Attachment 18 - PWS Enclosure 4-Community Involvement Plan.pdf

ENCLOSURE 4: COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PLAN

Background

IAW DoDM 4715.20, §16.a.(1), DERP Management, AFI 32-7020, Environmental Restoration Program, §11.3, installations conducting environmental restoration in accordance with CERCLA shall establish a formal community involvement program, and documented in a Community Involvement Plan (CIP), also known as a Community Relations Plan (CRP).

CIPs address how DoD will conduct outreach about cleanup activities and how the public can participate in decision-making throughout the cleanup process. Installations use their CIP to ensure the community is informed about and involved in the cleanup process. The CIP enables an installation to specify activities that address community needs, concerns, and expectations;

serves as a site-specific strategy for the project team’s outreach activities during the cleanup process to inform and engage community members; educates the affected community about the cleanup program and processes; and provides resources to help the community understand and participate meaningfully in the cleanup process. CIPs provide a strategy to engage community members in the cleanup process and involve them in decisions that may affect their community. CIPs are an effective communications tool. They enable outreach to a broad audience; facilitate DoD interactions and engagement with community members; educate the affected community about the cleanup program and processes so that they can more effectively articulate their concerns and needs; show DoD’s commitment to community outreach and involvement; and promote trust and constructive dialogue.

Specific Tasks

1. The Contractor shall prepare a CIP or update the existing CIP to enable meaningful community involvement using the attached DAF CIP outline/template. CIPs are prepared as early as possible in the CERCLA process, prior to the RI phase and CIP updates are completed after the DD/ROD is signed and every five (5) years thereafter. CIP updates also are required for Removal Actions with planning periods greater than six (6) months and removal activities lasting more than four (4) months. The CIP or the update should discuss community involvement procedures and engagement strategies to ensure the public is afforded an equal opportunity to participate in the DAF’s cleanup program at the installation.

For example, off-base migration of PFAS in groundwater has raised concerns with agricultural operators and other private property owners around some installations and the CIP shall evaluate such impacts and include community engagement strategies to address community concerns.

2. The Contractor shall integrate site-specific emerging contaminant issues (e.g., PFAS) per DoD and DAF policy and directives.

3. The Contractor shall ensure the CIP and all updates:

3.1 Describes the Installation Restoration Program (IRP) and the Military Munitions Response Program (MMRP), as applicable.

3.1.1 Describes the site, including relevant history, type and extent of contamination, human health risks, and environmental exposures and concerns, which are directly related to the site and in a broader sense.

3.2 Describes the community in a comprehensive profile that includes demographic information, local government structure, and any relevant community characteristics

3.2.1 Summarizes past community involvement activity strategies to include how community concerns have been evaluated and addressed.

3.3 Describes the community interest assessment process to include assessment methodology, assessment responses, and recommended community involvement activities. The community assessment must be included as an appendix.

3.3.1 Community interest assessments must be able to reach the community, and installations may want to consider use of one or more of the following tools depending on the makeup of the local community and stakeholders. Consult with the Base PA for best way to reach the community members. The contractor shall assess the interest of community members in the installation RAB and cleanup programs (IRP and/or MMRP) by contacting at least one percent (1%) of the population surrounding the installation and obtaining feedback from at least 100 community members. In rural areas or low population areas, the area may need to be increased to obtain a commensurate number of completed community interest assessments. Installations with off-base contamination need to ensure residents within the impacted area are contacted and given the opportunity to participate during the community assessment process. Estimate the population reached via outreach efforts or the various social media platforms and provide a comprehensive summary of the results in the CIP. Additionally, community outreach efforts and community assessment implementation practices need to be thoroughly documented.

Community Interest Assessment Flyer Template (DAF Document)

• Public Notices – Paid advertising in major publications

• Announcements on social media pages (e.g., Installation Commander or Base

PA’s Facebook page, Twitter)

• Public-facing websites used by Installations

• Public Service Announcements on local media, including radio station

• Press releases to major media

• Civic Leader engagement

3.3.2 Consult the Best Practices for Community Interest Assessments document for additional assistance with developing and describing the community assessment process.

3.4 Identifies key community needs, questions, and concerns as a result of interviews with community members.. This information is also typically collected through community interviews and assessments described in the community profile section of the CIP.

