COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PLAN
WESTSIDE LEAD ATLANTA, GEORGIA
January 2021
U. S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION 4
Digitally signed by ABENA ABENA MOORE MOORE APPROVED:______Date: 2021.01.26 13:04:37 -05'00' DATE: January 26, 2021
THE U. S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY’S (EPA)
SUPERFUND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
PROGRAM IS COMMITTED TO PROMOTING COMMUNICATION
BETWEEN CITIZENS AND THE AGENCY.
ACTIVE PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IS CRUCIAL TO THE SUCCESS
OF ANY PUBLIC PROJECT.
EPA’S COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT ACTIVITIES AT
WESTSIDE LEAD STUDY AREA AND SITE
ARE DESIGNED TO INFORM THE PUBLIC OF THE NATURE OF
THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH THE STUDY
AREA AND SITE, INVOLVE THE PUBLIC IN THE DECISION-
MAKING PROCESS THAT WILL AFFECT THEM,
INVOLVE THE PUBLIC IN THE RESPONSES UNDER
CONSIDERATION TO REMEDY THESE ISSUES, AND
INFORM THE PUBLIC OF THE PROGRESS BEING MADE TO IMPLEMENT A REMOVAL ACTION, AS NEEDED.
Westside Lead Community Involvement Plan
Table of Contents
Section Page
1.0 Overview of the Community Involvement Plan ...... 1 2.0 Background and Description of Study Area and Site ...... 1 2.1 Background ...... 1 2.2 Westside Lead Location ...... 2 2.3 Sampling and Cleanup Activities ...... 4 3.0 Community Background ...... 5 3.1 Community Profile ...... 5 3.2 History of Community Involvement ...... 7 3.3 Key Community Concerns ...... 9 3.4 Response to Community Concerns ...... 10 3.5 Summary of Communication Needs ...... 10 4.0 EPA’s Community Involvement Program ...... 10 4.1 The Plan ...... 11 4.2 Time Frame Summary for Community Involvement Activities ...... 14
Appendices: A EPA Regional Contacts ...... A-1 B Local Officials ...... B-1 C State Elected Officials...... C-1 D Federal Elected Officials ...... D-1 E Environmental and Active Citizens Groups ...... E-1 F Media Contacts ...... F-1 G Meeting Locations ...... G-1 H Repository Locations ...... H-1 I Glossary ...... I-1
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Westside Lead Community Involvement Plan
Section 1.0 Overview of the Community Involvement Plan
The United States Environmental Protection Agency developed this Community Involvement Plan (CIP) to facilitate two-way communication between the community surrounding the Westside Lead Study Area (Study Area) and the Removal Site (Site) and the EPA and to encourage community involvement in EPA’s activities. The EPA will use the community involvement activities outlined in this plan to ensure that residents are continuously informed and provided opportunities to be involved. The Study Area is the area where the EPA is collecting soil samples to determine the extent of the lead contamination. Within the Study Area is the Site, which is where the EPA has found lead contamination in soil at levels that require a cleanup to be conducted.
The objective of the EPA's Community Involvement Program is to involve the public in activities and decisions related to the cleanup of sites. The EPA actively solicits comments and information from the community in its decision-making process. Public input can be useful in two ways:
• Communities provide valuable information on local history, citizen involvement, and site conditions. • Communities assist the EPA in recognizing the unique characteristics of each site community and in developing responses that effectively addresses specific community needs.
This CIP addresses the Study Area and Site in relationship to the community and the EPA; Section 2.0 provides a background and description of the Study Area and Site; Section 3.0 provides background information about the community; and Section 4.0 provides the overall goal of the EPA community involvement program and a listing of resources available (Appendices). The EPA drew upon several information sources to develop this plan, including community interviews and Site files. The EPA’s Regional Office will oversee the implementation of the community involvement activities outlined in this Plan.
*Words appearing in boldface type are defined in Appendix I, Glossary.
Section 2.0 Background and Description of Study Area and Site
2.1 Background
In July 2018, an Emory University student collected data on heavy metal concentrations in Atlanta-area garden soil as part of their doctoral dissertation research. Samples were collected at locations throughout western Atlanta and surrounding suburban areas, focusing on community gardens.
Elevated lead levels in soil were found at several locations in west Atlanta, including on Elm Street in the English Avenue area. This finding was not unexpected as many urban areas exhibit
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Westside Lead Community Involvement Plan lead concentrations higher than natural background due to a variety of factors, most commonly lead-based paint and historical use of leaded gasoline. Urban lead contamination is a well- researched issue, and the presence of lead above natural background would not normally result in a Superfund investigation. However, Emory’s discussions with one of the community members resulted in the identification of industrial slag on residential lots near one of the gardens in the English Avenue neighborhood. Emory found the surrounding soil to have lead concentrations greater than 4,000 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg), ten times the EPA’s Removal Management Level (RML) of 400 mg/kg. RMLs are values the EPA uses to help determine if any future actions may be needed. It is important to note that an exceedance of an RML by itself does not imply that adverse health effects will occur.
