Environmental Justice Blog

EPA Region 4 Environmental Justice Survey

2012-01-23T13:38:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-23T08:43:00.000-08:00

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.

EPA Environmental Justice Conference Call

2012-01-19T09:02:00.000-08:00

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

NEJAC Seeking Nominees

2012-01-04T12:27:00.000-08:00

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.

Environmental Justice in Native America

2011-12-20T04:48:00.000-08:00

Special Issue on Environmental Justice in Native America

Liebert Table of Contents
Environmental Justice
Volume: 4, Number: 4 December 2011

Original Articles

Self-Determining Environmental Justice for Native America
James M. Grijalva

Tribal Environmental Justice: Vulnerability, Trusteeship, and Equity under NEPA
Barbara Harper and Stuart Harris

The Recognition Dimensions of Environmental Justice in Indian Country
Kyle Powys Whyte

Radical Adaptation, Justice, and American Indian Nations
Sarah Krakoff

Medicine Food: Critical Environmental Justice Studies, Native North American Literature, and the Movement for Food Sovereignty
Joni Adamson

Environmental Justice, American Indians and the Cultural Dilemma: Developing Environmental Management for Tribal Health and Well-being
Darren J. Ranco, Catherine A. O'Neill, Jamie Donatuto, and Barbara L. Harper

A Method for Tribal Environmental Justice Analysis
Stuart Harris and Barbara Harper

EPA Awards $1 Million in Environmental Justice Grants

2011-12-12T14:04:00.000-08:00

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it awarded more than $1 million in grants to 46 non-profit and tribal organizations working to address environmental justice issues nationwide. EPA also announced it is seeking applicants for $1 million in environmental justice small grants expected to be awarded in 2012.

EPA’s environmental justice efforts aim to ensure equal environmental and health protections for all Americans, regardless of race or socioeconomic status. The grants enable non-profit organizations to conduct research, provide education, and develop solutions to local health and environmental issues in communities overburdened by harmful pollution.

The 2011 grants support activities including projects to protect children in the Boston-area from lead poisoning and asthma, conduct research on air quality in a portside Philadelphia community, and provide support to residents on the Red Lake Reservation in Minnesota to repair failing septic systems and identify water that is unsafe to drink. The 2012 grant solicitation is now open and will close on February 29, 2012. Applicants must be incorporated non-profits or tribal organizations working to educate, empower and enable their communities to understand and address local environmental and public health issues.

EPA will host four pre-application teleconference calls on December 15, 2011, January 12, 2012, February 1, 2012 and February 15, 2012 to help applicants understand the requirements. Environmental justice means the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race or income, in the environmental decision-making process.

Since 1994, the environmental justice small grants program has provided more than $23 million in funding to community-based nonprofit organizations and local governments working to address environmental justice issues in more than 1,200 communities. The grants represent EPA’s commitment to expand the conversation on environmentalism and advance environmental justice in communities across the nation.

More information on the Environmental Justice Small Grants program and a list of grantees

Environment Justice Small Grants 2012 Request for Proposals and schedule of pre-application teleconference calls

EJ Strategies at Federal Agencies

2011-11-10T02:15:00.000-08:00

Compendium of Federal Agencies' Policies, Strategies, Work/Implementation Plans, Guidance on Environmental Justice

Link to Federal Agencies' Strategies

In August, EJ IWG agencies signed the “Memorandum of Understanding on Environmental Justice and Executive Order 12898” and formally agreed to certain environmental justice commitments.

Among them, each federal agency agreed to post its strategy on its website for public comment. Those federal agencies that have not already made a strategy available for public comment have provided, or are working to provide, information to the public about their strategy development process.

Obama, The Black Community & Environmental Justice

2011-11-09T14:47:00.000-08:00

THE PRESIDENT’S AGENDA AND THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY

November 2011 [Nov 9 Conference]

The President’s Commitment to African American Families

“For centuries, African American men and women have persevered to enrich our national life and bend the arc of history toward justice. From resolute Revolutionary War soldiers fighting for liberty to the hardworking students of today reaching for horizons their ancestors could have only imagined, African Americans have strengthened our Nation by leading reforms, overcoming obstacles and breaking down barriers” – President Obama, February 1, 2011

Environmental Justice

In too many American communities, minority families shoulder a disproportionate burden of pollution in the places where they live, work and learn. These disparities result in health challenges like asthma and heart disease and end up turning away job creators looking for attractive, healthy places to set up their businesses. In 2009, about 2,380,000 African Americans reported that they currently have asthma and African American women were 30 percent more likely to have asthma than white women. The President is committed to addressing those disparities and ensuring that all communities have the opportunity to enjoy the health and economic benefits of a clean environment and has begun to lay the ground work for achieving environmental justice for all Americans in a number of ways:

Federal Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice. After a decade of inaction, in September 2010, the Obama Administration reconvened the Federal Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice, to ensure that federal agencies are working together as never before to tackle this persistent challenge and provide all Americans with strong federal protection from environmental and health hazards.

White House Environmental Justice Forum. In December 2010, at the White House Environmental Justice Forum, Cabinet Secretaries and other senior Administration officials met with more than 100 environmental justice leaders from across the country to engage advocates on issues affecting their communities, including reducing air pollution, addressing health disparities, and capitalizing on emerging clean energy job opportunities. This was a first-of-its kind forum and an opportunity to have an honest dialogue about opportunities and challenges to achieving environmental justice in communities across the country.

Memorandum of Understanding. Reflecting the dialogue, concerns and commitments made at the forum and other public events, in August of this year, 17 federal leaders signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Environmental Justice and Executive Order 12898 (MOU). This MOU better defines and broadens the mission of the EJ IWG and commits each agency to develop an environmental justice strategy. These strategies, which will be finalized in early 2012, will serve as a road map that will help integrate environmental justice into the programs agencies run, the policies they make, and the activities they engage in.

(The White House)

EPA Region 8 EJ Community Stakeholder Dialogue

2011-11-07T18:53:00.000-08:00

Federal Interagency Working Group (IWG) on Environmental Justice Community Stakeholder Dialogue

Hosted by: EPA Region 8 and the Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) 2011 Conference

Date: Wednesday, November 16 2011

Time: 6:30 - 9:00 PM (Doors Open at 6:00 PM)

Location: Denver Sheraton Hotel, Grand Ballroom1550 Court Place, Denver, Colorado 80202

Parking: Parking is available with two-hour metered street parking or in parking lots/garages. Parking is not reimbursed. Guests are encouraged to use local transportation. The bus shuttle service on the 16th street pedestrian mall is free.

The purpose of this meeting is to give community stakeholders the opportunity to engage in open dialog with federal agencies about environmental justice issues that concern them. Environmental justice encompasses a broad range of issues including access to resources, information and environmental decision making.

For more information please contact Nancy Curren (curren.nancy@epa.gov), 303.842.6195

Annual Sierra Club Grassroots EJ Conference

2011-11-02T12:50:00.000-07:00

Saturday, November 5, 20119:00am to 2:30pm
Lindenwood Christian Church2400 Union Avenue
Memphis, TN(Corner of Union and East Parkway
rita.harris@sierraclub.org or by phone at 1-901-324-7757

10th Annual Sierra Club Grassroots Environmental Conference

Registration & Coffee 8:30am
Opening Session 9:00am to 9:30am
Break 9:30am to 9:45am

Session #1 Workshops: 9:45am to 10:45am

1) Gravel Mining Threatens Our Drinking Water Aquifer – Dr. Nancy Brannon (Memphis, TN)
Groundwater Expert, Sierra Club
2) GMO Foods: Do We Really Know What We Are Eating? – Katherine Pendleton, DNP,
MSN, RN, Sierra Club TN Chapter (Nashville, TN)
3) Kilowatt Hours – Dan Joranko, (Nashville, TN) Tennessee Alliance for Progress
4) TN the Volunteer State for Radioactive Waste – Glenn Carroll, Nuclear Watch South (Atlanta, GA); & Ann Harris, We the People, Inc., Sierra Club Anti-Nuclear Taskforce, & TVA Whistleblower;
5) Health Effects of Toxic Air Pollution – Irv Sheffey (Washington, DC) Sierra Club EJ Organizer

Break 10:45am to 11:00am

Session #2 Workshops: 11:00am to 12 noon

6) Cancer Alley + Hurricanes + BP Oil – Darryl Malek-Wiley (New Orleans, LA) Sierra Club EJ
Organizer
7) Do We Need to Overhaul Landfill Regulations? – Bruce Wood (Nashville, TN) BURNT, Inc.,
Tennessee Landfill Reform Activist
8) Urban Community Agriculture – Sizwe Herring (Nashville, TN) EarthMatters Educator & Permaculture Expert
9) Living in Harmony with Native Plants – Kristin Lamberson (Mississippi) Audubon Naturalist
10) Taking Blight to Court – Sheila Wright (Memphis, TN) Memphis City Beautiful Board
Member
11) Radioactive Waste is Closer Than You Think – Glenn Carroll (Atlanta, GA) Nuclear Watch

LUNCH – 12 Noon to 1:00pm – Enjoy a hot catered lunch & meet new people!

1:00pm -KEYNOTE PANEL – “EJ Activist Stories & Testimonies”
Highlighting ongoing community struggles for Environmental Justice
2:00pm - Presentation of the 2011 Dick Mochow Environmental Justice Award
Door Prizes!!!

American Public Health Association EJ Session

2011-10-20T15:38:00.000-07:00

EJ Session at the Upcoming American Public Health Association Meeting

Session Title: Working Toward Achieving Environmental Justice through Scientific Enterprise, Policy Action, and Community Empowerment

Session Description: The purpose of this session is to share two products of a March 2010 US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Symposium on the science of disproportionate environmental health impacts with the public health community and other environmental justice stakeholders:

1) analytic essays on issues likely to contribute to disproportionate environmental health impacts, now published in the December issue American Journal of Public Health; and

2) an EPA report, "An Update on Ongoing and Future EPA Actions to Empower Communities and Advance the Integration of Environmental Justice in Decision Making and Research", which provides information on EPA's ongoing and proposed actions that address environmental justice issues raised by participants at the Symposium.

At this session, updates will be provided on other related activities within EPA, the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, and the Office of Minority Health within the Department of Health and Human Services, and feature perspectives of community EJ and social justice advocates on the potential impact of EPA's ongoing and planned actions on improving community health and environment.

More information about the March 2010 Symposium.

Date: Tuesday, November 1, 2011Time: 6:30PM - 7:30PMVenue: Room 204A, Walter E Washington Convention Center, Washington DC 20001

Session Co-Chairs

Onyemaechi C. Nweke, DrPH, MPH
Office of Environmental Justice, US EPA

Devon Payne-Sturges, DrPH
National Center for Environmental Research, US EPA

Speakers

Lisa F. Garcia, JD
Senior Advisor to the EPA Administrator on Environmental Justice
Associate Assistant Administrator, Office of Environmental Justice, US Environmental Protection Agency

John Ruffin,PhD
Director, National Institute for Minority Health and Health Disparities

Garth Graham, MD, MPH, FACP
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health, Department of Health and Human Services

Hilton Kelley
Founder and CEO, Community In-Power Development Association, Inc., Port Arthur, TX North American Winner, Goldman Environmental Prize (2011)American Public Health Association Damu Smith Environmental Achievement Award (2008)

Bill Gallegos
Executive Director, Communities for a Better Environment, Huntington, CA Member, California Environmental Justice Advisory Committee

For more information, please contact: Onyemaechi Nweke: Phone: 202 566 2314

EJ at the U.S. Department of Labor

2011-10-18T16:31:00.000-07:00

The US Department of Labor (DOL or Department) has announced a renewed effort to achieve environmental justice (EJ). The Department views environmental justice from a workplace training, health and safety perspective. The Department is developing an environmental justice strategy that is in line with the mission of the Department and Secretary Solis' vision for the future: good jobs for everyone.

The vision of good jobs for everyone includes ensuring that workplaces are safe and healthy; helping workers who are in low-wage jobs or out of the labor market find a path into middle-class jobs; and helping middle-class families remain in the middle-class. The Department's environmental justice strategy focuses on agencies directly involved with worker training (the Employment Training Administration (ETA)), and health and safety issues (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA).

As DOL takes a fresh look at our EJ policies in order to strengthen the EJ process, they will be looking for ideas and feedback. DOL invites public comment for how they can address environmental justice through programs, policies, regulations or reporting requirements. The site for public comment will be open until November 18th. The Department will then review those comments. A strategy is planned in 2012.

The Department of Labor is committed to environmental justice. President Obama has renewed agencies' environmental justice planning by reinvigorating Executive Order 12898 (EO 12898), which tasked several Federal agencies with making environmental justice part of their mission. The agencies were directed to do so by identifying and addressing, as appropriate, the disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects of their programs, policies, and activities on minority and low-income populations.

In August 2011, agencies listed in EO 12898 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (EJ MOU), which, among other things, commits agencies to develop a final environmental justice strategy. So please join the conversation.

EPA Events This Month in Albuquerque, NM

2011-10-18T16:18:00.000-07:00

The Environmental Protection Agency is pleased to announce the following six officially EPA sponsored events for the week of October 24th-27th, 2011 in Albuquerque, NM

The Federal Interagency Working Group (IWG) on Environmental Justice Monday, October 24, 2011 3:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Mountain Time The Albuquerque Marriott 2101 Louisiana Blvd. NE Salons F-J The Federal Interagency Working Group (IWG) on Environmental Justice will conduct a community dialogue on Monday, October 24, 2011. Information regarding meeting details will be provided at a later date. More information on the Interagency Working Group (IWG) on Environmental Justice.

National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC) Meeting Tuesday, October 25 and Wednesday October 26, 2011 The meeting will convene at 9:00 a.m. and reconvene at 8:45 a.m. Mountain Time The Albuquerque Marriott 2101 Louisiana Blvd. NE Salon F-J The next face-to-face meeting of the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC) will be held at the Albuquerque Marriott Hotel, 2101 Louisiana Boulevard, NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87109, on October 25 and 26, 2011.

NEJAC Public Comment Period - The NEJAC meeting will host a public comment period on Tuesday, October 25, 2011, starting at 4:00 p.m. Mountain Time. This session of the NEJAC will provide an opportunity for stakeholders to share their concerns and what they would like the NEJAC to advise EPA to do about the issue. More information on the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council.

EPA Stakeholder Meeting on Uranium Legacy Contamination Issues featuring EPA Assistant Administrator, Mathy StanislausTuesday, October 25, 2011 2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Mountain Time The Albuquerque Marriott 2101 Louisiana Blvd. NE Carlsbad Room Mathy Stanislaus, Assistant Administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, will hold a stakeholder meeting on legacy contamination issues related to uranium mining.

A White House & EPA Stakeholder Meeting on Small Business, Job Training and Green Jobs featuring EPA Assistant Administrator, Mathy StanislausWednesday, October 26, 2011 10:30 a.m. - Noon Mountain Time The Albuquerque Marriott 2101 Louisiana Blvd. NE Carlsbad Room Mathy Stanislaus, senior official with the Obama Administration, will hold a stakeholder meeting on the environment and jobs. Mr. Stanislaus is the Assistant Administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. This visit is part of the Administration's plan to hear from local stakeholders across the country. Specific topics include, but are not limited to green jobs, small business capacity building, workforce development and job training.

EPA Tribal Consultation Meeting on EPA's Plan EJ 2014Thursday, October 27, 2011 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Mountain Time The Albuquerque Marriott 2101 Louisiana Blvd. NE Salon F-J The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is consulting and coordinating with federally recognized tribes on Plan EJ 2014 and has scheduled an in-person meeting with tribal leaders in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Thursday, October 27, from 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM, to obtain input on Plan EJ 2014 and the nine Implementation Plans. The targeted audience is tribal government leaders and their designated representatives. More information on EPA's tribal consultation and coordination on Plan EJ 2014.

