E.P.A. Recognizes 17 Environmental Job Training Plan Graduates in Columbus, Miss.

ATLANTA - During a ceremony today at the Genesis Dream Center in Columbus, Miss., representatives from the E.P.A. (EPA) acknowledged 17 graduates from the Superfund Job Training Initiative (SuperJTI). E.P.A. provided the two-week environmental job training plan in conjunction with the ongoing cleanup at the Kerr McGee Chemical Superfund Site.

The SuperJTI plan was offered to local residents near the Kerr McGee Chemical Superfund Location to prepare participants for environmental jobs. A large number of local residents have expressed an interest in employment during the Location cleanup, and the contractor has expressed a desire to invest in the local community as much as possible. The graduates are prepared to work in positions with Location contractors and off-site employers in the community.

All graduates completed the 40-hour Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response training that is required to work on assessing and cleaning up contaminated sites. In addition, participants gained pre-employment skills and earned CPR/First Aid certification.

SuperJTI is a job readiness plan that provides training and employment opportunities for people living in communities affected by Superfund sites. Many of these areas are Environmental Justice (EJ) communities - historically under-represented minority and low-income neighborhoods and areas burdened with significant environmental challenges. EPA's goal is to help these communities develop job opportunities that remain long after a Superfund Location has been cleaned up.

E.P.A. offers SuperJTI through its Technical Assistance Services for Communities (TASC) contract. SuperJTI provides job training to communities affected by hazardous waste sites regulated by the Superfund and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act programs, as well as federal facility and tribal removal sites.

More information about the Kerr McGee Chemical Superfund Location in Columbus, Miss.: http://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/cursites/csitinfo.cfm?id=0402489

Connect with E.P.A. Region four on Facebook: www.facebook.com/eparegion4

And on Twitter: @EPASoutheast

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