MEMORANDUM

TO:       OTAG Outreach and Communications Subgroup Members

FROM:     Ned Sullivan, Co-Chair, Deb Garrett, Quasi-Chair 

SUBJECT:  Draft Minutes of O&C Subgroup Conference Call on July 22, 1996

DATE:     August 5, 1996

Subgroup Quasi-Chair Deb Garrett opened the call by welcoming members and outlining the
following areas of discussion:

          o   press availability during the meeting on July 25;

          o   identification of a spokesperson for OTAG; and

          o   report from the Ozone Transport Commission (OTC) Communications
              Committee.

She then raised the issue of press availability during the July meeting.

Press Availability

Ms. Garrett reported that she received feedback from Mary Gade's office indicating the group
should wait until August to prepare press materials.  This recommendation reflects the following
two considerations:

    o     there should be more significant news to report by August;

    o     there should be sufficient time to produce press materials before the August
          meeting.

At this point, Carol Sue Malinowski of Walcoff & Associates, Inc., reminded the group that the
August meeting will be held in Philadelphia and therefore may not be as well-attended by trade
press as a meeting in Washington, D.C.  George Spencer of Air Daily agreed that trade press will
be under-represented in Philadelphia, but advised members to contact the city's general press,
local television stations, and wire services to generate coverage.
Karen Coyle?? asked what the group intends to announce via press materials, and Ms. Garrett
turned to Laurel Schultz for an update on this question.

Ms. Schultz replied that Mike Koerber of the Regional and Urban Scale Modeling workgroup
may have information suitable for release.  Mr. Koerber  indicated that he is willing to supply any
information necessary but that he requires additional direction on the type of information needed. 
In addition, he is extremely busy at this time and is therefore unable to write a release himself. 
Ms. Garrett noted that Ms. Bassi also believed that the modeling group would have something
"concrete" to announce in August.

Identification of Spokesperson for OTAG

Mr. Spencer reiterated his earlier suggestion that OTAG locate a public relations representative
who can be dedicated to OTAG full-time.  He added that if press and public relations efforts are
initiated, there must be someone assigned to handle the response.  

Ms. Garrett indicated that she raised this issue with Subgroup Chair Ned Sullivan and that the
group recommended that Mr. Sullivan speak with Ms. Gade before presenting any information to
the Policy Group.  At the time of the call, Mr. Sullivan had not yet spoken with Ms. Gade.

Greg Dolan asked whether anyone within ECOS could serve this public relations function or
whether a public relations firm could be hired through a subcontract with ECOS.  Ms. Garrett
replied that she intends to raise this question with Robbie Roberts when he returns from vacation.

Mr. Dolan added that if ECOS were going to handle distribution of press materials, then someone
from ECOS should also coordinate the other components of public relations, such as preparing a
strategic plan, writing and mailing releases, and placing follow-up calls. 

Mr. Spencer pointed out that Mr. Dolan's experience in public relations might enable him to assist
in campaign development, or at least in identification of qualified firms to develop and implement
a campaign.  Ms. Garrett reminded the group that obtaining outside assistance to complete these
tasks will require additional funding.

Mr. Spencer offered to prepare a rough job description detailing OTAG's public relations
requirements.  He agreed to fax this information to Mr. Sullivan for reference in his discussions
with Ms. Gade.

Ms. Garrett suggested that the group consider forming a mini-group of three or four members to
begin preparing a strategic public relations plan.  She recommended that they discuss this
possibility during the meeting on July 24.

As an aside, Ms. Garrett mentioned hearing that Inside Washington is considering production of
an "Inside OTAG" newsletter.  Mr. Dolan indicated that this new publication has apparently
already been produced.  An announcement appeared in a recent issue of New Fuels Report, and
the mention included an introductory subscription price and information on ordering a prototype
issue.  Ms. Garrett added that she had not been contacted by Inside Washington and did not have
any information on the nature of their sources regarding OTAG.Report from the OTC Communications Committee

Ms. Garrett then turned to Ms. Coyle for an update on recent activities of the OTC
Communications Committee.  Because Ms. Coyle is unable to attend the meeting on July 24,
another member of the OTC committee will be available to present information at that time.

