The copper corridor's environmental injustices stem from historic mining activities and an archaic mining tax structure that benefits more populated communities in arizona instead of those directly…

The copper corridor's environmental injustices stem from historic mining activities and an archaic mining tax structure that benefits more populated communities in arizona instead of those directly affected by mining. The copper corridor includes communities in south central arizona, specifically southern gila county and eastern pinal county. Historic mining and smelting operations have deposited lead, arsenic, and other heavy metals in residential and industrial yards throughout the copper corridor, contaminated surface waters, and created non-attainment areas due to sulfur dioxide and lead in the air. The boom and bust of historic mining have left properties with convoluted titles that SIT idle and deteriorate to the point buildings are blighted and become a hinderance to the community. The blight is not only unsightly but creates additional health burdens on already burdened communities. Gila county and its partners will use grant funds to tackle blight through a mining tax distribution study, using funds for non-hazardous cleanups, asbestos and lead surveys and abatements, demolition, public outreach and engagement and helping communities use their 'clean and lien' programs to create a revolving fund to address blight and create a model program that can be replicated in other rural arizona communities. This agreement provides full federal funding in the amount of $1,050,000. Refer to terms and conditions. Activities:the steps to meet program objectives are listed and discussed below. Prior to project kick-off, the cooperative agreement will be fully executed with EPA, financial systems will be set up for reimbursements, and subaward agreements will be complete. - partnership meetings: we will hold a project kick-off meeting with all partners within two months of execution of the cooperative agreement. After that, we will hold quarterly meetings. If quarterly meetings do not appear to meet our needs, we will RE-evaluate and meet more often. Kick-off meeting: -discuss procurement for the mining tax distribution study and environmental oversight contractor. -decide how to prioritize sites. -discuss a general outreach strategy. -set a partnership meeting schedule. - public outreach and stakeholder engagement: public outreach and stakeholder engagement will be completed by ccedc and enhanced by the miami-globe and superior chambers of commerce outreach to local businesses. Within the first three months of execution of the cooperative agreement, gila county and ccedc together will create a public outreach plan that will include stakeholder meetings (both individual and group), efforts to create additional partnerships, POP-up and tabling events, educational sessions, community listening sessions, focus groups, outreach materials, and creating a schedule. Ccedc may use an independent facilitator to moderate discussions is needed. All outreach materials will be created in both english and spanish. - environmental contractor procurement: the environmental oversight contractor will create the quality assurance project plan (qapp) and/or a sampling and analysis plan (SAP). Upon obtaining EPA approval of the qapp and/or SAP, the contractor will conduct asbestos and lead surveys, compile an inventory of blighted properties in the copper corridor, create bid specifications and oversight for any environmental site work, coordinate with adeq, seek additional funding sources, complete final reporting, and other tasks as necessary. The contractor will also provide awareness training to community groups such as the trash MOB to know how to identify hazardous materials that may not be appropriate for community members to handle. - mining tax distribution study: a firm will be hired to complete a mining tax distribution study. We will seek an economist with a strong tax advisor. We will use the state's procurement system (further discussed in section 4.c.) to PR