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C O M F E D E R A L P R O G R A M S C O R P O R A T I O N April 07, 1992 Ms. Catherine E. Moyik TES V Regional Project Officer U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 26 Federal Plaza Room 737 New York, NY 10278 PROJECT: DOCUMENT NO: SUBJECT: TES V, EPA CONTRACT NO: 68-W9-0002 Work Assignment C02111 Tutu Wells Site St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands TESV-C02111-EP-CKWG COMMUNITY RELATIONS PLAN Document Control No: TESV-C02111-CR-CKWH Dear Ms. Moyik: Please find enclosed the "Community Relations Plan for the Tutu Wells Site, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands," as partial fulfillment of the reporting requirements for this work assignment. If you have any comments regarding this submittal, please contact Cecilia Masson of CDM FEDERAL PROGRAMS CORPORATION (COM FPC) at (703) 968-0900 within two weeks from the date of this letter. Since CDM Scot TES V SG/ss RAL PROGR B. Graber REGIONAL lORPORATION NAGER Enclosure cc: Lillian Johnson, EPA Community Relations Branch Chief, CERCLA Region II Caroline tCwan, EPA Work Assignment Manager, CERCLA Region II Jill Robbins, EPA Contracting Officer (letter only) Cecilia Masson, CDM FPC Work Assignment Manager Document Control, CDM FEDERAL PROGRAMS CORPORATION (2 copies) NYC File ru- Fulton Street, Suite 710 New York, NY 10038 212 393-9634 *64460* 64460 COMMUNITY RELATIONS PLAN TUTU WELLS SITE ST. THOMAS, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS Prepared for U.S. BNVIRONHENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Office of Waste Programs Enforcement Washington, D.C. 20460 EPA Work Assignment No. EPA Region Site No. Contract No. COM FEDERAL PROGRAMS CORPORATION Document No. Prepared By Work Assignment Project Manager Telephone Number EPA Work Assignment Manager Telephone Number Date Prepared C02111 II 2P1D 68-W9-0002 TESV-C02111-CR-CKWH COM FPC Cecilia Masson (703) 968-0900 Caroline Kwan (212) 264-0151 April 07, 1992 TABLE OF CONTENTS Community Relations Plan Tutu Wells Superfund Site SECTION PAC A. Overview of the Community Relations Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 B. Site Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 C. Community Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 1. Community Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 2. History of Community Involvement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 3. Summary of Community Interviews/Current Community Concerns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 D. Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 E. Techniques and Timing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Figures Figure 1: Study Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Figure 2: Site Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Figure 3: Well Sampling Locations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Exhibits Exhibit 1: Schedule of Community Relations Activities . . . . . . . . . 14 Appendices Appendix A: List of Contacts and Interested Parties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-1 1. Federal and Territorial Elected Officials . . . . . . . . . . . . A-1 2. Territorial Agency Representatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-2 3. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region II Representatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-4 4. Citizen Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-4 5. Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-6 1561 TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued) Community Relations Plan Tutu Wells Superfund Site SECTION PAGE Appendix B: Recommended Locations for Public Meetings and Information Repositories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-l Appendix C: Glossary and Acronyms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-1 Appendix D: Technical Assistance Grants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D-l COMMUNITY RELATIONS PLAN TUTU WELLS SITE, ST. THOMAS, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS A. OVERVIEW OF THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS PLAN The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has prepared this Community Relations Plan (CRP) to identify efforts EPA will undertake to inform the public of cleanup actions at the Tutu Wells site (the Site) located in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (VI) and to involve the Site community in making decisions regarding its remediation. This CRP summarizes the history of the Site, identifies current community issues and concerns, and recommends community relations techniques. Through the implementation of this CRP, EPA will disseminate accurate, timely information to the affected citizens and maintain open communication with the community. Preparation of a CRP is required under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA), as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA). CERCLA, commonly known as Superfund, authorizes cleanup of abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous waste sites placed on the National Priorities List (NPL). The Tutu Wells site was proposed to be placed on the NPL in February 1992. This action makes the Site a priority site requiring compliance with CERCLA, including citizen involvement. The information in this plan was developed primarily from interviews conducted by EPA in St. Thomas, VI on February 7 and 8, 1992. Local residents and property owners in and around Tutu were interviewed, as well as personnel from the VI Department of Health and the Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR). EPA also interviewed a member of the VI legislature. The community relations program outlined in this CRP focuses on activities designed to keep citizens, officials, and other interested parties apprised of Site developments and Superfund remedial activities at the Tutu Wells site. The Tutu community relations program is tailored to address specific areas of interest and concern to the public as they are currently known by EPA and is sufficiently flexible to provide for modification as the community's concerns and questions change over the course of the scientific studies and cleanup program. The CRP is organized into the following sections: • Site Description - provides a Site description and brief