3.5 Discusses the need for technical assistance services and, if appropriate, identifies programs and mechanisms for providing access to technical assistance for communities (such as TAPP grants).

3.6 Includes an Action Plan that specifies the installation’s planned outreach activities, strategies, and community involvement mechanisms, describes the objective and intention of the activity, outlines a projected sequence of project milestones tied to site activities (with projected time frames, whenever possible), and discusses the mechanisms that will be used to explain to the public how community feedback is considered during the cleanup process.

3.7 Identifies any additional special services or approaches that the installation may use to address unique needs of the community. These may include encouraging facilitation or dispute resolution services for community meetings or groupsor supporting an approach for the community to discuss and consider site reuse options.

3.8 Allows for community comment on the draft CIP and updates discusses the mechanisms used to receive and consider feedback before issuing the final CIP or updates (e.g., formal or informal public comments, community meetings, public meetings, etc.).

3.9 Discusses plans to evaluate accomplishments, including a schedule for updating or revising the CIP and updates.

3.10 Consults with regulatory agencies in developing the CIP and updates.

4.0 Deliverable Template

Description How Many Development of Community Interest Assessment 1

Consult with the Base PA (to identify the best methods and/or strategies to reach out to the communities around the installation)

As necessary

Summary Table of Community Outreach Efforts (undertaken to reach the communities around the installation)

Community Outreach Completed Assessments 100 Community Interest Assessment Flyer Template Minimum of 1

Public Notices Minimum of 1 Social Media Announcements Minimum of 1 Public-facing Websites Minimum of 1 Public Service Announcements Minimum of 1 Press Releases Minimum of 1 Civic Leader Engagement Minimum of 1

Summary Table of Community Comments on draft CIP and updates 1 Draft CIP and updates 1 Final CIP and updates 1

References

Best Practices for Community Interest Assessment, 07Feb23, (AFCEC/CZO document)

EPA Superfund Community Involvement Handbook, March 2020, https://semspub.epa.gov/work/HQ/100002505.pdf

EPA Superfund Community Involvement Tools and Resources, https://www.epa.gov/superfund/superfund-community-involvement-tools-and-resources

Public Outreach, CIPs-RABs-TAPP; Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), Environmental Cleanup and Compliance; Department of Defense website:

https://www.acq.osd.mil/eie/eer/ecc/pfas/po/cip-rab-tapp.html https://semspub.epa.gov/work/HQ/100002505.pdf https://www.epa.gov/superfund/superfund-community-involvement-tools-and-resources https://www.acq.osd.mil/eie/eer/ecc/pfas/po/cip-rab-tapp.html

OUTLINE FOR

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PLAN

(Community Relations Plan) i Revision History ii Distribution List iii Table of Contents

1 Introduction

1.1 Purpose

1.2 Overview of the Community Involvement Plan

2 Installation Background

2.1 History of the Installation

2.2 Installation Environmental Program

2.3 Installation Restoration Program (IRP)

2.3.1 IRP Objectives

2.3.2 Current Status

3 Installation Restoration Sites

3.1 General Site Information

3.2 NPL Listing (if applicable)

3.3 Risk Evaluation

3.4 Site Descriptions and Status

3.5 Emerging Contaminates

4 Community Background

4.1 Community Profile

4.2 History of Community Engagement (if applicable)

4.3 Community Interest Assessment (Tools and Methodology)

4.4 Community Concerns

4.4.1 Previous Assessment Results (if applicable)

4.4.3 Prior Activities (if applicable)

4.4.3 Previous Assessment Conclusions and Recommendations (if applicable)

4.4.4 Recent Assessment Results

4.4.5 Recent Assessment Conclusions and Recommendations

5 Community Engagement Program

5.1 Community Engagement Process

5.2 Community Involvement Plan

5.2.1 Key Community Needs and Concerns

5.2.2 Key Communication Methods

5.2.3 Technical Assistance Services, e.g., TAPP (if needed)

5.2.4 Special Services or Approaches (if needed)

5.3 Community Involvement Objectives and Targets (Action Plan)

5.4 Additional Community Involvement Activities (if needed)

5.5 CRP Review and Update Requirements

6 References

7 Acronyms

8 Tables

9 Figures

10 Appendices