Hazardous Substance Research Centers/South & Southwest

Site description
The Alsen community of East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, has approximately 15 industrial manufacturing facilities within a three-mile radius. Currently, a Type I, II, and III solid waste non-hazardous landfill has been proposed by Louisiana Land Systems to be sited within 3 miles of the city. The community feels overburdened by the surrounding industry and contamination, and feel that through education they will be better able to articulate their concerns.

Summary of assistance (through September, 2005)

TOSC has worked in the Alsen community for a number of years, but only more recently with the Alsen Environmental Justice Community Organization. TOSC's contact with this organization was initiated by a representative from LDEQ who knew of the community's interest in funding opportunities. TOSC has provided the community group with information on various funding opportunities and the group was awarded an EPA Environmental Justice Hazardous Substance Research Small Grant (EJ Grant) that TOSC assisted with. TOSC assisted the community early on in implementing this project in their community, as well as identifying the role TOSC would play in assisting the community with analyzing data and providing workshop training on various environmental issues identified by their project. TOSC assisted the community in obtaining services for data analysis in their EPA Environmental Justice small grant, and assisted with developing a newsletter to inform the community about the project and upcoming dates and events associated with carrying out the project.

In July 2004, TOSC gave a small presentation to approximately 25 children attending the Alsen Environmental Justice Youth Camp. TOSC provided worksheets and focused on environmental justice and general environmental awareness issues. The children also participated in a hands-on demonstration illustrating soil permeability and the movement of contaminants in soil.

TOSC has also provided this group with information and a presentation on a site in its area that was proposed for the National Priorities List (NPL), Devils Swamp Lake, and its implications to the community as a whole.

The Alsen community contacted TOSC to assist with increasing public participation in the organizationÕs work addressing environmental issues within the community. To help with this, the community wanted a workshop to revisit the fundamentals of environmental justice: "Understanding the Basics of Environmental Justice and EJ in Brownfields Redevelopment" was presented in April of 2007. TOSC will give a presentation to the Alsen Environmental Justice Youth Camp on June 27, 2007 focused around learning about landfills, and is in discussions about workshops to educate the community about Brownfields Redevelopment.