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Vandenberg Air Force Base (AFB)
Public Participation Process
ENVVEST
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROCESS
VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
30 CES/CEV
SEPTEMBER 1996
The CAC consists of two community appointees designated by each Air
District board member.
Another existing community advisory committee
will be asked to participate in Project ENVVEST water initiative: the
Santa Barbara County Community Toxic Advisory Committee to Santa Barbara
County Fire Department.
Involvement of Representatives of a Broad Spectrum of Community
Organizations
VAFB desires to establish on-going dialogue with a broad spectrum of the
community for the duration of Project ENVVEST. It is desirable that the
same individuals continue their involvement so that the Project can be
evaluated at regular intervals for measuring progress toward milestones
and for suggestions on any adjustments that may be necessary.
Therefore, representatives of a broad spectrum of organization in the
vicinity of VAFB and throughout the County will be invited to participate.
These individuals will be considering both air and water initiatives,
either together or separately as the schedules for the initiatives dictate.
Involvement of the Broader Public
The media will be requested to commit to providing the public with knowledge
that Project ENVVEST has been initiated at VAFB and information about
the Project as it develops.
Second, the following entities will be contacted, introduced to Project
ENVVEST, and invited to participate in its development:
County city managers' meeting
County cit council representatives' meeting
each city council or pertinent city council committee
County chambers of commerce
local service clubs
Third, the following individuals known to have an interest in VAFB's Project
ENVVEST will be personally contacted:
each member of the District Air Board
each local legislator's office
Marc Chytilo of Environmental Defense Center
COLAB
local environmental organizations
Santa Ynez Tribal Elders Council
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION DURING NEGOTIATION OF THE FPA
Copies of the first draft of the FPA will be distributed to each interested
entity or person listed above, as they are contacted.
Sixth, VAFB will offer to send the final negotiated FPA to all above entities
which so request, to broaden public comment on the FPA.
Involvement of community boards during negotiation of the FPA
The three existing community boards identified above, the RAB, CAC, and
CTAC, will be asked to take part in the development of the FPA.
Such boards may wish to establish ENVVEST subcommittees and/or additional
members/some members of these boards may choose to participate in the
ENVVEST process as individuals. It is especially hoped that members of
these boards who live near VAFB will participate in the ENVVEST process.
Those members representing the boards in the ENVVEST process will receive
information and be asked to provide feedback during critical times in
the negotiation of the FPA for VAFB's Project ENVVEST. Critical times
include deciding on the elements of the FPA and breaking the FPA into
sections. Thus, these existing community boards will not take part in
the negotiation of the FPA, but they will be involved with its development.
[Insert calendar of board meetings.]
Member of each board will be asked to attend the workshop described below.
During the break-out sessions, a member from each of these board will
be asked to meet with each break-out group to speed the learning curve
of the invited community representatives. For the same reason, invited
community representatives at the work shop will be encouraged to contact
board members after the workshop to answer any later questions they may
have or refer them to the appropriate contact person.
Public workshop
Representatives from approximately one hundred organizations will be invited
to participate in development of the FPA. These representatives will be
asked to commit to attend two events:
1) a bus tour of the relevant parts of VAFB so that they can see the environment
under discussion and begin to formulate questions and concerns, and
2) a half-day workshop on ENVVEST.
Along with the invitation, information packets will be included, explaining
vocabulary and concepts necessary to understand the air quality and water
quality ENVVEST initiatives as well as copies of these initiatives. As
provided above, these community representatives will also receive copies
of the draft FPA.
There will be an announcement of this workshop in the media, and any interested
member of the public who makes a reservation for the workshop can attend.
At the workshop, there will be presentations by the US EPA, the SBCAPCD,
and the CCRWQCB. Following these presentations, participants will break
into about eleven small discussion groups, each comprised of individuals
in the following categories:
residents & workers
environmental organizations
trade organizations
community organizations
elected officials
agency personnel
economic development associations
As mentioned above, a RAB, CAC, and CTAC board member will be asked to
meet with each small group to speed the learning curve of the invited
community representatives.
During the break-out sessions, US EPA, the SBCAPCD, and the CCRWQCB representatives
will make themselves available as questions are directed to them by the
break-out groups.
The questions, comments, and suggestions for the FPA of each small discussion
group will be recorded, compiled, and provided to US EPA, SBCAPCD, and
CCRWQCB as a complete, unedited record of the questions, suggestions,
and concerns expressed at the workshop.
