vvEPA United States Environmental Protection Agency Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (2201A) EPA/300-R-00-008 November 2000 www.epa.gov/oeca Office of Environmental Justice Integrated Federal Interagency Environmental Justice Action Agenda OF Tfl '<*, V. WORKING TOGETHER TOWARDS COLLABORATIVE AND INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS ------- An Integrated Federal Interagency Environmental Justice Action Agenda Preface Across the nation, communities are working hard to address a range of environmental, public health, economic and social concerns, known as environmental justice issues. They are struggling to better understand the complex relationships between the environment, the economy, and equity. Through the efforts of many governmental and non-governmental organizations, communities are beginning to fashion strategies that result in healthy and sustainable communities which are environmentally sound and economically revitalized. Environmental justice is a complicated issue and the concept is not yet well understood. It is not a static concept but a dynamic process. However, important lessons are emerging. One such lesson is the need for greater Federal Agency collaboration. Without focused and concerted efforts on the part of multiple agencies, singularly directed initiatives, no matter how well intentioned, fall short in the face of the overwhelming challenges presented by the combined ills of environmental, social and economic distress. Another lesson is the need to involve all stakeholders in the development of the solutions. All groups in a community must be mobilized to truly make a lasting difference. While relatively simple lessons, these concepts are not easily implementedespecially when distressed communities are burdened with so many needs. The Integrated Federal Interagency Environmental Justice Action Agenda is an attempt to break through the cycle of despair. It represents an important step in the implementation of Executive Order 12898, "Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations." The Executive Order focuses the attention of Federal agencies on the human health and environmental conditions in minority and low-income communities with the goal of achieving environmental justice and fostering non-discrimination in programs that substantially affect human health or the environment. Under Executive Order 12898, Federal agencies are directed to make achieving environmental justice an integral part of their missions. The Executive Order makes clear that its provisions also apply to programs involving Native Americans and Alaskan Natives. The Action Agenda seeks to build upon creative solutions emanating from communities. This is an important principle of environmental justice. The Action Agenda seeks to create partnerships between Federal agencies and other stakeholders to promote comprehensive solutions to environmental justice issues. The results are inspiringdemonstrating that the forces of environmental protection, economic development, meaningful public participation, and community revitalization can work together for the benefit of all. Charles Lee, Chair Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice ------- Intentionally Left Blank ------- SECTION I INTEGRATED FEDERAL INTERAGENCY ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ACTION AGENDA GOAL BACKGROUND COMPONENTS ------- Intentionally Left Blank ------- An Integrated Federal Interagency Environmental Justice Action Agenda GOAL The Integrated Federal Interagency Environmental Justice Action Agenda (Action Agenda) seeks to build dynamic and proactive partnerships among Federal agencies to benefit environmentally and economically distressed communities. Increased coordination and cooperation among Federal agencies will enhance identification, mobilization and utilization of Federal resources. Increased coordination and cooperation also will enable distressed communities to improve environmental decision-making and more efficiently access and leverage Federal government initiatives. The Action Agenda will result in improved quality-of-life for minority and/or low-income populations suffering disproportionate environmental impacts. These populations may include indigenous/tribal communities. The Action Agenda intends to accomplish the following: Ensure that no segment of the population, regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, suffers disproportionate adverse human or environmental effects, and that all people live in clean, healthy and sustainable communities. Create opportunities for building partnerships between specific Federal agencies to promote comprehensive solutions to environmental justice issues. Promote models based in an integrated approach to addressing environmental, public health, economic and social concerns of distressed communities. Ensure that those who live with environmental decisions (community residents; state, tribal, and local governments; and the private sector) have meaningful opportunity for public participation in the decision-making process. Provide a lasting framework for the integration of environmental justice into the missions of Federal agencies. The Action Agenda will include examples of interagency environmental justice projects and agency-specific initiatives, to be initiated or implemented by various Federal agencies during the year 2000. The Action Agenda will seek to build the constructive problem-solving capacity of communities in partnership with state, tribal, and local governments. The Action Agenda is not intended to replace or supercede existing federal/state/tribal/local government decision-making processes. ------- BACKGROUND This Action Agenda is consistent with the direction set forth in the President Clinton's Executive Order 12898 on Environmental Justice, signed February 11, 1994. Executive Order 12898 calls on 17 Federal agencies and White House offices to make environmental justice an integral part of their mission to the extent practicable and permitted by existing law. It mandates objectives in the following areas: (1) identify disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects on minority and low-income populations; (2) coordinate research and data collection; (3) conduct public meetings; and (4) develop interagency model projects. It also establishes an Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice (IWG) composed of representatives from these agencies and offices to accomplish these objectives. In June 1999, the IWG began to develop the concept of an Integrated Federal Interagency Environmental Justice Action Agenda as a way of incorporating environmental justice in all policies, programs, and activities of Federal agencies. Two environmental justice listening sessions sponsored by the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and the EPA Office of Environmental Justice (the first July 11, 1998, in Los Angeles, CA; and the second March 6, 1999, in New York City) and a national conference entitled "Environmental Justice: Strengthening the Bridge Between Economic Development and Sustainable Communities" (June 10-12, 1999, in Hilton Head, SC) provided new energy to Federal interagency efforts to secure a healthy and sustainable environment for all Americans regardless of race, color, ethnicity, or economic status. These events provided new opportunities for senior Federal officials to respond directly to affected communities and for meaningful dialogue among all stakeholders (communities, businesses, academia, public health organizations, and Federal, state, tribal, and local governments). These efforts clarified the need to address concurrently disproportionate environmental impacts, economic and social concerns, and community empowerment. Experience has demonstrated that efforts to address the environmental problems of minority and/or low-income communities without meaningful community input will result in failure. An informed and involved community is a necessary and integral part of the decision-making process in addressing environmental protection and its integration with the community's economic and