Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE)
Postgraduate Research Participant U.S Environmental Protection Agency Region 10
The Community Focused
Exposure and Risk Screening Tool (C-FERST) Supporting communities using EPA Science Tools
Regional Sustainability and Environmental Sciences (RESES)
Research Program
U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA
-Established in 1970 by Executive Order to protect human health and the environment. 10 Regional Offices including headquarters in Washington, DC employing over 17,000 people. Responsible for writing and enforcing regulation based on laws passed by congress. Executive Order (E.O.) 12898 federal actions to address environmental justice.
EPA Region 10 -Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington
RESES Research Program
- RESES research program was initiated to further agency partnership between the Office of Research and Development (ORD), EPA regional offices and communities. It is part of the Sustainable Healthy Communities (SHC) program and Plan EJ 2020 for advancing environmental justice and work with communities.
ORISE Research Participation
- December 2013 EPA Region 10 successfully applies for a RESES research program grant to conduct research on ORD science tools in collaboration with Region 10 communities. In 2014 Region 10 selects an ORISE research participant to conduct a postgraduate training/research project.
1. Contextualizing RESES
The Community Focused Exposure and Risk Screening Tool (C-FERST)
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Beta Version (Under Development)
Web Based Environmental Information and GIS Mapping Tool
Currently under development by US EPA Office of Research and Development (ORD)
Region 10 partners: Tacoma, WA and Portland, OR
Environmental and Demographic Data
Functions Include: Step by Step Guidance, Mapping, Potential Risk and Exposure Reports, Community Data Table, Community Based Solutions
2. Introducing ORD Science Tool
C-FERST
EPA Region 10 RESES Project
Pre-RESES Began in December 2013 The initial EPA Region 10 study location: Tacoma, WA. Included a trial of C-FERST in collaboration with community partners: Evergreen State College Tacoma Campus, Solutions HCE and Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department Using Community values and best available science to identify, understand and analyze potential exposure and risk in the Tacoma area of Pierce County Generating feedback on the tool including technical/data issues, user interface/accessibility and suggestions for meaningful involvement of communities
3. EPA Region 10 C-FERST Study
Location 1 (Tacoma, WA)
EPA Region 10 RESES Project
RESES Project: -Synthesize feedback from Tacoma and develop steps moving forward. -Use C-FERST tool for community based projects in the Portland Harbor area. -Replicate community based participatory research model in Portland, OR
4. EPA Region 10 C-FERST Study
Location 2 (Portland, OR)
Conducting Outreach with
Communities in EPA Region 10 Who have we worked with and what have we accomplished?
Tacoma, WA
Beta Version (Under Development)
Agency staffed interns, resident scientists and other EPA staff worked with community partners to identify community issues
Community partners used C-FERST with local knowledge to explore concerns related to infant mortality, low birth weight and environmental health issues
Evergreen State College Tacoma Campus students and faculty conducted a citizen science project
Evergreen developing a class centered on C-FERST and becoming the trainer for the tool
Beta Testing I
Portland, OR
Beta Version (Under Development)
Beta Version (Under Development)
Beta Version (Under Development)
Working in collaboration with community-based partners to assess C-FERST in
the Portland area Developing community-based participatory research projects
Identifying mutual support structures to implement projects
Generating use cases and best practice for using decision tools at the local level
Beta Testing II
Lessons Learned from
Community Partnerships in EPA Region 10 What are we learning and where are we going?
Feedback in Portland, OR
. . .Never used a tool like this before but overall I am impressed by the ability of anybody, not just a trained college grad, to use the program to find meaningful data The Siskiyou Crest is proposed to become a National monument. I want to see if current land use is crippling the area from an environmental point of view. This (tool) might provide insight into why this area would benefit from becoming a National Monument If it werent for C-FERST I wouldnt even know that mapping programs like this existed. It was helpful to show there are links between demographic, location, pollution and illness Id like to use the tool with my partner to decide where to buy property Many overlays on the map make it look ugly. . .
What we learned. . .
Conclusion The EPA developed CFERST in response to community needs: - Communities, tribes and their respective decision makers need information. However: -There are potential issues, impacts & solutions and not enough experts to evaluate every local situation -Some communities have disproportionate impacts, limited resources and access to information - It is difficult to assess all available info to identify, prioritize, take action on environmental and community health issues C-FERST can: Provide best science for community assessment Promote participation/partnership Support community led programs Further risk identification, prioritization and cumulative assessments Give structure/platform for decision making
Conclusion
Contact:
CFERSTMail@EPA.GOV This research is supported by an appointment to the Research Participation Program for the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Research and Development (ORD) administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) through an interagency agreement between the US Department of Energy (DOE) and the EPA.
