DOD: Elmendorf Air Force Base

Draft Public Outreach Plan

ENVVEST
Public Outreach Plan
Elmendorf Air Force Base

Prepared By
3rd Civil Engineer Squadron
Environmental Management Flight
Elmendorf Air Force Base
Alaska

Public outreach and education are a vital component of a successful environmental program. This Public Outreach Plan outlines the means by which the public and regulatory community (hereafter referred to as "Stakeholders") will be afforded the opportunity to gain active involvement in the ENVVEST imitative at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska (hereinafter referred to as "Elmendorf").

STAKEHOLDER IDENTIFICATION

Elmendorf requests that Air Force command structure, base environmental management personnel, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC), and the Municipality of Anchorage (MOA) become involved in the public participation process. These agencies will be invited to participate in the negotiation and implementation of the project and to engage in active discussions concerning project goals and progress. All other interested parties, including local community councils and environmental groups, are also invited to become involved in the public participation process and will have an active voice in the discussions.

Stakeholders fall into three basic categories, to include (1) primary participants, (2) interested parties, and (3) members of the general public.

Primary participants include the regulatory community of EPA and ADEC, the Restoration Advisory Board, local community councils and government officials, and interested members of the public. EPA and ADEC have had considerable influence on the details of the project proposal and will continue their active involvement during the implementation phase.

Interested parties have demonstrated some interests in the project, yet do not wish to actively participate in project development and implementation. Interested parties will usually want be kept informed of project development and progress, and may wish to attend public meetings and contribute their comments in written or verbal form.

Members of the general public will, most likely, not become actively involved in project development and implementation. Although not actively involved, members will be provided with project information through the local media and central information repository. Members of the general public have the opportunity to participate more actively if they choose to do so.

The following organizations and individuals will be contacted and asked to participate in the public process:

The Government Hill, Mountain View, and Russian Jack Community Councils
The Anchorage Clean Air Coalition
The Alaska Center for the Environment
The Anchorage Metropolitan Area Transport Study (AMATS) Citizens' Air Quality Advisory Board
The Anchorage Chamber of Commerce
The Anchorage Assembly
Anchorage Mayor Rick Mystrom
State legislators from local districts
Others, as deemed appropriate

NOTIFICATION AND EDUCATION OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC

Elmendorf will notify the public of its intent to develop a Final Project Agreement (FPA) with EPA and ADEC. The public will be invited to request inclusion on a mailing list for continued receipt of information concerning Elmendorf's ENVVEST initiative.

The following methods will be used to contact and inform potential Stakeholders.

Local Newspapers: Notices will be taken out in local newspapers to inform the general public of public meetings and public notices and comment periods. The local newspaper will also be invited to report on the project, as it evolves.

Elmendorf Newspapers: Notices will be published in the "Sourdough Sentinel", to encourage involvement from the base populace. The "Sourdough Sentinel" and the "Environmental Update" will also be asked to report on the project, as it evolves.

Fact Sheets: Fact sheets, announcing public meetings and notices, and information on project implementation, will be provided to parties included on the mailing list.

Central Records Repository: A central records repository will be chosen to maintain copies of project related materials

PUBLIC MEETINGS AND WORKSHOPS

Public meetings and workshops will be conducted to inform the general public of project development, and to invite participation and comments. Public meetings may be held during development of the Final Project Agreement, based on public interest, or as decided by the primary participants.

Elmendorf will meet with members of the three surrounding community councils, AMATS, and other concerned groups to explain in-depth what the project entails and the expected benefit to the local community. This will provide another public forum to address concerns that the general public may have concerning Project XL/ENVVEST process. Elmendorf will compile the questions, comments, and suggestions that arise from these and other public comment forums and provide them to EPA and ADEC. The record of the workshop will also be made available to any workshop participant, upon request.
ADVISORY BOARD

The goal of the Restoration Advisory Board (RAB), created in 1994, is to provide a forum to enhance the communication and coordination among the Air Force, EPA, ADEC, and affected communities in response to actions undertaken by the Environmental Restoration Program at Elmendorf. In addition to providing their own comments, RAB community members re responsible fore gathering and communicating to the board any specific concerns from their communities about proposals or projects under consideration. Elmendorf briefs all important environmental issues to the RAB. The RAB is effectively functioning as a Community Advisory Board (CAB).

ELMENDORF POINT OF CONTACT

The central point of contact for the Elmendorf ENVVEST initiative is Valerie Payne, Air Quality Program Manager, at (907) 552-9677.

DOD: Elmendorf Air Force Base

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