social goals. Experience also has demonstrated that environmental problems suffered by such communities cannot be fully addressed within the authority of any single governmental entity. Therefore, within the context of this Action Agenda, "environment" is defined pursuant to National Environmental Policy Act compliance and encompasses those elements that affect a community's quality-of-life. ------- ACTION AGENDA COMPONENTS The Integrated Federal Interagency Environmental Justice Action Agenda is an ongoing, "living" framework. The key areas of the Action Agenda are: Promote Greater Coordination and Cooperation Among Federal Agencies Continue to support Regional Interagency Task Forces responsible for commitments made at the CEQ listening sessions in Los Angeles and New York City. Conduct national Federal Interagency Working Group meetings on a regular basis. Coordinate communications among Federal agencies on national and regional levels. Encourage regional Federal interagency strategies or action plans. Develop new models for Federal interagency collaboration on regional, state, tribal, and local levels. Make Government More Accessible and Responsive to Communities Ensure that core values and principles of the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council Model Plan for Public Participation are incorporated into Federal environmental justice activities. Develop a directory of environmental justice contacts. Initially, for Federal agencies; future editions to include state and local environmental justice contacts. Compile a set of web-based environmental justice success stories from Federal agencies. Conduct interagency listening sessions in local communities throughout the nation. Conduct ongoing dialogue with state, tribal, and local governments. Ensure Integration of Environmental Justice in Policies, Programs and Activities of Federal Agencies. Promote agency-specific initiatives to benefit environmental justice communities. Compile summary of notable Federal government environmental justice accomplishments. Develop and conduct national and regional environmental justice training, which are agency-specific and interagency-focused. Promote opportunities for community-based assessment, intervention and prevention strategies to reduce health disparities, particularly within minority and/or low-income communities where disproportionate environmental effects may contribute to such disparities (To be addressed at National Environmental Justice Advisory Council Meeting, May 23-26, 2000). Develop strategies to enhance Federal interagency efforts to address needs of environmentally and economically distressed communities (To be addressed at National Environmental Justice Advisory Council Meeting, December 11-14, 2000). ------- Initiate Environmental Justice Demonstration Projects to Develop Integrated Place-Based Models for Addressing Community Livability Issues. (A fact sheet on the selected projects can be found under Section II.) Demonstration Project Objectives: Learn how Federal agencies can better collaborate to ensure local problem-solving. Achieve concrete beneficial results for affected communities. Ensure meaningful participation of affected communities in decision-making process. Enhance existing assets within affected communities. Promote greater partnership with state, tribal and local governments. Develop a template for integrated community-based solutions to environmental justice issues. Document lessons learned to positively impact more communities. Recommend changes in Federal policy, where appropriate. Demonstration Project Selection Criteria: Areas selected are composed of predominantly minority or low-income populations that face negative environmental, public health, and/or socio-economic effects. Selected projects should be community-based where there is a strong community interest in participating in all phases of the project, including its conception, implementation, and completion. Communities selected may have existing resources sufficient to sustain the project through completion and beyond and where the demonstration project will contribute to building upon and enhancing existing assets within communities. Communities selected have potentially taken steps to address and/or seriously consider environmental justice, rural community development and capacity building, brownfield economic redevelopment, and/or other related issues. At least two Federal agencies will commit to participating in each demonstration project initiated; there will be meaningful participation by community-based organizations; academic institutions; non-governmental organizations; state, tribal, or local governments; and/or the private sector. ------- SECTION II INTEGRATED FEDERAL INTERAGENCY ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS ------- Intentionally Left Blank 10 ------- ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS 1. Greater Boston Urban Resources Partnership: "Connecting Community and Environment" (Boston, MA/) Lead Agency: EPA 2. Camden - City of Children Partnering for a Better Future (Cam den, NJ) Lead Agency: HUD 3. New York City Alternative Fuel Vehicle Summit (New York, NY) Lead Agency: DOE 4. Addressing Asthma in Puerto Rico-A Multi-Faceted Partnership for Results (Puerto Rico) Lead Agency: HHS/HRSA 5. Bridges to Friendship Nurturing Environmental Justice in Southeast and Southwest Washington, DC (Washington, DC) Lead Agency: DOD (Navy) 6. Re-Genesis: Community Cleanup and Revitalization in Arkwright/Forest Park (Spartanburg, SC) Lead Agency: EPA 7. Protecting Children's Health and Reducing Lead Exposure through Collaborative Partnerships (East St. Louis, IL) Lead Agencies: EPA & HUD 8. Bethel New Life Power Park Assessment (Chicago, IL) Lead Agency: DOE 9. New Madrid County Tri-Community Child Health Champion Campaign (New Madrid County, MO) Lead Agencies: EPA & USDA/NRCS 10. Easing Troubled Waters: Ensuring Safe Drinking Water Sources in Migrant Farmworker Communities in Colorado (Colorado) Lead Agency: EPA 11. Environmental Justice and Public Participation Through Technology: Defeating the Digital Divide and Building Community Capacity (Savannah, GA and Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, MT) Lead Agency: DOE 12. Protecting Community Health and Reducing Toxic Air Exposure through Collaborative Partnerships in Barrio Logan (San Diego, CA) Lead Agency: EPA 13. Oregon Environmental Justice Initiative (Portland and Rural Communities, Oregon) Lead Agency: DOJ 14. Metlakatla Indian Community Unified Interagency Environmental Management Task Force (Ketchikan, AK) Lead Agency: DOD 15. Environmental Justice in Indian Country: A Roundtable to Address Conceptual, Political and Statutory Issues Lead Agency: DOE 11 ------- Intentionally Left Blank 12 ------- Federal Interagency Environmental Justice Demonstration Projects Greater Boston Urban Resources Partnership: "Connecting Community and Environment" (Boston, MA) Project Summary Sheet July 2000 The overall goal of the Integrated Federal Interagency Environmental Justice Action Agenda is to increase efforts to identify, mobilize, and make use of federal resources to benefit environmentally and economically distressed communities. The Action Agenda is building dynamic and proactive partnerships that access the initiatives and resources of federal agencies to improve the quality of life of minority and low-income communities that suffer disproportionate environmental impacts. MAJOR FOCUS OF THE PROJECT: Improving Public Health PROJECT PURPOSE: The ongoing partnership of 39 community-based organizations, universities, and federal, state, and local agencies acts as a liaison between community- defined needs and available federal resources in order to respond to critical community issues. The Partnership will focus on the restoration of Chelsea Creek, which is the most polluted tributary to the Boston Harbor; working with local residents to transform the area into a recreational, educational, and economic resource; and improving the environment and public health of predominantly minority and low-income populations. WHY IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INVOLVED? The federal agencies involved are participating as members of the Greater Boston Urban Resources Partnership (GB-URP). The Urban Resources Partnership (URP) Initiative and the USEPA Urban Environmental Initiative (UEI) are federally sponsored efforts to promote community-based planning and implementation of natural resource projects in selected under- served urban communities. The Initiative demonstrates the value of federal agency partnerships to effectively deliver technical and financial assistance and other services to the public, and involves low-income and minority communities that have traditionally had limited access to environmental resources. The Project also demonstrates sustainability in recognition that many environmental issues may not be adequately addressed without the combined resources of federal, state, and local governments and the capacity building at the community level, in order to develop long term solutions from a "bottom up" approach. WHERE IS THE PARTICIPATING COMMUNITY? The main areas of emphasis will be Chelsea, Somerville and Boston. In 1999, Greater Boston's multiracial population totaled 574,283, accounting for 41 percent of Chelsea's and 24 percent of East Boston's populations. The unemployment rate in Chelsea is 12.1 percent, and it is 11 percent in East Boston. Nearly 51 percent of the residents of Roxbury live at or below the poverty level. ------- WHAT IS THE BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY? The activities anticipated will benefit the community through the following efforts: Encourage and create opportunities for meaningful community involvement, serve community needs, and provide community benefits; Fostercooperation among residents and government officials for the enhancement of the urban environment; Serve and involve low-income communities and minorities that have traditionally had little access to environmental resources in planning and decision making; Develop a plan for long-term sustainability and improvements that addresses community environmental education and improvement needs; Host a regional summit on asthma titled "EnvironmentalJustice Children's Initiative," designed to develop a strategy for filling the gaps in current action on asthma and to emphasize prevention of exposure to known triggers in homes, schools, and the outside environments; and Partner with the Chelsea Creek Action Group (CCAG) to work with local residents to build public awareness, promote public access, clean up contaminated land, and transform the Chelsea Creek into a recreational, educational, and economic resource for the communities and region. PARTNERS AND THEIR COMMITMENTS City of Boston will provide office space, equipment, supplies, and in-kind support. EPA will provide technical and financial assistance with Comparative Risk Assessments, the mapping of environmental hazards, development of public awareness campaigns, and education on permitting processes. HUD will provide experience in reviewing grant applications. Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management will provide expertise in urban tree- related issues, assist in education activities, and assist with the application and management of grants. Massachusetts Department of Fish and Wildlife Enforcement will provide technical and financial resources to conduct shoreline surveys. Tufts University and the Watershed Institute will provide support with GIS mapping of open space, oil terminals, and built-up areas along Chelsea Creek. USDA Forest Service will provide technical and financial assistance for the management of forests and related natural resources in urban areas. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will provide technical assistance for the restoration of Chelsea Creekand other improvements of natural resources within the urban environment, and financial assistance as appropriate. Contacts: Kristi Rea U.S. EPA Region 1 (617)918-1595 ------- Federal Interagency Environmental Justice Demonstration Projects Camden City of Children Partnering for a Better Future (Camden, NJ) July 2000 Project Summary Sheet The overall goal of the Integrated Federal Interagency Environmental Justice Action Agenda is to increase efforts to identify, mobilize, and make use of federal resources to benefit environmentally and economically distressed communities. The Action Agenda is building dynamic and proactive partnerships that access the initiatives and resources of federal agencies to improve the quality of life of minority and low-income communities that suffer disproportionate environmental impacts. MAJOR FOCUS OF THE PROJECT: Improving Children's Health PROJECT PURPOSE: Federal partners will work with local educational institutions in the distressed City of Camden, which has a high population of children, to build the capacity of residents, particularly youth, to address environmental justice issues by improving educational, economic development, and health care opportunities. Activities will include (1) Asthma and Lead Poisoning Outreach, (2) Student Air Congress, (3) Rutgers University Masters Degree Program in Environmental Studies, and (4) Youth Corp Training. WHY IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INVOLVED? The Camden project has been designed to ensure that the health of city's children in safeguarded for throughout all stages of their development. Manufacturing and related land use account for one-third of Camden's nine square miles, and brownf ields constitute more than half of all industrial sites in the city. Abandoned industrial sites contain chemicals, transformers, and other contaminants that pose significant threats to human health. Through partnerships established as a result of this effort, however, school-age children are being targeted for the Asthma and Lead Poisoning Outreach and EMPACT program, high school dropouts have been targeted for Youth Corps Training, and the Partnership for Environmental Technology Education has been directed at college students. Additionally, opportunities exist for graduate students through the Rutgers Camden Campus's environmental sciences master's degree program. WHERE IS THE PARTICIPATING COMMUNITY? Camden is the fifth poorest city in the United States and has been characterized as the most devastated city in America. One out of every three residents of Camden is living below the poverty line, the unemployment rate is 36 percent, and the city has a predominantly minority population. Almost one-third of the city's population (31,000 of the total 87,500) is children. ------- WHAT IS THE BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY? The goal of the Camden project is to create jobs and to protect youth from exposure to environmental contaminants. To achieve these goals, the project will: 1 Sponsor 57 Camden students for a summer youth environmental education program and create jobs for youths by offering a 150-hour brownf ields assessment and cleanup job training program; 1 Improve screening and follow-up care for children at risk of exposure to lead and asthma-inducing allergens and train mothers of children with lead poisoning or asthma on abatement and control strategies; 1 Establish effective government, private, and community partnerships for environmental assessment and planning; 1 Complete an inventory of brqwnfields using a geographic information system in order to provide "one-stop shopping" - for community groups and developers on site conditions and reuse potential; 1 Monitor the completion of all site assessments, make preliminary assessment and site investigation reports readily available, and prioritize Camden's brownf ields for redevelopment; 1 Identify, compile, and disseminate information on lead issues for inner city New Jersey schools with Region2,the New Jersey Interagency Task Force on the Prevention of Lead Poisoning, and the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in collaboration with Ramapo College; 1 Increase public awareness of the hazards of lead poisoning and asthma and build the capacity of the community to address the problems of exposure; 1 Develop mechanisms