history of the Tutu Wells site. • Community Background - provides a community profile, a chronology of community involvement at the Site, and a description of key community issues and concerns. • Highlights of the Program - describes the objectives of this community relations program and the approaches EPA will take to effectively implement them. • Techniques and Timing - presents a list of community relations activities for the Tutu Wells site and suggestions for coordinating the community relations activities with the technical phases of the Superfund remedial process. • Appendices - Lists of federal and territorial agency representatives; federal and territorial elected officials; citizen groups; media representatives; suggested locations for information repositories and public meetings; a glossary and a list of acronyms; and information on Technical Assistance Grants. EPA Region II, which has jurisdiction over the VI and is based in New York, has lead responsibility for managing the Tutu cleanup. EPA is pursuing enforcement actions to require the potentially responsible parties (PRPs) (those who are responsible for the contamination) to pay for and perform the Site cleanup, with EPA oversight. The EPA Region II Superfund Community Relations Branch will oversee all community relations activities at the Site, with support from DPNR. B. SITE DESCRIPTION The Tutu Wells site is located in the upper Turpentine Run basin in east central St. Thomas, VI at the Estate Anna's Retreat section of the island (Figure 1). Several commercial establishments line the major roads in the area, including the Texaco Tutu service station at the intersection of Highways 38 and 384, the Esso Tutu service station on Highway 38, and O'Henry Dry Cleaners on Highway 38 (Figure 2). Private homes and multi-family housing, such as the Virgin Islands Housing Authority (VIHA) buildings, occupy the less heavily traveled roads. The numerous water supply wells located in the Turpentine Run basin (Figure 3) are owned by the VIHA, water purveyors, and private concerns. The wells formerly supplied water for domestic and commercial purposes. In July 1987, Mr. Eric Tillett contacted DPNR regarding an odor emanating from the raw well water on his property located in Anna's Retreat. Mr. Tillett's well provided the eastern portion of St. Thomas with a commercial source of drinking water. On July 16, 1987, EPA Region II received a verbal request from DPNR to sample and analyze Mr. Tillett's well. On July 21, 1987, EPA and its Technical Assistance Team (TAT) contractor, Roy F. Weston, Inc., conducted sampling of Mr. Tillett's well, along with six additional commercial wells in Tutu that served both residential customers and commercial establishments 1 564 STUDY AREA TUTU WELLS SITE ST. THOMAS, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS Figure I FFI>EKAI I'lUKJKAMS COKTOIIAIION SITE PLAN TUTU WELLS SITE Figure 2 COM FEDERAL PROGRAMS CORPORATION •• CM* OWMW 4 Uc*** me. throughout St. Thomas. These wells, several of which were major commercial well suppliers of public drinking water, also were reported to have a strong, unpleasant odor. The test results showed the presence of high concentrations of gasoline and chlorinated organic compounds in Mr. Tillett's well and elevated levels of chlorinated volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the other six wells. Due to the presence of contaminants in the sampled wells and because several of the area's wells supply major commercial well services with water for public drinking water supply, DPNR declared that an imminent health threat existed. Because DPNR believed this contamination could affect about 20,000 St. Thomas residents and an indefinite number of visitors to St. Thomas, the DPNR Commissioner requested that EPA assume the role of lead agency for the cleanup. In addition, between July 31 and September 2, 1987, DPNR closed 13 commercial wells and 5 private wells in the Tutu area to protect public health. The wells closed at that time were: the Tutu Water Wells located at #126 Estate Anna's Retreat; the Plaza Associate Wells at #392 Estate Anna's Retreat; the Gene Elgin Wells at #2 Estate Anna's Retreat; the A.A.S.A. Water Supply (Hartman Wells) at #3 Estate Anna's Retreat; and the Harvey Well at #5C Estate Anna's Retreat and the Steel Well at #5A Estate Anna's Retreat. Based on the results of Weston's sampling of over 100 wells, EPA and DPNR began monitoring 24 wells identified in the Tutu Section of Anna's Retreat within the Tutu Water/Turpentine Run Aquifer. During the sampling event of August 10 and 11, 1987, analytical results revealed the presence of 1,2-trans-dichloroethylene (DCE), trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE), toluene, benzene, and terbutylmethylether (TBME) in concentrations ranging from 61 parts per billion (ppb) to 120,000 ppb in the 24 wells. EPA also sampled and analyzed 123 cisterns served by the water haulers from this area. Three cisterns were found to contain volatile organic compounds in excess of 1,000 ppb. In October 1987, EPA sampled the same 24 wells, and the same contaminants were detected. In addition, EPA detected metals, including arsenic, selenium, and zinc, in some of the wells. In January 1988, EPA initiated a Superfund removal action to address potential immediate threats posed by the Site. These activities were: 1) cleaning and disinfecting the five cisterns that had tested positive for PCE, 2) modifying the existing home plumbing of the residents who were to receive non-contaminated public water to allow for non-drinking use only, 3) disconnecting the contaminated wells, and 4) disposing of the contaminated water. At EPA's direction, a local water hauler was contracted to deliver clean drinking water to the cisterns by tank truck, and EPA established a well sampling program to monitor the wells at the Tutu site. 003 1S67 EPA conducted a search for potential sources of contamination and attempted to identify potentially responsible parties by issuing CERCLA section 104(e) special notice letters. In August 1987, DPNR identified 10 potential and/or actual sources of contamination. These included Tutu Texaco, Tutu Esso, Consolidated Auto Parts, Ramsay Motors, VI Housing Authority, O'Henry Cleaners, and the Department of Education Building -- formerly the LAGA building. On March 22,1990, EPA issued a Unilateral Administrative Order (UAO) to Esso Standard Oil Company, Texaco Caribbean, Inc. and O'Henry Cleaners, which required them to: 1) take over EPA's ground water monitoring of the drinking water wells in the Tutu aquifer, and 2) provide water to affected homes until these homes are connected to the public water main. EPA has scored the Site according to the Hazard Ranking System (HRS), which is EPA's method for evaluating the relative potential of hazardous substance releases to cause health problems or environmental damage. EPA proposed the Site for placement on the NPL -- the nation's list of hazardous waste sites that qualify for long-term Superfund cleanup - on February 7, 1992. On February 19, 1992, Esso and Texaco entered into an Administrative Consent with EPA (RCRA Order 7003/9003) to conduct a remedial investigation/feasibility study (RI/FS) at the Tutu Wells site. A remedial investigation will be conducted to fully evaluate the extent and nature of contamination at the Site. The feasibility study will evaluate potential remedial alternatives. EPA expects the RI/FS field work to begin in April of 1992. C. COMMUNITY BACKGROUND 1. Community Profile Columbus discovered the Virgin Islands in 1493. Since then, the flags of Spain, France, England, Holland, Denmark, and the U.S. have flown over St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix. The U.S. purchased what was then known as the Danish West Indies on March 31, 1917. In 1927, the residents of the Virgin Islands were granted U.S. citizenship, and the Islands were administered by the U.S. Navy until 1931, when they were placed under the authority of the Department of the Interior. Presently, the U.S. Virgin Islands are administered by a governor who is popularly elected and a popularly elected legislature, made up of 15 senators, which has operated since 1852. St. Thomas is represented in the legislature by 6 of the 15 senators. The Islands are represented in the U.S. Congress by an elected but non-voting delegate. VI residents who are U.S. citizens pay taxes but do not vote in national elections. St. Thomas is the most cosmopolitan of the three islands, with a current population of about 50,000. Its capitol, Charlotte Amalie, was founded by the Danes. St. Thomas' early economy was supported by the sugar production industry. When it became apparent that its terrain was too rugged for agriculture, St. Thomas' economic focus shifted to trade. In 1724, it became a free port, where landed goods were exempt from customs. Today, tourism and trade are the main supporting industries. The Tutu community, founded in the 1960s as part of Operation Turnkey, a modernization and development project, has one of the highest concentrations of residential populations on the island. Notable features include: • VI Housing Authority high-rise housing structures, • The Four Winds Plaza, which includes a supermarket, a drug store, movie theaters, a police station, and other commercial outlets, • A large elementary school and a smaller private school, • Tillett Gardens, an artists' complex, • Several churches, and • Businesses, such as car dealerships and a Virgin Islands Telephone Company facility. 2. History of Community Involvement The community of Tutu first became involved with the Tutu Wells site during the site discovery process when a Tutu area resident contacted DPNR in July 1987 to report an odor coming from the raw well water on his property at Anna's Retreat. Owners of the 24 wells that EPA has monitored have been aware of and involved with the Site through a series of sampling events occurring in October 1987 and November 1988 and, most recently, through a quarterly sampling program conducted from September/October 1990 through February 1992. A representative from DPNR notifies the owners to request access for sampling, and results of the sampling have been sent to the respective well owners. The community at large was presented with an opportunity to be involved in making decisions about the Tutu remediation during the first week of February 1992, when EPA conducted face-to-face interviews with area residents whose wells have been tested and monitored. Interviewed parties included local residents and property owners, personnel from the VI Department of Health and DPNR, and a member of the VI legislature. This community relations plan presents other, upcoming opportunities for community involvement. The most imminent event will be an informal meeting which EPA plans to hold this Spring to explain the work plans for the remedial investigation/feasibility study, and to discuss community expectations of what will occur at the Site during this activity. 3. Summary of Community Interviews/Current Community Concerns EPA identified numerous community concerns during interviews conducted with citizens of the Anna's Retreat section of St. Thomas, officials from the VI Department of Health and DPNR, and a senator on February 7 and 8, 1992. These concerns can be summarized into the following categories: • Lack of sufficient information regarding the Superfund process and its implementation at the Tutu Wells site • History of contamination at the Tutu Wells site, its effects and future risks to human health and the environment • Identification of the potentially responsible parties (PRPs) and their liability • Reaction to the well sampling and provision of water during the removal action • Need for a public water supply and the extent of private water contamination These interviews were conducted prior to initiating the remedial investigation but at the end of a lengthy removal action initiated by EPA in 1988. As such, the citizens expressed major concern over the general lack of information provided to date about the Superfund program and the Tutu site. EPA expects that the community relations activities related to the initiation of the RI/FS phase of the Superfund process will alleviate this primary concern. In developing this community relations plan, EPA has kept in mind how and why these concerns have developed to determine appropriate, effective techniques of communication and to plan numerous opportunities for community involvement which can be modified based on remedial investigation results or when community concerns become more defined or change focus. A more complete explanation of the concerns listed above is provided below. Lack of sufficient information