It was believed at the time that the slag was confined to a series of piles dumped on a single vacant lot on Elm Street. While the industrial source of the slag remains unknown, there were foundries located in Atlanta going back to the late 1800s and several were located near the English Avenue area. The EPA has since learned that two of the foundries have documented evidence of lead-contaminated slag on-site and required post-closure remedial actions after the facilities shut down.
One of the Emory student’s instructors, also an EPA Region 4 toxicologist, reported the finding to the EPA and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Environmental Protection Division (GA EPD). On November 15, 2018, GA EPD requested that the EPA perform a Removal Site Evaluation (RSE) on the property.
The EPA performed a Site observation in December 2018. At that time, the On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) noted slag visible in lawns at several properties along both sides of Elm Street. Combined with the elevated lead data Emory collected from other properties along Elm Street, this observation indicated a potentially more widespread extent of contamination. Though slag may be a possible source of lead contamination, the presence of slag material does not automatically equate to high levels of lead in soil. Sampling is required to determine the specific risk at properties. The OSC initiated an investigation to determine whether contamination on Elm Street was confined to the soil piles at the single vacant lot, as previously thought, or was more widespread. To define a manageable investigation area, the OSC selected, as a starting point, the two city blocks surrounding 395 Elm Street. These blocks encompassed 60 tax parcels and were referred to as the “Study Area.”
The soil samples EPA collected on the 60 parcels indicated lead contamination greater than the RML on some parcels and that the lead contamination in the soil likely extended beyond the boundaries of the 60-parcel Study Area. Properties with lead concentrations greater than 400 mg/kg are referred for remediation as part of the Westside Lead Site Removal Action. Based on data collected, the EPA determined that the Study Area needed to be expanded, which would require collecting soil samples on additional parcels within a larger area.
2.2 Westside Lead Location
The EPA has established a Study Area which currently encompasses portions of the Vine City and English Avenue neighborhoods where the EPA is collecting soil samples to test for lead. Periodically, the EPA has assessed the data collected and expanded the Study Area to incorporate
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Westside Lead Community Involvement Plan additional properties. Those limits have expanded twice already, once in June of 2019, and again in February of 2020, growing from 368 residential properties identified for sampling to 1087. This is an ongoing process, and the limits of the Study Area are likely to change again. As of December 8, 2020, the current Study Area boundary is a line beginning at the intersection of Joseph E. Boone Boulevard and Northside Drive, running west to the old CSX rail line (now part of the Atlanta BeltLine PATH), following the rail line north to the intersection of North Avenue, running west along North Avenue until the intersection of Oliver Street, turning south to Joseph E. Boone Boulevard, east to Sciple Terrace, south to Thurmond Street, east to James P. Brawley Drive, south to Foundry Street, east to Sunset Avenue, north to Foundry Street, east to Northside Drive, and back to the starting point with Joseph E. Boone Blvd. The Study Area only includes the residential properties within the boundary; industrial, commercial, and municipal property (parks and schools) are excluded from the current Study Area. The EPA has not yet determined the extent of residential soil lead contamination, and final Study Area boundaries have not been determined. Figure 1 represents the Study Area as of December 8, 2020. The map will be modified if the Study Area expands again and is always available for the public to view online at www.epa.gov/superfund/westside-lead.
Figure 1. Westside Lead Study Area, As of December 8, 2020
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Westside Lead Community Involvement Plan
The Site is made up of the properties where the EPA has collected soil samples and those samples show levels of lead in the soil that require a cleanup. A soil removal action will occur on properties where the lead in the soil exceeds the RML.
2.3 Sampling and Cleanup Activities
In order to determine if the soil lead levels on a given property pose a risk to those living on the property, the EPA’s sampling team needs to collect samples from the exposed areas of the lot. After a signed access authorization is received from the owner or renter of the property, the team contacts the property owner or renter to schedule a date and time for sampling and to make sure the team will have access to the property. Unless special access needs to be given, no one needs to be home for the EPA to sample. While sampling, crews pay special attention to areas where exposure may be greater like gardens and playgrounds. The samples are then processed and analyzed, with the data being reported back to the property owners and renters within a few weeks.
If the level of lead in the soil on a property is above the RML, the sampling team will refer the property for a removal action. The EPA Westside Lead Removal Action Team (Removal Action Team) makes an appointment to meet with the property owner or renter to conduct a pre-removal walkthrough of the property. During this walkthrough, detailed notes and photographs are taken of the property to document the discussion between the EPA and the property owner and any decisions made about the cleanup activities.
The Removal Action Team began cleanup activities in late January 2020. As of January 11, 2021, it completed removal actions at 55 properties. Notwithstanding weather delays, it takes about one week to remove the soil and backfill at an average property, with around another week to wait for final restoration activities such as sod and shrub installation.
