COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PLAN FINALIZED

The partner agencies have prepared and completed the Community Involvement Plan (CIP) for the Lower Passaic River Restoration Project and Newark Bay Study. In the Fall of 2005, a draft of the CIP was released for public review and comment. After a thorough review of the public comments received, the draft CIP was revised to respond to those comments. It completes the circle of public/agency interaction and creates a blueprint for public involvement over the life of the project.

Click here for the Final Community Involvement Plan (Due to the large size of the file, downloading may take a few minutes).

The commitment of the partner agencies to active and open public involvement forms the basis of this document. The CIP provides a toolbox of options for keeping the public informed and for soliciting input. As a living document for a dynamic project, the CIP will be reviewed annually, and updated as needed to reflect project progress and changes to community needs, concerns, issues, and contacts. Copies of the CIP in both hard and CD versions are available at the following information repositories established for the project:

U.S. EPA Records Center
290 Broadway, 18th floor
New York, New York 10007
Hours: Mon. – Fri.: 9AM – 4 PM
Phone: (212) 637-3000

Newark Public Library
NJ Reference Section
5 Washington Street
Newark, NJ 07101
Hours: Mon., Fri., Sat.: 9AM – 5:30PM
Tues., Wed., Thurs.: 9AM – 8:30PM
Phone: (201) 733-7775

Elizabeth Public Library
11 South Broad Street
Elizabeth, NJ 07202
Hours: Mon – Fri.: 9AM – 9PM
Sat.: 9AM – 5PM
Phone: (908) 354-6060

For more information about the CIP or public involvement, contact:
David Kluesner, Public Affairs
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Phone: (212) 637-3653
Fax: (212) 637-4445
Email: kluesner.dave@epa.gov

Public Scoping Meeting:   In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Corps and NJDOT intend to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the ecosystem restoration portion of the joint study. A public scoping meeting will be held in Fall 2007 to introduce the public to the EIS, show results of sampling, discuss future vision of project area and get feedback on ecosystem restoration efforts to date. To see the Notice of Intent, Click Here

Public Forum Summaries - Draft Community Involvement Plan

Click Here to read the summaries of project presentations, discussions and questions and answers that took place at the public forums held on September 14, 2005 in Rutherford, New Jersey and September 15, 2005, in Newark , New Jersey.

View the slide presentation given at the public forums Click Here (Due to the large size of the file, downloading may take a few minutes).

Taking the Pulse of Communities – Community Input to Guide Development of Community Involvement Plan:   From December 2004 through February 2005, the partner agencies conducted a series of Community Interviews as part of the public involvement process for the Lower Passaic River Restoration Project and Newark Bay Study. Click Here to read the entire article. For a Summary Report of Community Interview Notes click here to read the Report.

Second Passaic River Symposium - 2006 @ Montclair State University: The Passaic River Institute at Montclair University and Hudson-Delaware Chapter of the Society for Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry held a "Progress and Challenges" symposium on October 13, 2006. For information about the program, including copies of some of the lectures, click here.

Passaic River Symposium - 2004 @ Montclair State University: The Passaic River Institute at Montclair State University and New Jersey Department of Transportation held their "Who's Doing What" symposium on June 9, 2004. To view information about the program, including copies of some of the lectures click here

Posted: 6/17/04