Monday, January 23, 2012

EPA Region 4 Environmental Justice Survey


Regional Environmental Justice Conference Feedback Survey

1. Overview

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, Office of Environmental Justice is planning a regional environmental justice conference to provide Region 4 stakeholders an opportunity to learn more about environmental justice, dialogue around specific topics, and to network with each other. To ensure that the conference is relevant, meets your expectations, and is informative, we would like your feedback.

The conference will be held in Atlanta, GA and is tentatively scheduled for August 2012.The survey is very short and should take no more than 5 minutes to complete. Please feel free to forward the link to others who may be interested in providing their input.

The survey will close on January 31, 2012. If you have any questions, please contact Sheryl Good of my staff at 404-562-9559 or at good.sheryl@epa.gov. Denise Tennessee, Acting DirectorOffice of Environmental Justice, Region 4.

CALL FOR PAPERS, POSTERS & PRESENTATIONS


6th Annual State of Environmental Justice in America Call for Papers, Posters, and Presentations

EJ Conference, Inc. invites you to submit papers, posters, and presentations for the upcoming 6th Annual State of Environmental Justice in America Conference, April 3-5, 2012. The Conference has identified the following list of research topics for the Call. Abstracts should offer innovative, theoretical and practical solutions to improve EJ planning, implementation and problem solving for communities, governments, the private sector and others.

The selected abstracts will be used to develop papers, plenary sessions, poster presentations, and panel sessions for the 6thst annual training meeting. Selected abstracts will also have the opportunity to submit manuscripts by July 1, 2012 that will be published as proceedings in a supplement to the Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved. The list of research areas include, but is not limited to:

• Title VI Compliance
• Environmental justice impacts of transportation on public health
• Diversity in STEM education, training and employment
• Equitable considerations in developing and implementing a clean energy policy
• Community-scale green energy solutions
• Diversity in Federal energy, environmental and economic initiatives
• Historically Black Colleges and Other Minority Serving Institutions Participation in
• Environmental Justice activities
• Tribal participation in energy production and environmental protection
• Impact of going green on EJ populations including Black farmers
• Diversity in alternative and renewable energy production
• Environmental justice activities in Federal, state and local governments
• Measuring community attributes
• Impact of going green on EJ populations
• Diversity in environmentalism
• Implications of funding different transportation modes for use by EJ communities
• Confronting Health Disparities
• EJ gap analysis benefits vs. burdens
• Participation of EJ communities in the decision-making process
• Diversity in Federal pipeline preparation
• Smart growth, equity and inclusion
• Climate change and sustainability
• Other

Please submit your abstract of 500 words or less to C4Papers@ejconference.net no later than February 15, 2012. Notice of acceptance will be sent on or before February 23, 2012.

Commitment to present must be received on or before March 1, 2012. Complete abstracts are due on or before March 20, 2012.

Presenters will be required to cover all of their expenses to participate in the conference. A limited amount of financial assistance may be available to assist with conference expenses.

Requests for financial assistance should be directed to F-A@ejconference.net no later than February 15, 2012.

Questions and requests for additional information should be directed to:
F-A@ejconference.net no later than February 15, 2012. Questions and requests for additional information should be directed to: JR@ejconference.net or call John Rosenthall, Conference Coordinator, on 202-508-3894 or 703-624-2257.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

EPA Environmental Justice Conference Call


Administrator Lisa P. Jackson has made Expanding the Conversation on Environmentalism and Working for Environmental Justice one of her top priorities. In support of this priority, we invite environmental justice advocates to participate on our Quarterly Environmental Justice Community Outreach Calls.

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 these calls will better inform the public about EPA’s EJ work and enhance opportunities to take advantage of federal activities.

Upcoming Call

January 19, 2012 Teleconference

Time: 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. Eastern time


Phone Number: 1-877-744-6030

Access Code: 38828011#

AgendaWe are taking suggestions on additional topics for the agenda and need your feedback. We will select the topic(s) that are of general concern to communities prior to the call. Please keep in mind that the call will only last for an hour, so the number of topics discussed will be limited. The final agenda will be posted here no later than the day before the call.

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

Introduction (5 minutes)
Lisa Garcia, Senior Advisor to the Administrator for Environmental Justice

Update on Outreach for Chromium Electroplating and Steel Pickling Rule Proposal (5 minutes)
Candace Carraway, Office of Air and Radiation, Office of Air Quality and Planning Standards

Update on EPA's Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Program (10 minutes)
Rafael DeLeon, Office of Civil Rights

Update on EPA's Regulation of Sewage Sludge (10 minutes)
Bob Brobst, Region 8

Questions and Answers (30 minutes)

Previous Calls

Date

October 6, 2011

October 2011 Transcript (PDF)

October 2011 Audio

May 19, 2011

May 2011 Transcript (PDF)

May 2011 Audio

February 17, 2011

February 2011 Transcript (PDF)

February 2011 Audio

November 4, 2010

November 2010 Transcript (PDF)

November 2010 Audio

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

NEJAC Seeking Nominees

Seeking Nominations for Members to EPA's National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites nominations from a diverse range of qualified candidates to be considered for appointment to the NEJAC. The NEJAC is a multi-stakeholder federal advisory committee that provides independent advice and recommendations to the EPA Administrator about cross-cutting issues related to environmental justice.

This notice solicits nominations to fill eight (8) new vacancies through June 25, 2012. To maintain the representation outlined by the charter, nominees will be selected to represent the following stakeholder workforce sectors:

  • Academia (1 vacancy)
  • Business and industry (2 vacancies)
  • Grassroots Community-based organizations (1 vacancy)
  • Non-governmental/environmental organizations (1 vacancy)
  • State and local government agencies (2 vacancies)
  • Tribal governments and indigenous groups (1 vacancy)
Within these sectors, EPA is seeking nominees with knowledge in community sustainability, public health and health disparities, land use and sustainable development, green jobs and economic initiatives, energy, and environmental financing. In an effort to obtain nominations of diverse candidates, the Agency encourages nominations of women and men of all racial and ethnic groups. All nominations will be fully considered.

Any interested person or organization may nominate qualified persons to be considered for appointment to this advisory committee. Individuals may self-nominate. Nominees should possess the following qualifications:

  • Demonstrated experience with environmental justice and community sustainability issues at the national, state, or local level
  • Willingness to commit time to the committee and demonstrated ability to work constructively and effectively on committees
  • Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication, and consensus-building skills
  • Ability to serve a 3-year appointment and to volunteer approximately 5 to 8 hours per month to support the Council’s activities

How to Submit Nominations: Nominations can be submitted in electronic format (preferred). In order to fill anticipated vacancies by May 2012, nominations should be received by January 25, 2012. Additional details regarding the nomination process and to learn more about NEJAC.