to facilitate the provision of healthy home environments for all community members, but especially forchildren at riskf ram lead poisoning and asthma; 1 Facilitate recommendationsforpolicy that effectively protect children from lead and asthma hazards; and 1 Work with EPA Region 2, EPA Region 3, and Rutgers University in Camden to establish a master's degree in environmental studies. PARTNERS AND THEIR COMMITMENTS DOL will co-sponsorthe summeryouth employment program. HHS/Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will provide health intervention for children with asthma. HHS/Centerfor Disease Control (CDC) will be the primary agency on lead initiatives. HUD will take the lead for new brownf ields initiatives including economic development loans for the city. OTHER PARTICIPATING PARTNERS New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection New Jersey Economic Development Association New Jersey Housing Mortgage and Finance Agency New Jersey Redevelopment Authority Contacts: Maureen O'Neill U.S. EPA Region 2 (212)637-5025 Dr. Margaret Lee HHS/HRSA (212)264-2571 Denise Notice-Scott HUD (212)264-1401 Dan Mahoney HHS/CDC (215)685-2784 ------- Federal Interagency Environmental Justice Demonstration Projects July 2000 New York City Alternative Fuel Vehicle Summit, New York, NY Project Summary Sheet The overall goal of the Integrated Federal Interagency Environmental Justice Action Agenda is to increase efforts to identify, mobilize, and make use of federal resources to benefit environmentally and economically distressed communities. The Action Agenda is building dynamic and proactive partnerships that access the initiatives and resources of federal agencies to improve the quality of life of minority and low-income communities that suffer disproportionate environmental impacts. MAJOR FOCUS OF THE PROJECT: Improving Children's Health PROJECT PURPOSE: A partnership of federal agencies, local officials, and community organizations will conduct a series of meetings culminating in an Alternative Fuel Vehicle Summit. The project goal is to accelerate the conversion of vehicular fleets operating in NYC metropolitan area to cleaner fuels. This is intended to result in better air quality for heavily congested environmental justice neighborhoods. WHY IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INVOLVED? As a member of the White House Interagency Task Force on Environmental Justice Issues in New York City, the Department of Energy (DOE) met in Spring of 1999 with the White House Council on Environmental Quality. Through the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, DOE agreed to lead the efforts of the federal government and community representatives in organizing an alternative fuels summit, focusing on accelerating the conversion to cleaner fuels of fleets operating in the New York City metropolitan area. During the Summerofl 999, DOEformed a planning committee of partners to determine the content of the summit on alternative fuels. The existence of a planning committee on this issue has allowed the city to talk to community groups about current projects on alternative fuels and has given the community groups the opportunity to express their concerns about poor air quality and the need to do more. The planning committee has given the federal participating agencies the ability to rally togetherto try to change the bus purchasing plans of the Metropolitan Transit Authority. WHERE IS THE PARTICIPATING COMMUNITY? The communities involved with this project are located in heavily congested environmental justice neighborhoods areas of Manhattan, the Bronx, and Brooklyn which have been affected by high concentrations of diesel burning vehicular traffic. ------- WHAT IS THE BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY? The planning committee recommended holding a design charette to gather additional neighborhood and local and state government input on the issue of alternative fuels. Following that meeting, the planning'committee put together an action plan for 2000 and 2001 based on input from participants and included the following tasks: 1 Hosting neighborhood meetings to encourage local heavy-duty fleets to switch to alternative fuels; 'Sponsoring a city workshop on alternative fuel school buses; 1 Sponsoring an airport meeting to encourage more fleets to use alternative fuels; 1 Assisting with an alternative fuels workshop for local governments; 1 Holding an alternative fuels summit to showcase successes and build on this work to lead to greater penetration of alternative fuel vehicles in heavy-duty niche markets located in designated environmental justice neighborhoods; and 1 Identifying heavy-duty transportation fleets and establishing contacts or conducting outreach to representatives in order to get their participation in planned meetings. PARTNERS AND THEIR COMMITMENTS 1 DOE will serve as the project lead and co-coordinator of the Interagency task Force on Environmental Justice in New York City that supports the AFV project. DOE will also provide project coordination at the Headquarters level, program resources and technical assistance through the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, and logistical and in-kind support to projects activities. 1 DOI, working closely with local officials, community organizations and other federal agencies, will help organize meetings. 1GSA will help develop markets. 1 HUD will provide logistical and facilitation support. New York City Department of Transportation will serve as a contributing member to the summit PlanningCommitteeandthe Interagency Task Force on Environmental Justice in New York City that supports the AFV project; will provide assistance in organizingcommunity-based informational meetings; will assist by providing contacts with local vendors, equipment manufacturers and utility marketing personnel; will provide information concerning funding opportunities; and will offer assistance in developing approaches to develop model projects. The following partners will serve as contributing members to the summit Planning Committee, be responsible for identifying heavy-duty transportation fleet operating within their designated community area, establish contacts or conduct outreach to representatives of targeted fleets to getthem involved in project activities, and provide meeting locations, as required: Lower Washington Heights Association New York City Environmental Justice Alliance The Point Community Development Corporation United Puerto Rican Organization of Sunset Park West Harlem Environmental Action Contacts: Marcy Rood DOE (202)586-8161 Omar Friella Environmental Justice Alliance (212)239-8882 ------- Federal Interagency Environmental Justice Demonstration Projects July 2000 Addressing Asthma in Puerto Ricoa Multifaceted Partnership for Results Project Summary Sheet The overall goal of the Integrated Federal Interagency Environmental Justice Action Agenda is to increase efforts to identify, mobilize, and make use of federal resources to benefit environmentally and economically distressed communities. The Action Agenda is building dynamic and proactive partnerships that access the initiatives and resources of federal agencies to improve the quality of life of minority and low-income communities that suffer disproportionate environmental impacts. MAJOR FOCUS OF THE PROJECT: Improving Children's Health PROJECT PURPOSE: A partnership of federal agencies, local health departments, community groups, foundations, and universities will seek local community input to gain a better understanding of what accounts for the high prevalence of asthma in Puerto Rico. The project will result in a geographic action plan that maximizes asthma prevention and augments current interagency efforts to develop a community asthma intervention program for children in Puerto Rico's low-income, under-served populations. WHY IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INVOLVED? A study conducted by the Puerto Rico Department of Health (in collaboration with ATSDR) found that 30 percent of Latino Puerto Rican children aged 13-14 and more than 40 percent of children