Final Community Relations Plan
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U.S. Army U.S. Environmental Corps of Engineers Protection Agency New England District New England Region Concord, Massachusetts Boston, Massachusetts General Electric (GE)/Housatonic River Project Pittsfield, Massachusetts Contract No. DACW33-00-D-0006 Task Order 0002 FINAL COMMUNITY RELATIONS PLAN DCN: GE-072602-ABCY July 2002 02P-1150-1 Weston Solutions, Inc. 1400 Weston Way P.O. Box 2653 West Chester, Pennsylvania 19380 610-701-3000 • Fax 610-701-3186 * www.westonsolutions.com 26 July 2002 Angela Bonarrigo Community Involvement Coordinator United States Environmental Protection Agency JFK Federal Building/RAA One Congress Street, Suite 1100 Boston, MA 02114-2023 Work Order No. 20122.246.001.0230 Re: Contract No. DACW33-00-D-0006, Task Order 0002 DCN: GE-072602-ABCY Final Community Relations Plan Dear Ms. Bonarrigo: One copy of the Final Community Relations Plan (CRP) for the General Electric (GE)/Housatonic River Project is enclosed. Additional copies are being sent to Peter Hugh, USAGE; Susan Steenstrup, MDEP; Andrew Silfer, GE; and to each of the information repositories listed below. If you have any questions concerning this submittal, please contact Ellen Losano-Ramsey at 610-701-3078 or me at 610-701-7366. Very truly yours, Weston Solutions, Inc. Lee dePersia, P.E. Project Manager Enclosures cc: P. Hugh, USAGE S. Steenstrup, MDEP H. Inglis, EPA M. Kelly, Berkshire Athenaeum Information Repository J. Goodkind, Simon's Rock College of Bard Library Information Repository V. Potter, Cornwall Public Library Information Repository C. Johnson, Kent Memorial Library Information Repository R. Malin, Housatonic Valley Association Information Repository C. Fredette, CTDEP Information Repository M. Nalipinski, EPA, letter only E. Losano-Ramsey, WESTON C. Moran, WESTON DCN Files-Manchester, West Chester, Pittsfield MK01|O \20122246 001 \CRP_FIN\CRP_FIN_LTR DOC U.S. Army U.S. Environmental Corps of Engineers Protection Agency New England District New England Region Concord, Massachusetts Boston, Massachusetts General Electric (GE)/Housatonic River Project Pittsfield, Massachusetts Contract No. DACW33-00-D-0006 Task Order 0002 FINAL COMMUNITY RELATIONS PLAN DCN: GE-072602-ABCY July 2002 02 P-1150-2 FINAL COMMUNITY RELATIONS PLAN GENERAL ELECTRIC (GE)/HOUSATONIC RIVER PROJECT PITTSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS Contract No. DACW33-00-D-0006, Task Order No. 0002 DCN: GE-072602-ABCY Prepared for U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS and U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, NEW ENGLAND Prepared by ROY F. WESTON, INC. West Chester, Pennsylvania 19380-1499 Lee dePersia, Project Manager tXate ' £r~^+p-— _ X^g.57 Comrntfrtity Relations Lead / Dafe Chrisvioran, QA Representative Date July 2002 W.O. No. 20122.246.001.0230 MK01|O \2012224600nCRP_FIN\CRP_FIN_FM DOC 07/25/02 Community Relations Plan for GE/Housatonic River Project Final For More Information: Community Involvement Coordinator Angela Bonarrigo U.S. Environmental Protection Agency One Congress Street, Suite 1100 (RAA) Boston, MA 02114-2023 Phone: (617) 918-1034 Fax: (617) 918-1029 EPA Web Site http //www epa gov/ne/ge/ MK01|0 \20122246001\CRP_FIN\CRP_FIN_FM DOC 11 07/25/02 Community Relations Plan for GE/Housatonic River Project Final TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Page 