Conf Call on Nov 16-18 Kansas City NEJAC Meeting

EPA Environmental Justice Community Outreach Call

When: November 4, 2010, Time: 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. (EST)
Conference Line: (866) 453-9042, Conference ID: 21401789

EPA cordially invites you to participate on the next Environmental Justice Community Outreach Call. EPA will provide community stakeholders with an update on recent Agency environmental justice activities. EPA will also make sure that participants have time to raise matters that are important to your communities.

To propose an agenda topic before the call. EPA will select the topic(s) that are of general concern. Please keep in mind that the call will only last for an hour and the number of topics that can be discussed will be limited.

National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC) Public Meeting
November 16-18, 2010 Kansas City, Missouri

REGISTRATION ENDS MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2010

The next NEJAC face-to-face meeting will take place in Kansas City, Missouri, on November 16 through 18, 2010, at The Westin Crown Center Hotel. The meeting will include a Public Comment period.

Meeting Registration: Registration is required for everyone (including EPA and other federal employees). The registration deadline is 11:00 a.m. Central Time on Monday, November 1, 2010. Meeting materials will be prepared based on the number of participants registered on November 1. (On-site registration will be available; however, meeting materials will be distributed first to those who registered in advance. Any remaining materials will be distributed on a first-come first-served basis.)

There are four easy ways to register:

1) Online: Complete the online registration form at the NEJAC meetings page on EPA's Office of Environmental Justice Web Site
2) By E-mail with “Register for the November NEJAC Meeting” in the subject line. Please provide your name, job title, organization, mailing address, e-mail and telephone number for future follow-up as necessary.
3) By Fax: Print the Web page containing the registration form and fax to 877-773-0779.
4) By Phone: Leave a message at 877-773-0779. Please provide your name, job title, organization, mailing address, e-mail and telephone number for future follow-up as necessary.

Hotel Reservations. A limited number of rooms have been reserved at the prevailing government rate, under the group code “EPA-NEJAC.” If you are planning to stay at the Westin Crown Center Hotel for the meeting, you must contact the hotel directly to reserve your room. Either click here to reserve online The Westin Crown Center, Kansas City or call 800-937-8461. EPA encourages you to book your hotel room using the online Website, which will allow them to better track the information "real time." To be eligible for the negotiated room block rate, you must contact the hotel by November 1.

Public Comment Sign-Up: Members of the public who wish to speak during the Public Comment period should pre-register by 11:00 a.m. Central Time on Monday, November 1, 2010. Comments will be limited to five minutes to ensure that as many participants as possible wishing to provide a comment may do so. Only one representative of a community, organization or group will be allowed to speak. (On-site public comment sign-up will also be available; however, those who sign-up in advance will be called to speak first.)

Written comments can also be submitted for the record. The suggested format for individuals providing public comments is as follows: name of speaker; name of organization or community; city and state; telephone number; e-mail address; a brief description of the concern; and what you want the NEJAC to advise EPA to do. Written comments received by 11:00 a.m. Central Time on Monday, November 1, 2010, will be included in the materials distributed to the members of the NEJAC. Written comments received after that time will be provided to the NEJAC as time allows. Send written comments and for more information, please contact EPA Support Contractor, APEX Direct Inc., at 877-773-0779.

EPA Region 7 EJ Workshop and NEJAC Meeting

The Environmental Protection Agency's Region 7 Environmental Justice (EJ) Program will host a series of free environmental justice workshops to provide training to stakeholders interested in environmental justice issues. The workshops target urban and rural communities, grassroots organizations, academic institutions, businesses, youth, elderly citizens, particularly low-income and minority populations. Courses during the workshops include two tracks of

(1) Collaborative Problem Solving with Success Stories, Tools, and Demonstrations and

(2) Grants and Resources Information.

These workshops will be held prior to the formal National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC) Public Meeting on November 16-18, 2010 at the Westin Crown Center Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri. The workshops and NEJAC Meeting are free and open to the public.

The Collaborative Problem Solving/Success Stories track will have the following sessions:

· How to Achieve Success by Leveraging Resources in Rural and Urban Communities (including creating more sustainable, "green" communities);

· How to Effectively Reach EJ Communities: What Really Matters to EJ Communities (such as health, air, water, and waste issues, and capacity building); and

· Addressing Health and the Food Desert in EJ Communities (including the benefits of community gardening and creating green jobs).

The Grants & Resources track will include the following sessions:

· How to Effectively Write Grants: "Come with a Project Idea and Leave with Written Proposal."

· Demonstrations of Different Data to Help Screen and Solve Problems in EJ Communities.

View the detailed agenda (PDF) (3 pp., 28K, About PDF).

For more information on the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council public meeting and to register visit

Event Details:

Date: November 15-16, 2010Location: The Westin Crown Center, 1 East Pershing Road. Kansas City, MO 64108Time: The meeting will convene promptly at 1:00 p.m. CST, Monday, November 15, 2010.

Advance registration is encouraged. Registration Deadline: November 1, 2010 11:00 a.m. CSTTo Register in advance: Online: Complete the form

For Questions contact: Fatima Ndiaye at 913-551-7383 or Toll-free at 1-800-223-0425
Lodging

To Book a Hotel Room Online

· Reserve a room at the Westin Crown Center Hotel using the ?EPA-NEJAC? room block

They encourage you to book your hotel room using the online Website, which will allow them to better track the information "real time." To be eligible for the negotiated room block rate, you must contact the hotel by November 1.

To Book a Hotel by Phone:

· Call Westin Crown Center reservations at 888-627-8538 and ask for the "EPA NEJAC" room block.

A block of rooms under "EPA-NEJAC" has been set aside at the government rate. You must make your reservation before November 1, 2010. After this date the government rate will not be guaranteed.

EPA Listening Session on Chesapeake Bay Stormwater

EPA to Hold Listening Sessions on Potential Chesapeake Bay Stormwater Rule

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold five listening sessions and one webcast to seek feedback from citizens on provisions in a proposed stormwater rule that will affect the Chesapeake Bay watershed. In December 2009, EPA initiated a national rulemaking to better protect waterbodies from the harmful effects of stormwater discharges from new development and redevelopment. EPA is now soliciting input specifically on potential provisions of the stormwater rulemaking with respect to the Chesapeake Bay watershed. As part of the listening sessions, EPA will also address environmental justice considerations.

The sessions will be held:

· October 26, 2010, Baltimore, Md., 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. for the listening session and 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. for the environmental justice discussion.

· October 28, 2010, Cambridge, Md., 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for the listening session and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. for the environmental justice discussion.

· November 4, 2010, Washington, D.C., 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. for the environmental justice discussion and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. for the listening session.

· November 9, 2010, Richmond, Va., 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. for the listening session and 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. for the environmental justice discussion.

· November 16, 2010, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. EST webcast listening session.

· November 17, 2010, Harrisburg, Pa., 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. for the listening session and 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. for the environmental justice discussion.

The public can find more information on the specific locations of the sessions and register by going to the website below. EPA will accept written comments on the potential rule until 60 days after publication in the Federal Register. To register or for more information on the listening sessions.

Dr. David Padgett Talks Environmental Justice

Dr. James Haney Presents: "Environmental Injustices World Wide," with Dr. David Padgett, Professor and Environmental Scientist @ Tennessee State University, who talks about the relationship between Environmental Justice in the United States and throughout the world. Part 1, Part 2 & Part 3

Barbara Lee & Lisa Jackson Take EJ Tour in Oakland

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Congresswoman Barbara Lee and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson held a press conference today that was followed by a Town Hall, which was followed by an Environmental Justice Tour. The press conference was held at the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building and the Environmental Justice Town Hall was held at the Federal Building immediately following the press conference.