Environmental Justice at USDOT

2011-10-15T15:59:00.000-07:00

The U.S. Department of Transportation is renewing its effort to achieve Environmental Justice (EJ). As DOT takes a fresh look at EJ policies in order to strengthen the EJ process, the will be looking for feedback and ideas from transportation and community stakeholders. From now until the end of the year, DOT invites you to provide your insights, experiences, and ideas for enhancing environmental justice in transportation related activities.

Here is a review of some upcoming opportunities to participate in the conversation:

Log on to the National On-Line Dialogue on Environmental Justice and Transportation. You can join colleagues from across the country in a public conversation about Environmental Justice and Transportation.
Review the revised USDOT Environmental Justice Strategy and submit comments.

Register for the National Webinar to learn more about Environmental justice and share your insights, scheduled for October 20th.

RSVP for the National Public Meeting on Environmental Justice and Transportation, to hear from Senior Leadership at DOT on the Department's EJ work on November 21st at the US Department of Transportation in Washington, DC. DOTRSVP@dot.gov

Sign up to participate in targeted sessions conducted by the Federal Transit Administration.

At DOT, EJ concerns and goals should be considered throughout all public engagement efforts, from project planning through construction and operation. This includes public outreach conducted during transportation planning and during the environmental reviews required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The goals of EJ are:

To avoid, minimize, or mitigate disproportionately high and adverse human health and environmental effects, including social and economic effects, on minority populations and low-income populations.

To ensure the full and fair participation by all potentially affected communities in the transportation decisionmaking process.

To prevent the denial of, reduction in, or significant delay in the receipt of benefits by minority and low-income populations.

DOT values the insight and experience of grantees, transportation planners, affected community members, and other stakeholders. We hope you will take part in the upcoming discussions and engagement opportunities on EJ at DOT.

For more information about the aforementioned activities, please contact Rebecca Searl Higgins

Dept of Commerce Releases Draft EJ Strategy

2011-10-13T14:51:00.000-07:00

Department of Commerce Releases Draft Environmental Justice Strategy for Public Comment

The Department of Commerce announces the release of its draft Environmental Justice Strategy

On August 4, 2011, the Department of Commerce and other Federal agencies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to develop or revise existing environmental justice (EJ) strategies to protect minority and low-income populations from experiencing disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects caused by an agency’s programs, policies, and activities.

In compliance with this commitment, the Department of Commerce is releasing for public comment a draft EJ Strategy, which will completely replace the Department’s original EJ Strategy produced in 1995 in response to Executive Order 12898 section 1-103. Through October 31, 2011, the Department welcomes any comments or feedback on this draft EJ Strategy.

In addition, the Department is soliciting feedback on the following specific topics:
Are there additional Departmental programs, policies, or activities that should be included in the EJ Strategy in addition to those already identified?

What should the Department’s environmental justice goals and objectives be in relation to providing and supporting climate science, services and adaptation?

Department of Commerce Draft Environmental Justice Strategy

NEJAC Sessions Available Via Teleconference

2011-10-13T14:21:00.000-07:00

National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC) Public Meeting:

Sessions Available via Teleconference Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Registration is Now Open (Advance registration closes October 17)

During the upcoming face-to-face meeting of the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC) on October 25-26, 2011, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the following two sessions will be available via teleconference. The teleconferences will take place on Tuesday, October 25, for those unable to attend in person:

1) Panel Discussion on U.S.-Mexico Border 2020 (11:00 a.m. to noon Mountain Time)*

2) EPA’s Tribal Program (1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mountain Time)

There will NOT be a public comment period during these sessions.

Please note that a limited number of lines will be available, and those who are pre-registered will be given priority. Participating individuals will be able to hear “real time” presentations and NEJAC member discussions on the topics specified above.

You can register as follows:

By E-mail with “Register for the NEJAC-October Teleconference” in the subject line. Provide your name, organization, city, state, e-mail address, and telephone number for future follow-up; and specify the session(s) that you will attend.

By Phone or Fax to 877-773-1489 with your name, organization, city, state, e-mail address, and telephone number. Please specify “NEJAC-October Teleconference” and the session(s) that you will attend in your fax or voice message.

Non-English speaking attendees wishing to arrange for a foreign language interpreter may also make appropriate arrangements by calling 877-773-1489.

Members of the public who wish to attend one or both sessions must pre-register by Noon Mountain Time on October 17, 2011.

Information about services for individuals with disabilities: For information about access or services for individuals with disabilities, please contact Ms. Estela Rosas, APEX Direct, Inc., at 877-773-1489 or via email.

CARE Grant Recipients Recognized at White House

2011-10-07T16:36:00.000-07:00

The EPA will mark the award of 100 cooperative agreement grants by EPA’s Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) program during a White House event scheduled for the morning of October 18, 2011.

The CARE program enables and assists communities across the country better understand, address, and deal with their environmental problems through local partnerships. Since its launch in 2005, the CARE program has leveraged EPA grant funding dollar-for-dollar with in-kind donations to 87 communities in 40 states and territories with over 1,700 partners engaged.

CARE communities are addressing EPA priorities and goals on climate change, improving air quality, assuring the safety of chemicals, cleaning up their communities, and protecting America’s waters. The CARE program has demonstrated its success in a number of ways from receiving a very positive third party evaluation by the National Academy of Public Administration to modeling the Administrator’s vision of “One EPA” to fulfilling the Agency priority of “Expanding the Conversation on Environmentalism.”

On the morning of October 18, 2011, participants and other invitees will celebrate the CARE Program with a briefing on community partnerships and green jobs followed by a tour of the White House.

HUD Releases Draft EJ Strategy

2011-10-07T16:17:00.000-07:00

Department of Housing and Urban Development

Draft Environmental Justice Strategy Released

The Department of Housing and Urban Development is happy to announce the release of its draft Environmental Justice Strategy. This EJ strategy is a four-year plan to address environmental justice concerns and increase access to environmental benefits through HUD policies, programs, and activities. Our Department is committed to meeting the goals of Executive Order 12898, “Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations,” which states that each federal agency, with the law as its guide, should make environmental justice part of its mission.

This release is the latest step in a larger Administration-wide effort to ensure strong protection from environmental and health hazards for all Americans. In August, federal agencies signed the “Memorandum of Understanding on Environmental Justice and Executive Order 12898” (EJ MOU), which committed each agency to, among other things, finalizing an EJ strategy and releasing annual implementation reports.

The draft strategy will be open for public comment for 45 days, or until November 14, 2011. Comments can be submitted by emailing EJStrategy@hud.gov or by attending an Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice Listening Session. The department will then review those comments and finalize the strategy by February 2012. After the strategy is final, the Department and its federal partners will continue to engage stakeholders through outreach, education and stakeholder events and respond to public comments through annual implementation reports.

Draft Environmental Justice Strategy

Comments may be emailed to: EJStrategy@hud.gov

Links to the other federal EJ Strategies are expected to be posted on the Interagency Working Group webpage at by Friday, October 7th.

For more information about the EJ MOU

EJ IWG Releases Community Resource Guide

2011-10-07T16:08:00.000-07:00

Environmental Justice Interagency Working Group (EJ IWG) Releases Community Resource Guide and Interagency Directory

The community resource guide includes programs within agencies that may assist communities in reducing toxic exposures. The program may provide technical assistance, federal funding or a combination of both technical assistance and federal funding. Through this and other efforts, federal agencies are recommitting to improving the health and sustainability of communities across America.

Community-Based Federal Environmental Justice Guide (PDF)

The interagency directory provides basic information about the role of the federal agencies contained in this publication including their organization chart and key contact information for agency program areas.

Environmental Justice Federal Interagency Directory (PDF)

In addition to these resources, a compendium on federal strategies, policies, guidance documents and work plans for implementing the Executive Order 12898 is also available on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) website at IWG Compendium.

For more information about the EJ IWG visit: http://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/interagency/index.html

Liebert Online Environmental Justice Volume

2011-09-28T15:05:00.000-07:00

Liebert Online

Environmental Justice Volume: 4, Number: 3 September 2011

If you need any further help, please email us at e-toc@liebertpub.com.

Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia Fourth Annual Symposium on Equality:

2011-09-27T13:26:00.000-07:00

Overstudied and Underserved: Uses of the Law to Promote Healthy, Sustainable Urban Communities

8:30 a.m. - 4:45 p.m. at the Arch Street Meeting House, 4th and Arch Streets, Philadelphia, PA

The Thaddeus Stevens Award Dinner

5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at the Down Town Club, 6th & Chestnut Streets, Philadelphia, PA

An in-depth look at legal and advocacy tools for protecting minority and low-income communities disproportionately affected by negative environmental impacts, both by stemming further pollution and by crafting a positive vision of their environmental and economic revitalization.

Topics will include:

What is environmental justice, and where do we stand?
How can overburdened communities most effectively organize around environmental justice and public health issues?
How can we foster cross-disciplinary collaborations, incorporating law, public health and medical sciences, and other technical sciences, to inform and energize environmental justice advocacy and litigation?
How can cumulative impact screening tools best be designed and put to use in environmental litigation and the region's regulatory procedures?
How can we get past the false choice between jobs and the environment and create healthy, sustainable, and prosperous communities in historically overburdened neighborhoods?

Featuring keynote speaker Vernice Miller-Travis,
Vice Chair, Maryland State Commission on Environmental Justice and Sustainable Communities; Co-founder of WE ACT for Environmental Justice; member of National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC)

Other community leaders and experts from the Philadelphia region and around the country will serve as panelists and speakers, sharing their expertise in order to give us the practical tools needed to drive positive environmental change in disadvantaged communities, including:

Alan Greenberger, Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development and Director of Commerce, City of Philadelphia
Cecil Corbin-Mark, Deputy Director/Director of Policy Initiatives, WE ACT for Environmental Justice
Arthur Frank, Professor and Chair, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Drexel University
Julie Becker, Founder and President, Women's Health and Environmental Network
Eileen Gauna, Professor of Law, University of New Mexico
Leslie Fields, National Environmental Justice Director, Sierra Club
Melissa Kim, Director, North 5th Street Revitalization Project, Korean Community
Louis M. Bell, Chief of the Division of General Pediatrics, Attending physician for Infectious Diseases, & Chair of the Infection Control and Prevention Committee, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

The Symposium is being chaired by Law Center Board Member Donald K. Joseph, Associate Professor of Law at Rutgers Camden, where he teaches poverty law, ethics and professionalism. Mr. Joseph has litigated in diverse matters and was listed in "Best Lawyers in America" for his environmental litigation.
6 CLE Credits (pending approval) will be offered for this portion of the event.C ontinental Breakfast and Lunch will be served.

Followed by a cocktail reception, silent auction & The Thaddeus Stevens Award Dinner
5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at the Down Town Club, 6th & Chestnut Streets, Philadelphia, PA

The Law Center is honored to announce that we will present our Thaddeus Stevens Award to environmental justice pioneer and emeritus Law Center attorney Jerry Balter!

The Thaddeus Stevens Award, given out each year to individuals who have made substantial contributions to equality and justice in the issue area examined in that year's Symposium, this year recognizes Jerry's tenacious lawyering on behalf of minority and impoverished communities throughout the Philadelphia region victimized by disproportionate environmental harm.

6th Annual State of EJ in America Conference

2011-09-19T11:53:00.000-07:00

ANNOUNCING THE 6TH ANNUAL STATE OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IN AMERICA CONFERENCE

EJ Conference, Inc. announces the 6th Annual State of Environmental Justice in America Conference will convene April 3-5, 2012 at the DoubleTree Crystal City.

Since 2007, EJ Conference, Inc. has presented a premier environmental justice conference in Washington, DC, each spring.

The 2012 Conference will follow the same pattern as the previous conferences, and will endeavor to feature activities, including:

Meet the Agencies, Small Town/Rural Community Business Forum,

Minority Alternative and Renewable Energy Forum and new activities aimed at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and

Other Minority Serving Institutions.

The Conference Call for Papers and Presentations will be released by the end of September.

EPA Environmental Justice Community Outreach Call

2011-09-15T14:53:00.000-07:00

October 6, 2011 at 2 p.m. ET

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, EPA invites environmental justice advocates to participate on the next Quarterly Environmental Justice Community Outreach Call, which will take place on October 6, 2011 at 2 p.m. ET.

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. Listen to, or read about, previous calls.

EPA is taking suggestions on agenda topics for the upcoming call. After receiving your suggestions, EPA will select the topic(s) that are of general concern to communities. Please keep in mind that the call will only last one hour, so the number of topics discussed will be limited. Submit a topic.

For more information about the Administrator's priorities

For more information about Plan EJ 2014

Chicago EJ Groups Fight Leucadia Power Plant

2011-09-15T14:14:00.000-07:00

Eight organizations on Chicago's Southeast Side have formed a coalition, the Environmental Justice Alliance of Greater Southeast Chicago, to help ensure that new and existing companies comply with air- and water-pollution limits. The groups include People for Community Recovery, the Southeast Environmental Task Force, East Side United Methodist Church and the Sierra Club. A harsh contradiction moved the groups to act: Within a month after Governor Pat Quinn beefed up laws intended to protect poor and minority communities from toxic pollution, he signed legislation that cleared the way for the Leucadia National Corporation coal-to-gas plant (proposed for site at left) in a low-income Chicago neighborhood where people already breathe some of the nation's dirtiest air.

The activists vowed to hold public officials and environmental regulators accountable for their promises to safeguard children, the elderly and others who are more vulnerable to toxic chemicals and heavy metals. The activists want jobs, but they want jobs and industry that don't pollute our neighborhoods and make their children sick.

Nearly two dozen of the region's top polluters are within eight miles of Altgeld Gardens and other neighborhoods ringing Lake Calumet in the city's southeast corner. Activists led by Johnson's are angry that Quinn signed legislation in July paving the way for a new plant that plans to turn coal and oil refinery waste into natural gas. The site is two blocks from Washington High School, 3535 E. 114th St., where a monitor shows the neighborhood's air already has the state's highest levels of toxic chromium and cadmium, as well as sulfates, which can trigger asthma attacks. It also has some of the state's highest levels of lung-damaging soot and brain-damaging lead.

Developers of the coal-to-gas plant say it will turn dirty coal into cleaner natural gas, create 1,000 construction jobs and add 200 permanent jobs in an area decimated by plant closings. But it could be sidetracked for reasons other than the extra pollution it would create. The holding company for Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas announced last week that it won't buy the plant's synthetic gas, saying customers would be forced to subsidize it through heating bills that could jump by 9 percent a year. The move could make it more difficult for New York-based Leucadia National Corporation to obtain financing for the project.

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency also opposes a bid by the site's current owner to transfer pollution credits that would enable the coal-to-gas plant to operate in an area where overall air pollution already violates federal and state standards. (Chicago Tribune, 9/15/2011)

EARTHSEED Consulting

2011-09-15T12:09:00.000-07:00

Using regenerative strategies and new media approaches, EARTHSEED Consulting engages multiple stakeholders in the design and implementation of environmental projects aimed at diverse communities.

With over 25 years of combined professional experience in business, media, education and environmental sectors, EARTHSEED Consulting leverages their broad networks to foster collaboration and ensure measurable success.

Whether successfully delivering Toyota’s first African American Green Initiative, integrating permaculture and environmental literacy into San Francisco's Unified School District, producing an original urban green living television series and training youth to produce the bay areas largest solar powered hip hop music festival, their work represents a new model of engagement at the intersection of culture, media, environmental awareness and sustainable solutions.

