Educational Awareness

General
Education and information are important elements of institutional controls. The Navy has an established Education Program that was modified with input from the community. The Navy has lead community education efforts aimed at limiting access to Navy-retained areas, as well as educating the community regarding the island hazards and the land use restrictions. This education program provides guidance on appropriate safety steps to take if munitions-related material is discovered; and updates the community regarding the cleanup of residual chemicals and munitions remaining on the island.

Raising public awareness about the physical hazards and potential residual chemicals that exist within the former Adak Navy Complex is facilitated in a variety of ways. Providing information through public awareness is the basic step in developing an educational outreach process. Such a process can include notices (such as equitable servitude notifications/restrictions, notification during property transfers, and notification during permitting), educational classes (including ordnance identification, safety presentations to various audiences, preparation of packages for administrative and public officials), printed media (including brochures and news articles), visual media (including video tapes/DVDs and local television announcements), exhibits/displays and posters, and utilization of the Restoration Advisory Board to provide input regarding community issues related to institutional controls.

As with other state education plans that address public safety and health issues, involvement by the community is critical to the success of the Institutional Controls Education Plan. Although the Navy retains ultimate responsibility for the education plan, as with other elements of the Institutional Controls Management Plan, the day-to-day adherence to institutional controls rests with the residents of Adak and the local community. The following criteria were used as a guideline to develop institutional controls.

• Relevant to the culture of the reusers
• Flexible in terms of updating content and the format of education tools
• Interesting
• Low maintenance

Recognize, Retreat, Report



Community Friendly Sign Development
Institutional controls are effective when community members assist with input into their implementation. The Navy has posted ordnance signs, landfill signs, and fishing restriction signs on the island.


Informational Surveys
The Navy conducts surveys to evaluate the effectiveness of the education plan. The surveys primarily focus on the community's knowledge of institutional controls and their knowledge of the education tools in place. The intent of the surveys are to determine if the education plan is effective, or whether it should be revised to make it more relevant to the community's needs. The results of the surveys are included as part of the annual institutional control report.


Contact
Toll Free Telephone Number
The Navy has established a toll free telephone number, 1-866-239-1219 that is available for residents and visitors to Adak to report ordnance hazards or any other concerns they have regarding environmental institutional controls. The number has been included in educational material and fact sheets, and is included on many signs placed in the community.

Email Address
The Navy has created an e-mail address, NAVFAC_D_NW_Adak_Dig_Permit@us.navy.mil, available through public access internet, to which Adak residents can direct questions.  While originally established for Adak Excavation Notifications, general questions regarding clean-up activities on Adak can also be submitted through this e-mail address.

Educational Materials
Educational materials for residents and visitors are available from the airport and from numerous island businesses. These materials include an island map, book, coffee mugs, refrigerator magnets, and other items. In addition, a video is played annually at the school and also in the airport reception center when commercial flights arrive that summarizes the institutional controls as well as munition hazards and the steps to take if the munitions are encountered. Finally, signs are placed throughout the City of Adak and remote areas to provide notifications on munitions and chemical hazards as well as access and city restrictions.