Due to COVID-19, the Agency follows procedures to limit its face-to-face interaction with the general public at all sampling and removal sites. This includes handling all paperwork electronically where possible, meeting outdoors when possible, maintaining social distancing when holding meetings, and always wearing masks when interacting with the public.
The EPA continues to seek permission from residents and property owners to sample properties in the Study Area. The EPA is offering this service at no cost to the residents or property owners. As stated above, the samples will be taken from outside the home and residents/property owners do not have to be present. Individual results are kept confidential and shared directly with renters and property owners. For a step-by-step process on how to get your yard sampled, please visit the Site website at www.epa.gov/superfund/westside-lead. If the soil sampling indicates additional properties may be impacted by slag, the Study Area will be expanded, as necessary. The soil sampling results will determine what, if any, additional response actions are necessary to protect human health and the environment.
The Westside Future Fund (WFF) entered into an Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent (AOC) with EPA on December 22, 2020 to perform a removal action on 16 residential properties owned by WFF in and around the Vine City and English Avenue
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Westside Lead Community Involvement Plan neighborhoods. Under a process established in the AOC, WFF may add more of its properties to be cleaned up during the removal.
Section 3.0 Community Background
3.1 Community Profile
Atlanta
The history of Atlanta dates back to 1836, when Georgia decided to build a railroad to the U.S. Midwest and a location was chosen to be the line’s terminus. The stake marking the founding of “Terminus” was driven into the ground in 1837. In 1839, homes and a store were built there, and the settlement grew. Between 1845 and 1854, rail lines arrived from four different directions, and the rapidly growing town quickly became the rail hub for the entire Southern United States.
The storied history of the City of Atlanta is well-documented - its founding as a transportation hub, its importance and ultimate destruction during the Civil War, and its subsequent rise from the ashes, prompting the City to adopt the phoenix as its symbol. The City is known for, among other things, Coca-Cola, the Civil Rights Movement, and Delta Airlines, which is headquartered at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the busiest airport in the world.
English Avenue and Vine City
English Avenue and Vine City are two adjacent and closely linked neighborhoods of Atlanta, located immediately west of the railroad corridor that defined the early city. During the mid-20th century, the area was a middle-class African American neighborhood. Most of Atlanta’s prominent Black business and civil rights leaders, including Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. lived in the area. Today, the neighborhoods consist of predominately low and moderate-income African American families. The two neighborhoods are frequently cited together in reference to shared problems and to shared redevelopment schemes and revitalization plans. Several of the residential properties in the neighborhoods are unoccupied, abandoned, or empty lots.
The English Avenue neighborhood is bounded by the old CSX railroad line and the Marietta Street Artery neighborhood to the northeast, Northside Drive, the North Avenue railyards and downtown Atlanta to the east, Joseph E. Lowery Boulevard (formerly Ashby Street) and the Bankhead neighborhood to the west, and Joseph E. Boone Boulevard (formerly Simpson Street) and Vine City to the south.
The Vine City neighborhood is bounded by Joseph E. Boone Boulevard and the English Avenue neighborhood to the north, Northside Drive and downtown Atlanta to the east, Martin Luther King Jr. Drive (formerly Hunter Street) and the Atlanta University Center to the south, and Joseph E. Lowrey Boulevard and the Washington Park neighborhood to the west.
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Westside Lead Community Involvement Plan
Since 2011, English Avenue and Vine City have been the focus of multiple improvement plans, including a network of parks and trails with businesses investing in the community. Construction has started on the new Rodney Cook Sr. Park, a new 16-acre park in Vine City neighborhood adjacent to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Organizations are working in the area to offer and maintain affordable housing for low and moderate-income households and provide other services.
The following demographic information was gathered for the study area using EJ SCREEN, which is the EPA’s environmental justice mapping and screening tool. The EJ SCREEN uses environmental indicators of a community to determine potential exposure and demographic facts to assess potential susceptibility. The source of the report is from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 2013-2017.
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Westside Lead Community Involvement Plan
The population is recorded as 2,569 people in 985 households. Of the total number of households, 83% are renter occupied and 17% are owner occupied. According to ACS data, 87% of the population within the area are African American and 13% are White. In comparison, the city of Atlanta has an average minority population of 52%. Average per capita income is $15,972 per year. Within this area, 24% percent of the population have a high school degree; 35% have some college; and 23% have a bachelor’s degree or more. The population by age includes 11% children under the age of 5; 14% ages 5 to 17; 67% ages 18 to 64 and 9% of the people are over 65 and older. Males make up 46% of the population and females 54%.
The EJ SCREEN indicates that 31% of the households earn less than $15,000 per year; 15% earn between $15,000 and $25,000; 33% earn between $25,000 and $50,000; 11% earn between $50,000 and $75,000; and 10% earn over $75,000. The federal poverty level is $18,500 per year.