Their services cannot be put into a box, but are customized to meet the individual needs of each of their clients.

Here is a taste of what they offer:

Strategic development & implementation
Marketing and communications
Curriculum and workshop design
Public speaking
Group facilitation
Multimedia content development
Green event production
Youth leadership training

Pandora Thomas’ life and work are rooted in creating a world where all people have access to empowering and hands on environmental education experiences. She is passionate about deepening her and others connection to the natural rhythms of our earth in order to heal our communities.

She is co-founder of Earthseed Consulting LLC, a holistic consulting firm whose work deepens the impacts of environmental advocacy in the lives of diverse communities. Most recently she directed the Environmental Service Learning Initiative as well as serving as the environmental educator for Grind for the Green. Both programs aim to reconnect youth of color to the earth using innovative strategies.

Her education has sought to link issues such as global affairs, womens rights, the environment and sustainability, racial justice and youth empowerment. She studied at Columbia University’s School for International and Public Affairs, Teachers College, and Tufts University.

She is a credentialed multiple subjects teacher, a naturalist and outdoor education instructor, as well as a certified green building professional and permaculture teacher who has created and delivered curriculum to pre-k through adult audiences throughout the US around multiple themes including human rights, environmental justice, and outdoor and environmental education.

She has lectured extensively around issues of diversity, women's leadership, the environment, and human rights. Her writing includes a childrens book, various curricula and a greenbuilding manual for youth. She has studied and lived in over ten countries and some of her other achievements include presenting at Tedx Denver, being awarded fellowships to Columbia University Human Rights Program as well as Green For All’s Green Fellow Program. She also volunteers regularly and served as a Global Peer to four Nigerian women working to bring safe water technology to their communities through the Global Women’s Water Initiative.

Zakiya Harris is a California native, who has been working as an artist, educator and activist for the past 10 years. She received her B.A. in Political Science and History from Rutgers University and attended New College of Law in San Francisco before leaving to pursue her life long passion of teaching. She has taught elementary through collegiate level in a variety of public and private settings. In 2003, she became the lead trainer at the DJ Project where she facilitated job training and entrepreneurship modules using the medium of hip-hop culture. In 2007, she Co-Founded Grind for the Green the largest youth led “green” social media and events program in the nation, which is committed to moving young people of color from the margins to the epicenter of the environmental movement using hip-hop, art and culture. The program has been heralded for its innovation and production of the 1st Solar Powered Hip-Hop Music Concert in the Bay Area. In 2008, she became the first African-American Regional Director of the San Francisco Green Festival, the largest sustainability event on the planet, where she served for two years.

Named one to watch by Grist.org, some of her achievements include receiving the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights Future Leaders award, serving as a Fellow for Green For All under the direction of Van Jones and presenting at Tedx Denver. Recently she co-founded Earthseed Consulting LLC her first for profit venture, the firm is dedicated to the reconnection of communities of color to the earth. She is also an accomplished dancer, vocalist, actor and member of the west coast based neo folkloric ensemble Ase Dance Theater Collective. Her highest honor in life is being a mother to her beautiful 5 year old daughter.

Plan EJ 2014 Released by EPA

2011-09-14T09:52:00.000-07:00

Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the release of Plan EJ 2014, a three-year, comprehensive plan to advance environmental justice efforts in nine areas, including rulemaking, permitting, enforcement, and science. Plan EJ 2014 aims to protect people’s health in communities overburdened by pollution, to empower communities to take action to improve their health and environment, and to establish partnerships with local, state, tribal and federal governments and organizations to promote sustainable communities where a clean environment and healthy economy can thrive.

Plan EJ 2014 is EPA’s strategy to meet the mandate of Executive Order 12898, “Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations,” which states that each federal agency, with the law as its guide, should make environmental justice part of its mission.

EPA released the draft plan for public comment in fall 2010 and spring 2011 and held forums and listening sessions in communities across the country. EPA, along with its federal partners, will continue to conduct outreach, education, stakeholder forums and listening sessions as it moves forward to implement EO 12898 and Plan EJ 2014. EPA will issue annual reports documenting the progress toward meeting the commitments outlined in Plan EJ 2014. The annual reports will be made available to the public through EPA’s website.

Plan EJ 2014

EPA Office of Environmental Justice

Five Local EPA EJ Jobs Grants

2011-09-02T18:38:00.000-07:00

EPA Dallas Regional Administrator Al Armendariz announced Wednesday that five local environmental organizations have been awarded $487,500 in grants by the federal Environmental Protection Agency for environmental justice, job training and education programs. The grants announced at a ceremony Wednesday at the New Orleans Healing Center on St. Claude Avenue were:

Louisiana Green Corps, $300,000 environmental job training grant to train low-income residents for jobs in energy efficiency and green building; solar and/or solar thermal system installation; and materials reuse, deconstruction and recycling. The program will last two years. The Green Corps acts as a recycling center for paint and construction materials and provides those materials for rebuilding projects in the city.

Global Green USA, $100,000 green jobs pilot program grant for local youth job training and placing workers with local, small construction contractors. The organization’s NOLA Wise program, operating with support from the U.S. Department of Energy and the city of New Orleans, is renovating existing homes to be energy efficient, providing contractors and apprentices with employment opportunities.

Lower Ninth Ward Center for Sustainable Engagement and Development, $32,500 pollution-control grant, in partnership with Nurtured World, to provide Lower 9th Ward residents with energy efficiency training.

Vietnamese American Young Leaders Association, $30,000 environmental education grant to provide local youth with training to monitor air quality in eastern New Orleans.

Louisiana Bucket Brigade, $25,000 environmental justice grant to provide air-quality sampling around industrial areas in southeast Louisiana. The organization has used its air-quality sampling to support successful Clean Air Act lawsuits against several local refineries.

(Nola)

NEJAC Public Meeting Albuquerque, New Mexico

2011-08-30T15:26:00.000-07:00

National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC)

Public Meeting

October 25-26, 2011,

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Advance Registration is Now Open until October 7

The next face-to-face meeting of the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC) will be held at The Albuquerque Marriott Hotel, 2101 Louisiana Boulevard, NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87109, on October 25 and 26, 2011. The meeting will include a public comment period.

Meeting Registration: Registration is required for everyone (including EPA and other federal employees). Advance registration closes at Noon Mountain Time on Friday, October 7, 2011. Meeting materials will be prepared based on the number of participants who have pre-registered by that date.

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:

Online: Register online

By E-mail: Send an e-mail to Meetings@AlwaysPursuingExcellence.com with “Register for the NEJAC October 2011 Meeting” in the subject line. Please provide your name, organization, mailing address (including city, state, and zip code), e-mail address, and telephone number for future follow-up as necessary.

By Fax: Print the web page containing the registration form and fax to 877-773-0779.

By Phone: Leave a message at 877-773-0779. Please provide your name, job title, organization, mailing address, e-mail address, and telephone number for future follow-up as necessary. Non-English speaking attendees wishing to arrange for a foreign language interpreter also may make appropriate arrangements by calling the number above.

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 Albuquerque Marriott for the meeting, you must contact the hotel directly to reserve your room. Call 1-800-334-2086 or by visiting the website. To be eligible for the negotiated room block rate, you must contact the hotel no later than Tuesday, October 11 at midnight.

Public Comment Sign-Up: Members of the public who wish to speak during the Public Comment period should pre-register by Noon Mountain Time on Friday, October 7, 2011. To accommodate the large number of people who want to address the NEJAC, 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 also can be submitted for the record. The suggested format for individuals providing written public comments is as follows:

name of speaker
name of organization/community
city and state
e-mail address
a brief description of the concern, and what you want the NEJAC to advise EPA to do

Written comments received by Noon Mountain Time on Friday, October 7, 2011, 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.All written comments should be sent to Meetings@AlwaysPursuingExcellence.com.

For more information, please contact EPA Support Contractor, APEX Direct Inc., at 877-773-0779 or Meetings@AlwaysPursuingExcellence.com.

EJ IWG Announces Regional Public Meetings

2011-08-17T08:39:00.000-07:00

The Federal Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice (EJ IWG) will conduct public meetings in August 2011.

The purpose of the stakeholder meetings is to promote public input with federal agencies in compliance with the Environmental Justice Executive Order No. 12898. These meetings are intended to provide an opportunity for all stakeholders to talk about ways that federal agencies can share information about community-focused work or opportunities and can most effectively work with community representatives experiencing environmental issues.

For more information contact Sherri White (white.sherri@epa.gov) or Dorris Riddick (riddick.dorris@epa.gov ).

Atlanta, GA, August 17, 2011, 3:00 - 6:30 pm

EPA Region 4 and the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, will host an EJ IWG stakeholder dialogue on Wednesday, August 17, 2011, from 3:00 - 6:30 pm at Clark-Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA. While this meeting will draw on community organizations, youth groups and students from the surrounding university community there will be some emphasis on the work on young people in environmental projects and environmental justice. Please send your RSVP to Karen Smith (smith.karen@epa.gov ). Space is limited.

Detroit, MI, August 24, 2011, 2:00 - 5:00 pm

The EJ IWG will conduct a stakeholder meeting on August 24, from 2:00 - 5:00 pm in conjunction with the EPA Environmental Justice Conference. The stakeholder meeting provides an opportunity for community leaders, elected officials, state and local government representatives and others to have a conversation with federal agency representatives to highlight local successes and to discuss community environmental justice concerns.

Environmental Justice Act: Chicago

2011-08-16T16:08:00.000-07:00

Governor Pat Quinn has signed legislation creating a commission to ensure minorities and the poor aren't disproportionately affected by environmental pollution. The Environmental Justice Act was sponsored by Democratic Sen. Toi Hutchinson of Chicago Heights and Rep. Will Davis of East Hazel Crest.

It creates a commission that will analyze state laws and policies to ensure no population bears the brunt of pollution risks. The panel will make recommendations to the governor and Legislature.

The new law addresses concerns about rising asthma rates and other health problems. Race, income or nationality shouldn't determine whether a community has clean air and water.

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency will provide administrative support to the commission. Members will include lawmakers, the public and health, environmental and business advocates. (Chicago Tribune, 8/16/2011

EPA EJ Eco-Ambassador Diversity Internship Program

2011-08-09T07:39:00.000-07:00

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the Environmental Justice (EJ) eco-Ambassador program. Last year Administrator Lisa P. Jackson introduced the EPA eco-Ambassador program with the goal to empower communities to be safer and healthier. EPA is happy to launch this internship program to focus on environmental justice, one of Administrator Jackson's top priorities. EPA is looking for energetic and highly motivated graduate level students to work on addressing environmental justice.

Numerous opportunities are available within EPA for students to gain valuable work experience while contributing to the mission of protecting human health and the environment. Student internship opportunities are available at EPA's regional offices nationwide through the EJ eco-Ambassador program.

The goal of the internship program is to:

· Provide an opportunity for graduate level students to work collaboratively with EPA offices to support community based programs andincrease local community's capacity to address environmentalconcerns.

· Facilitate career development opportunities for graduate levelstudents who have been involved in or have a strong interest inenvironmental justice.

APPLICATION PROCESS Graduate students interested in the EJ eco-Ambassador program should apply through to the Student Diversity Internship Program (SDIP) by August 19th, 2011. Internship placements are within a 50 mile radius of student academic institution. In your application please indicate that you are interested in the EJ eco-Ambassador Program.

ELIGIABILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE EJ ECO-AMBASSADOR PROGRAM:

· All U.S. citizens, including residents of Puerto Rico, the VirginIslands, and other U.S. territories may apply

· Applicants must be full-time graduate students attending an U.S. accredited institution as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education

· Applicants must have a minimum 2.8 on a 4.0 grading scale (Baverage and above); and

· Have previously been involved or have a strong interest in environmental justice, social justice issues and/or environmental health disparities in an academic, volunteer and/ or employment setting

· Applicants may be pursuing a degree in: Environmental HealthScience, Public Health, Public Policy, Environmental Management, Environmental Law, other areas relating to public service, and environmental concerns.

INTERNSHIPS COMPONENTS:

· Stipend and Support: Graduate Stipend ($6,000)

· Internship Experience: 10-week part-time experience at EPAHeadquarters, Regions and/or Labs.

· Professional Development: Student orientation, web-based professional development training, networking through UNCFSP Virtual Network and portal opportunity (internships, scholarships, etc).

Visit the EPA Environmental Justice website for additional Informationon Environmental Justice Activities. Mustafa S. Ali, Associate Director Office of Environmental Justice 202-564-2606202-501-0740

Obama Agencies Sign EJ Memorandum of Understand

2011-08-04T11:43:00.000-07:00

The Obama Administration today announced Federal agencies have agreed to develop environmental justice strategies to protect the health of people living in communities overburdened by pollution and provide the public with annual progress reports on their efforts. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder were joined by agency heads across the Administration in signing the “Memorandum of Understanding on Environmental Justice and Executive Order 12898” (EJ MOU). "

Environmental justice means that all communities overburdened by pollution – particularly minority, low income and tribal communities – deserve the same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards, equal access to the Federal decision-making process, and a healthy environment in which to live, learn, and work.

The signing of the EJ MOU is the latest in a series of steps the Obama Administration has taken to elevate the environmental justice conversation and address the inequities that may be present in some communities. Last September, Jackson and Sutley reconvened the Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice (EJ IWG) for the first time in more than a decade. In December, at the White House Environmental Justice Forum, Cabinet Secretaries and other senior Administration officials met with more than 100 environmental justice leaders from across the country to engage advocates on issues that are affecting their communities, including reducing air pollution, addressing health disparities, and capitalizing on emerging clean energy job opportunities.

The MOU advances agency responsibilities outlined in the 1994 Executive Order 12898, “Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations.” The Executive Order directs each of the named Federal agencies to make environmental justice part of its mission and to work with the other agencies on environmental justice issues as members of the EJ IWG. The EJ MOU broadens the reach of the EJ IWG to include participant agencies not originally named in Executive Order 12898 and adopts an EJ IWG charter, which provides the workgroup with more structure and direction. It also formalizes the environmental justice commitments that agencies have made over the past year, providing a roadmap for agencies to better coordinate their efforts.

Specific areas of focus include considering the environmental justice impacts of climate adaptation and commercial transportation, and strengthening environmental justice efforts under the National Environmental Policy Act and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The MOU also outlines processes and procedures to help overburdened communities more efficiently and effectively engage agencies as they make decisions.

The following agencies signed the EJ MOU: Environmental Protection Agency; White House Council on Environmental Quality; Department of Health and Human Services; Department of Justice; Department of Agriculture; Department of Commerce; Department of Defense; Department of Education; Department of Energy; Department of Homeland Security; Department of Housing and Urban Development; Department of Interior; Department of Labor; Department of Transportation; Department of Veterans Affairs; General Services Administration; and Small Business Administration.

Read the EJ MOU

More information on the EJ IWG

President Obama Announces Energy Nominee

2011-07-29T13:40:00.000-07:00

Dot Harris, Nominee for Director, Ofc of Minority Economic Impact, Dept of Energy

Today the President of the United States announced his intent to nominate Dot Harris, left, of Atlanta, Georgia to be his Director of the Office of Minority Impact and Diversity for the United States Department of Energy. Since 2006, Ms. Harris has served as the National Secretary of the American Association of Blacks in Energy, and the chair of the Association’s Energy Entrepreneur Committee. Dot Harris is currently President and CEO of Jabo Industries, LLC, a minority-woman owned management consulting firm concentrating primarily in the energy, information technology, and healthcare industries.

