Community Support at Superfund Sites
Community engagement is a win-win for EPA and the communities they work with. Community engagement:
- Strengthens community and agency relationships and partnerships.
- Enhances protectiveness of site remedies through coordination of remedy and reuse.
- Promotes long-term stewardship of sites by local partners.
- Reduces site stigma through education and outreach.
- Creates opportunity for reduced cleanup and remedy maintenance costs.
EPA identifies Superfund sites that can benefit from reuse-related engagement and assistance. EPA provides initial investments that help move sites toward reuse. As reuse efforts gain momentum, communities leverage these investments.
Removing Barriers to Reuse
SRI helps to remove barriers and encourages the appropriate reuse of sites. Tools and strategies include:
- issuing Ready for Reuse (RfR) determinations;
- clarifying site information;
- working with the community to assess reuse potential; and
- building partnerships.
Community Engagement
Reuse planning enhances community engagement during Superfund cleanups by proactively including communities in the decision-making process. Learn more about the reuse planning process.
Community Well-Being
Safe and appropriate Superfund site reuse supports community health and well-being. Reuses include new and accessible healthcare services to meet community needs, as well as recreational amenities that promote healthy lifestyles, such as athletic fields, walking trails, parks, playgrounds and open space.
- Healthcare Uses at Superfund Sites: Providing Access, Restoring Communities (PDF) (3 pp, 2.6 MB, About PDF)
- Recreation: Supporting Healthy, Fun Activities
Renewable Energy and Green Remediation
SRI supports the exploration of opportunities for renewable energy to power site cleanups and supply energy to the electrical power grid.
Sustainable Communities
SRI provides assistance to communities as they build their long-term capacities, identifying redevelopment resources, bringing diverse stakeholders to the table, and addressing site stigma through education and outreach.