ASTSWMO Position Paper on the Importance of Community Involvement

The history of community involvement in the environmental field has been one of staggered improvement across the nation. The process, priority, and status of community involvement differs significantly not only from each of the 50 States and six Territories, but also from program to program, and site to site. Community involvement is dependant upon program priorities, agency lead (State, Environmental Protection Agency [EPA], Department of Defense (DoD), or other lead agency), program statutory requirements, resources, community economic levels, community interest, and project manager focus. These inherent differences have contributed toward the level of frustration expressed by citizens, regulators, and responsible parties.

Brownfields Focus Group Facts Sheet

ASTSWMO’s Brownfields Focus Group developed six fact sheets that relate to certain Brownfields topics. These topics are Phase I Assessments and All Appropriate Inquiry, Phase II Assessments, Abandoned Structures, Risk-Based Decision Making for Property Cleanup, Vapor Intrusion, and Community Involvement.

AAI Facts Sheet

Abandoned Structures Facts Sheet

Community Involvement Facts Sheet

Phase II ESAs Facts Sheet

Risk Based Cleanups Facts Sheet

VI Facts Sheet

Community Gardening Toolbox

The Toolbox is designed to assist States by providing a reference guide for State environmental staff on community gardening on brownfield sites. States are encouraged to personalize the toolbox by adding their own State-specific and other regulatory information to increase the documents applicability and usefulness. The final Toolbox is presented in Microsoft Word so States are able to reformat the document for their own specific needs.
Community Gardening Toolbox 
Appendix A: References
Appendix B: Site Model

State Conceptual Framework to Estimate Associated Cost

Building upon previously funded EPA research conducted by the Environmental Law Institute, the ASTSWMO Long-Term Stewardship Focus Group chose to develop an institutional controls costing tool that represents a State perspective, especially for those States currently in the development or implementation stage of a State LTS program. Rather than focusing narrowly on site-specific IC costs, the Focus Group conducted a broad evaluation of all of the costs associated with LTS. From this analysis, the Focus Group has developed a spreadsheet tool to assist States in establishing or enhancing an existing ICs or LTS program and determining the costs associated with those activities.
State Conceptual Framework to Estimate Associated Cost
Costing Observations
State IC Tool

Community Involvement Guidance for Munitions Response Sites

The ASTSWMO Community Involvement Focus Group developed this guidance to provide State and Federal community involvement coordinators and project managers with strategies for conducting effective community involvement activities at munitions response sites.  The guidance outlines the regulatory framework, roles, responsibilities, and special challenges faced by State regulators at these sites.  Case studies are also provided to illustrate these challenges and provide a set of lessons learned.