Before joining GE, Ms. Harris was an officer and Vice President of Operations & Production for ABB Service, Inc. She also spent twelve years as Field Services Engineer and Services Manager with Westinghouse Electric Company. Ms. Harris currently serves as the National Secretary for the American Association of Blacks in Energy.

She holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of South Carolina in Columbia, SC and a M.S. in Technology Management from Southern Polytechnic State University in Marietta, GA. (DOE, AABE, Photo courtesy AABE)

Environmental Professionals of Color- National

2011-07-29T07:40:00.000-07:00

The Environmental Professionals of Color- National (EPOC National) is a network of leaders, many of whom are the only person or one of the few people of color working at their environmental institutions. The purpose of this network is to provide a safe space for connecting people of color across the U.S. to share information, provide support, and discuss in depth the issues we care about.

EPOC National members work on a diverse array of environmental issues, including conservation, global warming, sustainability, environmental health, an environmental justice. They fill a unique and valuable role as bridges between the environmental community and communities of color.

New Environmental Justice Website

2011-07-19T13:04:00.000-07:00

The newly-launched Environmental Justice Community Information Website is a resource for environmental justice stakeholders, community activists, elected officials, and government personnel. This resource was created via a partnership between Tennessee State University (Nashville, Tennessee) and the U.S. Department of Energy.

This interactive website is a one-stop-shop and training portal that houses several environmental and public health-based websites, including:

1) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Environmental Justice Viewer;

2) The National Institute of Health's TOXMAP website;

3) EPA's My Environment website; and

4) The Environmental Defense Fund's Scorecard website.

The online geographic information systems (GIS) mapping tools hosted by many of the new sites offer excellent opportunities for stakeholders to visualize the scope of environmental issues impacting their lives.

NAACP Report on Coal Plants

2011-07-18T19:30:00.001-07:00

An NAACP report, “Coal Blooded, Putting Profits Over People,” released Friday, lists an Indiana coal-fired power plant as a top-five “environmental justice” offender. The State Line Energy electric generating plant in Hammond, above, was rated as the fifth-worst in the nation. That plant is nearly 150 miles from Fort Wayne, but state and local NAACP officials say its effect reaches beyond northwest Indiana and should concern all Hoosiers, regardless of race. The NAACP report said the power plants are inadequately regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and that their harmful effects are borne disproportionately by people of color and lower incomes. Two of the top three worst offending plants are in Chicago.

The NAACP report, analyzed emissions and demographic factors such as race, income and population density. Those calculations became “environmental justice scores” for America’s 431 coal-fired power plants. In Indiana, in addition to the Hammond plant’s top-five ranking, Duke Energy’s R. Gallagher Generating Station in New Albany ranked seventh and a plant in Michigan City also received a failing grade, according to the report.

The company in May told the Chicago Tribune it plans to close the aging State Line as early as next year and no later than 2014, rather than spend millions to bring it in line with more stringent pollution limits.

Analyzing plants' emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides and demographic factors of where the plants are located, the NAACP said "environmental justice scores" were given for each of the nation's 431 coal-fired power plants. The State Line electric generating plant was rated as the fifth-worst in the nation and the Michigan City Generating Station also received a failing grade.

The ‘Top Twelve EJ Offenders’ Nationwide

Out of the 431 coal-fired power plants that the report examined in this study, the following twelve had the worst environmental justice scores:

1. Crawford Gen. Station, Chicago, IL (Edison International)
2. Hudson Gen. Station, Jersey City, NJ (PSEG)
3. Fisk Gen. Station, Chicago, IL (Edison International)
4. Valley Power Plant, Milwaukee, WI (Wisconsin Energy)
5. State Line Plant, Hammond, IN (Dominion)
6. Lake Shore Plant, Cleveland, OH (FirstEnergy)
7. R. Gallagher Gen. Station, New Albany, IN (Duke Energy)
8. Bridgeport Station, Bridgeport, CT (PSEG)
9. River Rouge Plant, River Rouge, MI (DTE Energy)
10. Cherokee Station, Commerce City, CO (Xcel Energy)
11. Four Corners Plant, Niinahnízaad, NM (Arizona Public Service Co.)
12. Waukegan Gen. Station, Waukegan, IL (Edison International)

Jacqui Patterson, who coodinated the publication of the report, is director of the NAACP's Environmental and Climate Justice Department. (NWI Times, 7/14/2011, Journal Gazette, 7/16/2011, photo courtesy NWI Times)

EPA Sued By California Community Groups

2011-07-09T15:36:00.000-07:00

Central and Southern California community groups filed a federal lawsuit to force action on a 17-year-old complaint to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) about toxic waste dumps. The groups filed a complaint about toxic waste dumps with EPA 17 years ago and never received a response. Tired of waiting, they have filed a federal lawsuit.

Kettleman City, Buttonwillow and rural areas of Imperial County are home to the only toxic waste dumps in the state. Grassroots community groups say that locating the dumps only in low-income and predominantly Latino areas violates Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which prohibits any recipient of federal money from discriminating on the basis of race or national origin.

El Pueblo, along with Padres Hacia una Vida Mejor of Buttonwillow, are asking a judge to order the EPA to act on the complaint, which was filed in 1994 against the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, which issues permits for toxic waste dumps. The community groups say the department, which receives federal funding, must stop the "pattern and practice of racially discriminatory permitting and enforcement of toxic waste laws."

The discriminatory practices began in 1985, after the California Waste Management Board (now CalRecycle) hired a Los Angeles consulting firm, Cerrell Associates, to help identify potential sites for toxic waste facilities. Communities least likely to mount opposition to such sites, according to Cerrell's study, were rural; were made up of poor residents who work in farming or ranching; had little education or involvement in social issues; and were receptive to promises of economic benefits. Since it was written, the Cerrell report has been at the center of controversy over alleged "targeting" based on race and class.

Under the Civil Rights Act, the federally funded Department of Toxic Substances Control should issue permits more equitably. Waste Management Inc., which owns the Kettleman City dump, holds the position that allegations of discrimination are "entirely untrue."

The California complaint is one of 32 pending since the 1990s. Over the years, only one complaint has been resolved, and nearly 100 others were dismissed. (L.A. Times, 7/7/2011)

EPA Proposes Hazardous Waste Recycling Rule

2011-07-09T09:52:00.000-07:00

To promote economic, environmental and public health benefits of waste recycling

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing new safeguards for recycling hazardous materials to protect public health and the environment. The proposal modifies EPA’s 2008 Definition of Solid Waste (DSW) rule, which revised hazardous waste regulations to encourage recycling of hazardous materials. The proposal will improve accountability and oversight of hazardous materials recycling, while allowing for important flexibilities that will promote its economic and environmental benefits. EPA is opening up this proposal for public comment.

EPA is also releasing for public comment its 355-page draft expanded environmental justice analysis of the 2008 DSW final rule, which evaluates the rule’s potential impact on low-income and minority communities. The analysis acknowledges that while all communities create waste, where the waste ends up is not random and there are some communities that are more likely to be affected by the waste. The 2008 DSW rule disproportionately harmed low-income and minority communities, which are more likely to be near facilities that take advantage of the exemption. No matter what the government wants to label the waste, it is still hazardous and should be subject to stringent oversight. EPA is also requesting public comment on the environmental justice analysis as well as on suggested changes received from peer review. The analysis and peer review comments will be available in the docket for this rulemaking once the proposal is published.

EPA’s re-examination of the 2008 DSW final rule identified areas in the regulations that could be improved to better protect public health and the environment with a particular focus on adjacent communities by ensuring better management of hazardous waste. The proposal includes provisions to address those areas through increased transparency and oversight and accountability for hazardous materials recycling. Facilities that recycle onsite or within the same company under the reduced regulatory requirements retained under the proposal would be subject to enhanced storage and recordkeeping requirements as compared to the 2008 rule. Companies that send their hazardous materials offsite for recycling would have tailored storage standards, while being required to send their materials to a permitted hazardous waste recycling facility. The proposed rule also creates a level playing field by requiring all forms of hazardous waste recycling to meet requirements designed to ensure materials are legitimately recycled and not being disposed of illegally.

EPA will accept comment on this proposal for 60 days after publication in the Federal Register. The docket for the rulemaking is EPA-HQ-RCRA-2010-0742 and can be accessed at http://www.regulations.gov once the proposal is published. (EPA, NYT, 7/7/2011)

More information about this rulemaking

Call for Abstracts for Poster Presentations

2011-06-23T15:33:00.000-07:00

2011 Environmental Justice Conference: One Community - One Environment

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS); and Greendoor Initiative (Detroit-based organization) are co-sponsoring the 2011 Environmental Justice Conference: One Community – One Environment which will be held on August 23-26, 2011 in Detroit, Michigan. They are issuing this call for poster presentations on Environmental Justice.

Abstracts (summaries) of not more than 250 words must be submitted by July 18, 2011.
Environmental Justice Defined: The EPA defines environmental justice as: "The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies. Fair treatment means that no group of people, including racial, ethnic, or socio-economic groups should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, municipal, and commercial operations or the execution of federal, state, local, and tribal programs and policies."

Based on that definition, your Environmental Justice poster presentation could cover a number of topics including,

Models for effective community engagement and capacity building
Strategies for addressing pollutions sources that impact EJ communities
Workforce development training and job creation
Health disparities
Lead poisoning
Water pollution
Air pollution
Refineries
Chemical plants
Relocation issues
Improper enforcing of environmental laws
Brownfields in your community
Hazardous waste
Sustainability
Green jobs
Worker training

The topic chosen should relate to the conference theme, One Community – One Environment.

Conference Tracks include:

Models for Effective Community Engagement & Capacity Building
Strategies for Addressing Pollutions Sources that Impact EJ Communities
Environmental Workforce Development Training and Job Creation

For more information on Abstract and Poster requirements

To submit an abstract

For more information about the conference

Individuals with disabilities who need accommodation to participate in this event should contact Sharon D. Beard at voice telephone: 919-541-1863l: . TTY users should contact the Federal TTY Relay Service at 800-877-8339. Requests should be made at least 5 days in advance of the event.

EPA - Community Conference Call

2011-06-23T15:24:00.000-07:00

Intended Audience: Environmental Justice and Tribal Communities or Organizations

When: Thursday, June 30, 2011 Time: 2:00pm-3:00pm EST

Conference Line: 1-866-299-3188; code: 919-541-0773#(phone limited to 125 participants on a first-come first-serve basis)

Purpose: To provide more information on upcoming activities in EPA’s Air Programs and foster a dialog with communities on their air quality issues. This call will provide an:

Overview of the Upcoming Air Rule for the Pulp and Paper Industry and other air quality rules

Discussion of the purpose and process for developing the Environmental Justice Community Learning Center

Opportunity for community members to ask questions regarding the topics discussed.

To register for the call/webinar. You Must register 24 hours before the webinar.

For more information about the conference call, contact Lena Epps-Price (919) 541-5573.

EPA EJ Listening Session on Permitting

2011-05-26T12:06:00.000-07:00

Listening Sessions on Plan EJ 2014: Considering Environmental Justice in Permitting

Environmental Justice is one of Administrator Lisa P. Jackson's top priorities for EPA. Plan EJ 2014 is EPA's roadmap for carrying out the Administrator's priority. As laid out in the ‘Plan EJ 2014 Considering Environmental Justice in Permitting’ draft implementation plan, EPA is examining ways to better integrate environmental justice considerations into the permits issued under the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act and other environmental laws. A crucial step in this process is for EPA to get feedback from individuals and organizations that have experience and an interest in this issue on the focus and outcomes of the initiative. Accordingly, EPA has scheduled six Listening Sessions, organized by stakeholder group, to provide an opportunity for those stakeholders to express their views on the initiative.

Suggested topics for comment are:

· What ideas do you have for tools or mechanisms to assist in incorporating EJ into permitting?
· In light of your experience with environmental justice issues in the contextof a facility permit, what are your successes and lessons learned?
· What permits (e.g., the type and location) should EPA focus on in the initiative?
· Some states have developed programs addressing EJ in Permitting. For example, Connecticut and Indiana:

o www.ct.gov/dep/environmentaljustice (Connecticut)
o http://www.epa.state.il.us/environmental-justice/public-participation-policy.pdf (Illinois)

Do you have any recommendation for the EPA initiative based on the state programs?

Schedule for Listening Sessions:

Session 1: State and Local GovernmentsJune 6, 2011, 2 pm to 4 pm EST Call In Number: (877) 290-8017 Conference ID # 71516105

Session 2: Business and Industry June 9, 2011, 1 pm to 3 pm EST Call In Number: (877) 290-8017 Conference ID # 71551164

Session 3: Environmental GroupsJune 9, 2011, 3pm to 5 pm EST Call In Number: (877) 290-8017 Conference ID # 71560406

Session 4: Tribes: Governments, Communities, Businesses June 13, 2011, 2 pm to 3 pm EST Call In Number: (877) 290-8017 Conference ID # 71564865

Session 5: Environmental Justice Communities and Community Groups June 13: 6 pm to 8 pm EST Call In Number: (877) 290-8017 Conference ID # 71574604

Session 6: Spanish Language (Call will be hosted in Spanish) June 13: 8 pm to 9 pm EST Call In Number: (877) 290-8017 Conference ID # 71581266

Purpose of the Listening Sessions: The listening sessions will provide an opportunity for speakers to convey to EPA ideas, concerns and recommendations in connection with EPA’s EJ Permitting Initiative. These Listening Sessions are intended as opportunities for EPA to listen to you, therefore EPA will not be responding to comments on the call. The comments will inform EPA’s work on the EJ permitting initiative going forward.

How the Listening Sessions Will Work: EPA has designed a process to allow EPA to hear from as many organizations and individuals as possible. Each Listening Session will focus on a particular stakeholder group. To ensure that everyone has an opportunity to share their views, we ask that only members of that particular stakeholder group ask to speak and only one representative of a particular organization provide remarks during the Listening Session. Individuals that are not able to speak on the call can submit written comments before and after the Listening Sessions. A recording and transcript of every listening session will be available on the EJ website after the sessions.

To Submit Written Comments

EPA welcomes written comments before or after the Listening Sessions. The deadline for submitting written comments is June 30, 2011.

Submit written comments via email to ejpermitting@epa.gov

Additional Information or Questions ejpermitting@epa.gov

2011-05-24T20:34:00.000-07:00

Remembering Damu Smith

2011-05-05T03:36:00.001-07:00

We Miss You Damu

Damu Smith died five years ago today (May 5, 2006). Many of the younger crop of new African American environmentalists never met Damu. Yet Smith lives on in the minds of those who knew him. Damu brought his own unique presence to the environmental and environmental justice movements. Damu aggressively addressed environmental racism as leader of the National Black Environmental Justice Network.

He took the name Damu, which means "blood, leadership and strength" in the Swahili language of Kenya.

Damu Smith was an activist. Damu was a radio talk show host. He was a father. Smith's daughter, Asha Moore Smith is 18 now.

Washington Post reporter Darryl Fears covered Damu's last days. Africa Roots Library provides and excellent compilation of Damu's life. Damu's Middle East and anti war activism is described in Washington Report. Democracy Now covered one of Smith's anti war speeches on behalf of Black Voices for Peace, one of the organizations he founded. Democracy Now also covered Damu's fight with colon cancer.

Answers.com gives an great comprehensive description of Damu. And of course, Google now provides Images of Damu Smith & Videos of Damu Smith. The Los Angeles Times and numerous other news oulets reported on Damu's death.

