Public Involvement in Superfund Cleanup

It is extremely important for citizens living near Superfund sites to become involved in the site characterization and cleanup process. People living near the sites have the right to know information about the site, comment and participate in decisions. In many cases, local people have helped locate contaminated sites and have helped agencies by contributing information about the history of the site. In addition, local citizens give numerous excellent comments and have directly helped make decisions about the cleanup of the site. DNR, EPA and health departments host public meetings or availability sessions to share information with the local citizens. An Information Repository including file data is established in an easily accessible location and citizens are invited to study the files. Large sites that are on the NPL or are seriously contaminated often require extensive public input. In several site locations, Community Advisory Groups (CAGs) or Technical Assistance Groups (TAGs) are formed. The groups consist of interested local citizens and agency staff from DNR, EPA and the health departments. They work together to understand the health risks, learn about the cleanup process and share information. Members of CAGs and TAGs help make important decisions about cleanup activities in their communities. Anyone interested in a site located in or near his or her community can call DNR and discuss the site with the Community Involvement Coordinator or the Remedial Project Manager of the site.

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