General Information
Welcome to the Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) website. The purpose of this site is to keep the Grayling community up to date on all RAB activities and informed on the progress of the continuing PFAS investigation.
All information provided below about RABs comes directly from the Department of Defense Restoration Advisory Board Rule Handbook (see link below for document).
The Department of Defense (DoD) encourages community involvement in the environmental restoration process through Restoration Advisory Boards (RABs). Since 1994, RABs have been established at over 300 military installations and properties in the United States and its territories to encourage communities and installations to identify and discuss potential environmental restoration issues. By facilitating open communication and understanding, RABs serve as a forum for discussion among the parties involved in the Defense Environmental Restoration Program (DERP) at affected sites and installations. RABs provide a collaborative forum for the community, government agencies, tribes, and installation decision makers to discuss and identify the most efficient and productive means to restore the environment.
What is a RAB?
What is a RAB?
A RAB is a stakeholder group that meets on a regular basis to discuss environmental restoration at a specific property that is either currently or was formerly owned by DoD, but where DoD oversees the environmental restoration process. RABs enable people interested in the environmental cleanup at a specific installation to exchange information with representatives of regulatory agencies, the installation, and the community. While the general public can comment on DoD’s environmental restoration program, RABs offer a focused and interactive opportunity to participate in the environmental restoration process.
To learn more about the establishments and operations of RABs, click on the Restoration Advisory Board Handbook link below.
RAB image from the Department of Defense RAB Handbook.
RAB Mission and Goals
RAB MISSION:
The Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center Restoration Advisory Board involves local community stakeholders in the environmental restoration process at the Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center either as a RAB community representative or through attendance at RAB meetings. This RAB provides community representatives the opportunity to influence cleanup decisions by providing input and discussing issues directly with the installation decision makers. Further, the RAB offers community representatives and the public the opportunity to share their questions, concerns, and ideas with agencies involved in the cleanup. The focus of the RAB is improving and maintaining public and environmental health.
RAB GOALS:
- Serve as a community liaison, providing information from the RAB meetings to the community and information from the community to the RAB.
- Provide RAB Community Representatives with trainings and educational opportunities needed in order to equip Community Representatives with appropriate knowledge to effectively communicate monitoring and restoration activities to the greater Grayling community.
- Provide constructive, solution-focused input to regulators.
- Review and comment on technical documents and related site information.
- Exchange research from global sources regarding environmental restoration.
- Advise government agencies, regulators, engineers, and installation managers about restoration advances made at Camp Grayling.
- Maximize effectiveness, while taking into consideration expense, in completing environmental restoration efforts.
RAB Meetings and Contacts
RAB meetings typically take place monthly, however, they don’t always occur on the same day and time each month. Please check back often for the most current meeting dates, times, and locations.
NEXT MEETING
Date: Thursday, February 20, 2020
Time: 10 a.m.-12 noon
Location: Grayling Township Hall
CONTACT US
If you have questions regarding the Camp Grayling RAB, please contact:
RAB Co-Chair - Jonathan Edgerly, Michigan Army National Guard Environmental Manager
jonathan.w.edgerly.nfg@mail or 517-481-7630
RAB Co-Chair – Samantha Nellis, Huron Pines Watershed Project Manager
samantha@huronpines.org or 989-448-2293 ext. 31