aged 6-7 had been diagnosed with asthma, a serious and sometimes life-threatening respiratory condition. This project willtakeacollaborativeapproachto implement acomprehensivestrategytoimprovechildren'shealth by reducing the incidences of asthma. To this end, an asthma summit led by H RSA and cosponsored by EPA, Mt. Sinai Hospital, and Roberts Wood Johnson Foundation is being convened in New York City May 31 to June 1, 2000 to develop geographical action plans. The summit covers New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. A special breakout session on Puerto Rico will be held. Professional health providers and community activists will hold a dialogue to facilitate multiagency and community efforts toward next steps. This summit will complement and augment efforts currently underway by the sponsoring partners to develop a community asthma intervention program for Puerto Rico. WHERE IS THE PARTICIPATING COMMUNITY? The main population that this effort is intended to address is children in Puerto Rico. In the United States, Latinos are disproportionately impacted by asthma. Although within the Latino population there are variations in asthma rates depending on an individual's national heritage, a study conducted by the Puerto Rico Department of Health (in collaboration with HHS/CDC and HHS/ATSDR) found that asthma was fairly prevalent among children living in the Puerto Rico. ------- WHAT IS THE BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY? The activities anticipated will benefit the community through the following efforts: Facilitate participation in the Puerto Rico breakout session at the asthma summit; Develop a Puerto Rico Action Plan to address asthma; Build upon existing scientific research and community-based work on asthma as well as explore financial and technical partnerships in order to advance in new directions; and Develop and implement a community asthma intervention program for Puerto Rico to reduce the incidence of asthma in children. PARTNERS AND THEIR COMMITMENTS Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) will assist in presenting findings from asthma summit to community groups in Puerto Rico. DHHS/Health Resource Services Administration (HRSA) will sponsor the asthma summit. EPA will co-sponsor the asthma summit. Mt. Sinai Hospital will host the asthma summit and offer technical assistance. The following partners will provide support to this initiative when the follow-up asthma conference is held in Puerto Rico: Puerto Rico Community Groups Puerto Rico Department of Health Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board Puerto Rico Lung Association University of Puerto Rico OTHER PARTICIPATING PARTNERS DHHS/Health Care Finance Administration (HCFA) HUD NIH Contacts: HHS/ATSDR Dr. Henry Falk (212)264-2571 Maureen O'Neill U.S. EPA Region 2 (212)637-5025 Dr. Jose Rodriguez-Santana Pediatric Pulmonary Clinic (787) 754-8500 HCFA (212)264-3772 Dr. Luz Claudio Mt. Sinai Hospital (212)241-7625 ------- Federal Interagency Environmental Justice Demonstration Projects Bridges to Friendship: Nurturing Environmental Justice in Southeast and Southwest Washington, D.C. July 2000 Project Summary Sheet The overall goal of the Integrated Federal Interagency Environmental Justice Action Agenda is to increase efforts to identify, mobilize, and make use of federal resources to benefit environmentally and economically distressed communities. The Action Agenda is building dynamic and proactive partnerships that access the initiatives and resources of federal agencies to improve the quality of life of minority and low-income communities that suffer disproportionate environmental impacts. MAJOR FOCUS OF THE PROJECT: Economic Development PROJECT PURPOSE: The well-established Bridges to Friendship Partnership will focus on environmental justice concerns related to the revitalization of Southeast and Southwest Washington, D.C. neighborhoods next to the Washington Navy Yard. Efforts will center around turning environmental liabilities into opportunities by better orchestrating job training and employmentand entrepreneurial opportunities, identification of community assets, and strategies to address gentrification and community displacement. WHY IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INVOLVED? Bridges to Friendship is a community-based, sustainable development partnership of community organizations, businesses, D.C. government and federal government organizations that have come together to contribute to the revitalization of the southern quadrants of Washington, D.C. This alliance is focused on enhancing the quality of life and preserving the natural and cultural heritage of the area by promoting economic development and environmental protection. In particular, the partnership strives to use existing resources in new ways and support existing community efforts with new allies. Environmental justice, capacity building, and brownfields redevelopment are driving forces behind the project since it began in response to community concerns related to the Anacostia River, federal cleanups of contaminated sites, and contamination of other sites in the community. Much of the value added by the partnership comes through capacity building, such as linking youth outreach and job training resources to providers at all levels to create employment opportunities for area residents. WHERE IS THE PARTICIPATING COMMUNITY? The Bridges to Friendship area includes Southeast and Southwest Washington, D.C., where the Washington Navy Yard is located. This area includes communities dominated by public and low-income housing and is predominantly African American. ------- WHAT IS THE BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY? This project will benefit the Washington, D.C. community through the following efforts: Increase the variety, quality, and quantity of job training and career development opportunities for local residents; Increase the number of quality businesses operating in Southeast and Southwest Washington, D.C. or owned by local residents. Bridges to Friendship will target three businessesfor start-up in prrelocation to Southeast/Southwest D.C. and will co-sponsor business development seminars; Increase the availability of quality educational, employment, and recreational opportunities foryouth living in the target area; Deliver career readiness seminars in public housing and other community locations, foster the development of additional internship programs, and support community youth activities; Create a highly effective, efficient, and sustainable management infrastructure; and Ensure that other Bridges to Friendship goals and area planning efforts in general (zoning, housing, etc.) incorporate community vision and needs. PARTNERS AND THEIR COMMITMENTS Alice Hamilton Occupational Health Center will provide environmental and occupational Health & Safety training and Life Skills, Job Readiness and Intellectual Enrichment training, and support for employer interest and job placement. Covenant House Washington will provide youth outreach and job readiness assistance, internship and leadership development for youth, and partner with the Navy to provide Day Care provider on-the- job training. DOE will conduct energy education and job training programs, provide alternative fuel vehicle maintenance, and supply additional resources through its brightfields and sustainability programs. DOI will provide assistance and expertise in design, development, and implementation of green space beautification and landscaping projects; youth and job training/mentoring programs; and work with the D.C. metro bus system to prevent storm water run- off from polluting waterways. DOL will provide expertise in training and labor exchange activities, advise partners in the workforce development system, and facilitate coordination of DOL programs and projects. DOT will conduct community outreach through its transportation planning and assistance programs, and provide relevant job training opportunities. District of Columbia Department of Employment Services will provide management infrastructure support, job training resources and