Oakland is the 4th stop on the joint EPA-CBC Environmental Justice Tour, with leaders visiting several areas throughout the country to highlight environmental justice challenges faced by Americans in all communities. This tour and town hall are part of a nationwide Environmental Justice Tour series featuring Administrator Jackson and coordinated by the joint efforts of the EPA and the CBC. The EPA and the CBC have previously held similar Environmental Justice Tours and Town Halls in South Carolina, Missouri, Mississippi and Georgia as part of an effort by the Obama Administration to assess environmental issues in underserved communities.

The Oakland stop on the national EPA-CBC Environmental Justice Tour was designed to highlight local efforts to address environmental issues that have impacted underserved communities in the city and to illustrate the extensive collaboration between the EPA, local government agencies, community groups and everyday citizens to confront these issues. The Environmental Justice Tour will be conducted on a very quiet zero-emission, hydrogen fuel cell bus provided by AC Transit. AC Transit has received four to date of 12 next-generation fuel cell buses that were purchased with the support of $14 million in federal funding that Congresswoman Lee helped secure. (EPA, photos courtesy Mercury News)

Florida A&M College of Law EJ Symposium

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Thursday, November 11, 2010

5:30 p.m.Welcome and Introduction of Special Guest Speaker
Kerene Tayloe, President, FAMU Environmental Law Society
5:35 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Remarks by Gwen Keys Fleming, Esq., EPA Region 4 Administrator

7:00 p.m. Dinner at Sheraton Hotel for speakers and special guests (Invitation Only)

Friday, November 12, 2010

8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m. Registration and Continental Breakfast
9:30 a.m. Welcome and Opening Remarks
Provost Cynthia Hughes Harris, Florida A&M University
Dean LeRoy Pernell, FAMU College of Law
Professor Randall S. Abate, FAMU College of Law
Julian Jackson-Fannin, FAMU Law Review
9:55 a.m.Introduction of Opening Keynote Speaker
Josephine Balzac, FAMU Law Review
10:00-10:55 a.m. Opening Keynote Presentation
Dr. Beverly Wright, Founder and Director, Deep South Center for Environmental Justice, New Orleans

11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.National and International Developments in Environmental Justice
Moderator: Professor Robert Abrams, FAMU College of Law
Panelists:
Prof. DeepaBadrinarayana, Chapman Law School
Lisa Garcia, Esq., EPA Headquarters, Washington, DC
Prof. Carmen Gonzalez, Seattle University School of Law

12:30 p.m.-12:55 p.m. Lunch and Networking
12:55 p.m. Introduction of Luncheon Keynote Speaker
Joseph Dillon, Vice President, FAMU Environmental Law Society
1:00 p.m.-1:55 p.m. Luncheon Keynote Presentation
Quentin Pair, Esq., U.S. Department of Justice

2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Breakout Panels on Current Developments in Environmental Justice

Panel I: Toxic Dumping and Brownfields
Moderator: Dr. Marcia Owens, Florida A&M University
Panelists:
Michael Goldstein, Esq., Akerman Senterfitt, Miami, FL
Dr. Cynthia Harris, Florida A&M University
Kim Jones, Esq., EPA Region 4, Atlanta, GA
Raul Soto, EPA Headquarters, Washington, DC

Panel II: Impacts to Indigenous Peoples and Wildlife
Moderator: Professor Randall S. Abate, FAMU College of Law
Panelists:
Dr. J. Mijin Cha, Director of Campaign Research, Urban Agenda, New York, NY
Prof. Catherine O’Neill, Seattle University School of Law
Jacki Lopez, Esq., Center for Biological Diversity, San Francisco, CA

Panel III: EPA Debate on Environmental Justice
Sponsored by the EPA, teams of students representing two historically
black colleges or universities will debate hot topics in environmental
justice disputes.
3:30 p.m.-3:40 p.m.Break
3:40 p.m. Introduction of Closing Keynote Speaker
Sarah Mattern, FAMU Law Review
3:45 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Closing Keynote Presentation
Prof. Maxine Burkett, University of Hawaii School of Law
4:30 p.m.-5:30p.m. Reception

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