SuperFunds EMPACTS Project

Transcription

1 SuperFunds EMPACTS Project Team: Carolyn Brown Jake Clyne Brianna Freeman Environmental Geology Instructor: Paul Lowrey

2 Introduction We will be exploring Superfund Sites near NWA through Google Earth and photos to introduce the community to the severity of these sites, so that we may engage the residents in the cleanup processes. Community awareness of these toxic areas are key to what will become of the land, rivers, and life affected. Map of Superfund Regions

3 Project Overview The communities near the potentially hazardous areas in and around Northwest Arkansas are in need of access to knowledge and information concerning the Superfunds near their areas. The goal is achieving greater public involvement in the processes of the cleanup and in the decisions on how to maintain the areas affected. Contaminated Stream at Tar Creek

4 Project Goals We intend on bringing attentiveness to the community using technologies, such as, Google earth and building a website. While we aim to help our environment, we are also building on our personal teamwork and leadership skills. This project will help us, as well as, the community have a better understanding of the priorities needed to clean up our surroundings. Mine Tailings at Tar Creek _ jpg

5 Community The residents of the communities in and near the Superfund areas should be aware of the toxins they might be exposed to, what affects they could have, and have access to obtaining adequate knowledge on how to join the cleanup projects. As well as, having a part in the reuse of the affected acreages. Residents of these areas should know Superfund sites can be reused, once they are cleansed of the toxic materials, for many things, such as, golf courses and soccer fields. To aid in community involvement, residents should also be aware of government grants to fund participating community groups. EPA.gov/superfund/community Community Number: EPA Region 6 Contact: Walters.don@epa.gov Shawn Ghose

6 Curriculum By using scientific methods, we as a team and individuals will gain knowledge and understanding on how the environment is affected by humans, improper waste control, and how to reverse these effects. We will gain first hand experience with involving ourselves in environmental hazards and what steps need to be taken to achieve a positive change. Acid Mine Drainage org/images/medium/ jpg

7 Technology To get the message out to our community we plan on creating a presentation visiting the superfund sites in person and on Google Earth. Then we will create a web page with access to the short video, information, pictures, and links to all the websites for the superfunds. To help advertise our site we will compose a brochure to hand out around the college and other local businesses. Some training with Google Earth and website production will be required. Tar Creek Toxic Waste Barrels

8 Skills Developed Through the process of the project we will be gaining skills in team communication, personal communication, organization and technology use. While also building on our understanding of factors affecting the environment. Created by 5 th grader in Picher, Oklahoma ageserve/08pf8p5cns1y2/61 0x.jpg

9 Methodology Carolyn: Initial Power Point Proposal, Final Power Point, Contact Superfund Site Managers, Create/Disperse Brochures Brianna: Contact Superfund Site Managers, Visit Sites, Google Earth Presentation, Website, Disperse Brochures, Final Power Point Jake: Visit Sites for Photographs Sept. 27- Oct. 1: Contact Superfund Site Managers Oct. 4-22: Visit Sites, Get Website and Google Earth Training Oct. 10- Nov. 15: Create Google Earth Presentation, Create Website, Produce Brochures Nov. 15: Disperse Brochures Nov. 25: Make any changes needed for Website/Google Earth/Brochures Nov.25: Create Final Power Point Presentation for outcome of the project Nov. 30/Dec. 2: Present Final Power Point

10 Project Results Expected Products Google Earth Presentation Website complete with Google Earth Exploration, Information, Photos, and Superfund Links Brochures to Reach the Community with the Website and the Severity of the Superfund Sites Information Relevant to Community involvement, including available grants

11 Future Project Ideas A good idea for a future project is to actually create a community group for Superfund involvement. This group could help initiate the needed criteria for an active community decision group that would be eligible to receive grants to fund their participation and ideas on the reuse and maintenance of the areas.

12 Acknowledgements EPA.gov EncyclopediaofArkansas.com QuapawTribe.com TarCreek.org Contact with Superfund Site Managers Contact with Superfund site managers was initiated several times with a few different contacts, however, we were never contacted back. Therefore the only site we were able to visit in person was Tar Creek. Most of our pictures are of Tar Creek, which is an extreme version of most Superfunds sites, but also gives the community a better understanding of what can happen to the environment if precautions and cleanup do not occur in a timely and precise manner.

13 Appendices Website Informational PP Brochure