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NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION 2 290 BROADWAY NEW YORK, NY 10007-1866

Jul 27 2000 Dear Concerned Citizen:

On November 20, 1999, EPA Region 2 and the Department of Justice hosted an enforcement workshop at the Brooklyn Law School. The workshop was entitled "Enforcing Environnieni,al Law in New York City - A Workshop for Communities." The workshop was held in fulfilln4ent of a commitment we made at the March 6, 1999 White House Council on Environmental Quality forum on environmental justice in New' York City. Workshop feedback from citizens. environmental justice and community groups included a request for a community role in government's program priority setting process. At the workshop. I committed to EPA hosting a meeting during the summer of 2000 to solicit and incorporate public feedback, where appropriate, for EPA Region 2's program priorities for the five Boroughs of New York City beginning October 1, 2000. Subsequently, community leaders have requested that I hold the meeting in September in order to avoid summer vacation schedule conflicts and maximize public participation.

I am pleased to invite you to participate in a September 14, 2000 public meeting to be held at the EPA Region 2 NYC Office at 290 Broadway, Room 27A, from 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. While EPA will accept public comments during the meeting, I encourage you to send your written suggested EPA program priorities for the five Boroughs of New York City to EPA before the meeting. Public comments on suggested program priorities may be sent to EPA, in writing, up until September 30, 2000.

Following the public meeting, a training session will be provided on how the public can access EPA's "Envirofacts" and other EPA Internet based information systems to obtain inspection, enforcement, permit. and other data. "Envirofacts" is an environmental warehouse of information which the public can access on-line as an alternative to submitting written requests to EPA for facility information under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The EPA Internet site address for "Envirofacts" is: www.epa.gov/enviro/indexJava.html

I would also like to take this opportunity to tell you about EPA Region 2's improved process for public filing of citizen complaints. I had previously announced at the enforcement workshop EPA Region 2's new e-mail account for filing of citizen complaints: R2EPA.HELP2EPA.GOV I have also designated Mr. Joseph A. Clore of my staff as the single point of contact for handling EPA Region 2 citizen complaints. You may reach Mr. Clore by phone at: 212-637-4040. Written complaints are encouraged and may be sent to: Mr. Joseph A. Clore, Citizen Complaint

Internet Address (URL) . http://www,epa.gov Recycled/Recyclable . Pnnled with Vegelable Oil Based Inks on Recycled Paper (Minimum 30% Postconsumer)

NYC-WTC 000137612