Correspondence Letters (attachements 1B-5B)

Attachment 1 B
Initial Postcard

Dear Neighbor,

We really need your help! The U.S. Geological Survey is conducting research to assess arsenic and uranium concentrations in privately owned wells in east-central Massachusetts. Within the next two weeks you will receive a questionnaire and water sampling kit in the mail.

How did we pick you to participate in this study? Your name and address were selected at random from a database of private well owners maintained by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MDEP). Your participation in this survey is completely voluntary. If you are not able or willing to participate in this study, please contact me by mail or telephone at:

Massachusetts/Rhode Island Water Science Center

U.S. Geological Survey

10 Bearfoot Road

Northborough, Massachusetts 01532

(508) 490 5027

I hope that you will be able to take some time to help us complete this project. Once you receive the survey, it is expected to take about 10 minutes to complete.

Thanking you in advance,

John Colman

USGS Project Manager

OMB Control Number: 1028-00XX

Attachment 2 B

Survey Cover Letter

United States Department of the Interior Massachusetts/Rhode Island Water Science Center U.S. Geological Survey 10 Bearfoot Road Northborough, Massachusetts 01532 (508) 490 5027

Dear,

You received a postcard two weeks ago asking you to participate in a study to assess arsenic and uranium concentrations in privately owned wells in east-central Massachusetts. Today we are providing you with a short survey and a water sampling kit. This entire survey (along with collecting the water sample) should take about 10 minutes of your time. We have also provided a self addressed return envelope in this package. Please use this envelope to mail your survey and water sample back to the USGS.

If you have any questions or comments about this study, I would be happy to talk with you. My phone and mail contact information is in the letterhead above. You can also contact me at: [email protected]. Thank you very much for helping with this important study.

Sincerely,

John Colman

USGS Project Manager

OMB Control Number: 1028-00XX

Attachment 3B

Text for First Follow-up Postcard

Last week you received a questionnaire and water sampling kit in the mail asking you to participate in a study to assess arsenic and uranium concentrations in privately owned wells in east-central Massachusetts.

If you have already completed and returned the sample and questionnaire to us, please accept our sincere thanks. If not, would you please complete the questionnaire and mail it today?

If you did not receive the questionnaire and sampling kit, or have any questions, please feel free to contact me at (508) 490-5027 or [email protected]

Sincerely,

John Colman

USGS Project Manager

OMB Control Number: 1028-00XX

Attachment 4 B

Text for second reminder

United States Department of the Interior Massachusetts/Rhode Island Water Science Center U.S. Geological Survey 10 Bearfoot Road Northborough, Massachusetts 01532 (508) 490 5027

Dear,

About four weeks ago we sent you a short survey and a water sampling kit asking you to participate in a study to assess arsenic and uranium concentrations in privately owned wells in east-central Massachusetts. As of today, we have not received your completed questionnaire or water sample. We are writing again because it is important for us to hear from you. If you need a replacement survey or water sampling kit please feel free to contact me at (508) 490-5027 or [email protected]. Thank you very much for helping with this important study.

If you have already mailed your survey to us, please accept our sincere thanks. If not, we would genuinely appreciate hearing from you.

Sincerely,

John Colman

USGS Project Manager

OMB Control Number: 1028-00XX

Attachment 5 B

Text for third reminder

United States Department of the Interior Massachusetts/Rhode Island Water Science Center U.S. Geological Survey 10 Bearfoot Road Northborough, Massachusetts 01532 (508) 490 5027

Dear,

During the last two months we have sent you several mailings regarding an important research study regarding an assessment of arsenic and uranium concentrations in privately owned wells in east central Massachusetts.

If you have already mailed your water sample and survey to us, please accept our sincere thanks and disregard the remainder of this letter. If not, we would genuinely appreciate hearing from you.

This study is drawing to a close, and we are contacting you again because of our concern that people who have not responded may have different levels of arsenic and uranium than those who have responded. Hearing from you will help to ensure that the survey results are as reliable as possible.

We appreciate your willingness to consider our request as we conclude this effort to understand how arsenic and uranium could affect the water quality of residents living in this area. If you have any questions or comments about this study, please feel free to contact me at (508) 490-5027 or [email protected]

Thank you very much for helping with this important study.

Sincerely,

John Colman

USGS Project Manager

OMB Control Number: 1028-00XX