Correspondences with Homeowners

Attachment 1 B
Initial Postcard

Dear Neighbor,

We really need your help! The U.S. Geological Survey is conducting research to assess uranium and other trace-metal concentrations in privately owned wells in south-east New Hampshire. 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 New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES). Your participation in this survey is completely voluntary. If you are willing to participate in this study, please contact me by email ([email protected]), mail or telephone at:

New Hampshire - Vermont Water Science Center

U.S. Geological Survey

331 Commerce Way

Pembroke, New Hampshire 03275

(603) 226-7811

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 that it will take about 20 minutes to complete.

Thanking you in advance,

Sarah Flanagan

USGS Project Manager

OMB Control Number: 1028-NEW

Current Expiration Date

Attachment 2 B

Survey Cover Letter

United States Department of the Interior New Hampshire - Vermont Water Science Center U.S. Geological Survey 331 Commerce Way Pembroke, New Hampshire 03275 (603) 226-7811

Dear Study Participant,

You received a postcard two weeks ago asking you to participate in a study to assess uranium and other metal concentrations in privately owned wells in south-east New Hampshire. 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 20 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,

Sarah Flanagan

USGS Project Manager

OMB Control Number: 1028-NEW

Current Expiration Date

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 uranium and other trace-metal concentrations in privately owned wells in south-east New Hampshire.

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, collect a sample, 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 (603) 226-7811 or [email protected]

Sincerely,

Sarah Flanagan

USGS Project Manager

OMB Control Number: 1028-NEW

Current Expiration Date

Attachment 4 B

Text for second reminder

United States Department of the Interior New Hampshire - Vermont Water Science Center U.S. Geological Survey 331 Commerce Way Pembroke, New Hampshire 03275 (603) 226-7811

Dear Study Participant,

About four weeks ago we sent you a short survey and a water sampling kit asking you to participate in a study to assess uranium and other trace-metal concentrations in privately owned wells in south-east New Hampshire. 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 (603) 226-7811 or [email protected]. Thank you very much for helping with this important study.

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

Sincerely,

Sarah Flanagan

USGS Project Manager

OMB Control Number: 1028-NEW

Current Expiration Date:

Attachment 5 B

Text for third reminder

United States Department of the Interior New Hampshire - Vermont Water Science Center U.S. Geological Survey 331 Commerce Way Pembroke, New Hampshire 03275 (603) 226-7811

Dear Study Participant,

During the last two months we have sent you several mailings regarding an important research study regarding an assessment of uranium and other trace-metal concentrations in privately owned wells in south-east New Hampshire.

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 uranium and other trace metals 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 uranium and other trace metals 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 (603) 226-7811 or [email protected]

Thank you very much for helping with this important study.

Sincerely,

Sarah Flanagan

USGS Project Manager

OMB Control Number: 1028-NEW

Current Expiration Date: