EPA Research Partner Support Story: Effects of climate change on contaminated sites and waste facilities

Partners: City of Phoenix; Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
Challenge: Community vulnerability to contaminated sites and waste facilities due to climate change and extreme events
Resources: Suite of indicators and hazards maps
Project Period: 2017 – 2022

The City of Phoenix was concerned about the current and future effects of rising temperatures and drier conditions on their communities, particularly as they relate to the risks associated with nearby contaminated sites. With their eyes set on an inclusive and equitable climate action plan, the City pursued a roadmap for advancing climate resiliency and making more informed decisions.

“The City of Phoenix used [ORD’s] extreme heat indicators and maps in their 2021 Climate Action Plan (CAP) and related presentations to the public. ORD’s social vulnerability indicators may be used to assist with equitable decision-making as they relate to heat and water resilience in the CAP. The City’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Response may also use, as feasible, the indicators and maps for hazard mitigation planning.” – City of Phoenix Rosanne Albright

EPA ORD, in collaboration with EPA Region 9 (Pacific Southwest), partnered with the City of Phoenix and Arizona DEQ to find the most relevant data, build a suite of indicators and hazard maps, and create useful outreach and communication materials to share as part of the plan and more broadly with other regions and municipalities.

The project ultimately produced community and contaminated site indicators and hazard maps in partnership with the City of Phoenix, Maricopa County, and Arizona DEQ. The results have benefitted the City of Phoenix by providing: 1) a greater understanding of the type and magnitude of hazardous sites in the project area, 2) maps that could be used for emergency preparedness and response, 3) scenarios that mapped extreme heat, drought, wildfire and flooding, and 4) the characteristics of the population, particularly those most vulnerable.

Resources/Articles:

• EPA Research Website
• Fact sheet: A Handbook to Assist with Planning for Extreme Climate Events When You Have Contaminated Sites and Waste Facilities in Your Community
• U.S. EPA. Handbook on Indicators of Community Vulnerability to Extreme Events: Considering Sites and Waste Management Facilities
• Building resilience to extreme weather events in Phoenix: Considering contaminated sites and disadvantaged communities
• Assessing community vulnerability to extreme events in the presence of contaminated sites and waste management facilities: An indicator approach
• Assessing Community Vulnerability to Pollutant Releases Due to Extreme Events