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News Releases from Region 04

EPA Honors 17 Environmental Job Training Program Graduates in Columbus, Miss.

11/20/2015
Contact Information: 
Davina Marraccini (marraccini.davina@epa.gov)
404-562-8293, 404-562-8400

ATLANTA - During a ceremony today at the Genesis Dream Center in Columbus, Miss., representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized 17 graduates from the Superfund Job Training Initiative (SuperJTI). EPA provided the two-week environmental job training program in conjunction with the ongoing cleanup at the Kerr McGee Chemical Superfund Site.

The SuperJTI program was offered to local residents near the Kerr McGee Chemical Superfund Site to prepare participants for environmental jobs. A large number of local residents have expressed an interest in employment during the site cleanup, and the contractor has expressed a desire to invest in the local community as much as possible. The graduates are prepared to work in positions with site contractors and off-site employers in the community.

All graduates completed the 40-hour Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response training that is required to work on assessing and cleaning up contaminated sites. In addition, participants gained pre-employment skills and earned CPR/First Aid certification.

SuperJTI is a job readiness program that provides training and employment opportunities for people living in communities affected by Superfund sites. Many of these areas are Environmental Justice (EJ) communities - historically under-represented minority and low-income neighborhoods and areas burdened with significant environmental challenges. EPA's goal is to help these communities develop job opportunities that remain long after a Superfund site has been cleaned up.

EPA offers SuperJTI through its Technical Assistance Services for Communities (TASC) contract. SuperJTI provides job training to communities affected by hazardous waste sites regulated by the Superfund and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act programs, as well as federal facility and tribal removal sites.

More information about the Kerr McGee Chemical Superfund Site in Columbus, Miss.: http://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/cursites/csitinfo.cfm?id=0402489

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