ACHIEVEMENT IN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AWARD

Deadline Extended: Nominations must bepostmarked by February 11, 2008.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is requesting nominations for the Achievement in Environmental Justice Awards. Nominations must be postmarked by January 11, 2008. National awards for achievements in environmental justice will be given to organizations in 5 categories: 1) academic institutions, 2) community-based organizations, 3) non-governmental and environmental organizations, 4) State and local government organizations, and 5) Tribal government and indigenous organizations. Organizations should be nominated for their achievement in addressing environmental justice issues or achieving the goals of environmental justice in a manner that results in positive impacts to a community.

The award competition will be open to all organizations within theUnited States. The nominated entity must have achieved a significant milestone or accomplishment within the past five years (2002-2007). Nominated entities should address six selection criteria which reflect the goals of addressing environmental justice issues in a way thatpositively affects the community. The criteria are: (1) innovation;(2) community responsibility; (3) community, equity, and publicinvolvement; (4) partnerships and collaboration; (5) integration; and(6) demonstrated results, effectiveness, and sustainability. UPDATE: The awards will be presented by the EPA Administrator during a special public, media-covered event in June 2008. EPA will pay for the travel and lodging expenses of the representative who will attend the EJ Achievement Awards ceremony and receive the award on behalf of thewinning organizations.Award winners will receive national recognition for their significant EJ achievements.

EPA will publish a feature article in the Environmental Justice Quarterly newsletter focusing on the selected award recipients. Award winners will also be featured on the Office of Environmental Justice's Web site. National recognition may also open doors for the award winners to network and partner with other organizations across the U.S. that share a similar commitment to EJ excellence. For more information, visit: EJ Achievement Flyer or contact Lisa Hammond at (202) 564-0736 or at hammond.lisa@epa.gov .

Call For Presentations: EJ in America 2008 Conference

The second annual State of Environmental Justice in America 2008 conference planners are inviting individuals to submit a short abstract of no more than 150 words that describes a panel or individual presentation related to the current state of environmental justice associated with the topics listed below. (More)

Topic areas:
1) Success stories in assuring justice for communities
2) Land Use planning/sustainable community planning and development/smart growth
3) Just and sustainable energy policy/alternative energy production
4) Climate change/climate justice
5) Community participation in environmental decision making
6) Environmental justice in Indian Country
7) Building community capacity
8) Distribution of community benefits
9) Environmental justice and health disparities/access to public health benefits
10) Provision of infrastructure and resources in rural America
11) Facility siting and environmental justice
12) Environmental education
13) Conservation cooperation
14) Innovations in environmental justice legislation, regulation and litigation/environmental justice and legal case studies
15) Environmental justice considerations in emergency preparedness and homeland protection
16) Integration of environmental justice into Federal, state and local agencies policies and programs
17) Other topics of the submitter's choice, so long as they relate to environmental justice

The abstract should include the submitter's name and full contact information as well as reference the topic and number under which it is being submitted.

Submissions: Abstracts should be sent to: ejinamerica@hotmail.com

Relevant Dates:

Abstract Due: December 15, 2007
Notice of Acceptance Received: January 21-February 1, 2008
Response to Notice of Acceptance Due By: February 15, 2008
Presenters Contacted by Panel Managers: February 18-29, 2008
Presentations Due No Later Than*: March 7, 2008
Conference Dates: March 26-29, 2008
Conference Location: Washington, DC area

[*Note: If you are submitting a paper in addition to your presentation, papers are due at this time. Please be advised that all papers will be published as written.]

NY Affordable Reliable Electricity Alliance Issues EJ Report

The New York Affordable Reliable Electricity Alliance (NYAREA) has issued an environmental justice report entitled, "Environmental Justice: A Growing Movement." In New York State the problem of respiratory illnesses is particularly acute. An earlier 2000 Abt Associates study estimated that in New York State in 2007 (with improvements in air quality taken into account from 2000), airborne particulate matter would be the cause of 1,200 premature deaths, 744 cases of chronic bronchitis, 481 hospital admissions, 273 asthma related emergency room visits, 2,180 cases of acute bronchitis, 23,300 asthma attacks, and more than 200,000 work loss days.

One of the major Environmental Justice issues in New York City is the connection between asthma and power plant emissions and automobile exhaust. In New York, the Council of the City of New York reported in May 2003 that “a recent study found that one in every four children in the South Bronx and Central Harlem was afflicted with asthma, one of the highest rates in the country.“ Laurent Lawrence, upper left, is coauthor of the report with Norris McDonald, President, African American Environmentalist Association.