White
House Homeland Security Council (HSC) Support
ICF International supported several workgroups
for the White House Homeland Security Council (HSC)
by providing briefing and presentation materials,
draft guidelines, checklists, pamphlets, Web site
text, and other communications materials related
to the HSC message. For the Communications and Public
Affairs subgroup of the Radiological Dispersal Device
workgroup, we developed a fact sheet on public and
federal responsibilities in the event of a radiological
dispersal device (i.e., dirty bomb) incident.
Crisis Communication Services
at Weapons of Mass Destruction Exercises
ICF International develops and conducts weapons
of mass destruction exercises for several states
on behalf of and for various U.S. federal clients.
While each scenario differs to address the client's
needs, crisis communications with the public and
media are typical exercise objectives. For example,
we design "injects" or messages to be
given to the state's Public Information Officer
during the exercise demanding quick responses
about the incident. Messages (or questions) would
be simulated from the news media, the Governor,
concerned citizens, or even the White House. During
the exercise, exercise evaluators assess the Information
Officer's actions against the state's plan.
At-Risk Audience Outreach
Campaign, Lead Awareness Program, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA)
ICF International provided strategic communication
support to the program, which works to reduce
the incidence of high blood levels of lead in
children through educational outreach. We developed
a succinct and memorable public service message
and educational outreach kit to raise public awareness
of the potential for lead poisoning and the availability
of resources to address risks.
ICF International won six
awards for the "Runs Better Unleaded"
campaign, including the Creativity in Public Relations
Award (CIPRA) and MOBIUS Advertising Award. "Runs
Better Unleaded" depicts four multicultural
children in motion on a playground and appeared
in more than 500 Washington, D.C., and Baltimore,
Maryland, metro area buses. ICF International also
developed an educational outreach kit, focusing
on the connection between lead poisoning prevention
and a healthy diet for Women, Infants and Children
(WIC) clinics.
The kit includes a brochure; information sheets
detailing a healthy diet's role in reducing lead
absorption, interim measures individuals can take
to protect the family within the home, and the
importance of screening children's blood-lead
levels; and a materials order form WIC nutritionists
and families could use to obtain additional free
lead poisoning prevention materials produced and
distributed by the EPA.
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Communications
Plans, U.S. Army Soldier, Biological and Chemical
Command, Natick, Massachusetts
ICF International provided the U.S. Army with a full
range of community relations and regulatory agency
negotiation support— including plans, community
outreach, newsletters, public meetings and presentations,
mailings, and assistance with media coverage. In
communicating with the public, we have used simple,
summary graphics to show essential points of investigation,
risk assessment, and engineering results. We helped
ensure that all the stakeholders were heard and
all parties understood the trade-offs and priorities
that drive a site cleanup.
Safe Handling and Exposure
Reduction Communications for Users of N-Propyl
Bromide, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA)
ICF International helps the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) Significant New Alternatives Policy
(SNAP) Program seek public comment on its proposed
regulation of n-propyl bromide (nPB), communicate
risk factors to users, and communicate safe handling
and exposure reduction to users. We are developing
materials for the EPA's rulemaking process that
include details about its proposed regulation
and instructions for providing comments, as well
as preparing brochures about the heath risks,
recommended exposure levels, safe handling, and
exposure reduction tips.
Mercury Audit for Businesses,
Office of Pollution Prevention and Compliance
Assistance, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
ICF International wrote a brochure addressing the
pollution dangers of mercury to attract the attention
of businesses, and included "A Business Guide
to Conducting a Mercury Audit." The brochure
includes:
- information about identifying common mercury-containing
items
- a guide to handling, recycling, and disposing
of mercury
- an audit to help assess the management of
mercury for the company
- sample letters to request a certificate of
analysis for industrial chemicals
Risk Assessment Study, District
of North Vancouver, Canada
Our staff served as advisors/ reviewers for a
risk assessment study conducted for a chlorine
plant adjacent to an area being considered for
rezoning. The work involved reviewing past studies
of other consultants and preparing new reports
in response to initial comments. We made numerous
presentations to the public and regulators (via
formal hearings, informal meetings, and open houses)
and have continued to provide ongoing assistance
as the zoning project evolves.
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