Hazel Johnson Honored at EJ Conference

2011-04-29T15:34:00.001-07:00

The Mother of the Environmental Justice movement, Hazel Johnson, was honored at the 5th Annual Environmental Justice in America Conference 2011. The tribute was delivered by Dr. Benjamin Chavis at a reception during the first day of the EJ conference. Hazel Johnson died on January 12, 2011.

Hazel Johnson's daughter, Cheryl Johnson, flew in from Chicago to participate in the tribute to her mother. Cheryl delivered heart-felt comments about her mother and how much she meant, not only to herself, but to the residents of Argelt Gardens in Chicago and the environmental justice movement.

The ceremony was touching. It reminded attendees about the contributions to the EJ movement that Hazel provided. She was not dubbed 'Mother of Environmental Justice' for no reason. President Obama cut his teeth as a 'community organizer' under the tutelage of Hazel. Too bad that he did not recognize Hazel in his book. There is plenty of time for President Obama to correct this omission.

Environmental Justice Hall of Fame

2011-04-29T15:17:00.000-07:00

John Rosenthall, left, and Ben Chavis, right, announced at the 5th Annual Environmental Justice in America Conference 2011 that they would initiate an Environmental Justice Hall of Fame.

The purpose of the EJ Hall of Fame will be to recognize the work of environmental justice activists.

The announcement was made at a ceremony to honor Hazel Johnson, who died January 12, 2011.

The Hall of Fame will start as a virtual award, with future awardees being honored with portraits at federal agencies and other institutions.

5th Annual Conference a Very Big Success

2011-04-29T07:46:00.000-07:00

State of Environmental Justice in America 2011 Conference

The National Small Town Alliance, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Interior, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Howard University School of Law and others, kicked off the State of Environmental Justice in America 2011 Conference this week in Washington, D.C.

This year's conference theme was "Building the Clean Energy Economy with Equity," and focused on climate change, green jobs and equity for low-income, minority and Tribal populations. The main goal was to continue bringing together participants from Federal agencies, academia, business and industry, nonprofit organizations, faith-based organizations and local communities to participate in a dialogue on achieving equality of environmental protection.

It was always a dream of the environmental justice movement to hold consistent meetings to address the aforementioned issues. The annual E.J in America Conference, coordinated by John Rosehthall, has made that dream into a reality.

Some of the speakers included:

Secretary Tom Vilsack, U.S. Department of Agriculture
U.S. Congressman James E. Clyburn (SC-6)
Delegate to Congress Donna M. Christensen (VI)
Robert Stanton, Senior Advisor to the Secretary, U.S. Department of Interior
The Department of Energy's Associate Deputy Secretary Melvin G. Williams Jr.
Harris Sherman, Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Mathy Stanislaus, Assistant Administrator, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Ignacia Moreno, Assistant Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources Division, U.S. Department of Justice

The conference was held April 27 - 29, 2011, at the Washington Marriott at Metro Center in Washington, D.C.

Additional details

2011-04-23T06:10:00.000-07:00

The 5th Annual

State of Environmental Justice In America 2011 Conference

April 27-29, 2011

Washington Marriott Hotel-Metro Center

Washington, DC

EPA Seeks Applicants for EJ Green Jobs Projects

2011-04-20T17:07:00.000-07:00

To support underserved populations, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 6 office in Dallas is accepting applications for a $100,000 grant for projects that promote Green Job Training and Green Job Placement. An eligible applicant MUST BE: an incorporated non-profit organization; a Native American tribal government (Federally recognized); OR Intertribal Consortium or Consortia (AND) located within the same state, territory, commonwealth, or tribe that the proposed project will be located. In addition, an eligible applicant must be able to demonstrate that it has worked directly with the affected community.

An underserved population, for the purposes of this Request for Application, is a community, including minority, low-income, or indigenous populations or communities, that is disproportionately impacted by environmental harms and risks and has a local environmental and public health issue that is identified in the proposal. Projects must be performed in one of the following Region 6 states: Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and/or Texas.

Environmental justice means the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race or income, in the environmental decision-making process. Environmental justice issues often involve multiple sources of contamination, like pollution from several industrial facilities within one neighborhood, environmental hazards at the workplace or home, or contamination resulting from the consumption of fish or other subsistence foods.

Applications must be postmarked by May 10, 2011. For more information, including eligibility requirements, purposes, goals, and general procedures.

More about activities in EPA Region 6.

EPA audio file.

EPA Seeking EJ Input

2011-04-15T11:39:00.000-07:00

Seeking input for EPA EJ Permitting Initiative by Friday April 29, 2011 In the summer of 2010, EPA launched Plan EJ 2014 - a roadmap that will help EPA better integrate environmental justice into the Agency’s programs, policies, and activities. Plan EJ 2014 consists of various efforts across the Agency focused on advancing environmental justice. One such effort is the EJ Permitting Initiative, co-lead by EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation, Office of General Counsel and Region 1.

Through the EJ Permitting Initiative, EPA wants disproportionately burdened communities to have full and meaningful access to the permitting process, and EPA wants permits issued under EPA’s authorities to address environmental justice issues to the greatest extent practicable. EPA has posted their draft implementation plan and are currently soliciting comments on our plan by Friday, April 29, 2011 via their website.

As part of the EJ Permitting Initiative, EPA is assembling and, in somecases, creating tools and recommendations to better integrate e nvironmental justice into the permitting process and the permits themselves. EPA is examining templates, guidance, best practices, policy decisions, training modules, case studies, websites and other resources, as well as tools and recommendations "outside" the traditional permitting process that help to achieve real benefits for disproportionately burdened communities. EPA recognizes that other federal agencies, states, local agencies andtribal governments, as well as community organizations, non-profits,industry, trade associations and experts have first-hand experience and knowledge in this arena and EPA would like your input.

While EPA welcomes your ideas throughout their process, they would like your advice in these three specific areas as soon as possible; and therefore ask that you provide your comments via their website by Friday, April 29, 2011:

1) EPA has compiled an initial draft list of potential ideas(see Attachment A of the draft plan) and would like your commentson this list and suggestions for additions.

2) EPA seeks information on existing tools and best practices from other government agencies that can serve as a model for their efforts.

3) Lastly, EPA seeks examples of past permits/permit processesthat examined issues relating to environmental justice, identifiedthe need for new tools/protocols, used existing practices successfully, and/or offer other lessons learned for their effort moving forward.

Contact: MichelleRoos, roos.michelle@epa.gov if you have any questions.

Janet McCabe, Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation
Carol Ann Siciliano, Associate General Counsel, Cross-Cutting Issues Law Office, Office of General Counsel
Ira Leighton, Deputy Regional Administrator, Region 1

National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC)

2011-04-09T18:11:00.000-07:00

Public Meeting May 10-12 Brooklyn New York Registration is Now Open (*registration closes April 20*)

The next NEJAC face-to-face meeting will take place in Brooklyn, New York on May 10 through 12, 2011, at The New York Marriot at the Brooklyn Bridge. The meeting will include two public comment periods. Meeting Registration Registration is required for everyone (including EPA and other federal employees). The registration deadline is 12 noon Eastern Time on Thursday, April 20, 2011.

Meeting materials will be prepared based on the number of participants registered on April 20. (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: Online: Complete the online registration form By E-mail: Send an e-mail to Meetings@AlwaysPursuingExcellence.com with “Register for the May NEJAC Meeting” in the subject line. Provide your name, organization, city and state, e-mail address, and telephone number for future follow-up. By Fax: Print the Web page containing the registration form and fax to 877-773-0779. By Phone:Leave a message at 877-773-0779. Provide your name, job title, organization, mailing address, e-mail and telephone number for future follow-up as necessary. State whether you would like to be put on the list to provide public comment, and whether you are submitting written comments before the Thursday, April 20 deadline. Non-English speaking attendees wishing to arrange for a foreign language interpreter may also make appropriate arrangements using the email address or telephone/fax number.

Public Comment Sign-up Members of the public who wish to attend or to provide public comment must pre-register by 12 noon Eastern Time on Thursday, April 20, 2011. Comments will be limited to five minutes to ensure that as many participants as possible wishing to provide a comment may do so. To accommodate the large number of people who want to address the NEJAC, only one representative of a community, organization, or group will be allowed to speak. The suggested format for public and written comments is as follows: Name of Speaker; Name of Organization/Community; Mailing Address/Telephone/Email Address; A brief description of the concern; and What you want the NEJAC to advise EPA to do.

Written comments can also be submitted for the record. Written comments received by12 noon Eastern Time on Thursday, April 20, 2011will be included in the materials distributed to the members of the NEJAC prior to the teleconference meeting. Written comments received after that time will be provided to the NEJAC as time allows. All written comments should be sent to EPA’s support contractor, APEX Direct, Inc., via e-mail at Meetings@AlwaysPursuingExcellence.com or fax at 877-773-1489.

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 New York Marriot for the meeting, you must contact the hotel directly to reserve your room, by calling 888-436-3759 or visiting https://resweb.passkey.com/go/epamay2011. To be eligible for the negotiated room block rate, you must contact the hotel by April 20, 2011.

Seeking Input for EPA EJ Permitting Initiative

2011-04-09T17:45:00.000-07:00

By Friday April 29, 2011

In the summer of 2010, EPA launched Plan EJ 2014 - a roadmap that will help EPA better integrate environmental justice into the Agency’s programs, policies, and activities. Plan EJ 2014 consists of various efforts across the Agency focused on advancing environmental justice. One such effort is the EJ Permitting Initiative, co-lead by EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation, Office of General Counsel and Region 1. Through the EJ Permitting Initiative, EPA wants disproportionately burdened communities to have full and meaningful access to the permitting process, and EPA wants permits issued under EPA’s authorities to address environmental justice issues to the greatest extent practicable. EPA has posted their draft implementation plan on their website, and are currently soliciting comments on the plan by Friday, April 29, 2011.

As part of the EJ Permitting Initiative, EPA is assembling and, in some cases, creating tools and recommendations to better integrate environmental justice into the permitting process and the permits themselves. EPA is examining templates, guidance, best practices, policy decisions, training modules, case studies, websites and other resources, as well as tools and recommendations "outside" the traditional permitting process that help to achieve real benefits for disproportionately burdened communities. EPA recognizes that other federal agencies, states, local agencies and tribal governments, as well as community organizations, non-profits, industry, trade associations and experts have first-hand experience and knowledge in this arena and EPA would like your input.

While EPA welcomes your ideas throughout their process, they would like your advice in these three specific areas as soon as possible; and therefore ask that you provide your comments via their website by Friday, April 29, 2011: They have compiled an initial draft list of potential ideas (see Attachment A of the draft plan) and would like your comments on this list and suggestions for additions. EPA seeks information on existing tools and best practices from other government agencies that can serve as a model for EPA's efforts.

Lastly, EPA seeks examples of past permits/permit processes that examined issues relating to environmental justice, identified the need for new tools/protocols, used existing practices successfully, and/or offer other lessons learned for their effort moving forward.

Contact Michelle Roos if you have any questions.

To view the draft plan

To comment on the draft plan

Environmental Justice 2014 Implementation Released

2011-03-18T19:05:00.000-07:00

Plan EJ 2014 Draft Implementation Released Comments Requested

Expanding the Conversation on Environmentalism and Working for Environmental Justice is one of Administrator Lisa P. Jackson's top priorities for EPA, Plan EJ 2014, named in recognition of the 20th anniversary of the issuance of Bill Clinton Presidential Executive Order 12898, is EPA's roadmap for carrying out the Administrator's priority.

To accomplish the goals outlined in Plan EJ 2014, EPA developed nine Draft Implementation Plans which will guide Agency actions in rulemaking, permitting, compliance and enforcement, community-based action, administration wide action, science, law, information, and resources. The Draft Implementation Plans outline EPA goals, strategies, activities, deliverables, and milestones for each of the nine areas.

The Agency is asking for feedback from the public on each of the Draft Implementation Plans. EPA also encourages continued feedback regarding issues that are most important for ensuring the protection of air, water and land that supports all communities and will result in environmental and economic health benefits.

EPA is looking for your comments on Plan EJ 2014 Draft Implementation Plans. Visit here to read the Draft Implementation Plans and submit your comments today. Comments are due April 29, 2011.

A printed copy of the Draft Plan EJ 2014 Draft Implementation Plans can be requested by calling 1-(800)-962-6215 or by emailing: Charles Lee.

Environmental Justice Vol. 4, No. 1, March 2011

2011-03-14T21:48:00.000-07:00

Available Online‏

The table of contents

Environmental Justice in Rural Context: Land-Application of Biosolids in Central Virginia
Celia Carroll Jones
Environmental Justice March 2011, Vol. 4, No. 1: 1-15.
Abstract Full Text PDF (364 KB) PDF Plus (364 KB)

The Environmental Justice Dimensions of Climate Change
Marie Lynn Miranda, Douglas A. Hastings, Joseph E. Aldy, and William H. Schlesinger
Environmental Justice March 2011, Vol. 4, No. 1: 17-25.
Abstract Full Text PDF (896 KB) PDF Plus (428 KB)

Diversifying the Environmental Workforce: Addressing an Early Environmental Justice Challenge
Max Weintraub, Angela Park, and Sharon Jang
Environmental Justice March 2011, Vol. 4, No. 1: 27-44.
Abstract Full Text PDF (277 KB) PDF Plus (278 KB)

Using Visual Images to Achieve Environmental Justice: A Case Study of the Asarco Copper Smelter in El Paso, Texas
Martha I. Flores, Sara E. Grineski, and Timothy W. Collins
Environmental Justice March 2011, Vol. 4, No. 1: 45-53.
Abstract Full Text PDF (483 KB) PDF Plus (372 KB)

The Transboundary Trade of Hazardous Wastes, 2000–2006
John K. Thomas and Darrell Fannin
Environmental Justice March 2011, Vol. 4, No. 1: 55-62.
Abstract Full Text PDF (161 KB) PDF Plus (162 KB)

Monitoring Environmental Justice
Sarah E. Fredericks
Environmental Justice March 2011, Vol. 4, No. 1: 63-69.
Abstract Full Text PDF (159 KB) PDF Plus (160 KB)

Community Voice, Vision, and Resilience in Post-Hurricane Katrina Recovery
Rachel Morello-Frosch, Phil Brown, Mercedes Lyson, Alison Cohen, and Kimberly Krupa
Environmental Justice March 2011, Vol. 4, No. 1: 71-80.
Abstract Full Text PDF (184 KB) PDF Plus (185 KB)

Environmentally Just Technology
Gwen Ottinger
Environmental Justice March 2011, Vol. 4, No. 1: 81-85.
Abstract Full Text PDF (89 KB) PDF Plus (90 KB)

Book Reviews

The Price of Ignorance and the Cost of Neglect: Science, Air Pollution, and Politics Kent Curtis
Environmental Justice March 2011, Vol. 4, No. 1: 87-88.
Citation Full Text PDF (39 KB) PDF Plus (40 KB)

Pathologies of Power: Health, Human Rights, and the New War on the Poor
Jennifer Thomson
Environmental Justice March 2011, Vol. 4, No. 1: 89-90.
Citation Full Text PDF (42 KB) PDF Plus (43 KB)

EPA's EJ Action Development Process Guide

2011-03-03T18:08:00.000-08:00

EPA's EJ Action Development Process Guide Close of Public Comment Period April 8, 2011

In July 2010, EPA released an interim guide on incorporating environmental justice into the Agency's process for developing rules and regulations. The Interim Guidance on Considering Environmental Justice During the Development of an Action is a step-by-step guide that helps EPA staff ask questions and evaluate environmental justice considerations at key points in the rulemaking process. It helps EPA staff determine whether actions raise possible environmental justice concerns and encourages public participation in the rulemaking process.

