Funding for RABs.

[gkripke@Essential.ORG]

Posting from Gawain Kripke <gkripke@Essential.ORG>

I am posting the following message for Laura Olah who promises to be 
online soon. Questions of comments to her should be directed to her 
over the phone or through snail mail. Please do not send them to me.
Typos are my responsibility.

Gawain Kripke Internet: gkripke@essential.org

BEGIN MESSAGE HERE

 From: Laura Olah, Executive Director, Citizens for Safe Water Around
 Badger, E12629 Weigand's Bay South, Merrimac, Wisconsin 53561 
 (608) 643-3124
 Date: February 23, 1995
 RE: RAB's (restoration advisory boards at Department of Defense Sites)
________________________________________

 Although DoD officials report they "feel like they're making steady
progress", local RAB's will not be getting technical funding anytime soon. 
 According to a recent interview with the Office of the Deputy
UnderSecretary of Defense for Environmental Security, the guidance
document for the dispersal of funds is still being negotiated. A working
group composed of representatives of the various branches of the Armed
Forces (including the Army) and the EPA have been meeting, reportedly
every two weeks or so, to work on the guidelines. 
 DoD officials said they want to provide a variety of options in the
guidance language. They described the choices as ranging from hiring a
technical consultant in the local community, to working with an
established independent contractor that already has a working relationship
with either the military or regulators. The DoD cited the EPA's Hazardous
Substance Research Centers as an example. 
 The DoD estimates that a Notice of Intent will be published in the
Federal Register within the next month or so; a subsequent public comment
period will probably last from 30 to 60 days. 
 Local community members are frustrated with DoD's footdragging; they
assert RAB technical assistance funding is only authorized for one year
and that by the time guidance is in place, funding may no longer be
available. Although DoD reports their legal counsel has interpreted the
legislation as a "longer term commitment", community members remain
skeptical. 
 The Office of the Deputy UnderSecretary of Defense for Environmental
Security has established a mailing list for notification of the public
comment period. Interested parties are encouraged to contact this office
for placement on the mailing list. 

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