NCP - Individuals (Community Members)

OMB Control No: 2050-0096

Expiration Date xx/xx/xxxx

What Do You Think About EPA’s Community

Involvement Efforts at the ________ Site?

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is cleaning up the toxic wastes at the __________ Superfund site in your community. EPA believes the active, meaningful involvement of community members is critical to the success of a cleanup effort. This survey is an opportunity for you to tell us how well we are doing at listening to your concerns about the cleanup and making it possible for you to participate in the planning and decision making process. Please take a few minutes to answer the questions. Your views are important and will help us to be more responsive to your needs and interests.

This survey is being conducted in accordance with the Federal Paperwork Reduction Act Information Collection Request # 1463.06. You will need about 15 minutes to answer the questions.

Directions:

- Do NOT put your name, address, or phone number on this form.

- Please use the postage paid envelope provided to return this form to our contractors.

- Do NOT put your return address on the envelope.

1. How do you rate EPA at each of the following? (Circle one number for each question)

Very Bad Very Good

a. Providing the information you need 1 2 3 4 5 6

b. Giving you accurate information 1 2 3 4 5 6

c. Making the information easy to understand 1 2 3 4 5 6

d. Earning your trust 1 2 3 4 5 6

e. Making it easy to get involved 1 2 3 4 5 6

f. Understanding your concerns 1 2 3 4 5 6

g. Responding to your concerns 1 2 3 4 5 6

h. Treating you courteously 1 2 3 4 5 6

i. Having a fair decision making process 1 2 3 4 5 6

j. Using your input 1 2 3 4 5 6

k. Explaining decisions 1 2 3 4 5 6

l. Cleaning up the site 1 2 3 4 5 6

2. Before cleanup of the site began, how concerned were you about the site being harmful to each of the following? (Circle one number for each question)

Not Concerned Very Concerned

a. My family’s health 1 2 3 4 5 6

b. The environment 1 2 3 4 5 6

c. Property values 1 2 3 4 5 6

d. Jobs in the community 1 2 3 4 5 6

e. Business in the community 1 2 3 4 5 6

3. How concerned are you about the site being harmful to each of the following once the cleanup work is finished? (Circle one number for each question)

Not Concerned Very Concerned

a. My family’s health 1 2 3 4 5 6

b. The environment 1 2 3 4 5 6

c. Property values 1 2 3 4 5 6

d. Jobs in the community 1 2 3 4 5 6

e. Business in the community 1 2 3 4 5 6

4. How have you have learned about EPA’s work at the site? (Check all that apply)

___ EPA mailings (other than this survey)

___ Newspaper articles

___ Radio or TV news

___ Community member

___ Family or friends

___ EPA’s web page

___ Public meeting or information session held by EPA

___ Direct conversation with someone from EPA

___ Information about the site is “common knowledge”

___ Know someone who worked at the site

___ Participation on one or more citizen groups

5. How would you prefer to receive site information? (Check the ONE you most prefer)

___ Monthly “News Brief”: project updates, contacts, calender of events, and new documents

___ Short (1-2 pages), very focused (issue-specific) mailings, sent frequently

___ Longer, general informational mailings, sent periodically

___ Newspaper articles

___ Radio or TV news

___ A knowledgeable person in your community

___ The EPA web site

___ Short, very focused meetings, held frequently

___ Longer, general informational meetings, held periodically

___ A direct conversation with an EPA representative

___ Presentations at local clubs and organizations

___ Other ___________________________________

6. How interested are you in obtaining information about the following topics? (Circle one answer for each question)

Not Interested Very Interested

a. EPA’s Superfund program 1 2 3 4 5 6

b. Toxic wastes at the site 1 2 3 4 5 6

c. How the site might affect human health 1 2 3 4 5 6

d. How the site might affect the environment 1 2 3 4 5 6

e. Site cleanup decisions 1 2 3 4 5 6

f. Other _____________________

7. What is the best way to get your participation? (Check the ONE you most prefer)

___ Through opportunities for you to give written comments.

___ Through public meetings where you can voice your comments.

___ Through opportunities for you to meet and talk informally with EPA staff.

___ Through a toll free telephone number you can call with your comments.

___ Through a community group which discusses issues and concerns with EPA.

___ Through opportunities for you to talk with independent experts.

___ Through a web site for you to communicate with us.

___ Other ___________________________________

8. Please tell us whether you have ever: (Circle your answer for each question)

a. Provided information to EPA about the project and its history. Yes No

b. Expressed your concerns about the project to EPA. Yes No

c. Offered cleanup suggestions or advice to EPA. Yes No

d. Given EPA comments on materials available for public review. Yes No

e. Requested information from EPA about the site. Yes No

If “no” to all of the above, why not?

9. Can you accept the decisions EPA has made so far about the site cleanup? (Check one)

___ Yes

___ No

___ I am not aware of any decision EPA has made

10. Is there anything else you would like to tell us about EPA’s community involvement efforts or about this cleanup project?

Thank you for taking the time to share your views with us! To get on the EPA’s existing mailing list, please contact ___________________.

The public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 15 minutes per response. Send comments on the Agency's need for this information, the accuracy of the provided burden estimates, and any suggested methods for minimizing respondent burden, including through the use of automated collection techniques to the Director, Collection Strategies Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2822T), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20460. Include the OMB control number in any correspondence. Do not send the completed survey to this address.

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