Atlanta is governed by a mayor, councilmen/women from 12 districts, a City Council President, and three at-large councilmen/women from three Posts. Post 1 represents Districts 1 through 4; Post 2 represents Districts 5 through 8 and Post 3 represents Districts 9 through 12. The Westside Lead Study Area and Site are in District 3.
3.2 History of Community Involvement
The EPA began conducting community interviews in January 2020 and informed the residents of the repository. As of May 2020, Abena Moore became the Community Involvement Coordinator (CIC) for the Study Area and Site and conducted additional interviews. A summary of the interviews can be found in Section 3.3, Key Community Concerns.
From May 2019 through January 2021, the EPA mailed nine fact sheets to the community. The purpose of the fact sheets is to keep community members and other interested parties informed and up to date on sampling and removal activities. The EPA has also used fact sheets to request access authorization from property owners and tenants. The fact sheets can be found on the Site website, which is referenced below.
In May 2019, the EPA mailed a fact sheet to residents and property owners seeking access authorization to test soil in their yards for possible lead contamination at no cost to them. The fact sheet provided a map of the Study Area and details on how to give the EPA access to do the sampling.
In July 2019, the EPA mailed a fact sheet to residents and property owners inviting them to attend two community information sessions at the On the Rise Financial Center in Atlanta. Experts from the EPA, GA EPD, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and the Georgia Department of Public Health were available to talk one-on-one with residents, property owners, and other stakeholders. At these sessions, the EPA explained the sampling procedure and informed residents and property owners that sampling would be done at no cost to them. The EPA also asked attendees to sign access authorizations to sample their property.
On January 23, 2020, the EPA held a public gathering at the YMCA of Metro Atlanta Leadership and Learning Center to discuss its plans to begin addressing lead contamination found on several
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Westside Lead Community Involvement Plan properties. At that time, the EPA had received permission to sample 124 properties and, of those, 66 required clean up. A fact sheet announcing the public meeting, providing information on the start of the cleanup activities, and again asking for access authorizations was then mailed to residents and property owners.
The EPA established a Community Hotline in March 2020 to provide a way for the community to get their questions and concerns addressed as quickly as possible. In February 2020, the EPA mailed an informational flyer to residents and property owners inviting them to attend a public meeting in March 2020 at the YMCA. However, due to the emergence of COVID-19, that public meeting was cancelled. Instead, the EPA mailed a flyer to residents and property owners that included a map of the expanded Study Area showing that it was expanded to include 1,068 properties and provided the Community Hotline phone number.
In June 2020, the EPA mailed a fact sheet to residents and property owners announcing the availability of an interactive online map on the EPA’s website for the Site and Study Area at www.epa.gov/superfund/westside-lead. The interactive map allows people to check if their property is located within the study area. The EPA also announced that at the time of the mailing, it had received access authorizations to sample 358 of the 1,068 residential properties in the Study Area and again asked residents and property owners to give permission to sample properties at no cost to them. The fact sheet also provided an update on cleanup activities.
The EPA mailed two fact sheets to residents and property owners in August and October 2020. The fact sheets provided an update on the activities being performed by the EPA, information on where to find additional resources, and again asked residents and property owners to send in access authorization forms to allow the EPA to sample their property.
In January 2021, the EPA mailed a fact sheet to residents and property owners, announcing an EPA virtual public meeting to be held on January 28, 2021. The purpose of the meeting is to provide an opportunity for the community to ask questions and get an update on the status of the Site and the Study area. The fact sheet also provided an update on cleanup activities.
The Westside Lead CIC and Remedial Project Manager (RPM) created two videos to explain the sampling and cleanup process in detail to residents and property owners. The videos can be seen on the Study Area and Site website and the EPA Region 4 Facebook page. Also, the EPA created signs to encourage residents and property owners to sign access authorization forms to give the EPA access to sample their properties. The EPA posted the signs in parks and at properties where EPA was given approval within the Study Area and Site.
The EPA has set up trailers in the community to use as offices. The trailers located on Vine Street house the EPA staff and contractors that are involved in the removal actions that are being conducted to cleanup properties. Trailers located on Meldrum Street house the EPA staff and contractors that are involved in the soil sampling process in the Study Area.
The website located at www.epa.gov/superfund/westside-lead, provides current updates on sampling and cleanup activities, an interactive online map of the Study Area, resources, and contact information.
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3.3 Key Community Concerns
The EPA CICs conducted interviews of residents and property owners in January, May, June and July 2020 to identify questions, concerns and information needs regarding the Study Area. The key questions and concerns raised during the interviews are summarized below. Each interviewee was asked approximately eight questions from a list developed by the EPA.