employment networks. Ellen Wilson Community Development Corporation will prepare area low-income residents for employment opportunities associated with the redevelopment of the commercial corridor and residential neighborhood south of the SE-SW Freeway. EPA will provide management infrastructure support, leverage its commitment and extensive resources devoted to the Anacostia Ecosystem Initiative, ensure that environmental concerns and safeguards are integrated into partnership efforts, provide Superfund Job Training Initiative and community involvement expertise and resources, and provide deconstruction expertise and resources. Friendship House Association will provide commun ity resou rces, access to residents, and social, educational, training, and economic development services. GSA will provide opportunities through the Small and Minqrity(8A) Business program, provide opportunities for facility deconstruction, and provide facilities for meetings and instruction. HUD will provide community building, facilitation and technical assistance and enhance community revitalization through continued funding of locally responsive housing and community development programs. USDA, Forest Service will utilize existing expertise in providing consultant service in promoting urban reforestation through the Urban and Community Forestry Program. US Navy, Naval District Washington will support the management infrastructure of the partnership; actively develop opportunities for local residents to train in marketable job skills; and identify job opportunities for community members at Navy Yard businesses. Contacts: David Ouderkirk Bridges to Friendship, Naval District Washington (202) 442-4020 ------- Federal Interagency Environmental Justice Demonstration Projects Cleanup and Revitalization through Collaborative Partnerships, Arkwright and Forest Park Community (Spartanburg, SC) July 2000 Project Summary Sheet The overall goal of the Integrated Federal Interagency Environmental Justice Action Agenda is to increase efforts to identify, mobilize, and make use of federal resources to benefit environmentally and economically distressed communities. The Action Agenda is building dynamic and proactive partnerships that access the initiatives and resources of federal agencies to improve the quality of life of minority and low-income communities that suffer disproportionate environmental impacts. MAJOR FOCUS OF THE PROJECT: Economic Development PROJECT PURPOSE: The project will assist Re-Genesis, a community based organization in the Arkwright/Forest Park area of Spartanburg, South Carolina, in involving a broad variety of stakeholders to foster identification, inventory, assessment, cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated sites. The project will also help build a community-based partnership to include local and state agencies in a dynamic process of stakeholder education, structured dialogues, and planning charettes to create short- and long-term development strategies. The project is designed to involve a variety of stakeholders working togetherto foster identification, inventory, assessment, cleanup, and redevelopment in the Arkwright/Forest Park area of Spartanburg, South Carolina. Through a collaborative effort, the groups willbe able to avoid redundancy and maximize the use of private monies and public grant dollars to best help this environmental justice community. WHY IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INVOLVED? The target community is within a one-quarter-mile radius of two Superfund sites. Other local areas of concern include an abandoned textile mill, an operating chemical plant, two dumps, and several suspected illegal disposal areas. These properties have brought concerns about public safety, blight, health, and the environmentforsometime. Thearea has not enjoyed any substantial commercial development for years, and the vast majority of normal retail needs are not within close proximity. Re-Genesis, an active, community-based group with 1,400 members, has taken the lead in establishing WHERE IS THE PARTICIPATING COMMUNITY? The City of Spartanburg, South Carolina has a population of 43,687. Approximately 53 percent of the population is white and 46 percent is African American. The targeted area Arkwright/Forest Park on the south side of the cityhas a 96 percent African American population. ------- partnerships to address local environmental and health issues as well as revitalization. Although these partnershipsfocused initially on cleanup issues (two abandoned toxic sites have been environmentally assessed since 1998 and one site has undergone a $1 million voluntary cleanup), current plans represent renewed hopes for revitalization. The county has recently applied a $20,000 environmental justice grant and a $100,000 EPASuperfund Redevelopment Initiative grant, and plans to apply for a DOE Bright Fields grant. A recent forum on "Responsive Revitalization" was held with more than 60 diverse stakeholders in attendance. WHAT IS THE BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY? Expected benefits to the community include creation of housing, a technology center, a southeastern regional clinic, and a job training center. The Arkwright and Forest Park Community partnership will benefit as the result of activities which will: 1 Educate stakeholders in the fundamentals and impacts of brownf ields cleanup and redevelopment; 1 Build localcommitmentandpartnershipsforbeneficial community redevelopment; 1 Educate the partnership on sustainable reuse tools and cleanup funding mechanisms; 'Lay the foundation for re-examining future development and growth; 1 Facilitate job training efforts; 1 Continue developing recommendations for a revitalization process through structured dialogues and facilitated charettes; 1 Host a series of meetings with community, developers, and state and federal representatives to review a proposed development plan for the area; and 1 Host meetings with the community, state and DOT to develop a transportation plan for the area. PARTNERS AND THEIR COMMITMENTS DOT will partner with the State of South Carolina to determine the impact on the Arkwright community of a proposed connector between State Highway 295 and either State Highway 221 or Collins Avenue. The value of this connector to the community will be to provide access to the community for future commercial development. EPA will offer technical information in relation to development of environmentally compromised properties. HUD will partner with the county through the community's consultant to develop one or more housing subdivisions. OTHER PARTICIPATING PARTNERS City of Spartanburg County of Spartanburg (Community and Economic Development Division, Transportation Planning) First Federal Bank First South Bank Re-Genesis South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control South Carolina Economic Development Administration Spartanburg Development Council University of South Carolina Vigindustries/lnternational Minerals and Chemical Corporation Wachovia Bank Contacts: Jewell Harper U.S. EPA Region 4 (404) 562-8629 Rosalind Brown U.S. EPA Region 4 (404) 562-8633 ------- Federal Interagency Environmental Justice Demonstration Projects Protecting Children's Health and Reducing Lead Exposure through Collaborative Partnerships (East St. Louis, IL) July 2000 Project Summary Sheet The overall goal of the Integrated Federal Interagency Environmental Justice Action Agenda is to increase efforts to identify, mobilize, and make use of federal resources to benefit environmentally and economically distressed communities. The Action Agenda is building dynamic and proactive partnerships that access the initiatives and resources of federal agencies to improve the quality of life of minority and low-income communities that suffer disproportionate environmental impacts. MAJOR FOCUS OF THE PROJECT: Improving Children's Health PROJECT PURPOSE: Community groups, local hospitals, federal, state and local agencies in East St. Louis and St. Clair County willcollaboratetoimplementacomprehensive strategy to improve children's health by reducing lead poisoning. The