Project Team

Bill Bechen, Incoming Principal
London School, Cottage Grove

Laurie Briggs, Principal
London School, Cottage Grove

Alanna Conley, EPA Community Involvement Coordinator
Region 10, Black Butte Mine

Melissa Dreyfus, EPA Headquarters
Superfund Community Involvement Program

Corey Fisher, Trainee
OSU SRP Community Engagement Core

Naomi Hirsch, Coordinator
OSU SRP Research Translation Core

Molly Kile, Co-Leader
OSU SRP Community Engagement Core

Kira Lynch, EPA Science and Technology Liaison
Region 10

Richard Muza, EPA Remedial Project Manager
Region 10, Black Butte Mine

Diana Rohlman, Coordinator
OSU SRP Community Engagement Core

Dave Stone, Co-Leader
OSU SRP Research Translation Core

Black Butte Mine Education Partnership

Background

Regional map of the Black Butte Mine Superfund Site.

In early 2013, the EPA Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation began a pilot of the Partners in Technical Assistance Program (PTAP), to expand opportunities for cooperation between EPA and colleges, universities or nonprofits with the shared goal of assessing and addressing the unmet technical assistance needs of communities impacted by Superfund sites.

PTAP launched the first project with a school located near the Black Butte Mine Superfund Site in rural Cottage Grove, Oregon.

How We Got Started

The first PTAP pilot project began in late 2013 as a collaboration between the EPA, the London School in Cottage Grove, OR, and the Superfund Research Program at Oregon State University to institute a K-8 curriculum to educate students about mercury in the environment and the effects of mercury on human health.

Laurie Briggs, principal of the London School, stands next to the school bell.

Listen to Laurie Briggs, Principal of London School in rural Cottage Grove, share about how the project got started.

The London School is a long-time fixture in the community and hosts events that draw several generations of families in the community, many of whom are also alumni of the school.

 

 

Goals for this project

  • Delineate project roles and maintain communication through monthly meetings (in person or via conference calls).

  • Address community and educational needs.

    • Address the history of the mine.

    • Address mercury contamination.

    • Put together a package of project-based hands-on instruction, inquiry-based curriculum.

    • Enhance/showcase STEM careers.

    • Serve as a model for other rural, small schools.

    • Incorporate state standards.

    • Discuss ways to educate the students and community and expand and build a sustainable partnership..

  • Provide training opportunities for SRP Trainees wanting outreach experience.