All the interviewees were familiar with the Study Area and the Site. One interviewee said she was made aware of the Study Area and Site by the news and then received information in the mail. Another interviewee became aware of the Study Area and Site when he read about it in the Atlanta Journal Constitution and received information in the mail. Both interviewees said their property was not in the initial Study Area. All interviewees have received fact sheets in the mail.
Three interviewees stated they understand the lead is likely from slag and fill. Other interviewees were not aware of where the lead contamination came from.
When asked about problems or related concerns, some interviewees expressed health concerns. One interviewee was concerned about her health and her grandchild’s health. Another interviewee stated that long-term health concerns have been around the area for a very long time.
Some interviewees had no opinion or were unsure if the Study Area and Site had an influence on the surrounding community. Others said that the community has complaints about the appearance of their community. One interviewee said the best-case scenario would be an increase in the community cohesion of environmental awareness and worst-case effect would be further division of neighbors. He also stated that the health and safety in the neighborhood is a positive outcome.
When asked if the EPA should do more to keep the community informed, some interviewees said the EPA is doing a great job and others said the EPA needs to do more to keep neighbors informed, such as by having townhall meetings. Some said that the EPA should use all forms of communication including mail, phone calls, e-mails, meetings, and face-to-face. Some said the U.S. mail is not always reliable because there are many abandoned properties in the area, and mail doesn’t always get delivered. Some interviewees would prefer to receive e-mails or phone calls, but also said mailings should continue. One interviewee suggested that the EPA bring in someone or a group that has been in a similar situation to talk with residents to share their experience so the residents can understand the situation better.
The EPA asked interviewees what media outlets they received information from. A few people said the Atlanta Journal Constitution was their source and “go-to” for information. Others watch local news channels. Some interviewees get their information from neighbors or talking with other community members.
When asked if they had any other comments to share, one interviewee said that older people in the area feel the request to sample is “not legitimate” and it is a way for the government to take over their houses. Another person said that the past closure of industrial and manufacturing plants resulted in job losses and was economically devastating to the town.
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3.4 Response to Community Concerns
The EPA has issued nine fact sheets to the community and stakeholders as summarized in Section 3.2 to address the concerns expressed by the community. The EPA has reached out to the community numerous times to provide information about how to provide access to their property to get it sampled at no cost to the resident. The EPA has set up two repositories to house the technical document pertaining to the Study Area and the Administrative Record for the Removal Site. One is at the Washington Park Branch Library and one is at the EPA Region 4 offices, as described in Sections 4.1.E and F, however, due to COVID restrictions, all of the documents are not currently at those repositories and the EPA’s offices are closed to the public. TO address these issues, the EPA has set up a website that contains the technical documents and the Administrative Record for the Removal Site. at www.epa.gov/superfund/westside-lead.
To further respond to concerns expressed by the community and keep the community abreast of the EPA’s activities, the EPA participated in the September 2020 City Council townhall virtual meeting and responded to citizens questions and concerns about the Study Area and the Site. To ensure that the EPA’s sampling and removal action cleanup process is transparent to the community, the EPA has invited residents to be present during the sampling and removal processes at their properties and has answered the questions the residents have asked.
Based upon the comments from the community, to ensure that the community continues to be informed about the Study Area and the Site, the EPA is planning to hold a virtual public meeting January 2021 to update the community on the status of the Study Area and the Site. Also, in the next few months the EPA plans to place a video on the website and EPA Facebook page showing how the contractors take samples of the soil.
3.5 Summary of Communication Needs
Interviewees indicated that the EPA is doing a great job keeping the community informed but could still do more. Virtual townhall meetings were suggested. The use of mail and emails were suggested. Also, phone calls, face-to-face and using the newspaper were suggested. The EPA will continue to use all resources available to answer questions and keep the community informed as described in Section 4.0.
Section 4.0 EPA’s Community Involvement Program
The overall goal of the EPA’s community involvement program is to promote two-way communication between citizens and the EPA and to provide opportunities for meaningful and active involvement by the community in the cleanup process. The EPA will implement the community involvement activities described below. The following plan is based on the results of the community interviews described earlier; it addresses each issue that was identified as being important to the community.
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4.1 The Plan
Issue 1: Keeping the public informed and up to date
Activity 1A: Designate an EPA CIC. • Objective: Provide a primary liaison between the community and the EPA that ensures prompt, accurate and consistent responses and disseminates information about the site appropriately. In those instances where the CIC may be unable to provide adequate information (such as on technical issues), the CIC will direct inquiries to the appropriate EPA contact. • Method: The CIC, appointed by the Region 4 Headquarters, will handle Study Area inquiries and serve as a point of contact for community members. Abena Moore is the EPA CIC assigned to the project. She works closely with the EPA RPM, Leigh Lattimore and the OSCs, Chuck Berry and Terrence Byrd. • Timing: The CIC was designated in May 2020.