regarding the Superfund process and its implementation at the Tutu Wells site Regarding the Superfund process itself, several people wanted to know how, when, and why the Tutu Wells site would be added to the National Priorities List (NPL) and exactly what the implications of being listed on the NPL are. Several comments reflected a general impatience with the length and complexity of the cleanup program. One citizen asked why it had taken since 1987 to decide to address the Site contamination. Another remarked that the public needed to have a timetable that shows when EPA is scheduled to undertake remedial activities. Others simply wanted to know the length of time it would take to clean up the Site completely. Many citizens are confused about the roles and responsibilities of various agencies in the investigation and remediation of the Site, particularly the role of the territorial DPNR and the role of EPA. Likewise, they would like to know the names of the contractors who will conduct the studies and their roles. Most importantly, the citizens want assurances that the Site cleanup will be comprehensive and permanent. Some citizens wanted to know what alternative cleanup methods are available for implementation at the Site. History of contamination at the Tutu Wells site, its effects and future risks to human health and the environment Citizens lack the knowledge of a sequence of events regarding the contamination at the Tutu Wells site, both historic and current. Basically, people want to know the extent/degree of contamination and what the contaminants are. They are concerned about their health and want to understand what exposure levels are considered risky or harmful, and what the health effects of exposure are to both the residential community and to the general public from intermittent exposure. Others cited that their foremost concern is that the source of the contamination be found and eliminated. In addition, many residents are concerned about the migration pathways of the contaminants and are worried about how far the contamination has spread. Others want to know if the air is contaminated or if there a risk from exposure to contaminants through the air. Identification of the potentially responsible parties (PRPs) and their respective liability Many of the citizens who were interviewed knew the names of the respondents (Esso, Texaco, and O'Henry Dry Cleaners) and that Esso and Texaco were providing potable water through Chuck Cline, a commercial water supply firm. However, almost everyone interviewed requested more information on the roles of the respondents and others who may be found to be sources of contamination. Several people were concerned about who will be legally responsible for the remedial activities at the Site, particularly the cost of cleanup and the cost of providing the alternate water supply. 10 Reaction to the well sampling and provision of water during the removal action Many people voiced concern that the sampling reports they receive are not meaningful to them. Specifically, people want an explanation of the monitoring well results to accompany their reports that shows what levels of contaminants are considered dangerous and what health effects may occur due to exposure. One citizen felt that the contractors who conduct the sampling need to be more considerate of the working person's schedule. This citizen explained that it would be helpful to be notified by telephone several days in advance of sampling activities. Since many people work and are not home during the day, the citizen requested that the contractor leave a message on his answering machine so that he could call back the contractor to arrange a date and time acceptable to both parties. A few people are concerned about the quality of the potable water supplied by Chuck Cline, particularly as it may affect the health of children. The water from Cline is stored in and distributed from a cistern, and the recipients questioned whether the cistern should be tested or cleaned/maintained in any way. People seemed to feel that they lack information on the water situation, in general. They want to know how long the alternate water supply will last. Others said that the proposed alternate water supply is not necessarily reliable, that is, it is not available at all times. Many people felt the public needed to be periodically reminded not to use well water. Need for a public water supply and the extent of private water contamination All those who were interviewed indicated that the restricted use of water has been a hardship for residents and businesses alike. One person said that the lack of available well water presents a dangerous situation with respect to water supply for fire fighting in the area. This person noted that an alternate water supply for fire fighting is some distance away. He and others suggested EPA consider granting limited use of the Tillett well for fire fighting purposes. There also is concern among citizens that commercial establishments in Tutu may not comply with the order to shut off the wells. One person stated that the provision of water by those leasing space for business has traditionally been included in the rental fee. Now, because of the shutdown of wells the prospective lessee needs to provide his own water and pay for it himself. The continued use of well water by residents is another issue of community concern. One citizen repeated a rumor that some residents have partial use of their well water (while others do not) and questioned the veracity and safety of this policy. Another person was concerned about the health of apartment dwellers who are supplied with well water from the area. 11 Many citizens believe their land value has decreased due to the contamination of their wells. These residents point out that well water is the only source of water at their properties, and that they have rental properties that are dependent on the well water. One person wondered if the contaminated area could be developed safely, questioning current and future development plans. People want to know when the VIHA and the Water and Power Authority (WAPA) will extend the water supply line. Cost considerations, such as who will pay for the hook up and the monthly water fee once the hook up is completed, were additional concerns. Well owners also want to know if air strippers could be provided for residential