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TechLaw has supported clients during hundreds of public meetings, often in conjunction with remediation oversight at a given site. The National Environmental Justice Advisory Council prepared a report that listed one of the key elements for ensuring meaningful community participation in a project as informed and empowered community involvement from the onset of the project. TechLaw has the credentials to provide any entity with valuable community outreach activities. Whether the purpose of the outreach is to provide information regarding a comprehensive environmental program or the progress at a specific site, TechLaw has the expertise to support its client in a variety of associated activities. We have supported meetings attended by state agencies, governors, mayors, task forces, community advisory groups, and various local agencies such as local water boards.
TechLaw’s abilities include:
- Facilitating public meetings to build community support
- Preparing materials and presenting factual historical and technical information, and communicating complex environmental conditions effectively to non-technical audiences
- Learning community priorities and issues to incorporate in area plans
- Answering questions following meetings
- Staffing and running a satellite public relations office
- Identifying stakeholders and determining stakeholder concerns
- Logistical support for meetings
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The Brio Site is highly controversial due to its location within a populated area and receives regular news coverage. The EPA, Region 6 established a satellite office to provide community relations support to the surrounding area and the Community Advisory Group (CAG). TechLaw provides daily management of the satellite office, including administrative, logistical, and supervisory support activities. TechLaw also:
- Organizes and facilitates CAG meetings both internally and with EPA, the public, and the Brio Site Task Force (BSTF)
- Provides information for the community, the CAG, and their technical advisor
- Provides support to the CAG in obtaining Technical Assistance Grants (TAGs)
- Supplies current information to the EPA in the form of written reports and news media
- Attends other meetings such as the BSTF’s Community Relations Planning meetings and Harris County ’s Clear Creek Federal Flood Control Project public meetings
- Maintains the Brio and Dixie Oil Processors Superfund site repositories
- Cultivates community contacts by establishing relations with local real estate agencies and prospective new residents, and organizes and attends meetings with by prospective residents
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| TechLaw has provided corrective action support to EPA at this site since 1994. TechLaw has provided sampling oversight, and general negotiations and outreach support, along with technical document reviews. TechLaw has also provided assistance for community involvement activities associated with the corrective action process. Our staff arranged for and assisted in the conduct of the public hearing that informed the public of remedial alternatives, including developing GIS graphics depicting the groundwater contamination. TechLaw also attended various hearings, provided mediation support, and prepared expert witness declarations. |
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| TechLaw has provided support to EPA’s Office of Radiation and Indoor Air in its responsibilities under the WIPP Land Withdrawal Act and other radiation programs. A library of approximately 2,000 WIPP research reports and support documents was compiled. TechLaw also supported the development, implementation, and distribution of public outreach, education, and other information transfer programs and materials. In addition, TechLaw provided support for developing, arranging, convening, and participating, where appropriate, in radiation program technical and regulatory forums such as public hearings, panel sessions, and workshops. |
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| TechLaw has provided risk assessment and other technical assistance to EPA Region 5 in support of a permit modification for the rotary kiln incinerator at the WTI facility in Ohio. In providing public hearing and outreach support, TechLaw explained technical aspects of the permit modification and the regulatory framework at the meetings and hearings, and developed fact sheets and technical handouts for the federal and state agencies for distribution at the informational meetings and public hearings. TechLaw planned and assisted with public hearings (including logistics, registration and security), organized public comments, and drafted the preliminary response to public comments. |
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