project will address both lead based paint hazards and uncontrolled lead releases to surface soil. Removal actions, where necessary, will promote opportunities for redevelopment in neighborhoods and eliminate illegal dumping. WHY IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INVOLVED? The St. Clair County region of Illinois is an area that is littered with idled smelters, junkyards, and defunct industry. It has numerous abandoned, contaminated lots that serve as play areas for the communities' youth and as illegal dumping havens. This project targets East St. Louis and other communities in St. Clair County, Illinois, including Brooklyn, Alorton, Centerville, and Washington Park. Air pollution has been a major problem due to the fact that St. Louis Metropolitan Area exceeds EPA's limit on the amount of smog in the air. In addition, when children living in East St. Louis were tested for lead poisoning, there were four times as many children with lead poisoning than in the surrounding communities, and the rate of lead poisoning wasfourtimes higherthan the national average. Another recurring and severe problem in the region is flooding. The drainage systems currently in place were originally constructed to drain agricultural land, not to convey runoff from stormwater in residential and urbanizing areas. The region has a combined sewer and stormwater system that is deteriorating. Impermeable surfaces (e.g., roads and parking lots) have increased the volume of water running into streams and rivers, and pollution from lead, oil, gasoline, and other products on these surfaces is carried directly into local water bodies. As wetlands and forested areas are paved, flooding continues to become even more severe. WHERE IS THE PARTICIPATING COMMUNITY? Sixty-five percent of the population of East St. Louis is low-income compared with a state average of 27 percent, and 98.6 percent of the population is minority compared to a state average of 25 percent. The surrounding communities (Brooklyn, Alorton, Centerville, and Washington Park) have similar demographics. ------- WHAT IS THE BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY? This project will take a collaborative approach to implement a comprehensive strategy to improve children's health by reducing lead poisoning. It will address both lead-based paint and uncontrolled lead releases to surface soil. East St. Louis will benefit from the following activities: 1 Conducting blood lead screening of children 0-12 years old and pregnant mothers; 1 Providing appropriate medical care service referrals for cases of high lead blood content; 1 Conducting lead-based paint hazard control throughout the county; 1 Assessing uncontrolled lead releases to surface soil and homes with lead hazards; 1 Conducting housing rehabilitation along with landscaping efforts and weatherization; 1 Conducting site assessments on abandoned lots and following up with removal actions and demolition activities when necessary; 1 Assisting in building community capacity to recognize lead hazards and ways to reduce the threats to children's health as well as avenues to better communication and environmental decision-making; 1 Promoting a healthy environment for the environmental justicecommunitybyofferingagreater avenue for residents to become more involved in environmental issues in their community; and 1 Hosting public meetings and availability sessions and distribute a quarterly newsletter to discuss the progress and next steps of the project. PARTNERS AND THEIR COMMITMENTS 1 Army Corps of Engineers will assist with project coordination, technical assistance and conduct site assessments at abandoned lots when necessary. > East-West Gateway Coordinating Council will conduct lead soil sampling in approximately 30 residential yards in the city. The Council will work with homeownersto implement landscaping activities. EPA has provided a $75,000 grant to conduct lead soil sampling in East St. Louis near many defunct, bankrupt industrial areas. EPA will continue to provide technical assistance, potentially fund community education/awareness and facilitate the project collaboration. East St. Louis Community Development Block Grant Office will assist in providing the $10,000 Home Repair Grants to homes identified through the partnership. The office will also provide prevention, education and awareness assistance. E. Side Local Health District will assist in the blood lead screening, providing appropriate medical care referrals, and conducting prevention and education/ awareness information workshops and distributing materials throughout the community. HUD has provided a $2.8 million dollar grant to St. Clair County through their Lead Hazard Control Program and will continue to provide technical assistance and lessons learned from other grantees with similar challenges. Illinois Department of Public Health will continue to implement the US EPA grant to conduct lead soil sampling to characterize the uncontrolled releases of lead in the soil. Historical blood lead data will be mapped and a temporal evaluation of blood lead trends in the area will be performed. The Department will also continue to support/facilitate lead blood screening. Neighbors United for Progress will provide lead- based paint assessments and assist with community outreach and education. St. Clair County Intergovernmental Grants Department is the recipient of the HUD Lead Based Paint Hazard Control grant and will provide funding to several community organizations and contractors to implement the blood lead screening, case management, assessment, prevention/education, lead hazard control and landscaping activities. St. Mary's Hospital Corporate Health Center will provide blood lead screening, case management, prevention/awareness and education assistance. Contacts: Noemi Emeric U.S. EPA Region 5 (312)886-0995 Richard Mark St. Mary's Hospital (618)482-7025 ------- Federal Interagency Environmental Justice Demonstration Projects Bethel New Life PEM Fuel Cell Deployment in a "Green" Building and Power Park Assessment (Chicago, IL) July 2000 Project Summary Sheet The overall goal of the Integrated Federal Interagency Environmental Justice Action Agenda is to increase efforts to identify, mobilize, and make use of federal resources to benefit environmentally and economically distressed communities. The Action Agenda is building dynamic and proactive partnerships that access the initiatives and resources of federal agencies to improve the quality of life of minority and low-income communities that suffer disproportionate environmental impacts. MAJOR FOCUS OF THE PROJECT: Economic Development PROJECT PURPOSE: Federal partners will work to assist Bethel New Life, a faith-based community development corporation located in the West Garfield section of Chicago, Illinois, tofulfillitsvision of turningthe neighborhood's environmental liabilities into assets. The project will design, develop, install, field test, and monitor performance of a 20-kW Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell power system as part of the "Lake/Pulaski Commercial Center" building development. Bethel is developing the building as a "green," energy-efficient, affordable, commercial retail center. The deployment of a PEM fuel cell system in a mixed-use commercial building will be on the leading edge of demonstrations of advanced PEM fuel cell technology in building applications. The fuel cell power system will provide approximately 27 percent of the estimated 75-kW peak power requirement of the building. Waste heat from the fuel cell will also be used to supplement the building's heating and/or hot water requirements. The project will also conduct a feasibility study to determine the opportunities for incorporating energy- efficient technologies. This will enable the design and construction of a mixed-use development that takes advantage of existing rail links and converts an abandoned industrial area into a revitalized economic center to provide much needed housing, jobs, and commercial and industrial development. WHY IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INVOLVED? Bethel