wells, as an alternative to the hook up to the WAPA line. They raised issues of the comparable costs and the reliability of the public water supply to support this alternative. Lastly, almost everyone interviewed wanted to know if his well will be restored to clean water. D. HIGHLIGHTS The community relations program at the Tutu Wells site will allow the community to learn about and participate in the Superfund remedial process. Accurate, up-to-date information should be accessible to the affected community through techniques that encourage openness and instill trust. Based on the information collected and concerns expressed during the community interviews conducted in early February 1992, EPA has set the following goals and objectives for community relations activities at the Tutu Wells site. 1. Educate the community about the policies, procedures, and requirements of the Superfund program as it relates to the Tutu site. To dispel current misconceptions and prevent further confusion about EPA's role and the various participants' responsibilities at the Site, basic information on the Superfund process will be prepared and distributed to the community. Interviews with citizens of the Tutu area suggest that areas of particular concern are: the relationship of the removal action to future remedial activity; the scoring of NPL sites; the roles of the territory, EPA, and respondents involved in the remediation of the Site; future PRP identification and liability; and the schedule for selecting, designing, and implementing a Superfund remedy. 2. Document historical and recent data on the contamination at the Site for public access. EPA will present a chronology of the contamination at the Tutu Wells site, including up-to-date findings on migration pathways. Topics might include: the discovery of contamination in the well water supply, pinpointing the source(s) of contamination, the current extent of contamination, and the potential risks to human health and the environment. This collective information would attempt to "set the record straight." The underlying message would be that EPA wants to share its information with the community, to build public confidence in its actions, and ease health- and safety-related fears by communicating an accurate picture of the Site and its risks. * 12 3. Explain testing/monitoring activities and results to area residents. EPA will make every effort to help citizens feel confident that the remedial activities affecting their homes and/or properties are performed by professionals. EPA will pay special attention to explaining how it reaches its technical conclusions and why remedial activities can be lengthy. EPA will make it clear to the community whom to contact for further information and will respond to citizens' questions on a timely basis. These steps will keep citizens informed and attempt to minimize the frustrations that can arise from a lengthy technical process that effects their lives so directly. 4. Enlist local citizens/business establishments and media to "spread the word." Anna's Retreat has a small-town atmosphere in which "word of mouth" spreads quickly as people gather to socialize or conduct business. EPA will identify visible places and people to disseminate facts sheets and other informational materials to more effectively keep the local population informed of current happenings. EPA will also maintain contact with the local media to provide the community with the information it needs. In all cases, EPA representatives will be sensitive to the lifestyle and attitudes of the Tutu community. E. TECHNIQUES AND TIMING The following community relations activities are recommended to ensure that the Tutu community is well informed about Site activities and has the opportunity to express their concerns. Exhibit 1 illustrates the timing of each activity during the remedial schedule for the Site. Activities, and their approximate timing, are as follows. 1. Establish and maintain image of EPA as genuinely responsive to citizens, officials, civic groups, and the media. The overall goal of this community relations plan is to provide accurate and timely responses to questions from interested parties regarding the Tutu Wells site and to coordinate an open dialogue with those interested parties via community involvement throughout the remedial process. Caroline Kwan, the EPA Remedial Project Manager for the Site, is available to answer technical inquiries. Ms. Kwan will initiate telephone calls on a regular basis, or as needed, to inform community leaders, such as representatives from the Department of Health, DPNR, and local legislature of major findings and the progress of Site activities. 2. Identify a credible, accountable point-of-contact who will answer questions regarding the Superfund program and CERCLA-related activities at the Tutu site. EPA has designated the Community Relations Coordinator for the Tutu site, Lillian Johnson, as the official point-of-contact. This spokesperson will be available to answer telephone calls and written inquiries from interested parties about Site activities on a day-by-day basis. Ms. Johnson is the Chief, Community Relations Branch for EPA's Region II. Her address and telephone number are as follows: U.S. EPA, Region II, 26 Federal Plaza, Room 905, New York, New York 10007; (212) 264-7054. 13 Exhibit 1. Schedule of Community Relations Activities Tutu Wells Site St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. COMMUNITY RELATIONS TECHNIQUES Open Dialogue Information Contact Informal Meetings Fact Sheet/Flyers News Releases Public Meetings Information Repository Public Comment Period Responsiveness Summary Revision of CRP Issue Draft RI/FS* Work Plan 'XXXX /•xxxx Ik"" XXXXJ Y€'"< X Xx" Technical Milestones Issue Complete Complete Draft Final Issue RI/FS Conduct Complete RI/FS RI/FS Proposed Work Plan RI/FS RI/FS Report Report Plan xxxxxxxxxxx.continuOUS<r'r'r-''-''>'xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.i rxxxxxxxx-conduct as needed xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxj^ y^ r j * j ^ jf j j f j » ^con ti nuous* j j j ^ j j j j ^ j j j j j j j j j j j ^ j j ^ j j j j j j rssssssssprovided as needed^^^-^^-^-^^-^-^-^^-^-^-'-^-^'X j\. X X ^xxxxxdocuments added as needed'"""ssss"''"s"""'" X X Sign Record of Decision/ Select Remedy rxx-xxxx ^ XX XX XX X xxxxxx X 'xxxxxy X X * RI/FS = Remedial Inve«'««r—- 'Feasibility Study 14 3. Hold periodic, informal meetings to keep citizens informed of Site activities and to help them better understand technical aspects of the removal and remedial actions, on an as-needed basis. The purpose of these meetings is to provide basic information on EPA actions at the Site, in general, and to answer specific questions residents may have on interpreting Site data or sampling report results. Initially, EPA will hold one informal meeting to provide an overview of the Superfund program as it relates to the Tutu Wells site and to explain the upcoming RI/FS. Subsequent meetings will focus on citizen concerns, and/or events related to the scientific studies being conducted, as these needs arise. EPA will extend an open invitation to all interested parties in the area to attend, as well as to leaders of community groups who could disseminate information to group members. 