V.A: Environmental Conversation

Expand the environmental conversation with communities

Other Information:

* Urban Waters: We are leading a federal interagency working group focused on helping communities get educated and involved in local decision making that impacts urban waters. EPA will develop new Web 2.0 tools for community-to-community information sharing, reach out to non-digital audiences, and provide technical assistance to communities. * Improve Communication of Sampling and Testing Results: EPA is developing a new communication methodology to use with the public when contamination is found in their communities. The new methodology will simplify scientific language, provide communities with visual illustrations and clear explanations of contamination levels and associated risks, and recommend actions that community members should take to protect themselves. * Improve Delivery of Information to At-Risk and Remote Communities: We are connecting with communities historically underrepresented in EPA decision making, to enhance their abilities to be informed and meaningfully participate in EPA decisions about land cleanup, emergency preparedness and response, and the management of hazardous substances and waste. A national EPA work group will evaluate how information is provided and make recommendations to improve our processes. The group will focus on electronic access and the digital divide, and ways to provide technical information so that it is clear, accessible and timely for use by affected communities. * Faces of the Grassroots Video Contest: We are sponsoring a video contest asking the public to highlight an environmental justice activity, issue or topic. Submissions via YouTube of public service announcements or short documentaries may be used in future outreach and education.

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