Risk Communication

A key element of successful outcomes of EH&E’s exposure and risk analysis programs is effective communication to the many constituencies that require information throughout the project. For this reason, we have a team of experts in risk communication with extensive experience in effectively disseminating to stakeholders – clients, public, regulatory agencies. These skills range from public media outreach (such as television interviews and printed press releases), to hands-on seminars for clients and stakeholders, to publication in scientific journals. EH&E has a proven track record in establishing credibility with the various groups and supplying understandable and accurate information about complex investigations and issues.

Selected Engagements

Siting Decisions / Public Meetings
On behalf of the Town of Billerica, EH&E prepared and presented an environmental health evaluation of a peaking electric power generation station (the BEC), proposed for North Billerica, MA. The BEC was anticipated to burn natural gas as the primary fuel and ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuel as a back-up fuel. EH&E led a review of the Environmental Impact Report prepared by the proponent and an evaluation of air quality, water quality, noise, safety and greenhouse gas emissions. The air quality analysis focused on the air quality impacts of the project in terms of health risks and magnitude of exposures relative to existing sources. The results were reported in several public meetings hosted by the Town.

At the Center of Communications – PCB Remediation
The University of Massachusetts at Amherst contracted with EH&E to provide oversight when buildings at the Lederle Graduate Research Complex were suspected to have polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in their building materials. EH&E presented the University with recommendations for the proper response to address public and regulatory health issues relating to PCBs in the buildings. EH&E’s preliminary investigation on-site was designed to supplement and expand existing knowledge regarding the presence of building-related PCBs associated with the exterior façade in concentrations that are regulated by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The preliminary investigation program supported an application submitted to the EPA to conduct a building related PCB abatement program. EH&E devised a plan for the Removal and Abatement of Building-related PCBs and developed a Verification Sampling Plan for the Abatement of Building-related PCBs and submitted them to the EPA. EH&E provided full project oversight, with specific emphasis on regular communications within the University, with the community, and local, state and federal regulators. EH&E’s ability to inform and align multiple stakeholder concerns was vital to the success of the remediation process.