Since releasing the guide, EPA is looking for feedback and input on how to best implement and improve the guide and on ways EPA can further advance efforts toward environmental justice. The public comment period for this guide will close on April 8, 2011. Submit your comment.

Reminder: EPA SAB Nominations For EJ Review Panel

2011-03-03T06:47:00.000-08:00

EPA Science Advisory Board Office 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

Instructions in the federal register notice

Community Conference Call on Air Issues

2011-03-03T06:40:00.000-08:00

Intended Audience: Environmental Justice and Tribal Communities or Organizations

When: Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Time: 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm Eastern Time

Conference Line: 1-866-299-3188; code: 919-541-5624# (phone limited to 125 participants on a first-come first-served basis)

Purpose: To provide more information on upcoming activities in EPA?s Air Programs and foster a dialog with communities on their air quality issues. This call will provide an:

Overview of the upcoming regulations on woodstoves
Update on EPA's Air Programs
Update on future Clean Air Act webinar(s)
Overview of EPA's
initial thoughts for an Environmental Justice Learning Center

To register

For more information about the conference call, please contact Lena Epps-Price (919) 541-5573.

EPA SAB Seeking Technical Review Panelists

2011-02-18T17:54:00.000-08:00

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

2011-02-18T17:46:00.000-08:00

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

2011-02-18T17:35:00.000-08:00

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

2011-02-09T19:18:00.001-08:00

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.

EPA's Jackson & Congressional Hispanic Caucus EJ Tour

2011-01-28T13:30:00.000-08:00

EPA Administrator Jackson and Representatives from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Wrap Up Texas Visit with Focus on Environmental Justice

Two-day visit highlights EPA efforts to protect human health and facilitate clean energy innovation

Today U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson and representatives from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus wrapped up a two-day trip to El Paso and San Antonio, Texas. The trip is a part of the administrator’s ongoing effort to highlight the benefits of clean energy innovation for all Americans and draw attention to environmental pollution’s disproportionate health impacts on poor and minority communities.

Administrator Jackson discussed the agency’s work safeguarding Americans from health threats like toxic air and water pollution and observed clean energy innovation in action. The administrator kicked off the trip on Thursday in El Paso, where she was joined by representatives from Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) member U.S. Representative Silvestre Reyes’ office. (Congressman Reyes was unable to attend after bad weather in Washington, D.C. grounded his flight)

The administrator started the visit with an on-site briefing on the cleanup of the former ASARCO smelting plant. After that she met with local leaders to talk specifically about water quality and access concerns. The administrator also hosted a forum on environmental justice issues at El Paso Community College on Thursday where she listened to and spoke with citizens about their environmental concerns and addressed the health and economic benefits of clean air and water for communities. Administrator Jackson also visited the El Paso Water Utilities Desalination Plant and Tech H2O Center, which is expanding El Paso’s access to clean water and creating jobs in the region. Today, the administrator was joined by CHC chair U.S.

Representative Charles Gonzalez in San Antonio for meetings with local community members, business leaders and students. She and Gonzalez toured St. Philips College, where they got a first-hand look at the college’s green jobs training program and sustainable power infrastructure efforts. Later, Administrator Jackson hosted a round table discussion on environmental justice issues with community members. She finished the Texas tour at St. Mary’s University where she hosted a student forum and answered questions about winning the future through investment in green job innovation and other major environmental issues.

Over the past several months, Administrator Jackson has visited a number of impacted communities across the country and met with local leaders and community members to discuss EPA’s work to address these environmental concerns. More information about EPA’s environmental justice efforts. (EPA)

EPA Seeks Applicants For EJ Grants

2011-01-28T09:28:00.000-08:00

EPA Seeks Applicants for $1.2 Million in Environmental Justice Grants to Address Local Health and Environmental Issues

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is accepting grant applications for $1.2 million in funding to support projects designed to research, educate, empower and enable communities to understand and address local health and environmental issues. Eligible applicants from non-profit, faith-based and tribal organizations working in the community of the proposed project are encouraged to apply.

Environmental Justice Small Grants funding is available for two categories of projects:

1) 40 grants of up to $25,000 each to support projects that address a community’s local environmental issues through collaborative partnerships, and;

2) Four grants of up to $50,000 each to gather better science on the environmental and health impacts of exposure to multiple sources of pollution in communities.

Environmental justice means the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race or income, in the environmental decision-making process. Environmental justice issues often involve multiple sources of contamination, like pollution from several industrial facilities within one neighborhood, environmental hazards at the workplace or home, or contamination resulting from the consumption of fish or other subsistence food.

Environmental contamination can lead to costly health risks and can discourage investments and development in low-income, minority, and indigenous communities disproportionately impacted by pollution. Understanding the impacts of multiple environmental risks can help communities develop more effective solutions to their environmental and health concerns.

More information on eligibility and how to apply

More information on the Environmental Justice Small Grant Program

Hazel M. Johnson Dies: Mother of Environmental Justice

2011-01-19T05:50:00.001-08:00

Chicago South Side environmental activist Hazel M. Johnson, 75, died of complications from congestive heart failure Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2011. Mrs. Johnson a longtime resident of Chicago's Altgeld Gardens public housing development, was spurred into environmental activism after her husband, John, died of lung cancer in 1969. She fought corporate polluters and rallied residents to protest contamination.

She founded a group called People for Community Recovery and put pressure on the Chicago Housing Authority to remove asbestos from Altgeld Gardens. Mrs. Johnson focused much of her organization's work on educating minority communities about urban environmental hazards. She became known as the mother of the environmental justice movement.

Mrs. Johnson was instrumental in convincing city health officials to test drinking water at Maryland Manor, a Far South Side neighborhood dependent on well water. After tests conducted in 1984 revealed cyanide and toxins in the water, officials installed water and sewer lines.

Her work in Chicago led to the national stage, where she joined a group of activists in urging President Bill Clinton to sign the Environmental Justice order. Ms. Johnson served on the U.S. EPA's first National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC), established on September 30, 1993.

Altgeld Gardens:Life in a Toxic Enviroment from Jennifer T. Lacey on Vimeo.

Mrs. Johnson was the eldest of four children born in the area of New Orleans now known as "cancer alley." Johnson would spend most of her adult life in the Calumet Region, the industrial area along Lake Michigan's southern tip that is one of the nation's most polluted areas. Mrs. Johnson was preceded in death by her son Michael. In addition to her daughter, Cheryl Johnson, Mrs. Johnson is survived by two other daughters, Yolanda Johnson and Valerie Johnson; sons John Jr., Johnny and Mark; 10 grandchildren; and five great grandchildren.

Services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, January 22, 2011 in St. Ailbe Catholic Church, 9015 S. Harper Ave., Chicago. (Chicago Tribune, 1/16/2011,

DOE & HBCUs Collaborate on Laborotory Projects

2011-01-18T12:13:00.000-08:00

The White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities encourages collaboration between government agencies, educational associations, philanthropic organizations, the private sector and others to increase the capacity of HBCUs to provide high-quality education to a greater number of students.

The Department of Energy (DOE) has partnered with HBCUs on a variety of projects. Secretary of the Department of Energy Stephen Chu has met with Dr. William Harvey, Chairman of the President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities and President of Hampton University, as well as Langston University President JoAnn Haysbert and Morgan State University President David Wilson. They discussed how the Department can better engage HBCUs in science and laboratory projects, and what lessons can be learned from the many ongoing and successful partnerships we have in place.

Hampton University has a working relationship with the DOE's Thomas Jefferson National Laboratory. At Jefferson Lab, Hampton students have supported work conducted in the nuclear physics program. Now, Hampton is building on that partnership by working with Brookhaven National Laboratory.

Morgan State is a member of the Department’s Energy Innovation Hub team that is developing ways to make buildings more efficient. Specifically, the school is working on ways to adopt technology developed by the Hub so it can be used in urban centers like Baltimore.

Langston University has a partnership with the DOE, the Oklahoma Black Farmers and Agriculturalists Association, and others to explore the market for and the benefits of developing and purchasing wind generated power. Particularly, Langston is focused on developing wind energy as an alternative energy source that can promote rural economic development -- supporting farmers and other HBCUs.

The Department has awarded more than $31 million to HBCUs since 2009, including $22 million for research and development programs. These research dollars support initiatives at institutions including Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College and Spelman College to build the capacity to develop clean energy technologies on campus and to conduct studies on energy usage. DOE has also provided internships, grants and scholarships to students at a number of Historically Black institutions.

More information about the Department’s work with HBCUs. (DOE Blog, 1/13/2011)

EPA Grant Solicitation on Children's Environmental Health

2011-01-13T14:26:00.001-08:00

EPA’s Office of Children’s Health Protection has announced the release of a solicitation for grant proposals to address children's environmental health in underserved communities by building capacity for these communities to reduce environmental exposures in child-occupied settings (e.g. homes, schools and child care centers).

Funds available for award are expected to total approximately $1.5 million, and EPA intends to award approximately 15-20 awards, each for an amount not to exceed $100,000. The due date for initial proposals is February 18, 2011.

Assistance under this competition is available to:

States or state agencies, territories, city or township governments, county governments, the District of Columbia, federally recognized American Indian Tribes, possessions of the U.S,
public and private universities and colleges, hospitals, laboratories, other public or private nonprofit institutions, and 501(c)(3) organizations.

For complete information regarding this Request for Initial Proposals.

U.S. EPA Community Involvement Training Conference

2011-01-13T14:06:00.000-08:00

Call for Proposals

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is soliciting presentation proposals for its 2011 Community Involvement Training Conference. The conference will be held in Crystal City, VA July 19-21, 2011. All presentation proposals are due by close of business Friday, February 18, 2011.

By participating as a presenter, you can help EPA achieve our goal to provide an exceptional conference that both informs and trains EPA staff as well as the agency’s local, state, federal, and tribal partners in best practices to enhance community involvement.

How to Submit a Presentation Proposal

If you are interested in submitting a proposal, please visit the conference web site.

Contacts

Questions about the conference can be directed to:

Laura Knudsen
EPA Conference Co-Chair
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Phone: 703-603-8861 Email: knudsen.laura@epa.gov

Lee Harrigan
EPA Conference Co-Chair
Office of Water
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Phone: 202-566-1666 Email: harrigan.lee@epa.gov

Catherine Sims
Community Involvement Conference Coordinator
Environmental Management Support
8601 Georgia Avenue
Suite 500
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Phone: 301-589-5318 Fax: 301-589-8487 Email: ciconference@emsus.com

EPA EJ Community Outreach Call - Feb 3 at 3 p.m. ET

2011-01-13T13:49:00.000-08:00

Administrator Lisa P. Jackson has made Expanding the Conversation on Environmentalism and Working for Environmental Justice one of EPA’s top priorities. The purpose of the Quarterly Environmental Justice Community Outreach 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.

EPA is taking suggestions on agenda topics for the upcoming call. After receiving your suggestions, they will select the topic(s) that are of general concern to communities. The call will last for an hour, so the number of topics discussed will be limited. Submit a topic.

On November 4, 2010, EPA held the last call where they discussed a variety of topics. For example, EPA provided EJ advocates with an update on Plan EJ 2014 and our Gulf Coast Outreach. EPA also provided information on topics that were raised, such as the Agency’s youth activities, air monitoring network and the White House Forum. Listen to the recordings. (EPA)

National Wildlife Federation’s Fair Climate National Summit

2011-01-13T05:30:00.000-08:00

The National Wildlife Federation’s Fair Climate National Summit will bring together community leaders representing underserved communities from across the country to learn about the major priorities and challenges the nation faces in advancing clean air and clean energy to benefit all communities. Over a two-day gathering, leaders will learn about the known attacks that Congress plans to launch to roll back the Clean Air Act and EPA’s authority to regulate pollution, and how we can bridge movements and strengthen our advocacy skills to effectively advance a shared agenda.

The Summit will also provide a unique forum for leaders to meet, connect, and learn from each other as well as learn important skills such as lobbying, media outreach, capacity building, and social media in our round-robin workshops. Additional time is set aside on Day 2 for leaders to take their community concerns directly to lawmakers.

Register for the first annual Fair Climate Network National Summit to discuss and strategize on how our movement can most effectively protect the Clean Air Act.

Official Summit activities begin at 8:30AM on Monday, January 31st and end on Tuesday at 10:00AM, at which point attendees will depart for visits to their Congressmen.

Food and lodging will be provided for all attendees.

If you have any questions, please contact Katharine Pelzer or call at 202-797-6622.

EPA Awards $7 Million For Social Stressor Study

2011-01-11T08:26:00.000-08:00

EPA Awards $7 Million to Study Effects of Pollution Exposures and Social Stressors on Communities

Research grants aim to gather comprehensive community wide data on human health impacts

As part of the Science to Achieve Results (STAR) research grants program, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded $7 million to fund cumulative human health risk assessment research. Scientists around the country will study a combination of harmful factors affecting human health, including research on poor and underserved communities with extensive pollution-based problems. This ground-breaking research will focus on environments where people are exposed to multiple stressors such as chemicals, anxiety, and poor nutrition. When these stressors are combined, they can lead to a much higher risk of health issues.

This research could pave the way for more interdisciplinary work that is responsive to community concerns and environmental justice.

EPA studies are generally confined to single chemical effects. These studies are useful and important but can be difficult to apply to the combinations of chemicals people are exposed to outside the lab. These types of studies rarely address social and societal factors that can play a major role. The STAR grants will research both societal and environmental factors including:

· Combined effects of metals and stress on central nervous system function
· Disparities in air pollutant risks
· Effects of stress and traffic pollutants on childhood asthma
· Cumulative risk assessments in urban populations and low-income communities near a Superfund site
· Strategies for assessing cumulative effects of chemical and nonchemical stressors

EPA’s STAR grant program supports human health, ecology, economics and engineering sciences through grants, centers, and fellowships. The program manages research grants that stimulate cutting-edge research on life stage susceptibility, and investigate exposure assessment methods and environmental health disparities. To date, research results from the STAR program have translated into developing local and state policy, and have been used as guidance for clinicians, community advocates, and parents in creating safer, healthier environments. (EPA)

More information on the grant awards

More information on cumulative risks

White House Forum On Environmentalist Justice

2010-12-30T04:58:00.000-08:00

December 15, 2010

Mary Ann Liebert Publishers: Environmental Justice

2010-12-28T18:59:00.000-08:00

Environmental Justice Volume: 3, Number: 4
December 2010

Environmental Justice, Participation, and the Law

Analyzing Public Participation in Risk Analysis: How the Wolves of Environmental Injustice Hide in the Sheep's Clothing of Science
Kristin Shrader-Frechette
Environmental Justice December 2010, Vol. 3, No. 4: 119-123.
Abstract Full Text PDF (101 KB) PDF Plus (102 KB)

Governance Structures and the Lack of Basic Amenities: Can Community Engagement Be Effectively Used to Address Environmental Injustice in Underserved Black Communities?
Sacoby M. Wilson, Christopher D. Heaney, and Omega Wilson
Environmental Justice December 2010, Vol. 3, No. 4: 125-133.
Abstract Full Text PDF (270 KB) PDF Plus (195 KB)

Public Participation and Communicative Interaction: The Structural Mechanisms of Institutional Bias
Neenah Estrella-Luna
Environmental Justice December 2010, Vol. 3, No. 4: 135-140.
Abstract Full Text PDF (106 KB) PDF Plus (107 KB)

Prolonged Injustice in Urban America
Jametta Magwood, Edith Marie Williams, and Saundra Hasben Glover
Environmental Justice December 2010, Vol. 3, No. 4: 141-145.
Abstract Full Text PDF (93 KB) PDF Plus (93 KB)

Environmental Justice and Grassroots Legal Action
Anna-Maria Marshall
Environmental Justice December 2010, Vol. 3, No. 4: 147-151.
Abstract Full Text PDF (91 KB) PDF Plus (91 KB)

Book Review: Poverty and Biodiversity Conservation
Lester C. Facey
Environmental Justice December 2010, Vol. 3, No. 4: 153.
Citation Full Text PDF (31 KB) PDF Plus (32 KB)

ELI to Host Enviro Justice Legal Priorities Forum

2010-12-13T12:10:00.000-08:00

The Environmental Law Institute will how a forum on January 12, 2011, 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. to discuss the ways and extent to which EPA's environmental justice initiatives are likely to impact EPA regulatory and permitting activities, and the questions that these initiatives have raised from various stakeholders in the legal and policy community. EPA has made Expanding the Conversation on Environmentalism and Working for Environmental Justice a top priority.

