Superfund Task Force Public Participation Opportunities
On this page:
Task Force Outreach
The Task Force offered opportunities for the public to provide input on the Superfund process. To this end, the Task Force developed its Partnership and Stakeholder Engagement Strategy (PDF)(3 pp, 128 K)
Under this strategy, EPA conducted dialogues via meetings, web discussions, and other fora. These conversations established and strengthened partnerships and public engagement during implementation of the Task Force recommendations.
Previous Stakeholder Engagement
EPA has already met with numerous stakeholders regarding the Task Force, including:
- Past Webinars
- Listening Sessions on Goal 2 and Goal 3 Recommendations
- Redevelopment in Wyandotte County
- Redevelopment in Kansas City, Kansas
- Senior EPA leaders meet with environmental justice groups
- Brownfields Conference
- Superfund Task Force at the Children's Health Protection Advisory Committee Meeting
- Task Force discussed with the Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials
- EPA at the Annual Environmental Masterminds workshop
Public Participation Image Gallery
Richard Mabion, Kansas City NAACP chapter president and Kansas Sierra Club chapter committee member (center of table), and EPA’s Albert Kelly (left of Mabion) listen to Jon Stephens, Wyandotte County Unified Government’s director of economic development, discuss redevelopment in the county.
EPA’s Albert Kelly (on left) listens to Richard Mabion discuss redevelopment and job opportunities at Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas. Joining them (left to right) are Mary Peterson, Maureen Mahoney and Crystal Watkins, president of the Kansas City Black Chamber of Commerce and Wyandotte County Unified Government community liaison.
On Jan. 24, Administrator Pruitt and other senior EPA leaders met with stakeholders to discuss the Task Force and the future of the Superfund program.Public Participation Past Webinars
The Task Force hosted a series of webinars to solicit input on Task Force Recommendations and to provide information on topics like:
- Adaptive Management
- Pragmatic Approaches to Remedial Investigation, Technology Selection, and Remediation Success
- Mining: Successful Implementation of Biologically-Based Passive Remediation Systems
- Combined Remedies: Adaptive, Flexible, Attentive Use of the Right Tools
- Informing Parties about Streamlining the Cleanup and Redevelopment Process
For more information see Public Participation Opportunities Past Webinars.
Listening Sessions on Goal 2 and Goal 3 Recommendations
EPA’s Office of Site Remediation Enforcement (OSRE) within the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance hosted a series of listening sessions from May 21, 2018 to June 18, 2018, and again on June 4, 2019 to provide a forum for EPA personnel to obtain stakeholder input on specific Superfund Task Force recommendations in an effort to increase public participation and transparency, and strengthen communication with stakeholders. The latest session in June 2019 was to provide information and obtain information on a second issue related to Recommendation 22 in the task force report. More information and recordings of each session can be found at Enforcement Listening Sessions - Superfund Task Force Recommendations.
Redevelopment in Wyandotte County
EPA’s Albert Kelly joined members of the Kansas City NAACP chapter, Kansas Sierra Club chapter, and Jon Stephens, the director of economic development for Wyandotte County Unified Government to discuss redevelopment in the county. The redevelopment and environmental stakeholders group met at City Hall to explore ways to speed implementation of redevelopment and spur job growth in the county.
EPA’s Region 7 launched a Redevelopment Navigation Team in 2017 that is fostering a collaborative cross-program and community-based approach to develop sustainable communities through the cleanup and reuse of contaminated sites.
Other participants at the stakeholders meeting included: Doug Bach, Wyandotte County Unified Government Public Works; Andrew Bracker, Kansas City, Missouri, Brownfields program; Rita Adams, Economic Opportunity Foundation; Cielo Fernandez, El Centro; Matt Watkins, Kansas City, Kansas, Housing Authority Board & commercial real estate broker; Althea Moses, EPA Region 7 acting director of the Enforcement Coordination Office and Environmental Justice program manager; Mary Peterson, EPA Region 7 Superfund director; Seth Mettling, Kansas Department of Health and Environment Brownfields program; Maggie Weiser, Kansas State University’s Technical Assistance to Brownfields program; Sabine Martin, Kansas State Technical Assistance to Brownfields; Jon Stephens, Wyandotte County Unified Government Director of Economic Development; Stanley Walker, EPA Region 7 Brownfields program manager; Joseph Multhauf, Donnelly College; and Elnora Jefferson, Northeast Midtown Neighborhood Associations. Participants sitting along the back wall (left to right): Maureen Mahoney, Wyandotte County Unified Government chief of staff; Tamara Freeman, EPA Region 7 community.
Redevelopment in Kansas City, Kansas
EPA’s Albert Kelly met with Richard Mabion to discuss redevelopment and job opportunities at Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kansas. Kally and Mabion were joined by Mary Peterson, the Superfund Division Director for EPA’s Region 7 office; Maureen Mahoney, the president of the Kansas City Black Chamber of Commerce; and Crystal Watkins, the Wyandotte County Unified Government community liaison.
Senior EPA leaders meet with environmental justice groups
On Jan. 24, Former Administrator Pruitt and other senior EPA leaders met with stakeholders to discuss the Task Force and the future of the Superfund program. Present at the meeting were representatives from the Center for Health, Environment, and Justice; Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Service; Texas Campaign for the Environment; Headwater Defense; Local Environmental Action Demanded; Jesus People Against Pollution; United Neighbors Concerned About GE Dewey Loeffel Landfill; Hoosick Falls Support Network; POWER Action Group; Texas Health and Environment Alliance; and San Jacinto River Coalition.
Brownfields Conference
At the Brownfields Conference in December 2017, EPA discussed redevelopment opportunities with attendees.
Superfund Task Force at the Children’s Health Protection Advisory Committee Meeting
At the Children’s Health Protection Advisory Committee Meeting in November 2017, EPA described Task Force goals and recommendations as well as engagement opportunities.
Task Force discussed with the Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials
At the Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials Annual Meeting in October 2017, EPA discussed Task Force recommendations.
EPA at the Annual Environmental Masterminds workshop
At the 14th Annual Environmental Masterminds 2017 Remediation Benchmarking Workshop in September, EPA described goals and recommendations as well as opportunities for engagement with corporate remediation directors.