1. OVERVIEW OF THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS PLAN 1-1 1.1 BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES 1-1 1.2 ORGANIZATION OF THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS PLAN 1-2 2. SITE BACKGROUND 2-1 2.1 SITE LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION 2-1 2.2 SITE HISTORY 2-2 2.3 SITE ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY 2-2 2.3.1 Overvie wof Site History 2-2 2.3.2 PCB Contamination Information 2-3 2.3.3 Study Area Designations 2-5 2.3.4 Environmental Overvie wof Current Study Areas 2-7 2.3.4.1 GE Plant Area '. 2-7 2.3.4.2 Housatonic River Study Area 2-13 2.3.4.3 Allendale School Soils 2-15 2.3.4.4 Silver Lake 2-16 2.3.4.5 Former Oxbow Areas 2-17 2.3.4.6 Groundwater Management Plan 2-20 2.3.4.7 Housatonic River Floodplain 2-21 2.4 AGENCY/REGULATORY ACTIVITIES 2-22 2.4.1 Administrativ eConsent Order and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act 2-22 2.4.2 EPA and MDEP Activities - 1997 to Present 2-23 2.4.2.1 National Priorities List 2-23 2.4.2.2 Negotiations 2-23 2.4.2.3 EPA and MDEP Residential Efforts 2-27 2.4.2.4 Removal Actions 2-29 3. COMMUNITY BACKGROUND 3-1 3.1 GOVERNMENT 3-2 3.2 SITE NEIGHBORHOOD 3-3 3.3 CHRONOLOGY OF PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT 3-3 3.4 PUBLIC HEALTH 3-8 3.5 ENVIRONMENTAL AND BUSINESS CONCERNS: GE'S IMPACT ON THE PITTSFIELD AREA 3-10 MK01|0 \20122246001\CRP_FIN\CRP_FIN_FM DOC ill 07/25/02 Community Relations Plan for GE/Housatonic River Project Final TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Page 3.6 TRUST AND COMMUNICATION 3-10 3.7 SUMMARY OF COMMUNITY INTERVIEWS 3-11 3.7.1 Descriptio nof Community Interviews 3-11 3.7.2 Overview of Key Community Concerns 3-12 3.7.2.1 Health .". 3-12 3.7.2.2 Allendale Elementary School 3-13 3.7.2.3 General Electric Company 3-13 3.7.2.4 Concerns for the Environment 3-15 3.7.2.5 City of Pittsfield 3-15 3.7.2.6 Residential and Commercial Contamination/Depressed Real Estate Values 3-16 3.7.2.7 Superfund Designation 3-18 3.7.2.8 Government Relations with the Public 3-19 3.7.2.9 Most Effective Methods of Communication 3-21 3.8 CONCLUSION AND KEY ELEMENTS OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AT THE SITE 3-23 3.8.1 Provid the e Community with Information about the Site 3-23 3.8.2 Educat the e Community about the Investigation and Cleanup Process 3-24 3.8.3 Maintai an Communication Link with Residents and Officials... 3-24 3.8.4 Evaluate the Effectiveness of the Community Involvement Program 3-24 4. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT TECHNIQUES 4-1 4.1 FORMATION OF A CITIZENS COORDINATING COUNCIL 4-1 4.1.1 Purposes and Operating Guidelines for the Citizens Coordinating Council 4-2 4.1.2 Council Membershi p 4-3 4.1.3 Facilitating Council Meeting s 4-3 4.1.4 Connecticut Subcommittee Mission Statemen ant d Operating Guidelines 4-4 4.1.5 Summar yof Citizens Coordinating Council Meetings 4-5 4.2 ADMINISTRATIVE RECORD 4-9 4.3 COMMUNITY INTERVIEWS 4-10 4.4 INFORMATION REPOSITORIES 4-10 4.5 PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS 4-11 4.6 MAILING AND DISTRIBUTION LISTS 4-11 4.7 PUBLIC MEETINGS 4-11 MK01|O \20122246001\CRP_RN\CRP_FIN_FM DOC IV 07/25/02 Community Relations Plan for GE/Housatonic River Project Final TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Page 4.8 PUBLIC HEARING TRANSCRIPT 4-12 4.9 MEETINGS WITH LOCAL OFFICIALS AND