Panelists will include:

Barry Hill, Visiting Scholar, Environmental Law Institute (moderator)

Sue Briggum of Waste Management (member of National Environmental Justice Advisory Council)

Lisa Garcia, EPA's Associate Assistant Administrator for Environmental Justice

Vernice Miller-Travis of the Maryland State Commission on Environmental Justice and Sustainable Communities (member of National Environmental Justice Advisory Council).

(ELI)

White House Environment Justice Forum

2010-12-13T12:01:00.000-08:00

EPA's Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice will hold an Environmental Justice Forum on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. in the South Court Auditorium of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.

The forum will bring together environmental justice community leaders, state, local and tribal government officials, Cabinet members, and other senior Federal officials.

Lawyers Committee Complaint To DOT on High Speed Rail

2010-12-13T08:44:00.000-08:00

The Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights filed a Title VI complaint on December 8 with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) against the California High Speed Rail Authority on behalf on APAC.

High-Speed Rail Project Hit By Civil Rights Complaint

News Feeds:

Los Angeles Times
High-speed rail project hit by civil rights complaint

Bay Area News Group:
Minority groups demand feds pull California high-speed rail funds

Associated Press in Washington Post (AP story went statewide and national)
Minority firms seeks rail delay

Bakersfield Californian
Complaint: Rail project excludes minority-owned businesses

New America Media
California High-Speed Rail Project Bypassing Minority Businesses?

Fresno Bee
Racial bias alleged in bids for Calif. rail project

The Bay Citizen
High-Speed Rail Project Faces Civil Rights Complaint

San Francisco Appeal (Bay City News)
Minority Businesses File Complaint, Say High Speed Rail Project Isn't Working With Local Contractors

Environmental Justice Community Conference Call

2010-11-30T21:48:00.000-08:00

Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS)

December 9, 2010 @ 1:00pm-2:00pm EST

Purpose: To provide information about upcoming air program activities.

Background:In response to community requests to share information about EPA’s air programs, the Agency has begun to host bi-monthly conference calls to foster dialogue between EPA and interested community groups.

Agenda

Discuss grant and partnership opportunities for Gulf Spill communities and the role these communities should play during the August 2011 EJ Air Conference.

Discuss first steps for EPA’s Petroleum Refinery rules.

Identify points of contact for specific EPA projects and rules.

Identify methods to improve public participation in the permitting
process.

Discuss future Clean Air Act 101 webinar(s).

When: Thursday, December 9, 2010 Time: 1:00pm-2:00pm EST

Intended Audience: Environmental Justice and Tribal Communities or Organizations

Conference Line: 1-866-299-3188; code: 919-541-5624# (call limited to 125 participants on a first-come, first-served basis)

To register for the call

For more information about the conference call, contact Regina Chappell (919) 541-3650.

Conf Call on Nov 16-18 Kansas City NEJAC Meeting

2010-10-28T08:49:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-25T14:17:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-22T22:27:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-19T17:00:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-16T13:16:00.000-07:00

Click on Image to Enlarge
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

2010-10-11T20:03:00.000-07:00

Click On Image To Enlarge

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

More Information

Environmental Justice Volume: 3, Number: 3 September 2010

2010-09-24T20:45:00.000-07:00

The above issue is now available online from Liebert Online.

The table of contents for this issue is listed below. Click on the links below to view the abstract for each article, or click on the link above to read the table of contents online.

Community First Communication: Reversing Information Disparities to Achieve Environmental Justice
Edward A. Emmett and Chintan Desai

Environmental Justice September 2010, Vol. 3, No. 3: 79-84.Abstract Full Text PDF (122 KB) PDF Plus (123 KB)

Community-Based Approaches to Reduce Toxins in Housing: Lessons Learned From Working with Diverse Communities Erin McNally, Ian Blazina, and Stephanie A. Farquhar

Environmental Justice September 2010, Vol. 3, No. 3: 85-93.Abstract Full Text PDF (380 KB) PDF Plus (279 KB)

Linking Health Inequality and Environmental Justice: Articulating a Precautionary Framework for Research and Action
Sarah E.L. Wakefield and Jamie Baxter

Environmental Justice September 2010, Vol. 3, No. 3: 95-102.Abstract Full Text PDF (231 KB) PDF Plus (169 KB)

Healthy at Home: Latina Mothers Knowledge and Behavior Regarding Indoor Environmental Health Hazards
Tiana Wilson, Andrea Crivelli-Kovach, and Heidi Worley

Environmental Justice September 2010, Vol. 3, No. 3: 103-109.Abstract Full Text PDF (158 KB) PDF Plus (121 KB)

Excessive Air Pollution and the Oil Industry: Fighting for Our Right to Breathe Clean Air
Melissa L. Jarrell and Joshua Ozymy

Environmental Justice September 2010, Vol. 3, No. 3: 111-115.Abstract Full Text PDF (114 KB) PDF Plus (114 KB)

Book Review

China and India's New Economic Frontier, Environmental Justice, and the New Africa's Silk Road
Carolina Cabral Murphy

Environmental Justice September 2010, Vol. 3, No. 3: 117.Citation Full Text PDF (33 KB) PDF Plus (34 KB)

NEJAC Public Meeting in Kansas City, Missouri

2010-09-23T20:51:00.000-07:00

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

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: Send an e-mail to 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 us 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. All written comments should be sent to this email address.

For more information, please contact EPA Support Contractor, APEX Direct Inc., at 877-773-0779 or Meetings@AlwaysPursuingExcellence.com

EPA Hosts Historic Meeting on Environmental Justice

2010-09-22T09:44:00.000-07:00

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, left, and the White House Council on Environmental Quality reconvened the Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice (EJ IWG) in a meeting held at the White House. The meeting was attended by five cabinet members. This gathering marks a recommitment to advancing the mandate of Executive Order 12898, “Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations,” which states that each agency, with the law as its guide, should make environmental justice part of its mission.

The role of the EJ IWG is to guide, support and enhance federal environmental justice and community-based activities. By coordinating the expertise and resources of federal government agencies, the EJ IWG will work to identify projects where federal collaboration can support the development of healthy and sustainable communities. The EJ IWG will also seek opportunities to provide green jobs training in communities in need and promote a clean energy economy.

Attendees at the meeting included Attorney General Eric Holder, Department of Justice; Secretary Ken Salazar, Department of Interior; Secretary Shaun Donovan, Department of Housing and Urban Development; Secretary Ray LaHood, Department of Transportation; Administrator Martha Johnson, General Services Administration; Carol Browner, senior advisor to the president on energy and climate change; John Holdren, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy; Melody Barnes, director of the White House Office of Domestic Policy; and representatives from the following federal agencies: Labor, Health and Human Services, Energy, Education, Homeland Security, Commerce, Army, Agriculture and Defense, among others.

During the meeting, some immediate next steps for the EJ IWG group were identified; these include:

· Hold monthly EJ IWG meetings, including assigning senior officials from each agency to coordinate EJ activities.
· Organize regional listening sessions in 2011.
· Hold follow-up EJ IWG Principals Meetings in April and September 2011.
· Each agency will be tasked to develop or update their EJ strategy by September 2011.
· Plan a White House forum for EJ leaders and stakeholders on environmental justice.

Administrator Jackson highlighted examples of EPA’s environmental justice efforts:

· Plan EJ 2014—A four-year roadmap to help EPA develop stronger community relationships and increase the agency’s efforts to improve environmental and health conditions in overburdened communities. The plan includes three main sections: Cross-cutting Agency Strategies, Tools Development, and Program Initiatives.
· EJ in Rulemaking Guidance—The “Interim Guidance on Considering Environmental Justice During the Development of an Action” is a step-by-step guide that helps EPA staff consider environmental justice at key points in the rulemaking process.
· Sustainable Communities Partnership—A collaborative Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Transportation, and EPA partnership to improve access to affordable housing, more transportation options, and lower transportation costs while protecting the environment in communities nationwide.

The principles of environmental justice uphold the idea that all communities overburdened by pollution – particularly minority, low income and indigenous communities – deserve the same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards, equal access to the decision-making process and a healthy environment in which to live, learn, and work. EPA serves as the lead for environmental justice issues in the federal government.

More information on the Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice

View photos from the meeting

National Leadership Council Extends Comment Period

2010-09-21T13:16:00.000-07:00

Work group report comment period extended through September 27!

The National Conversation Leadership Council will meet Tuesday, October 5, 2010 from 9:00am – 5:00pm (EDT) at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, 2500 Calvert Street NW, Washington D.C .

The Leadership Council will use this meeting to discuss key themes and recommendations to feature in the draft action agenda, drawing on draftwork group reports and the results of various stakeholder and public engagement activities. The meeting will be open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis, limited by the space available. An opportunity for the public to listen to the meeting by phone will also be available. Please e-mail nationalconversation@cdc.gov if you are interested in observing the meeting in person or by phone.

As National Conversation on Public Health and Chemical Exposures draft work group reports are available for public comment. Comments will now be accepted through Monday, September 27, 2010. Six work group reports are posted, one on each of the following cross-cutting public health and chemical exposures topics:

Chemical EmergenciesEducation and Communication
MonitoringPolicies and Practices
Scientific Understanding
Serving Communities

The National Conversation is a collaborative initiative supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry through which many organizations and individuals are helping develop an action agenda for strengthening the nation’s approach to protecting the public’s health from harmful chemical exposures. RESOLVE, a non-profit independent consensus-building organization is facilitating the National Conversation process.

Earn an Environmental Science Degree

2010-09-21T08:53:00.000-07:00

If you are interested in our environment, studying it, and helping to be a part of the solution then an online degree in environmental science is a great first step.

Environmental Science Degrees (ESD) have collected several degree programs that are tailored to people wanting to pursue a career as an environmental scientist. You can get information today from any of the colleges listed at ESD.

ESD is also featuring "50 Online Resources for LEED Certification: LEED Information and Green Building News," and the blogs and resources give a general explanation of LEED certification and what it takes to meet the industry’s green standards.

NEJAC Teleconference Meeting September 23, 2010

2010-09-02T19:21:00.000-07:00

The National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC) will host a public teleconference meeting on Thursday, September 23, 2010, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The primary topics of discussion will be EPA’s charge to the NEJAC on incorporating Environmental Justice into the permitting process and EPA’s Plan EJ 2014. There will be a public comment period from 3:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

To Register

By E-mail:

“Register for the September NEJAC Teleconference” in the subject line.

Provide your name, organization, city and state, e-mail address, and telephone number for future follow-up.

By Phone or Fax: Send a fax (please print), or leave a voice message, with your name, organization, city and state, e-mail address, and telephone number to 877-773-1489. Remember to specify which meeting you are registering to attend (e.g. NEJAC-September meeting). State whether you would like to be put on the list to provide public comment, and whether you are submitting written comments before the September 20th deadline.

Members of the public who wish to attend or to provide public comment must pre-register by 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time Monday, September 20, 2010. Individuals or groups making remarks during the public comment period will be limited to a total time of five minutes. Only one representative of a community, organization or group will be allowed to speak. Written comments can also be submitted for the record. The suggested format for written public comments is as follows:

Name of Speaker,
Name of Organization/Community,
City and State,
Telephone Number,
E-mail address,
a Brief Description of the Concern, and
What You Want the NEJAC to do.

Written comments received by 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time Monday, September 20, 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.

All written comments should be sent to EPA’s support contractor, APEX Direct, Inc., via e-mail or fax at (877) 773-1489.

California EPA & Health Hazard Office Issue Impacts Report

2010-08-23T16:18:00.000-07:00

The California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) and the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) are announcing the availability of a draft report entitled, “Cumulative Impacts: Building a Scientific Foundation.” The report presents scientific evidence for cumulative impacts, a framework for a new screening methodology for use by the Cal/EPA boards and departments, and next steps in the implementation of the framework.

Two public meetings related to the Agency’s Cumulative Impacts and Precautionary Approaches (CI/PA) project and the draft report will be held on September 2, 2010. The meetings will be held in the Sierra Hearing Room of the Cal/EPA Headquarters Building at 1001 I Street in Sacramento.

In a morning workshop, the public is invited to discuss, provide comments, and ask questions concerning the report. In the afternoon, the CI/PA Work Group will discuss and provide comment on the draft report.

Cal/EPA and OEHHA are committed to public participation throughout this process and seek to ensure that all relevant information is considered. For those wishing to provide comment on the draft document, comments may be submitted until September 16, 2010.

Cal/EPA and OEHHA will consider all comments and make revisions as appropriate before releasing the final report. In order to be considered, Cal/EPA and OEHHA request that comments be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 16, 2010. They encourage you to submit comments in electronic form, rather than in paper form. Comments can be transmitted via e-mail. Comments submitted in paper form may be mailed, faxed, or delivered in person to the addresses below:

Mailing Address: Ms. Jocelyn Suero, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment1515 Clay St., Suite 1600 Oakland, CA 94612Fax: (510) 622-3211 (OEHHA)

Condolences to Samara Swanston and Family

2010-08-21T08:14:00.001-07:00

Dawn Finnigan, left, the 39 year old daughter of Samara Swanston, passed away from an asthma attack on Thursday, August 12, 2010. Dawn was laid to rest on Thursday, August 19, 2010 at Maple Grove Cemetery in Kew Gardens, New York. A touching Eulogy was provided by Samara Swanston at Roy Gilmore's Funeral Home in St. Albans, New York. A memorial service was also held the next day in Albany, New York, where Dawn Finnigen lived.

Dawn Finnigan was born to Barry Toland Finnigan and Samara Swanston on Nobember 26, 1970. Dawn obtained a beauticians license at the age of eighteen, worked at beauty salons in New York City, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Albany and managed a Manhattan Supercuts for two years before going on to own her own beauty salon, "The Beautiful Ones." After ten years in the beauty field, she developed occupational asthma and was advised by her doctor to change fields. She went on to teach hairdressing and styling and barber skills at the Austin Education School in Albany while she pursued her Associate Degree. She became the Dean of the Evening School and ultimately wrote the curriculum for the school. Most recently, she created the first Natural Hair curriculum for women of color at the school and her curriculum was just approved by the State Department of Education.

Dawn was on her way to an old school rap concert when she had trouble breathing and succumbed to asthma.

Dawn's mother, Samara Swanston, is a well-known environmentalist and is counsel for the New York City Council Committee on Environmental Protection.

EPA Objects to Keystone XL Pipeline on EJ Grounds

2010-08-20T14:45:00.000-07:00

The Environmental Protection Agency is expressing concern about the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline, designed to bring crude oil extracted from tar sands in western Canada to refineries in Houston and Port Arthur. EPA believes the pipeline doesn't adequately evaluate potential health impacts on minority communities near the Port Arthur refinery where some of the crude would be processed. A large minority population lives close by several refineries, chemical plants and a waste incinerator. Port Arthur was flagged as one of 10 sites with particular "environmental justice" issues. EPA is focusing on potential clean-air risks to Port Arthur residents raised by the Canadian oil.

