Conversion of the DOD`s Technical Review Committees into Restoration Advisory Boards

Conference · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:205311

Davidson, M C ^[1]; Peters, J E ^[2]

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1. Baker Environmental, Inc., Coraopolis, PA (United States)
2. Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Norfolk, VA (United States). Atlantic Division

The Department of the Navy designed a proactive community relations approach to accompany its environmental investigations, the Installation Restoration (IR) Program. The IR Program process mirrors that of the comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). The goal of the IR Program is to identify, investigate, and if necessary, to clean up sites to reduce or eliminate threats to human health and the environment. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the lead agency at private facilities and the Navy is the lead agency at naval installations requiring study. While CERCLA mandates that sites listed on the National Priority List (NPL) fulfill community relations requirements, the Navy guidance states that all installations in the IR Program where a Remedial Investigation is conducted engage in proactive community relations, including non-NPL facilities. A primary part of the community involvement included forming Technical Review Committees (TRCs). TRCs were established to provide technical review of and public involvement in the IR Program. The Navy discovered that the technical nature of the TRCs excluded most of the public, and realized that increased community participation in the IR Program would benefit both the community and the Navy. Thus, the formation of Restoration Advisory Boards (RABs) was mandated in 1994. The additional community participation has enriched the entire community relations program. The partnering between the Navy, the community, the local, state, and federal environmental agencies has benefited the IR Program process.

• OSTI ID: 205311
• Report Number(s): CONF-951139--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
COMMUNITIES
INTERAGENCY COOPERATION
PUBLIC OPINION
PUBLIC RELATIONS
REMEDIAL ACTION
US DOD
US SUPERFUND