4. Prepare fact sheets and flyers to ensure that current accurate, and understandable information is readily and regularly available to interested parties. The public has expressed a desire to receive information from EPA on a consistent basis. EPA will prepare both fact sheets and flyers to meet this demand for enhanced community understanding and participation at regular intervals. EPA will develop the fact sheets at significant technical milestones during the remediation process and explain cleanup progress in layman's language. The fact sheets will be a formal vehicle of communication to be sent to a prepared mailing list of local citizens/business people, interested parties, and the information repositories. The flyers will be less formal, printed on bright, colorful paper, and displayed in supermarkets and other high visibility areas, such as the Pueblo supermarket in Four Winds Plaza. On occasion, EPA may hand out the flyers door-to-door, using the opportunity to gauge public opinion through one-on-one interactions. EPA will print these flyers as needed to briefly highlight technical milestones or to announce opportunities for public involvement. 5. Send press releases to local media to provide timely, unbiased information and seek extended air-time under special circumstances. EPA will write prepared statements covering project plans and milestones and announcements of public meetings and other community events. These press releases will be sent to local newspapers, particularly the Virgin Islands Daily News, local television (Channels 8 and 13) and radio stations, state and local officials, and area residents. To publicize major events, EPA will seek air-time on local radio talk shows with a large community following, such as WSTA-The Lucky 13 and WTBN Radio. A complete listing of names, addresses, telephone numbers, and points of contact for local media is included in Appendix A. 6. Hold public meetings to encourage community input on major EPA decisions concerning Site remediation. EPA will conduct public meetings as necessary at central locations, such as the Legislative Hall, local area schools, and VIHA facilities. Required meetings include: a) a scoping meeting on the draft RI/FS work plan and the CRP, b) a public informational meeting on results of the RI/FS, and c) a public meeting on the proposed remedy to receive 15 comments in concert with the minimum 30-day public comment period, during which time citizens may write to Caroline Kwan, the EPA Remedial Project Manager, to register their opinions or concerns. EPA will announce the meetings via local media, particularly paid advertisements in the Daily News, and flyers posted at local markets and restaurants. 7. Establish and maintain information repositories to hold all documents for public review. EPA will place fact sheets, flyers, technical summaries, Site reports (including the community relations plan), and information on the Superfund program in the information repositories for public review. An information repository will be located at the Tutu Hi Rise (see Appendix B). 16 APPENDIX A LIST OF CONTACTS AND INTERESTED PARTDZS I. Federal and Territorial Elected Officials Congressman Ron de Lugo Capitol Office 2238 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 (202) 225-1790 District Office Federal Building, Suite 256 St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (809) 774-4408 Governor Alexander Farrelly Government House Charlotte Amalie St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands 00802 (809) 774-0001 Lieutenant Governor Derek M. Hodge 18 Kongens Gade St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands 00802 (809) 774-2991 Legislature of the Virgin Islands - St. Thomas Legislators Office Address Capitol Building Charlotte Amalie St. Thomas, Virgin Islands 00801 Mailing Address P.O. Box 477 St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands 00804 A-l APPENDIX A (continued) Senator Lorraine L. Berry Telephone: (809) 774-2696 Facsimile: (809) 776-4766 Senator Virdin C. Brown President of the 19th Legislature Telephone: (809) 774-6484 Facsimile: (809) 774-7314 Senator Malcolm C. Callender Chairman, Environmental Protection and Planning Committee Telephone: (809) 774-3656 Facsimile: (809) 776-1438 Senator Elmo D. Roebuck Telephone: (809) 774-4654 Facsimile: (809)774-5531 Senator Stephanie Scott-Williams Telephone: (809) 776-5566 Facsimile: (809) 776-6247 Senator Arturo Watlington, Jr. Telephone: (809)774-6710 Facsimile: (809) 774-7875 Senator Celestino A. White, Sr. Telephone and Facsimile: (809) 774-2422 n. Territorial Agency Representatives Roy Adams Commissioner U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources Nisky Center, Suite 231 No. 45A Estate Nisky Charlotte Amalie St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands 00802 Telephone: (809) 774-3320 Facsimilie: (809)775-5706 A-2 APPENDIX A (continued) Leonard Reed Director U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources Nisky Center, Suite 231 No. 45A Estate Nisky Charlotte Amalie St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands 00802 Telephone: (809) 774-3320 Facsimilie: (809)775-5706 Shawn Malone Acting Director for Public Affairs U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources Nisky Center, Suite 231 No. 45A Estate Nisky Charlotte Amalie St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands 00802 Telephone: (809) 774-3320 Facsimilie: (809) 775-5706 Alfred O. Health, M.D. Commissioner U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Health 48 Sugar Estate Charlotte Amalie St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands 00801 Telephone: (809)774-0117 Facsimilie: (809) 776-0610 Lorna W. Smith Assistant Director of Environmental Health U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Health Old Hospital Complex Charlotte Amalie St. Thomas, Virgin Islands 00801 Telephone: (809)774-6880 A-3 APPENDIX A (continued) Alberto Bnmo-Vega Executive Director U.S. Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority P.O. Box 1450 Charlotte Amalie St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands 00804 Telephone: (809) 774-3552 Facsimile: (809) 776-2713 Conrad Francois Executive Director U.S. Virgin Islands Housing Authority P.O. Box 7668 Charlotte Amalie St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands 00801 Telephone: (809) 775-2741 Facsimilie: (809) 775-0832 III. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region II Representatives Caroline Kwan Remedial Project Manager U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 26 Federal Plaza, Room 747 New York, New York 10278 (212) 264-0151 Lillian Johnson Chief, Community Relations Branch U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 26 Federal Plaza, Room 905 New York, New York 10278 (212) 264-7056 IV. Citizen Groups League of Women Voters P.O. Box 638 St. Thomas, Virgin Islands 00801 A-4 ''"'-"" 003 1581 APPENDIX A (continued) Environmental Association of St. Thomas and St. John P.O. Box 12279 St. Thomas, Virgin Islands 00801 Lion's Club East P.O. Box 11388 St. Thomas, Virgin Islands 00801 Lioness Club P.O. Box 11268 St. Thomas, Virgin Islands 00801 Lions Club P.O. Box 3535 St. Thomas, Virgin Islands 00803 Lions Club P.O. Box 11268 St. Thomas, Virgin Islands 00801 St. Thomas Rotary Club East Suite 237 Red Hook St. Thomas, Virgin Islands 00802 Rotary Club of Charlotte Amalie c/o 32 Main Street St. Thomas, Virgin Islands 00801 Rotary Club of St. Thomas P.O. Box 1476 St. Thomas, Virgin Islands 00801 Rotary Club of St. Thomas U P.O. Box 748 St. Thomas, Virgin Islands 00801 A-5 APPENDIX A (continued) Virgin Islands 2000 P.O. Box 4274 St. Thomas, Virgin Islands 00803 V. Media Newspapers: The Daily News P.O. Box 7760 St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands 00801 Telephone: (809)774-8772 Facsimile: (809) 773-1621 Contact: Mike Davis St. Croix Avis 12 Crown Bay Charlotte Amalie St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands 00801 Telephone: (809) 777-8292 Facsimilie: (809) 774-5336 Bureau Chief: Lynda Lohr The Tradewinds Newspaper P.O. Box 500 Cruz Bay St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands 00830 Telephone: (809)776-6496 Facsimilie: (809) 776-7700 Editor: Tom Pain The Business Journal P.O. Box 1208 St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands 00804 Telephone: (809)776-2874 Facsimilie: (809)774-3636 Contact: Chris Garrity A-6 APPENDIX A (continued) Caribbean Business P.O. Box 12130 Luisa Street Station Santurce, Puerto Rico 00914 Telephone: (809)728-3000 Facsimilie: (809)268-1626 Contact: Man Carmen Schell Television Stations: Channel 8 - WSVI TV Antilles Broadcasting Corporation Sunny Isles Shopping Center Christiansted St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands 00823 Telephone: (809) 778-5008 Facsimilie: (809)778-5011 General Manager: Baraket Saleh Channel 13 2D Sion Farm St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands Telephone: (809) 778-0694 Moxie Marketing, Inc. P.O. Box 106214 Upper Havensight Mall Charlotte Amalie St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands 00802 Telephone: (809)776-0291 President: Bob Austin A-7 APPENDIX A (continued) Radio Stations: Radio One - WVWI Franklin Building Charlotte Amalie St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands 00801 Telephone: (809)776-1000 Facsimilie: (809) 776-5357 News Director: Carter Hague WOOD - 98 FM Crown Mountain Charlotte Amalie St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands 00801 Telephone: (809) 774-4498 Talk Show Host: Gloria Gumbs WSTA - The Lucky 13/Radio 1340 AM P.O. Box 1340 121 Sub Base Charlotte Amalie St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands 00804 Telephone: (809) 777-4500 Facsimilie: (809) 776-1316 Station Manager: Lee Carle Talk Show Host: Addie Ottey WTBN Radio- 102.1 FM Havensight Executive Tower #19 Estate Thomas, Suite 103 Charlotte Amalie St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands 00801 Telephone: (809)776-2610 Facsimile: (809) 776-2601 General Manager: Wanda Fisher A-8 APPENDIX A (continued) Z Gold - 91.7, Z Heat - 94.3, and Radio Wave - 97.3 6 Rahune Hill Charlotte Amalie St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands 00801 Telephone: (809)775-4884 Facsimilie: (809) 775-6887 Director: Ben Krongold A-9 HJ r 003 15B6 APPENDIX B RECOMMENDED LOCATIONS FOR PUBLIC MEETINGS AND INFORMATION REPOSITORIES Recommended Locations for Public Meetings (1) Joseph Gomez Elementary School P.O. Box 10854 Tutu, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands 00801 (809) 775-2354 Contact: George Mewton, Principal Seating Capacity: 200 Availability: Reserve two weeks in advance by telephone call Handicapped Accessibility: Not accessible Fee: None (2) Legislative Hall of the U.S. Virgin Islands St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands 00801 (809) 773-2424 Contact: Una Sutton Seating Capacity: Varies with conference room chosen Availability: Legislative-related meetings take priority over other uses; reserve the facility at least two weeks in advance Handicapped Accessibility: Not accessible Fee: $30 per evening; No fee for meetings held between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. (3) Tutu Hi Rise c/o U.S. Virgin Islands Housing Authority Tutu, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (809) 775-2741 Contact: Irma Hodge Director of Government and Management Services P.O. Box 7668 Charlotte Amalie St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands 00801 Seating Capacity: Varies with facility chosen Availability: Must submit written request for use of space, including purpose of meeting, date and time, and requested location Handicapped Accessibility: Varies with facility chosen Fee: $50 deposit B-l Recommended Locations for Information Repositories (1) Tutu Hi Rise c/o U.S. Virgin