Activity 1B: Prepare and distribute site fact sheets and technical summaries. • Objective: To provide citizens with current, accurate, easy-to-read, easy-to-understand information. • Method: Fact sheets will be mailed to all parties on the mailing list and will be posted on the website. They will also be emailed to those persons who have provided an email address. Any person may contact Abena Moore to be added to the mailing or email list. • Timing: The EPA has prepared and distributed nine fact sheets to date with the most recent one distributed in January 2021. The EPA will continue to prepare and distribute fact sheets on an as needed basis.
Activity 1C: Provide a local Community Outreach Number for the community to contact the EPA. • Objective: Enable community members to get the latest information available when they want it or ask questions as they arise, rather than having to wait for a meeting or a fact sheet, and without incurring any cost. • Method: The EPA activated a local phone number and publishes it periodically in the local newspaper and in all fact sheets. • Timing: The line is currently operational (678-662-8603).
Activity 1D: Maintain a mailing and email list for the Study Area and Removal Site. • Objective: To facilitate the distribution of site-specific information to everyone who needs or wants to be kept informed about the Study Area and Removal Site. • Method: The EPA has created a mailing list that includes all residences in the Study Area and Removal Site and those otherwise interested in or affected. The EPA will also solicit interested parties via fact sheets, newspaper articles, public meetings, postcards, website, etc. • Timing: The EPA has created a mailing and email list and will review/revise it periodically to keep it current.
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Activity 1E: Establish and maintain Information Repositories. • Objective: To provide a convenient location where residents can read and copy official documents and other pertinent information about EPA activities. • Method: The repository is a reference collection of information for the Westside Lead Study Area and the Site, including the Administrative Record for the removal actions conducted at the Site and the Community Involvement Plan. The EPA has set up two repositories to house the documents pertaining to the Study Area and the Administrative Record for the Removal Site. One is at the Washington Park Branch Library located at 1116 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive SW, Atlanta Georgia 30314 and one is at the EPA Region 4, Superfund Records, 61 Forsyth Street SW, Atlanta, Georgia 30303. As stated above, unfortunately, due to COVID, these repositories do not have all the relevant documents and are not open to the public at this time. When the repositories re-open they will be accessible to the physically challenged and have copier facilities and will be available to the public during normal business hours. The Washington Park Branch Library will be available to the public some evening and/or weekend hours. In the meantime, the EPA has established a website at www.epa.gov/superfund/westside-lead that contains the documents related to the Study Area and the Administrative Record for the Removal Site. • Timing: The CIC worked with a local contact to establish the local repositories. New documents will be added as they become available.
Activity 1F: Provide Site Information on the Internet • Objective: To provide key resources for searching and listing both general and specific information about Superfund and hazardous waste issues. • Method: A summary of the status of the EPA’s sampling activities in the Study Area and the removal action cleanup for this Site can be found at http://www.epa.gov/superfund/westside-lead. Information about the EPA and Superfund can be found at: ▪ EPA Headquarters: http://www.epa.gov ▪ EPA Region 4: https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/about-epa-region-4-southeast • Timing: Study Area and Site Status Summaries are periodically updated.
Activity 1G: Maintain the Removal Action Administrative Record. • Objective: To provide residents with a paper trail of all documents, resources, etc. used by the EPA in reaching all decisions about the removal action cleanup at the Site. • Method: The EPA will provide at least three sets of the Administrative Record for the Site, one in the EPA Region 4 office located at 61 Forsyth St SW, Atlanta, Georgia, one located in the local Information Repository at the Washington Park Branch Library located at 1116 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive SW, Atlanta, Georgia 30314, and one located on line at www.epa.gov/superfund/westside-lead. • Timing: The Administrative Record is available to the public to review.
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Issue 2: Provide adequate and meaningful opportunities for community involvement.
Activity 2A: Hold public or virtual meetings. • Objective: To update the community on the Study Area and Site developments and address community questions, concerns, ideas and comments. • Method: The EPA will solicit suggestions from the community on public meeting locations or provide for virtual public meetings. The Agency will schedule, prepare for, and attend all announced meetings. The EPA will provide at least two weeks’ notice of the scheduled meeting. The RPM, CIC, OSCs and other appropriate EPA staff will attend. • Timing: The EPA will hold public meetings as appropriate.
Activity 2B: Make formal visits to the community. • Objective: To help keep community members informed about the Site, while providing the EPA with feedback about site activities and the community’s concerns and opinions. • Method: The EPA will establish a presence in the community through scheduled visits to talk with residents. • Timing: Throughout the time the EPA is performing work.
Activity 3B: Revise the CIP. • Objective: To identify and address community needs, issues, or concerns regarding the Study Area or the removal action cleanup at the Site that are not currently addressed in this CIP. • Method: The Revised CIP will update the information presented in the previous version of the CIP. • Timing: The EPA will revise the CIP as community concern warrants or at least every three years until the cleanup is completed.
