For Release: Tuesday, March 17, 2009
DEC Engages Public with Onondaga Lake Bottom Cleanup
Citizen Participation Plan Finalized, Community Participation Working Group Being Formed
Dynamic, committed members of the Onondaga Lake community are needed to serve on a Community Participation Working Group (CPWG), New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Regional Director Kenneth Lynch announced today. The purpose of the CPWG is to provide for community involvement in the cleanup of Onondaga Lake throughout all phases of the multi-year remedial design and construction process so that the public is informed and has opportunities to contribute information, opinions, perspectives and recommendations about the program.
The CPWG will be a volunteer group consisting of citizens, public officials, community leaders, and conservation and environmental leaders from the communities surrounding Onondaga Lake. It will take a broad overall look at Onondaga Lake remediation issues and community outreach activities and recommend opportunities for the community to contribute and receive information. It will be assisted, on an as needed basis, by technical experts from the DEC and Honeywell. Feedback from the CPWG will be received by the technical design team for the lake cleanup, which will evaluate and consider it throughout the design process.
The DEC will appoint approximately 9-11 members to a lead CPWG. Members will be selected based on individual interest, knowledge and experience regarding Onondaga Lake. Strong consideration will be given to a CPWG membership that is diversely represented geographically and with varied perspectives and backgrounds. Individuals must be committed to participating in approximately 4-6 meetings per year, though the actual meeting schedule will be determined by the CPWG membership. Member term limits and specific CPWG methods of operation will be determined autonomously by the appointed CPWG members.
Individuals interested in serving on the CPWG should submit a letter of interest detailing their background, interest, knowledge and experience regarding Onondaga Lake, either electronically to reg7info@gw.dec.state.ny.us or by mail to NYSDEC Region 7, Division of Public Affairs, 615 Erie Boulevard West, Syracuse, NY 13204-2400 by April 14, 2009.
The creation of a Community Participation Working Group is a key component of the newly finalized Citizen Participation Plan for the Onondaga Lake Bottom Subsite Remedial Design Program (CPP). The CPP provides a formal, yet flexible plan for communication with the public and identifies specific community outreach and participation activities. The goals of the CPP are to provide communications and dialogue with the public that are open, transparent and proactive; to provide multiple opportunities for dissemination of information to the public; and to outline ways for interested stakeholders to participate in discussions and/or participation groups on the design and construction of remediation activities.
The Citizen Participation Plan and other information on the Onondaga Lake cleanup are available on the DEC website (www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/37558.html). On this web page, you can also sign up to receive occasional project information, updates and public meeting announcements concerning the remediation of the Onondaga Lake Bottom site and associated upland sites via email.