Before providing an overview of OTC communications activities, Ms. Coyle noted that much of
the work already undertaken by her committee would be useful to OTAG in its outreach and
communications efforts.  She added that her state and other groups involved in ozone-related
outreach efforts are open to sharing materials and forming partnerships to advance awareness.

Ms. Coyle then presented background on several OTC Communications Committee projects. 
Several years ago, OTC prepared a series of educational brochures on ozone.  She indicated that
Stephanie Benkovic??-referred to only as Stephanie still has brochures available and
recommended that members of the OTAG subgroup contact Ms. Benkovic to obtain copies for
review. 

In addition, Ms. Coyle described an ozone mapping project undertaken by OTC.  Ms. Coyle
pointed out that this project has great educational potential, particularly if weather forecasters in
OTAG states begin to include ozone information in their reports.  She indicated that Glenn
Keeling could provide background on this project and encouraged group members to pursue
additional information.

The OTC Communications Committee is also working on a modeling primer to explain the
science behind establishment of a baseline model for investigation of ozone formation and
transport.  This primer will be presented in terms that the public can understand.  Ms. Coyle
pointed out that OTAG could make use of such a publication as well.

Given these and other OTC efforts to raise awareness about ozone-related issues, Ms. Coyle
concluded, there are definite possibilities for interaction and or "dovetailing" with OTAG in
fulfillment of both groups' educational and media outreach objectives.

Ms. Garrett reminded group members that additional information on OTC Communications
Committee activities will be presented at the subgroup meeting on July 24 and that Ms. Coyle's
presentation was intended to encourage members to start considering possibilities prior to the
actual meeting.
Ms. Garrett cautioned that the group may begin to atrophy and run out of time if specific
projects are not proposed and undertaken immediately.  

As a suggestion for a specific project, Mr. Dolan asked whether the OTC modeling primer would
be ready for OTAG to use in August.  Ms. Benkovic replied that because the primer still has to go
through review by the Communications Committee and then to the modeling staff for verification,
it will not be completed in time for the August OTAG meeting.

Ms. Benkovic commented that OTAG is likely to run into the same roadblocks as the OTC
Committee in terms of review because putting science into layman's terms is a time-consuming
and difficult process.  Ms. Garrett pointed out that OTAG has the added pressure of a "short life"
during which it must complete that entire process.

Other Business

At this point, Carol Sue Malinowski of Walcoff & Associates, Inc. raised a logistical question
concerning the August OTAG meeting.  She asked whether subgroup members would prefer to
meet on the first day, August 22, sometime between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., or on the second
day, August 23, between 8:00 a.m. and 12 noon.  Ms. Garrett recommended that the group wait
until the meeting on July 24 to answer this question.

Mr. Dolan mentioned that the Environmental Health Center recently conducted a four-night
phone survey of five cities in conjunction with EPA Emissions Risk Communications Research. 
The survey was undertaken to gather information on public understanding of mobile sources and
the air pollution problem, to identify levels of public interest in and commitment to reducing air
pollution, and ultimately to determine the most salient ways to communicate the air pollution
problem.  He agreed to send the information to Ms. Garrett.
Another member saw a piece on the focus group participants that was prepared by Global
Exchange.  He requested additional information on the subject and will forward anything he
receives to Ms. Garrett.

Before concluding the call, Ms. Garrett announced that she would be unable to attend the Policy
Group meeting on July 25.  She asked Ms. Schultz to deliver the subgroup report to the Policy
Group, and Ms. Schultz agreed.

Ms. Garrett thanked members for participating in today's call and reminded them that the
subgroup meeting at the Sheraton Washington Hotel is scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m. on
Wednesday, July 24.  The conference call ended at approximately 4:00 p.m. (EDT)