The Carver Terrace housing project is within sight of the Motiva refinery, which is in the midst of an expansion that will make it one of the world's largest once the work is done in 2012. The refinery is one of four possible destinations in Port Arthur for the crude from the pipeline proposed by the Canadian energy company TransCanada Corp. Regulators have approved two segments of the 2,000-mile pipeline, known as Keystone XL. The Texas and Oklahoma portion remains under review, as does a stretch from Alberta, Canada, to Steele City, Nebraska.

The U.S. State Department, which issues permits for cross-border pipelines, concluded recently that the project would cause "limited adverse environmental impacts" if TransCanada follows its plans and the law. In response, the EPA raised several concerns, including the potential impacts to Port Arthur residents, who may be exposed to greater risks from the emissions of the refineries receiving the Canadian oil. (Chron, 8/18/2010, Chron, 8/15/2010)

NEJAC National Public Teleconference Meeting

2010-08-12T18:30:00.000-07:00

National Environmental Justice Advisory Council Nat'l Public Teleconference Meeting

Thursday, August 26, 2010

The National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC) will host a public teleconference meeting on Thursday, August 26, 2010, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The primary topics of discussion will be EPA’s charge to the NEJAC on incorporating Environmental Justice into the permitting process and EPA’s Plan EJ 2014.There will be a public comment period from 3:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

To Register

By E-mail: Send an e-mail with “Register for the August NEJAC Teleconference” in the Subject line. Please provide your name, organization, city and state, e-mail address, and telephone number for future follow-up.

By Phone or Fax: Send a fax (please print), or leave a voice message, with your name, organization, city and state, e-mail, and telephone number to 877-773-0779. Please remember to specify which meeting you are registering to attend (e.g. NEJAC-August meeting). Please also state whether you would like to be put on the list to provide public comment, and whether you are submitting written comments before the August 23rd deadline.

Members of the public who wish to attend or to provide public comment must pre-register by 11 a.m. Eastern Time Monday, August 23, 2010. Individuals or groups making remarks during the public comment period will be limited to a total time of five minutes. Only one representative of a community, organization or group will be allowed to speak. Written comments can also be submitted for the record. The suggested format for written public comments is as follows:

Name of Speaker,
Name of Organization/Community,
City and State,
Telephone Number,
E-mail address,
a Brief Description of the Concern, and
What You Want the NEJAC to do.

Written comments received by 11 a.m. Eastern Time, Monday, August 23, 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.
All written comments should be sent to EPA’s support contractor, APEX Direct, Inc., via e-mail or fax at (877) 773-0779.

Joint Center Climate Change Forum at CBC Conference

2010-08-10T11:33:00.000-07:00

The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies (Joint Center) is hosting a forum themed, "Critical Issues in Climate Change Symposium," a special day-long symposium on climate change during the 2010 Annual Legislative Conference of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. The symposium will take place on Friday, September 17 in Washington, DC. Sessions will explore connecting environmental justice with science, policy and practice; how smart growth can scale up equity in transportation, housing and other related areas; and stimulating trade, investment, technology transfer and development between the U.S. and Africa. The symposium is hosted by the Commission to Engage African Americans on Climate Change in commemoration of the Joint Center's 40th Anniversary.

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Opening Plenary 7:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.Walter E. Washington Convention Center 801 Mount Vernon Place, NWRoom 146-C Washington, DC 20001

Main Symposium 1:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.Renaissance Washington, DC, Downtown Hotel 999 Ninth Street, NW West Ballroom, Washington, DC 20001
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7:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. SESSION I Connecting Environmental Policies and Practices to Protect Our Places, Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Room 146-C

Problems related to environmental justice are expected to exacerbate the detrimental effects of climate change within vulnerable communities, spotlighting the need for the science of climate change to be more closely connected with environmental law enforcement in disproportionately burdened communities.

1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. SESSION II Designing Resilience: How Smart Growth Can Scale Up EquityRenaissance Washington, DC Downtown Hotel, West Ballroom

Through its long experience in enhancing civic and political leadership, the Joint Center supports the empowerment of people of color to participate in land use decisions and planning as a means of achieving equity within and across communities on the front lines of the environmental justice movement. Through regional development and interagency collaboration, the movement to pursue "triple-bottom line" (revenue, social, and environmental) interests through smart growth holds the potential for solutions that address the unique issues facing African Americans in urban, rural and suburban areas. This session aims to debunk the "Green versus Jobs" myth by describing how regional and cross-sectoral approaches to development that pursue equity through transportation, housing and economic growth can revitalize communities in the present while mitigating the effects of climate change in the future.

3:15 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. SESSION III Stimulating Trade, Investment, Technology Transfer and Development: Making the Case for U.S. and Africa Energy Partnership Renaissance Washington, DC Downtown Hotel, West Ballroom

Our dependence on fossil fuel combustion for energy has significantly increased global carbon emission levels, but without corresponding investment in less environmentally harmful renewable energy technology. Accordingly, populations with limited resources not only lose revenue but also suffer from lost opportunities. Given the untapped potential to expand energy infrastructure in African nations and improve energy capacity among low-income African Americans, the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies realizes the significance of information sharing through partnerships in order to convey best practices and harness the collective power of these communities.

5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. VIP RECEPTION 40 Years of Research ~ Empowerment ~ Engagement Renaissance Washington, DC Downtown Hotel, West Ballroom Foyer

Celebrate, network and discuss innovative ways to generate an abundance of opportunities for all Americans to learn, achieve happiness and live their dreams.

Register online or call (202) 789-3519

EPA Announces $200,000 in Gulf Coast EJ Grants

2010-08-09T12:34:00.000-07:00

EPA Announces $200,000 in Environmental Justice Grants to Support Communities Directly Affected by BP Oil Spill

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is accepting proposals for up to eight $25,000 cooperative agreements to support the protection of human health and the environment in communities affected by the BP oil spill. Local incorporated non-profit community-based organizations—including faith based organizations and those affiliated with religious institutions, environmental justice networks, and local Native American tribal governments—located and working in areas within affected states, are eligible to apply.

EPA developed the grant program after meeting with local organizations in the Gulf Region and learning that there was a need for technical assistance to support educational outreach to communities affected by the BP oil spill. The grants will provide funding to help develop educational materials on what seafood is safe to eat, what to do if exposed to oil, and how to address and adapt to the spill’s long-term effects. Providing grant funding directly to local organizations will help to ensure that information is distributed through trusted networks of communication and from organizations that will continue to support efforts to rebuild in the wake of disaster.

Organizations that are able to provide accurate and current information to a wide geographic area in the affected region are encouraged to apply by September 13, 2010.

To read the request for proposals (RFP) and for information on how to apply

Remembering Environmental Justice Legend Dana Alston

2010-08-09T09:29:00.001-07:00

Dana Alston was 47 years old when she died 11 years ago on August 7, 1999.

Dana Alston, left, was a leader of the original environmental justice movement that started in the 1980's. She was one of the organizers of the first National Environmental Justice Leadership Summit in 1992. She participated in the meetings to convince the U.S. EPA to open an Office of Environmental Justice. She was a committed environmental justice activist and the movement clearly benefited from her leadership. We remember you Dana. And we will never forget you.

Dana Alston received a Bannerman Fellowship in 1992 in recognition of her leadership in the development of the environmental justice movement. The Bannerman Fellowship Program was founded in 1987 on the belief that the most effective approach to achieving progressive social change is by organizing low-income people at the grassroots level. In 2002, the Fellowship Program was renamed the Alston/Bannerman Fellowship Program in honor of Dana Alston.

Dana died on August 7, 1999 at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. Dana was a native of New York and lived in Washington, D.C. She was in San Francisco for treatment of kidney disease and consequences of a stroke when she died.

Her son, Khalil Alston-Cobb, now 17, resides in Clinton, Maryland. He is (or was at 16) a skateboard enthusiast (see videos). Here is how Khalil describes himself on his MySpace page:

"I like Skateboarding, Playing videogames, listening to music, talking to Gurls, surfing the Web, and Chillin wit the Homies."

Khalil is also on Twitter. He has a great skateboarding video on MonsterArmy.com. He is listed on Children of the Struggle. Dana would be very proud of her teenage son. All who knew her are not surprised that Khalil is an energetic and productive young man.

EJRC Finds BP Oil Waste Going To Minority Communities

2010-08-07T17:13:00.000-07:00

Recent findings by the Environmental Justice Resource Center (EJRC) indicate that minority communities are receiving most of the landfill-directed waste oil from the BP Oil disaster. BP’s waste plan, “Recovered Oil/Waste Management Plan Houma Incident Command,” was approved on June 13, 2010. BP hired private contractors to dispose of thousands of tons of polluted sand, crude-coated boom and refuse that washed ashore. The nine approved Gulf Coast solid waste landfills, amount of waste disposed, and the percent minority residents living within a one-mile radius of the facilities are listed below:

Alabama

Chastang Landfill, Mount Vernon, AL, 6008 tons (56.2%) Magnolia Landfill, Summerdale, AL, 5,966 tons (11.5%)

Florida

Springhill Regional Landfill, Campbellton, FL, 14,228 ton (76.0%)

Louisiana

Colonial Landfill, Ascension Parish, LA, 7,729 (34.7%) Jefferson Parish Sanitary Landfill, Avondale, LA, 225 tons (51.7%) Jefferson Davis Parish Landfill, Welsh, LA, 182 tons (19.2%) River Birch Landfill, Avondale, LA, 1,406 (53.2%) Tide Water Landfill, Venice, LA, 2,204 tons (93.6%)

Mississippi

Pecan Grove Landfill, Harrison, MS, 1,509 tons (12.5%)

According to BP’s Oil Spill Waste Summary, as of of July 15, more than 39,448 tons of oil garbage had been disposed at nine approved landfills in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi. More than half (five out of nine) of the landfills receiving BP oil-spill solid waste are located in communities where people of color comprise a majority of residents living within near the waste facilities. In addition, a significantly large share of the BP oil-spill waste, 24,071 tons out of 39,448 tons (61 percent), is dumped in people of color communities. (Dissident Voice, 7/29/2010)

EJView Mapping Tool Now Available

2010-08-06T22:24:00.000-07:00

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s mapping tool, EJView, is now publicly available. EJView is designed to allow users to choose and map demographic, environmental, and health data.

EJView is an upgrade to the Environmental Justice Geographic Assessment Tool (EJGAT). It includes the same functionality as EJGAT, but is now faster and easier to use.

More information about EJView

To start using the tool

PEER Critical of EPA on Environmental Justice Guidance

2010-08-05T12:15:00.001-07:00

The Press Release below is from the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility

EPA RETREATS FROM ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Convoluted Guidance Paralyzes Decisions as Priority Pollution Efforts Ebb

Washington, DC - Rather than directly confront environmental justice challenges, the Environmental Protection Agency has issued internal guidance that is so convoluted and vague that it will stymie effective action, according to Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). At the same time, EPA is allowing affirmative approaches to relieving the air pollution burden on the urban poor to languish.

In late July, EPA released its "Interim Guidance on Considering Environmental Justice During the Development of An Action" which proclaims that it "empowers decision-makers" to "integrate EJ [environmental justice] into the fabric of EPA's" actions. The actual guidance, however, lays out a stultifying multi-step process steeped in terms that seem designed to encourage inaction. For example, a flow-chart maps out 29 possible steps for "incorporating environmental justice" including sphinx-like admonitions such as -

"Identify whether EJ concerns have been addressed. Be prepared to answer 3 core questions." and

"If applicable, address outreach, consider highlighting EJ options for comment, and address significant EJ issues in Action Memo."

"This new guidance imprisons environmental justice inside a bureaucratic Rubik's Cube that will confound even the most ardent EPA employee," stated PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch, noting Administrator Lisa Jackson has declared environmental justice one of her priority issues.

"This continues the pattern at EPA on environmental justice of putting process over substance."
By contrast, this June the EPA Office of Inspector General slammed EPA for a decade-long failure to implement national urban air toxics control plans, designed to alleviate a major public health threat to the nation's urban centers with concentrations of disadvantaged populations. The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 required EPA to develop a strategy to reduce air toxics emissions in urban areas, particularly from small stationary sources. While the agency was required to issue new urban emissions standards in 2000 for these smaller local sources, such as cars, dry cleaners and gas stations, EPA failed to follow through. Yet EPA figures show acute risks from these local sources - potentially causing cancer in one in 28,000 Americans with two million residents in areas where the lifetime risk was one in 10,000 or greater.

"Why can't EPA make direct action to reduce the pollution load on urban poor a priority?" asked Ruch, decrying the lack of concrete results from EPA environmental justice efforts. "What good is a rhetorical commitment to environmental justice if our poorest citizens remain disproportionately exposed to toxins by virtue of where they live?"

Follow (if you can) the 29 simple steps for "Incorporating Environmental Justice" at EPA

Read the draft EPA Environmental Justice Guidance

Look at the 2010 Inspector General report on urban air toxics

See how bureaucracy trumps environmental justice at EPA

Contact: Kate Hornyan (202) 265-7337

National Institutes of Health Small Research Grants

2010-07-29T12:40:00.000-07:00

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has released a new funding opportunity to support small research projects examining the differential risk factors of populations that lead to or are associated with increased vulnerability to exposures, diseases and other adverse health outcomes related to climate change. Applications may involve either applied research studies that address specific hypotheses about risk factors or population characteristics associated with increased vulnerability, or research projects to develop general models or methods for identifying and characterizing population vulnerability to climate change. The ultimate goal of this research program is to help informclimate change adaptation and public health interventions to reducecurrent and future vulnerability of various populations to the health effects of climate change.

A complete copy of the PAR (PAR-10-235) is available online. This program has been released for a three-year period with three application receipt dates. The first application receipt date is September 28, 2010. Prospective applicants are asked to submit a letter of intent (LOI) by August 28, 2010. The earliest anticipated start date is July 1, 2011. Please contact Caroline H. Dilworth at 919-541-7727 at NIEHS if you have questions.

Plan EJ 2014 Released - Comments Requested

2010-07-27T12:13:00.000-07:00

Plan EJ 2014, named in recognition of the 20th anniversary of the issuance of Executive Order 12898, Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations PDF (6 pp, 122K), is EPA’s overarching strategy for carrying out the Administrator’s priority.

Over the next four years, EPA will implement and seek to strengthen efforts under the five Cross-Agency Focus Areas outlined in the plan:

Rulemaking;
Permitting;
Compliance;
Community-Based Action; and
Administration-Wide Action on Environmental Justice.

Visit Plan EJ 2014 and submit your comment today. Comments are due October 1, 2010.

EPA Releases Environmental Justice Guidance Rulemaking

2010-07-26T14:27:00.000-07:00

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is releasing an interim guidance document to help agency staff incorporate environmental justice into the agency’s rulemaking process. The document, Interim Guidance on Considering Environmental Justice During the Development of an Action, seeks to advance environmental justice for low-income, minority and indigenous communities and tribal governments who have been historically underrepresented in the regulatory decision-making process. The guidance also outlines the multiple steps that every EPA program office can take to incorporate the needs of overburdened neighborhoods into the agency’s decision-making, scientific analysis, and rule development. EPA is seeking public feedback on how to best implement and improve the guide for agency staff to further advance efforts toward environmental justice.

To view the interim guidance and submit feedback

More information on environmental justice