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4.2 Time Frame Summary for Community Involvement Activities
ACTIVITY TIME FRAME Designate an EPA Community Involvement Coordinator Established, Abena Moore (CIC) Prepare and distribute site fact sheets and technical Distribute as needed summaries Involve students, parents, teachers through area schools As needed
Provide a local number for the community to contact EPA Currently in operation (678-662-8603) Establish and maintain Information Repositories Established, update as needed Provide Information on the Internet As needed Maintain Administrative Record Ongoing Hold public or virtual meetings As needed Make formal visits to community As needed Maintain a mailing and email list for the Site Ongoing Revise the Community Involvement Plan As needed, at least every 3 years
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Appendix A EPA Regional Contacts
U.S. EPA Region 4 61 Forsyth Street SW Atlanta, GA 30303
Chuck Berry Terrence Byrd Federal On-Scene Coordinator Federal On-Scene Coordinator 404-562-8278 404-562-8755 [email protected] [email protected]
Leigh Lattimore Abena Moore Remedial Project Manager Community Involvement Coordinator 404-562-8768 404-562-8834 [email protected] [email protected]
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Appendix B Local Officials
City of Atlanta 55 Trinity Avenue, SW Atlanta, GA 30303
Mayor Municipal Clerk Keisha Lance Bottoms Foris Webb III 404-330-6100 404-330-6032 [email protected]
City Council Members
Felicia A. Moore Natalyn Archibong Marci Collier Overstreet Council President District 5 District 11 404-330-6052 404-330-6048 404-330-6054 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
Carla Smith Jennifer N. Ide Joyce Shepard District 1 District 6 District 12 404-330-6039 404-330-6049 404-330-6053 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
Amir R. Farokhi Howard Shook Michael Julian Bond District 2 District 7 Post 1 404-330-6038 404-330-6050 404-330-6770 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
Antonio Brown J.P. Matzigkeit Matt Westmoreland District 3 District 8 Post 2 (Includes Westside Lead 404-330-6051 404-330-6302 Study Area) [email protected] [email protected] 404-330-6036 [email protected] Dustin Hillis Andre Dickens District 9 Post 3 Cleta Winslow 404-330-6044 404-330-6041 District 4 [email protected] [email protected] 404-330-6047 [email protected] Andrea L. Boone District 10 404-330-6055 [email protected]
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Appendix B Local Officials (continued)
Interim Police Chief Fire Chief Rodney Bryant Randall B. Slaughter 226 Peachtree St. Atlanta Fire Rescue Station 16 Atlanta, GA 30303 1048 Joseph E Boone Blvd NW 404-614-6544 Atlanta, GA 30314 404-546-7000
Fulton County Board of Commissioners 141 Pryor Street, SW 10th Floor Atlanta, Georgia 30303 404-612-4000 [email protected]
Robb Pitts Natalie Hall Chairman District 4 404-613-2330 (Includes Westside Lead Study Area) [email protected] 404-612-8226 [email protected] Liz Hausmann District 1 Marvin Arrington, Jr. 404-612-8213 Vice Chairman [email protected] District 5 404-613-0202 Bob Ellis [email protected] District 2 404-612-8216 Joe Carn [email protected] District 6 404-612-8222 Lee Morris [email protected] District 3 404-612-9800 [email protected]
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Appendix C State Elected Officials
Governor Senator Nan Orrock Brian P. Kemp 420-B State Capitol 206 Washington Street Atlanta, GA 30334 Suite 203 State Capitol 1070 Delaware Avenue SE Atlanta, Georgia 30334 Atlanta, GA 30316 404-656-1776 404-524-5999 [email protected] Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan Representative Pat Gardner 240 State Capitol 604-G Coverdell Legislative Office Building Atlanta, Georgia 30334 Atlanta, GA 30334 404-656-5030 668 East Pelham Road Attorney General Atlanta, GA 30324 Chris Carr 404-656-0265 40 Capitol Square, SW [email protected] Atlanta, Georgia 30334 404-656-3300
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Appendix D Federal Elected Officials
U.S. Senator David Perdue U.S. Senator Kelly Loeffler 3280 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 2640 3625 Cumberland Blvd., Suite 970 Atlanta, GA 30305 Atlanta, GA 30339 404-865-0087 770-661-0999
U.S. Congressman Kwanza Hall 100 Peachtree Street Northwest Suite 1920 Atlanta, GA 30303 404-659-0116
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Appendix E Environmental and Active Citizens Groups
HERCULES Community Engagement Core emoryhercules.com
ECO-Action [email protected]
Conservation Fund conservationfund.org
West Atlanta Watershed Alliance [email protected]
NPU-L [email protected]
Friends of English Avenue foea.org/english-avenue-community/
English Avenue Neighborhood Association (EANA) eanaatlanta.org facebook.com/4EANA/
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Appendix F Media Contacts
Television Stations Newspapers
WAGA Fox 5 Atlanta The Atlanta Journal Constitution www.fox5atlanta.com www.ajc.com
WSB-TV Atlanta Daily World www.wsbtv.com atlantadailyworld.com
WXIA-TV NBC Affiliate Atlanta Voice www.11alive.com atlantavoice.com
WGCL-TV Atlanta Inquirer www.cbs46.com atlantainq.com
WATL Atlanta Metro Observer www.nocable.org gaebler.com
WMGT-TV www.nbc.com
Radio Stations
90.1 WABE www.wabe.org
Q99.7 WWWQ Atlanta www.iheart.com
KISS 104.1 WALR FM www.kiss104fm.com
V-103 WVEE FM www.v103.radio.com
Magic 107.5/97.5 WUMJ FM www.majicatl.com
Hot 107.9 WHTA FM www.hotspotatl.com
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Appendix G Meeting Locations
YMCA of Metro Atlanta Leadership & Learning Center 569 MLK, Jr. Drive NW Atlanta, GA 30314 404-588-9622 www.ymcaatlanta.org
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Appendix H Repository Locations
Washington Park Branch Library 1116 Martin Luther King Jr Dr SW Atlanta, Georgia 30314
EPA Region 4 Repository U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 61 Forsyth Street SW Sam Nunn Federal Center, 9Th Floor Atlanta, GA 30303 404-562-8190 [email protected] Hours Open to Public: 8 a.m-3:45 p.m.
