EPA SAB Seeking Technical Review Panelists

EPA Science Advisory Board Office is Seeking Nominations for EJ Technical Review Panel

EPA is developing technical guidance to direct analysts and decision makers on how to integrate environmental justice in regulatory development. The purpose of the guide is to provide technical direction to EPA staff and managers to aid them in incorporating environmental justice into the development of risk assessment, economic analysis and other scientific input and policy choices as an integral part of the agency rulemaking process.

The EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office is requesting public nominations for experts to serve on the SAB Environmental Justice Technical Guidance (EJTG) Review Panel. Nominations are due by March 7, 2011.

More information

Refer to the instructions in the federal register notice.

EPA Environmental Justice Community Outreach Call

Reminder

February 17, 2011 at 3 p.m. ET Teleconference

Time: 3:00 - 4:00 pm Eastern time

Phone Number: 1-(888)-273-3506

Access Code: 37178870#

Administrator Lisa P. Jackson has made Expanding the Conversation on Environmentalism and Working for Environmental Justice one of EPA's top priorities. In support of this priority, we invite environmental justice advocates to participate on our next Quarterly Environmental Justice Community Outreach Calls, which will take place on February 17, 2011 at 3 p.m. (Eastern Time). More information.

The purpose of these calls is to provide information to participants about the Agency's EJ activities and maintain an open dialogue with EJ advocates. As EPA continues to advance Plan EJ 2014, the Agency hopes that these calls will better inform the public about EPA's EJ work and enhance opportunities to take advantage of federal activities.

Agenda

EPA EJ has developed the following agenda with consideration of the proposed agenda topics that EJ advocates have provided.

Update on Plan EJ 2014 (5 minutes)
Environmental Justice Interagency Workgroup Activities (5 minutes)
Federal Radon Summit (5 minutes)
Overview of Criminal and Civil Enforcement Program (10 minutes)
Environmental Justice Small Grants (5 minutes)
Questions and Answers (30 minutes)

REGISTER FOR CLEAN AIR ACT 101 WEBINAR TRAINING

WHO: Environmental Justice and Tribal Community Members and Organizations

WHAT: Webinar on Air Pollution Prevention and Control (CAA 101)

WHEN: February 25, 2011, 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm Eastern Time

On Friday, February 25, EPA will host a webinar on air pollution prevention and control. The webinar is designed for community members who would like a better understanding of the Clean Air Act and the roles of state, local, and tribal agencies and EPA in air quality management. Clean Air Act 101 will cover topics such as:

How agencies plan and manage air pollution
How commonly found pollutants are regulated
How toxic air pollutants are regulated
Opportunities for public involvement

Join the CAA 101 webinar by registering in advance (at least 24 hours prior), using the following link

For questions, please contact Regina Chappell (919) 541-3650.

E J Community Learning Center Concept Paper

EPA's Office of Air and Radiation (OAR) plans to develop a learning center or institute for environmental justice community members. The purpose of the center would be to increase community awareness and understanding of environmental risks stemming from pollution and related environmental justice concerns.

This effort will build communities' capacity to participate in the protection of their air, water, and land resources by assisting them in understanding complex environmental regulations and procedures, opportunities for public involvement, and access to data and resources. It will also help community members in navigating and participating in the regulatory process.

OAR would like input from environmental justice communities and stakeholders as it begins to develop the learning center. OAR's concept paper contains initial thoughts about the learning center, can be downloaded at Comments on the concept paper are requested by March 10, 2011.