FOCUS GROUP has developed a series of fact sheets on key topics such as Transporting Low Level Radioactive Waste, an Overview of the Decommissioning Process, the History of Plum Brook Station, the Environmental Assessment Process and Results, a Summary of Successful Decommissioning projects, Protecting Public Health and Worker Safety, environmental Monitoring, and segmentation activities. Recently, Focus Group developed a fact sheet on the results of offsite sampling which found low levels of radiation in a brook adjacent to the facility. Additional Fact Sheets will be developed in response to stakeholder information needs.

FOCUS GROUP developed a stakeholder involvement process to facilitate dialogue between NASA and the surrounding community members on decommissioning.  Based on extensive community interviews, FOCUS GROUP recruited, facilitates, and oversees a Community Workgroup that meets with NASA throughout the decommissioning process.  The purpose of the Workgroup is to serve as a vehicle for NASA to disseminate information to the community, provide a vehicle for NASA to learn of community questions and concerns, and to get input and feedback on NASA’s plans for decommissioning.  FOCUS GROUP developed an initial list of objectives and ground- rules to obtain participant buy-in and facilitates the quarterly meetings.  The Workgroup has been highly complimentary of NASA and its Community Involvement Program and has stated that these efforts have increased the trust of the community in NASA’s ability to successfully decommission the Reactor Facility.  This credibility and close working relationship between NASA and Workgroup members has proved extremely valuable to NASA given recent findings of low levels of radiation found offsite.

To “kick-off” the community outreach process, FOCUS GROUP planned and assisted in implementing an Open House of Plum Brook Station.  Over 4300 community members from all the surrounding communities attended the one-day event.  A series of displays on Decommissioning and model of the Reactor Facility were used to introduce the public to NASA’s plans for decommissioning.  FOCUS GROUP developed the press releases, PSA’s and newspaper advertisements as well as letters to near-by neighbors and key officials and stakeholders.  The public Open House was preceded by a Media Tour which FOCUS GROUP planned and helped implement.  Both events were highly successful as evidenced by the Open House feedback sheets developed and summarized by FOCUS GROUP and the resultant news coverage.  The Open House was followed by a Community Information Session which focused solely on decommissioning and which also had a successful turnout and response.  FOCUS GROUP has also successfully planned, created materials and facilitated annual Community Information Sessions on the decommissioning project, which consistently receive high marks from the public.  These sessions have helped to create an atmosphere of openness and trust, and facilitated positive dialog between NASA and other technical staff and area residents. FOCUS GROUP’s Community Relations efforts are helping NASA to maintain its project schedule and have minimized fear and confusion over the transport of hazardous and radioactive waste even following increased concerns over terrorism and concerns over the discovery of offsite contamination.

The FOCUS GROUP Approach

Research and Strategic Planning:
Relevant background information was used to prepare questionnaires for a series of community interviews, and to determine potential "tough questions".  Information from the interviews was used to develop a Community Relations Plan for the decommissioning process.  The comprehensive plan describes key stakeholders, information needs and the timing and techniques for various communication activities.  The plan was prepared to be consistent with the objectives of NASA Glenn:  to provide an ongoing source of information; maintain trust and credibility with the surrounding communities, and to avoid any negative public reaction to the process; and provide mechanisms for the community to give NASA input to their decision-making process.  FOCUS GROUP conducted subsequent interviews and a series of community wide focus groups to evaluate the effectiveness of the outreach program and to help guide future activities.

Training:
Dr. Santos conducted several Introductory Risk Communication Training courses for NASA Glenn management, project, environmental, health and safety and public affairs staff and contractor staff.  In addition, Dr. Santos conducted a training session for NASA Headquarters staff in Washington DC.   Introductory training focused on the basic principles of Risk Communication including the risk communication planning process, identifying stakeholders/audiences and their concerns, understanding risk perception, the importance of trust and credibility, working with the media, planning for public meetings, and development of effective messages. 

FOCUS GROUP is also providing ongoing media training for key NASA spokespersons and has conducted media, crisis and risk communication training seminars for preparing NASA, USACE, Argonne National Labs, the NRC, Ohio Department of Health and contractor staff for a variety of stakeholder forums.  The training and public meeting preparation sessions are highly interactive and focus on giving participants the critical skills needed for communicating sensitive and technical information.
 
Community Relations, Outreach and Meeting Preparation:
FOCUS GROUP is providing the full range of Community Relations support throughout the decommissioning process including:

• Preparing Newsletters and Brochures
• Developing Public Notices and Press Releases
• Developing Displays for use at Outreach and Information Sessions
• Preparing for and Conducting Community Information Sessions.
• Preparing Fact Sheets
• Conducting Facility Media, Community Workgroup and Community Open House        Tours
• Forming and Facilitating a Community Workgroup
• Providing Assistance in Preparing all Public Presentations and “Prepping” Speakers
• Establishing and Maintaining a Community Information Bank
• Establishing and Maintaining a Telephone Call-in Line to Provide Project Updates and Allow for Questions and Comments
• Developing the Content for a Project-specific Website and Updating Content
• Developing a Newspaper Supplement on the Project to over 30,000 Local Newspapers Distributed in the Area
• Developing a Project Video and a series of PowerPoint Narrated Presentation

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