VAFB will commit to finding answers for any questions remaining unanswered
at the end of the workshop. A record of such questions and responses shall
be attached to the final FPA.
Board representatives and interested individual members will be asked
to provide their background and experience in air or water quality issues
to answer questions raised by community representatives after the workshop.
VAFB will provide copies of later drafts of the FPA to each participant
at the workshop who requests them on a sign-up sheet at the exit from
the workshop.
The record of the workshop will be made available to any workshop participant
who requests it.
Notification and education of the broader public
VAFB will palace an ad in the major newspaper in the Lompoc Record, the
Santa Maria Times, and the Santa Barbara News-Press notifying the public
of its intent to develop a FPA with US EPA, the SBCAPCD, and the CCRWQCB.
The public will be invited to request inclusion on a mailing list for
information on ENVVEST.
This notice, any news releases, and articles on VAFB ENVVEST will be provided
to SBCAPCD, USEPA and CCRWQCB for their review prior to release.
A presentation/questions-answer session with the media will be held to
acquaint the media with Project ENVVEST. VAFB will ask the media to commit
to publicize notices of board meetings at which Project ENVVEST will be
an agenda item, the public workshop with invited community representatives,
and other meetings which the broader public might desire to attend relating
to Project ENVVEST.
The media will be provided with background on the project description,
the intended stakeholder involvement process, and contact information
for VAFB, US EPA, SBCAPCD, CCRWQCB, and other regulatory agencies.
Second, the previously-listed community entities other than the three
community boards will be contacted within a week of the notice of intent
to develop an FPA, with respects for agenda time for VAFB, SBCAPCD and,
if they can attend, the USEPA and CCRWQCB. These presentations will provide
an introduction to VAFB's Project ENVVEST initiatives, so that questions
or comments raised by constituents can be intelligently addressed.
Third, the listed individuals known to have an interest in VAFB's Project
ENVVEST will be personally contacted within a week of the above notice
of intent to arrange for appointments for representatives of VAFB to discuss
any concerns they may have.
Fourth, VAFB will draft articles understandable tot he public and request
editorials on ENVVEST and what it means to the community quarterly, to
appear in local newspapers.
Fifth, VAFB will contact local radio and television stations and offer
to appear on talk programs quarterly to explain VAFB's Project ENVVEST
and what it means to the community. SBAPCD, USEPA, and CCRWQCB will be
invited to participate in any local radio or television appearances, with
the consent of the station.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION DURING IMPLEMENTATION OF PROJECT ENVVEST
Stakeholder participation in plan for tracking progress
As part of the half-day workshop, representatives from a broad spectrum
of community organizations will be asked for suggestions on tracking and
insuring progress toward milestones, to be drafted into the FPA. These
suggestions will not only be recorded and distributed to the agencies,
but the agencies will have an opportunity to discuss this topic in their
presentations at the beginning of the workshop.
30 day public comment period prior to EPA approval
When US EPA gives notice of its 15-30 day public comment period after
negotiation of both FPA's, stakeholders will be anticipating this further
opportunity for further review and comment. As earlier provided, all of
the above-mentioned organizations, entities, and individuals will receive
copies of the draft FPA. Specific suggestions for tracking and insuring
progress toward milestones can be incorporated into the implementation
phase of Project ENVVEST.
After final project agreement signed
Data tracking progress will continually be made readily available to stakeholders
for independent analysis and evaluation.
All of the above-mentioned organizations, entities, and individuals will
be invited to quarterly meetings tracing progress and verifying such progress
with data summaries. At these quarterly meetings, there will be opportunity
for reevaluation and suggestions for formulating any necessary adjustments
in milestones, time lines, technologies for achieving the emission reduction
goals, and methodologies for verification of those emission reductions.
CHANGES TO PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROCESS
As notification of and dialogue with the public proceeds, it may be necessary
or desirable to make changes in this public participation plan. VAFB reserves
the right to amend this plan accordingly, after consultation with US EPA,
the SBCAPCD, and the SCWQCB.
CONTACT PERSONS ON VAFB'S PROJECT ENVVEST
VAFB:
Nedra DeLama
Public Affairs
Environmental Manager's Office
(805) 734-8232 x6-2071
US EPA:
Sara Segal
Federal Facilities Coordinator
(415) 744-1569
SBCAPCD:
Terry Dressler
Manager of Regulatory Compliance Division
(805) 961-8929
CCRWQCB:
Michael Higgins, Associate Engineer
(805) 542-4649