Community Representation and Risk Management at BRAC Facilities. L. G. Cain and J. N. Skibinski, SAIC, 1710 Goodridge Drive, McLean, VA
Community representation is a key component that must continually be monitored by risk managers at Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) facilities. Not only is this is a requirement under CERCLA and an expectation by regulating authorities (especially USEPA), it is also an important governing principle of our representative society that should not be forgotten. Under the BRAC process, additional representation of the community is explicitly mandated in the formation of the Local Reuse Authority (LRA) under the appointment of the local government. Problems can arise, however, in the variable response of local communities, which may range from indifferent to passionate from one location to another. Risk-based cleanup goals focused on the most realistic perceived future land uses can kindle community fear that the government (and in particular the military) is up to no good. In other cases, the notion that unrealistic land uses were considered in the risk assessment is met with utter disbelief. This presentation will focus on some of the issues that risk assessors and risk managers should be aware of to better serve the needs of the community. The dilemma for the community and the risk managers alike is that needs often differ distinctly from one place to another. The risk assessor and risk manager must maintain a constant balance between the needs of the local community and the consistent use of health-based studies, regulations, and other broader State or Federal requirements.
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