RESIDENTS 4-12 4.10 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS 4-12 4.11 FACT SHEETS 4-12 4.12 PRESSRELEASES 4-13 4.13 EPA WEB SITE 4-13 4.14 TELEPHONE HOTLINE 4-14 4.15 REVISED COMMUNITY RELATIONS PLAN 4-14 4.16 PROGRAM EVALUATION 4-14 5. BIBLIOGRAPHY 5-1 ATTACHMENTS ATTACHMENT A-CONTACTS, INTERESTED PARTIES, AND MEDIA LIST ATTACHMENT B-GLOSSARY ATTACHMENT C-LOCATIONS OF INFORMATION REPOSITORIES AND LOCATIONS FOR PUBLIC MEETINGS ATTACHMENT D-LIST OF SELECTED NEWSPAPER ARTICLES Summary of Selected Newspaper Articles Selected Newspaper Articles ATTACHMENT E-TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANT INFORMATION Technical Assistance Grant Information from EPA Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) Guidance and Application Package —MDEP ATTACHMENT F-EPA'S COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMPONENTS/ GUIDANCE Community Relations Guidance for Superfund Sites Public Participation Guidance for RCRA Sites ATTACHMENT G-EPA SUMMARY OF AGREEMENT: GENERAL ELECTRIC/PITTSFIELD-HOUSATONIC RIVER SITE ATTACHMENT H-SELECTED EPA, MDEP, AND DPH FACT SHEETS ATTACHMENT I PROJECT CHRONOLOGY MK01|O \20122246001\CRP_FIN\CRP_FIN_FM DOC V 07/25/02 Community Relations Plan for GE/Housatonic River Project Final LIST OF FIGURES Title Page Figure 2-1 Removal Action Areas 2-33 Figure 2-2 Site Location and Former Study Area Designations 2-34 Figure 2-3 Housatonic River 2-35 Figure 2-4 Housatonic River Floodplain Properties Under Investigation 2-36 Figure 2-5 Groundwater Management Areas 2-37 Figure 3-1 Significant Milestones: GE Housatonic River Site 3-25 LIST OF EXHIBITS Title Page Exhibit 4-1 GE/Housatonic River Web Site 4-15 LIST OF TABLES Title Page Table 2-1 Former Site Study Area Designations 2-5 MK01|0 \20122246001\CRP_FIN\CRP_FIN_FM DOC VI 07/25/02 Community Relations Plan for GE/Housatonic River Project Final LIST OF ACRONYMS AGO Administrative Consent Order ATSDR Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry BCRPC Berkshire County Regional Planning Commission BNRC Berkshire Natural Resources Council CCC Citizens Coordinating Council CERCLA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act CTDEP Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection DEQE Massachusetts Department of Environmental Quality Engineering DNAPL dense nonaqueous phase liquid EE/CA Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis EPA U S Environmental Protection Agency EREs Environmental Restrictions and Easements GE General Electric Company GetREAL Residents Environmental Action League CIS geographic information system GMAs Groundwater Management Areas HEAL Housatonic Environmental Action League HRI Housatonic River Initiative HRR Housatonic River Restoration, Inc HRWA Housatonic River Watershed Association HSWA Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984 HVA Housatonic Valley Association IRA Immediate Response Action LNAPL light nonaqueous phase liquid MDEP Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection MCP Massachusetts Contingency Plan MDPH Massachusetts Department of Public Health MODR Massachusetts Office of Dispute Resolution MOU Memorandum of Understanding NAPL nonaqueous phase liquid NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NPDES National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System MK01|O \20122246001\CRP_FIN\CRP_FIN_FM DOC Vll 07/25/02 Community Relations Plan for GE/Housatonic River