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Community Relations Plan, August 1999
Section 1 - Introduction
This Community Relations Plan (CRP) describes a program for the involvement of the local community in the process of environmental activities at Camp Stanley Storage Activity (CSSA). It focuses on environmental work being conducted under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).
This plan outlines the process of community involvement, document availability, and public comment opportunities throughout the investigation and remediation process. The plan helps provide the widest possible dissemination of information regarding installation restoration activities at CSSA. Further information about this plan can be obtained by contacting Lt. Colonel Ernest N. Roberson, Jr., CSSA Commander. The Public Affairs Officer from Fort Sam Houston, Mr. Phil Reidinger, supports Lt. Colonel Roberson, Jr. with responding to inquiries from the public.
This CRP is consistent with federal and state guidance for implementing community relations efforts and is updated, as needed, throughout the environmental restoration process. The restoration processes will be collectively referred to as the "environmental program" throughout the remainder of the CRP.
Section 1003 of RCRA states that its objectives are "to promote the protection of human health and the environment and to conserve valuable materials and energy resources by assuring that hazardous waste management practices are conducted in a manner which protects human health and the environment". The Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments (HSWA) to RCRA requires owners and operators of facilities that generate, transport, store, or dispose of hazardous materials to clean up contamination resulting from present and past practices. These clean up activities are known as corrective actions.
One method of formalizing a clean-up action is by issuing an administrative order requiring corrective action. On May 5, 1999, the EPA issued the Camp Stanley Administrative Order on Consent. This consent order, proceeding under Section 3008(h) of RCRA, was the result of several findings. CSSA was defined as a generator, storer, and transporter of corrosive hazardous waste in the Notification of Hazardous Waste Activities that was submitted to the EPA on September 18, 1980. On November 19, 1980, CSSA submitted Part A of its permit application and identified that, at that time, it treated, stored, or disposed of hazardous wastes by operation of a surface impoundment and tank storage for hazardous waste exhibiting characteristics of reactivity and from non-specific sources.
The administrative order sets out the RCRA requirements and time frames for the CSSA corrective action process. A key component to this process is to inform the public of the issues and remediation alternatives, and to solicit their input. Appendix A provides an overview of the Corrective Action Process, the required documents, and the associated public involvement activities.