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Technical Outreach Services
for Communities Program (TOSC)
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| Title: Rocky Mountain Regional Hazardous Substance Research Center
Technical Outreach Services for Communities Program (Activity 2) |
| Investigator(s): Sandra Woods, Professor |
| Institution: Colorado State University |
| EPA Project Officer: Mitch Lasat |
| Project Period: October 1, 2001 - September 30, 2003 |
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| The Technical Outreach Services for Communities (TOSC) program was created
in 1994 to provide technical assistance to communities impacted by hazardous
wastes. Through this program, the Rocky Mountain Regional HSRC will provide
educational resources to help citizens gain a better understanding of the
environmental problem allowing them to make informed decisions and participate
more fully in activities that affect their communities. |
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| Objectives/Hypothesis: This Rocky Mountain Regional HSRC will work
with communities and other stakeholders to meet community needs. Example
activities include: (1) creating technical assistance materials or information
community members about existing materials, (2) providing technical information
to help community members become active participants in cleanup and environmental
development activities, (3) reviewing and interpreting technical documents
and other materials, and (4) sponsoring workshops, short courses, and other
learning experiences as needed. |
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 Approach:
Because of the many different types of communities served and the wide
variety of contaminants and issues, it is impossible to create a single
method to work with all communities. However, several best practices that
will be applied.
- The Rocky Mountain Regional HSRC will assemble an interdisciplinary
group of faculty and staff to work with communities, as necessary.
- The Center will involve stakeholders in the community and in local,
state and federal agencies.
- TOSC and the community will develop a needs assessment jointly.
- The community and TOSC Program will develop an initial agreement establishing
needs, and providing information about community evaluation of the TOSC
project.
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| Expected Results: There are many activities that can be conducted
to assist communities. These include (1) conducting technical presentations
and seminars, (2) reviewing technical documents, (3) providing literature
related to treatment technologies, (3) conducting workshops related to risk,
(4) providing assistance with redevelopment projects (such as field demonstrations),
(5) participating in public meetings, (6) assisting the community group
develop its capacity to monitor sites - such as determining access to monitoring
data, and (7) providing information on health and environmental risk of
applicable contaminants. The Rocky Mountain Regional HSRC will provide assistance
in many ways - through the development of print-based materials (such as
creation of handbooks or compilation and review of literature), through
face-to-face meetings, seminars, and workshops, or through use of technologies
(such as the Internet including development of Web sites, Internet-based
instruction, or electronic newsletters). Each of these methods will be used
as appropriate to help communities better understand technical issues and
make informed choices. In addition to providing assistance to communities
in Region 8 facing issues dealing with all types of contaminated sites,
the Rocky Mountain Regional HSRC will assist other regional HSRC's dealing
with issues concerning mining wastes and acid mine drainage. |
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| Supplemental Keywords: acid mine drainage, remediation, mine waste,
risk assessment, technical outreach |