Assistance for Communities in Technical Matters Concerning Superfunds
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is committed to helping communities understand complex environmental issues and participate meaningfully in decision-making processes. To achieve this, the EPA offers a range of technical assistance resources and tools.
One such resource is the Technical Assistance Needs Assessment (TANA) Tool, which helps the EPA identify additional support that a community may require to understand technical information. By conducting a TANA, the EPA can determine what resources and information the Agency can provide to meet community needs.
Another valuable resource is the Technical Assistance Plan (TAP). This plan is designed to help communities gain a better understanding of site decisions, separate from the general technical assistance resources and tools provided by the EPA. A TAP is project-specific, meaning services are tailored to the needs of each community.
Community participation in understanding technical information related to cleanup efforts can be challenging. To address this, the EPA provides resources like the Technical Assistance Services for Communities (TASC) Program, Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) Program, and TAP.
The TASC Program offers services through a national EPA contract, providing scientists, engineers, and other professionals to review and explain information to communities at no cost. On the other hand, the TAG Program awards grants to non-profit incorporated community groups, allowing them to contract with independent technical advisors to interpret and help the community understand technical information about their site.
Unlike the TAG Program, a TAP is funded by potentially responsible parties through provisions in a negotiated settlement agreement. This enables community groups to retain the services of an independent technical advisor and provide resources for a community to learn about site decisions.
Understanding the science, regulations, and policy related to environmental issues and EPA actions is crucial for informed decision-making. To this end, the EPA seeks community comments to understand local priorities and concerns during cleanup decision-making. Providing independent technical assistance to communities helps them better understand technical issues related to a cleanup and key considerations for a site's future use.
In summary, the EPA's technical assistance programs aim to empower communities by increasing their understanding of environmental issues and EPA actions. By offering resources like the TANA Tool, TAP, TASC Program, and TAG Program, the EPA works closely with communities to ensure they have the technical help they need for healthy communities and stronger environmental protection.
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