Westside Lead Website: www.epa.gov/superfund/westside-lead This repository will be fully established after the EPA lifts its COVID-19 restrictions and resumes normal operations.
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Appendix I Glossary
Administrative Order on Consent: A legal agreement signed by the EPA and an individual, business or other entity through which the entity agrees to take the required corrective or cleanup actions. It describes the actions to be taken, may be subject to a comment period, applies to civil actions, and can be enforced in court.
Cleanup: Actions taken to correct a release or threatened release of hazardous substances that could affect public health and/or the environment.
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA): Also known as Superfund, is a federal law passed in 1980 and modified in 1986 by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA); the act created a trust fund to investigate and cleanup abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous waste sites. The law authorizes the federal government to respond directly to releases of hazardous substances that may endanger public health or the environment. The EPA is responsible for managing the Superfund.
Community Involvement Coordinator: The EPA official whose lead responsibility is to involve and inform the public about the Superfund process and response actions in accordance with the interactive community involvement requirements set forth in the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan.
Community Involvement Plan: A plan that outlines specific community involvement activities that occur during the investigation and cleanup at the site. The CIP outlines how the EPA will keep the public informed of work at the site and the ways in which residents can review and comment on decisions that may affect the final actions at the site. The CIP may be modified as necessary to respond to changes in community concerns, information needs and activities.
Contamination: Making something impure or unsuitable by contact with something unclean, or bad. Rendering something harmful or unusable by the addition of lead, etc.
Information Repository: A file that contains accurate, up-to-date documents on a Superfund site. The file is usually located in a public building (school, library, or city hall) convenient for residents.
Lead: Lead is a naturally occurring bluish-gray metal found in small amounts in the earth’s crust. Lead can be found in all parts of our environment. Much of it comes from human activities including burning fossil fuels, mining, and manufacturing. Lead has many different uses. It is used in the production of batteries, ammunition, metal products (solder and pipes), and devices to shield X-rays. Because of health concerns, lead from paints and ceramic products, caulking, and pipe solder has been dramatically reduced in recent years. The use of lead as an additive to gasoline was banned in 1996 in the United States. Exposure to lead can happen from breathing workplace air or dust, eating contaminated foods, or drinking contaminated water. Children can be exposed from eating lead-based paint chips or playing in contaminated soil. Lead can damage the nervous system, kidneys, and reproductive system. More information can be found on the following website: www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tfacts13.pdf.
Natural Background: The concentration of a hazardous substance that provides a defensible reference point that can be used to evaluate whether a release from the site has occurred. Lead occurs naturally in soils, typically at concentrations that range from 10 to 50 mg/kg (milligrams of lead per kilogram of soil,
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On-Scene Coordinator: The designated EPA official who coordinates and directs Superfund removal actions.
Parts per million: The ppm is the mass of a chemical or contaminant per unit of weight of soil. To help visualize what this means, one ppm is 1 inch in 16 miles or $1 out of $1 million.
Post-closure: The time period following the shutdown of a waste management or manufacturing facility.
Remedial Project Manager: The designated EPA official who coordinates and directs Superfund remedial actions.
Removal Site Evaluation (RSE): A RSE of a release identified for possible Superfund response is undertaken by the lead agency (EPA in this case) and undertaken as promptly as possible.
Slag: Is a byproduct of steel production and is similar in character to volcanic rocks such as basalt and granite.
Superfund: The program operated under the legislative authority of CERCLA and administered by the EPA in cooperation with the State to carry out long-term removal and remedial activities.
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