From: | Gill.Michael@epamail.epa.gov |
Date: | 22 Nov 1996 21:07:37 |
Reply: | cpeo-military |
Subject: | EPA Technical Assistance Grants |
From: Michael Gill <Gill.Michael@epamail.epa.gov> Peter Strauss recently wrote to this forum that EPA Technical Assistance Grants (TAGs) are an effective way for a community group (e.g., a RAB) to help provide sound decision making when dealing with Superfund (NPL listed) sites. Having seen positive results on my sites, I have to agree with him. I'm sure plenty of folks on this forum already know quite a bit about TAGs (especially Peter!). But for the benefit of those of you may not, I wanted to share some of the benefits of a TAG. The recipient of a TAG can: - review site-related technical documents - meet with the community to explain technical information - provide assistance in communicating the group's concerns - interpret technical info for the community - participate in site visits and meetings to gain a better understanding of cleanup activities The basic provisions of a TAG are: - provide a grant up to $50,000 to hire a technical advisor - recipient must keep accounting records and provide quarterly reports to EPA - the group is required to donate 20% of the project costs in matching funds (cash or donated services) I have not heard that TAGs will be ever be granted to non-NPL sites. By being part of a RAB, many of you folks are already ahead of the game. Many RABs have varying amounts of technical expertise already part of their membership. Use this to its fullest potential. But if your site does not have this advantage, my suggestion is to apply for a TAG. It can help you in your site related decision making. There are 4 booklets that explain the complete TAG process and they are free from EPA. Talk to an EPA person, call the closest EPA office for the information or check the EPA web page (www.epa.gov). Region City Phone 1 Boston 617-223-5534 2 New York City 212-264-7054 3 Philadelphia 215-597-9817 4 Atlanta 404-347-2234 5 Chicago 800-621-8431 6 Dallas 214-655-6617 7 Kansas City 913-551-7003 8 Denver 303-293-1870 9 San Francisco 415-744-2175 10 Seattle 206-553-1090 Michael Gill Remedial Project Manager EPA Region 9 San Francisco I would suggest that as a first cut, there must be an interested community group that can manage a grant, and can demonstrate the need for assistance. Second, there must be some thrreshold value of human health risk or ecological risk. Third, there is a matter of timing: technical assistance (in the small doses one can expect from a TAG) is most effective when they coincide with decisionmaking. If too late in the cleanup process, they are not very effective. As you may know, I have been involved in prorviding technical assistance to a number of communities. I think that before technical assistance is granted to non-NPL sites, the agencies must see what the value is. Therefore, I think it is important to trry to document the benefits of the TAG process. Perhaps one of the EPA policy-makers wants to take this on as a prroject? Peter Strauss | |
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