
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Michael Fernandez. TAB helped coordinate Oregon participation in the U.S. EPA Brownfields 2003 Conference. This annual conference took place in Portland on October 27-29, 2003. More than 3,500 representatives from local, state, federal, and government as well as from private-sector consulting and finance firms participated in the conference. TAB also created and administered a community brownfields needs assessment survey to cities and counties of Oregon on behalf of DEQ.
Portland Showcase, Portland, OR. TAB continues to assist this showcase community as a regulatory liaison and community involvement resource. TAB also continues to provide technical assistance as needed. TAB has invited the Portland Showcase to participate in the 2004 Oregon Brownfields Conference planning process as a means of facilitating achievement of their community outreach goals.
City of Spokane, WA. TAB has agreed to provide technical and community outreach to this new U.S. EPA Brownfields grantee. TAB created surveys to gauge community interest in brownfields site selection, assisted in the creation of an RFP for consultant services, and served on a selection committee to choose a consultant.
Future Activities:
The TOSC and TAB programs will continue to provide technical assistance and aid to communities confronted with environmental contamination by hazardous waste sites, and to communities attempting to address cleanup and redevelopment of brownfields.
Supplemental Keywords:
Technical Outreach Services for Communities, TOSC, Technical Outreach Services for Native Communities, TOSNAC, Western Region TOSC, Technical Assistance to Brownfields, TAB, Technical Assistance Grant, TAG, perchloroethylene, PCE, trichloroethylene, TCE, community-based intervention, community outreach, community support, contaminant dynamics, contaminant transport, education, environmental risks, hazardous environmental exposures, hazardous substance contamination, human exposure, human health risk, outreach material, remediation, risk communication workshops, technical outreach, technology transfer., RFA, Health, Scientific Discipline, Economic, Social, & Behavioral Science Research Program, Waste, Geographic Area, Health Risk Assessment, environmental justice, Risk Assessments, Hazardous Waste, Ecology and Ecosystems, Ecological Risk Assessment, Hazardous, EPA Region, outreach material, Region 9, contaminant transport, contaminant dynamics, hazardous environmental exposures, environmental risks, risk communication workshops, education, training and outreach, human exposure, remediation, community outreach, technology transfer, Region 10, community based intervention, human health risk, technical outreach, community support, hazardous substance contaminationRelevant Websites:
http://wrhsrc.oregonstate.edu/ Exit
Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractMain Center Abstract and Reports:
R828772 National Research Program on Design-Based/Model-Assisted Survey Methodology for Aquatic Resources Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R828772C001 Developing and Optimizing Biotransformation Kinetics for the Bio- remediation of Trichloroethylene at NAPL Source Zone Concentrations
R828772C002 Strategies for Cost-Effective In-situ Mixing of Contaminants
and Additives in Bioremediation
R828772C003 Aerobic Cometabolism of Chlorinated Aliphatic Hydrocarbon Compounds with Butane-Grown Microorganisms
R828772C004 Chemical, Physical, and Biological Processes at the Surface of Palladium Catalysts Under Groundwater Treatment Conditions
R828772C006 Development of the Push-Pull Test to Monitor Bioaugmentation
with Dehalogenating Cultures
R828772C007 Development and Evaluation of Field Sensors for Monitoring
Bioaugmentation with Anaerobic Dehalogenating Cultures for In-Situ Treatment of
TCE
R828772C008 Training and Technology Transfer
R828772C009 Technical Outreach Services for Communities (TOSC) and Technical Assistance to Brownfields Communities (TAB) Programs
R828772C010 Aerobic Cometabolism of Chlorinated Ethenes by Microorganisms that Grow on Organic Acids and Alcohols
R828772C011 Development and Evaluation of Field Sensors for Monitoring Anaerobic Dehalogenation after Bioaugmentation for In Situ Treatment of PCE and TCE
R828772C012 Continuous-Flow Column Studies of Reductive Dehalogenation with Two Different Enriched Cultures: Kinetics, Inhibition, and Monitoring of Microbial Activity
R828772C013 Novel Methods for Laboratory Measurement of Transverse Dispersion in Porous Media
R828772C014 The Role of Micropore Structure in Contaminant Sorption and Desorption
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.