Henry C. Topper, PhD, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (7406), U.S.Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington, DC 20460, 202-564-8534, topper.henry@epa.gov

Recent studies have confirmed air toxics as a significant contributor to community risk. But community efforts to understand and address this concern have been hampered by the lack of adequate information on air risks at the community level. A recent community study of risk in the Chelsea area of Boston identified this lack of data at the local level as a key finding. In response to this need, the Environmental Protection Agency has taken some steps to develop tools and resources to help communities identify and address air toxic risks at the local level. This presentation will discuss these tools and resources and explain how they can be used in communities. A summary of current efforts sponsored by EPA to address community air toxics will also be presented. Tools discussed will include the recently published Community Air Screening How To Manual, the Design for Environment Program in the community setting, and a Community Pollution Prevention Resource Notebook, a collection of community pollution prevention fact sheets for small sources. The Community Air Screening Manual is a step-by-step guide to help a community partnership identify all sources, estimate aggregate concentrations from all sources in community air, and use risk information to prioritize these concentrations and sources. This Manual allows a community to turn existing data into practical, community specific risk information needed to set clear community priorities.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session the participant will be able to

• Identify the tools and resources developed by the Environmental Protection Agency to help communities understand and reduce risks from air toxics
• Explain and use the tools and resources to reduce risk in a community partnership
• Participate in and assist a community effort to reduce risks from air toxics

Keywords: Air Quality, Community

Related Web page: www.epa.gov/opptintr/cahp/catt.html

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: U.S.Environmental Protection Agency
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Senior staff