Islands Housing Authority P.O. Box 7668 Charlotte Amalie St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (809) 775-2741 Contact: Irma Hodge Hours of Availability for Reviewing the Information Repository: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday - Friday (2) Joseph Gomez Elementary School P.O. Box 10854 Tutu, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands 00801 (809) 775-2354 Contact: George Mewton, Principal Hours of Availability for Reviewing the Information Repository: 3 p.m. - 5 p.m., Monday - Friday B-2 APPENDIX C GLOSSARY AND ACRONYMS Administrative Order on Consent: Legal agreement between EPA and potentially responsible parties (PRPs) in which PRPs agree to perform or pay the cost of a site cleanup. The agreement describes actions to be taken at the site. Administrative Record: File containing all information used by federal decision makers to select a Superfund remedial action for a site. Cleanup: Actions taken to deal with a release or threatened release of hazardous substances that could affect public health and/or the environment. The term "cleanup" is often used broadly to describe various Superfund response actions, such as a removal action or a remedial action. Community Relations Plan (CRP): Document that outlines community concerns about and expectations for the remediation of a site identified during community interviews. Also provides a detailed description of community relations activities selected to address those concerns. Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA): Law providing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with broad authority to pursue liability, compensation, cleanup, and emergency response for hazardous substances released into the environment, and for the cleanup of inactive hazardous waste disposal sites. Also known as Superfund. Feasibility Study (FS): Part of a two-phase field study called a remedial investigation/feasibility study. The purpose of the FS phase is to identify and screen alternative methods of remediating a site. Hazard Ranking System (HRS): The method used by EPA to evaluate the relative potential of hazardous substance releases to cause health or safety problems, or ecological or environmental damage. The HRS score determines whether a site should be placed on the National Priorities List. Information Repository: File containing information related to the remediation of a Superfund site; repository is located in a building that is accessible to the public. National Priorities List (NPL): EPA's list of hazardous waste sites identified for possible long-term cleanup under the Superfund program. C-l APPENDIX C (continued) Potentially Responsible Party (PRP): Individual or company (such as an owner, operator, transporter, or generator) potentially responsible for, or contributing to, the contamination at a Superfund site. Whenever possible, EPA requires PRPs to clean up sites that they have contaminated. Preferred Alternative: The restoration action EPA believes will be most effective for a site, as described in the Proposed Plan. Preliminary Assessment (PA): Part of a two-phased study called a preliminary assessment/site investigation (PA/SI). The purpose of the PA is to collect and review available information about a hazardous waste site to determine whether the site requires further study through a site inspection. Proposed Plan: An outline of all of the alternatives evaluated in the feasibility study and a statement of the preferred alternative. EPA holds a 30-day public comment period on the Proposed Plan, during which the public may submit comments in writing on the Plan or may voice concerns at a public meeting. Record of Decision (ROD): Formal statement of the selected alternative for restoring the site. The ROD includes a responsiveness summary, in which EPA answers public comments received during the public comment period on the Proposed Plan. Remedial Action (RA): Those actions taken at a site to prevent or minimize the release of hazardous substances so that the substances do not migrate to cause danger to present or future public health or the environment. Remedial Design (RD): The conceptual and engineering plans for the Site remediation. Remedial Investigation (RI): Part of a two-phase field study called a remedial investigation/feasibility study. The purpose of the RI phase is to gather the data necessary to fully determine the nature and extent of contamination at a site. Removal Action: An immediate action taken to address a release or threatened release of hazardous substances. RI/FS Report: Summary of the results of the RI/FS. RI/FS Work Plan: Outline of how and when the RI/FS will be conducted. C-2 APPENDIX C (continued) Site Discovery: The ways that EPA learns of conditions that could present risk to human health and the environment, such as citizen complaints of an unusual odor or of a fire. Site Inspection (SI): Part of a two-phased study called a preliminary assessment/site inspection (PA/SI). The purpose of the SI is to collect sufficient information to rank the hazard potential of a site. The SI is conducted if the PA turns up evidence that the site may pose a threat to human health and the environment. Superfund: See CERCLA. Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA): Law designed to include local governments and the public in the process of making decisions about how to address possible chemical hazards in their communities. SARA was signed by the President on October 17, 1986 to amend CERCLA. Reference made to CERCLA throughout this document should be interpreted as meaning CERCLA, as amended by SARA. Volatile Organic Compound (VOC): An organic (carbon-containing) compound that evaporates (volatizes) readily at room temperature. C-3 APPENDIX D TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS EPA provides community groups with the opportunity to apply for Technical Assistance Grants (TAGs) of up to $50,000 per Superftmd site. With TAG funding, community groups are able to hire technical advisers to interpret Site findings and help the public become more involved in making decisions about cleanup plans. Citizens who are interested in applying for TAGs may obtain an application package by calling or writing: Marilyn Fast Technical Assistance Grant Coordinator U.S. EPA, Region II, Room 1714 26 Federal Plaza New York, New York, 10278 (212) 264-9860 D-l