Public Relations By Brianna Chris Michael
-Mixed public reaction(some concern)
-GZA & NG are involving community
-People can learn more about it with sources
-Volunteering
-GZA & NG are involving community
-People can learn more about it with sources
-Volunteering
The public's reactions to what is going on with the Tidewater Site at first sight seems like it is pretty controlled. The director of the International Charter School across the street from the Tidewater Site wrote National Grid a letter. Some of the people that live around the tidewater site area have many concerns about what chemical and substances are in the Tidewater Site. The way that GeoEnvironmental, inc (GZA) and National Grid is putting out information it makes most of the public feel safe and okay In reality they're making seem like not a big deal. In one of the pamphlets GZA put together it says basic information and not what's really going on.They're not going in depth about the problems with the Tidewater Site to keep the community calm.
To keep the public informed different groups including GZA and National Grid have hosted community meetings talking about what's going on with the Tidewater Site. They also put pamphlet that has information about the Tidewater site and gives details about where to email them and a mailing list. Also another way they're putting information about the Tidewater Site on news Articles. On the news Articles they have interviews about people telling their experience with the Tidewater Site. They’re also planning to install an informational bulletin boards at the ends of the Tidewater Site.
Members of the Public can do many things to learn more about the Tidewater Site. For example they can demand more information to the GZA and national grid. Another example is that they can host another community meeting and actually invite people from all over the city. Or they can also take matters into their own hand and research the Tidewater Site by themselves.
Members of the public can get involved in the Tidewater site by volunteering to help clean up the Tidewater Site with appropriate gear. Doing a little more research and giving more information to the public that can really be helpful to the community as well as stir things up so that a change will come at a more aggressive pace.
To keep the public informed different groups including GZA and National Grid have hosted community meetings talking about what's going on with the Tidewater Site. They also put pamphlet that has information about the Tidewater site and gives details about where to email them and a mailing list. Also another way they're putting information about the Tidewater Site on news Articles. On the news Articles they have interviews about people telling their experience with the Tidewater Site. They’re also planning to install an informational bulletin boards at the ends of the Tidewater Site.
Members of the Public can do many things to learn more about the Tidewater Site. For example they can demand more information to the GZA and national grid. Another example is that they can host another community meeting and actually invite people from all over the city. Or they can also take matters into their own hand and research the Tidewater Site by themselves.
Members of the public can get involved in the Tidewater site by volunteering to help clean up the Tidewater Site with appropriate gear. Doing a little more research and giving more information to the public that can really be helpful to the community as well as stir things up so that a change will come at a more aggressive pace.
Summary
The Tidewater Site is a location owned by National Grid and is a former Gasification Plant. Gas storage tanks within the site consist of rainwater and various chemicals that release a dangerous pungent odor. The site operated from the late 1880’s through the mid 1970’s to produce gas from coal and oil but resulted in by products such as tars, sludges and oil’s. In 2004 3 youths trespassed onto the Tidewater site, when security on the site was on a low and stole liquid mercury. There was contamination on the site and in an apartment complex where the youths brought the mercury, which led to Southern Union (who owned the property at the time) to be fined 18 million dollars.
Several years later, today Tidewater security has been increased, warning signs in English and Spanish, a chain link fence and the mercury filled jars and tanks were taken off of the site. But still residents of the community have been pushing for more cleanup and community involvement. Some of the communities main concerns are air borne particles that are left behind at the site. Some residents of the area wonder if their selves and their children are safe around the site. No one pays attention to the Tidewater site. Recently public information has been scarce. National grid has kept this quiet. Now a petition in 2012 has prompted National Grid to start a public involvement plan. In January they held a public meeting for public involvement. Although this meeting and project was a big concern to the community, only 20 people arrived and attended the meeting. As well as the lack of participants the concerned people that were there ended up leaving more confused than when they arrived. Their questions still not answered. That has improved some do to National Grid’s latest actions in the meeting with the EJL (Environmental Justice League) and the community. Also National Grid has improved it’s involvement with the community with more public information meetings, one that was held March 27 at Varieur Elementary School. The company has also installed a benzene monitoring device on the Tidewater site and an air monitoring station near it.
Several years later, today Tidewater security has been increased, warning signs in English and Spanish, a chain link fence and the mercury filled jars and tanks were taken off of the site. But still residents of the community have been pushing for more cleanup and community involvement. Some of the communities main concerns are air borne particles that are left behind at the site. Some residents of the area wonder if their selves and their children are safe around the site. No one pays attention to the Tidewater site. Recently public information has been scarce. National grid has kept this quiet. Now a petition in 2012 has prompted National Grid to start a public involvement plan. In January they held a public meeting for public involvement. Although this meeting and project was a big concern to the community, only 20 people arrived and attended the meeting. As well as the lack of participants the concerned people that were there ended up leaving more confused than when they arrived. Their questions still not answered. That has improved some do to National Grid’s latest actions in the meeting with the EJL (Environmental Justice League) and the community. Also National Grid has improved it’s involvement with the community with more public information meetings, one that was held March 27 at Varieur Elementary School. The company has also installed a benzene monitoring device on the Tidewater site and an air monitoring station near it.