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Making the Program Faster, Fairer, and More Efficient (Continued)
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REVITALIZING THE PROGRAM THROUGH THREE ROUNDS OF REFORMS
In 1993, EPA began a series of reforms to make the Superfund program "faster, fairer, and more efficient." Building on the 90-Day and 30-Day Studies, SACM, and the "Enforcement First" policy, the first round of Superfund Reforms consisted of 17 initiatives that improved the effectiveness of cleanups and increased enforcement fairness. The First Round also focused on expanding State and public involvement in cleanup decisions.
In Round 2, EPA introduced an additional 12 reforms and tested many of them through pilot projects. Round 3 consisted of 20 initiatives and took a "common sense" approach to reforming the program. Rounds 2 and 3 were introduced in 1995, and together they strengthened the Superfund program by attempting to: reduce litigation and transaction costs; make cleanup decisions more cost-effective; encourage the redevelopment of cleaned up sites; get States, Tribes, and communities more involved; and encourage innovative technologies.
The National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) conducted an in-depth examination of the Superfund reforms. In a June 2000 report, NAPA concluded that "the reinvention effort successfully addressed the key challenges facing Superfund" and "implementation of the reforms has been accompanied by substantial improvement in aggregate measures of program output."
Reform of the program is ongoing. The reforms are being refined and improved -- and their impact is becoming broader. EPA is consistently addressing stakeholders' criticisms and developing new ways to make Superfund work faster, fairer, and more efficiently. The remainder of this chapter presents a few examples of how this revitalized program is succeeding in the field.
INCREASING COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION AND PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS
From the beginning of the Superfund program, EPA has recognized the need for input from those affected by a release. It takes a commitment by the affected community, State and local governments, and the stakeholders to fully address problems caused by hazardous waste. Here are just some of the ways that EPA increases community participation and creates partnerships.
Facilitating Community Involvement
EPA believes that communities must have meaningful opportunities for involvement early in the cleanup process and should stay involved throughout site cleanup. Some of the ways that this is done is through Community Advisory Groups (CAGs) and Technical Assistance Grants (TAGs).
A CAG is a committee of citizens affected by a hazardous waste site. CAGs are made up of representatives with diverse community interests and provide a public forum for community members to present and discuss their needs and concerns regarding decision-making at a site.
Many Superfund sites present communities with complex issues often requiring expertise in chemistry, engineering, geology, toxicology, and law. A TAG is a grant of up to $50,000 for community groups to hire the technical advisers needed to help the community better understand complex site-related technical information.
At the Southern Shipbuilding site in Slidell, Louisiana, EPA established both a TAG and a CAG empowering the community to take an active role in response action planning. This allowed EPA to implement a creative, community-based approach which resulted in an efficient cleanup catering to the needs of the residents of Slidell.
EPA also creates new opportunities for community input on the individual level by utilizing tools such as forums and websites.
