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Memorandum of Agreement

Introduction

The Great Lakes Mid-Atlantic Center (GLMAC) for Hazardous Substance Research provides independent scientific expertise to communities with hazardous substance contamination problems. The expertise is provided through the Technical Outreach Services for Communities (TOSC) program at Michigan State University. The TOSC program facilitates community involvement in environmental decision making through educational and technical assistance services, and is funded under a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

TOSC program services seek to build community understanding of site contamination problems and thereby empower citizens and local government to participate more effectively in the decision making process. In the program's view, educational opportunity is key to that empowerment. Working collaboratively with citizens, TOSC faculty design educational workshops that address key questions and concerns.

A number of Ashland-area organizations and citizens requested TOSC program assistance concerning the Ashland Waterfront Site and seek technical assistance regarding the laws and regulations governing the site cleanup, the environmental impact of the contamination, ecological and human health impacts, risk assessment, cleanup options, long-term concerns, and economic and cultural impacts of the cleanup. The GLMAC proposes to work in partnership with Ashland-area citizens to provide technical expertise as per the below agreement.

Agreement

This Memorandum of Agreement is between the Ashland Bayfield County/League of Women Voters (ABC/LWV) and GLMAC, and will serve to state the principles and nature of our collaborative efforts. This Memorandum of Agreement is not legally binding.

Scope of Services

GLMAC is entering into this agreement with the understanding that the ABC/LWV is seeking:
  • Educational and information workshop(s) addressing site characterization and remediation; and concepts related to risks associated with contaminated sites and risk assessment (a more detailed description is included in the "Proposal for Technical Services -Ashland Waterfront Project")


  • Review of technical documents related to site investigation, including sampling, analysis and characterization of on-site and off-site contamination.


  • Review and comment on clean-up options

    The GLMAC and its representatives will provide impartial technical assistance and expertise to the community to meet the needs of the community detailed above. The information will be avaliable for community access at the Vaughn Library, the Sigurd Olsen Environmental Institute, the Green Onion Resource Center, and the Red Cliff and Bad River Tribal Offices.

    GLMAC and its representatives will remain outside of any decision-making processes and will maintain a position of non-advocacy. Any comments made by the GLMAC and the TOSC program are to be seen as advisory and provided as information that citizens may use in their decision making. This technical assistance will not supersede nor interpret federal, state, or local laws and regulations, and assistance provided cannot be considered legal advice.

    The ABC/LWV will:
  • Encourage public participation in planning sessions for TOSC programs;


  • promote, host, and sponsor public meetings in its discretion; and


  • serve as facilitator for public participation and discussion in information meetings regarding the Ashland Lakefront contamination site, as appropriate.


Every six months, the ABC/LWV is willing to serve as a liason among TOSC and responsible government agencies.

Project Evaluation

Every six months, the partnership between the Ashland-area citizens and GLMAC will be evaluated using the following criteria:
  • Value of information provided by TOSC
  • Timeliness of information provided by TOSC
  • Ease with which information was utilized by community
  • Interest of the community in participating with TOSC

Project Duration

The approximate duration of technical assistance shall be for one year's worth of service, even if that takes longer than one calendar year, with the project start date of July 1999. Extension the agreement after one year's service is possible if both parties agree in writing. This agreement can be terminated at any time before the anticipated end date by written request of either party. Reasons for project termination should be included in the termination request in order for both parties to evaluate the effectiveness of the services provided and to improve future attempts at similar agreements.

If at any time during the duration of the agreement ABC/LWV is not satisfied with the work of TOSC, contact should be made with the Director of Technology Transfer and Training, Dr. Thomas Voice, by calling him at 1-800-490-3890.

________________________/Date: ____________

Kathy Allen for the ABC/LWV

________________________/Date: ____________

Kirk S. Riley for TOSC

This Agreement was signed on September 26, 1999 by both Kirk Riley and Kathy Allen.

The Midwest Hazardous Substance Research Center, Michigan State University.
Please contact us if you have any comments or questions.