New Life, a faith-based community development corporation in Chicago, Illinois, is seeking to demonstrate the significant benefits that green development and distributed energy resources can provide in addressing the need for economic redevelopment and critical infrastructure WHERE IS THE PARTICIPATING COMMUNITY? The target community -the West Garfield Park section of Chicago 4s a mostly African- American community (98 percent) with 40 percent of the residents living on incomes below the poverty level. The proposed mixed-use development would provide this community with a convenient location for resources such as a child development center, a medical clinic, a bank, a drug store, and other commercial spaces. The community also anticipates the availability of Welfare to Work training and employment through building and landscaping contractors at the site. ------- issues, such as electricity reliability, air quality, and transportation. By working with the Department of Energy (DOE) and federal, state, local, and private and nonprofit partners, Bethel New Life hopes to redevelop an area in the West Garfield Park community of Chicago along Lake Street and Lake Pulaski into a "power park," which utilizes energy- efficiency technologies. A feasibility study for the proposed project will examine the incorporation of distributed energy resources (including on-site power generation) and whether development as a power park would address summer air cooling needs without further taxing the city's power grid or generation capacity. WHAT IS THE BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY? Bethel New Life's objective is to use the existing rail system links and convert a devastated abandoned industrial area into a revitalized economic center that provides much needed housing, jobs, commercial, and industrial redevelopment. The community will benefit from the following tasks associated with the project: 1 Demonstrate the excellent energy-efficiency and environmental benefits of PEM fuel cells used in building applications; 1 Assess the energy opportunities that could enable the design and construction of a mixed-use development in the target area; 1 Conduct a feasibility study to look at how the Bethel New Life property could benefit from its development as a "power park" (in the long term, this study could be used to attract government grants and private development money for investment in this site); and 1 Redevelop the area to include a commercial center atamajortransit stop thatwill provide the surrounding community with comfortable access to the local rail line. PARTNERS AND THEIR COMMITMENTS Argonne National Laboratory will provide overall project coordination, technical assistance and program resources to project development, use of research facilities, and project planning and development assistance. Bethel New Life, Inc., will co-coordinate project activities and team development, contribute staff and resources, plan and organize building development project construction phases, collaborate with other partners to assemble project teams, and pursue grant funding and other financial instruments. City of Chicago Department of Environment will provide support to demonstrate the use of photovoltaics on the roof construction. Commonwealth Edison will provide project funding support through the City of Chicago's Department of the Environment. DOE will serve as the project lead, provide technical assistance, and program support through the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, and solicit grant proposals. Farr Associates will serve as the building architect and as a member of the project development team. HUD will provide Bethel New Life with an Enterprise Zone grant award. Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs will demonstrate the use of photovoltaics on the development's roof construction and assist Bethel New Life in assembling project teams. Illinois Energy Office will prepare and submit proposals to provide for the design, development, installation,fieldtesting, and performance monitoring of fuel cell power system to support the project's commercial center. Institute of Gas Technology will contribute to the design and development of the fuel cells to be employed in the project and serve as a development team member. Mantaky Realty Group will provide assistance in land development and use and serve as a development team member. Mosaic Energy will serve as a member of the project development team. Contacts: Martin Kurtovich DOE (202)586-5196 Mary Nelson Bethel New Life, Inc. (773) 473-7870 Norm Peterson National Laboratory (630) 252-7229 ------- Federal Interagency Environmental Justice Demonstration Projects July 2000 New Madrid County Tri-Community Child Health Champion Campaign (New Madrid County, MO) Project Summary Sheet The overall goal of the Integrated Federal Interagency Environmental Justice Action Agenda is to increase efforts to identify, mobilize, and make use of federal resources to benefit environmentally and economically distressed communities. The Action Agenda is building dynamic and proactive partnerships that access the initiatives and resources of federal agencies to improve the quality of life of minority and low-income communities that suffer disproportionate environmental impacts. MAJOR FOCUS OF THE PROJECT: Improving Children's Health PROJECT PURPOSE: An EPA-USDA partnership works with state and local agencies to address three areas that impact children's health: lead, asthma/allergies, and water quality. The projects came about when three rural towns in New Madrid County, Missouri, saw the potential benefits of working together. A subsequent request to federal and state agencies for assistance resulted in this project. While community education and capacity building is an ongoing part of this project, efforts will include proactive actions such as planting trees to decrease dust contaminants and improving stormwater drainage. WHY IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INVOLVED? EPA Region 7 and the Natural Resource Conservation Service Midwest Region have fostered partnerships based on their commitment to ensure that all communities receive the benefits of their programs and that no portion of the population be disproportionately impacted in a negative way by their policies, programs, and procedures. The first area in which these two organizations concentrated their efforts was in three small towns located in the bootheel of Missouri. The project began by identifying environmental hazards that might place community members (with an emphasis on children) at a health risk. Data were also collected to evaluate whether there was disproportionate risk in these three communities compared to the rest of the state to consider environmental justice. WHERE IS THE PARTICIPATING COMMUNITY? The City of Lilbourn, City of Howardville, and Village of North Lilbourn are rural agricultural communities located in the bootheel region of Missouri, approximately 175 miles south of St. Louis. These towns do not have the types of businesses or industry established that might make them sustainable, and they are characterized by gross poverty and substandard housing conditions. This project will benefit the community by providing a safer environment for children, greater community awareness regarding health hazard prevention, and a greater capacity to address needs and concerns on a local level. ------- The resulting New Madrid County Tri-Community (NMCTC) Child Health Champion Campaign is a community-led initiative with a variety of local and regional partners. Community development, leadership, and capacity-building skills are integral parts of this project and essential to the sustainability of any efforts undertaken. Data collection, communication, and coordination by allof the partners resulted in the completion of an Action Plan in 1999. Implementation of this plan is expected to take place beginning in 2000 and continuing through 2001. WHAT IS THE BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY? The activities anticipated under the action plan will benefit the community through the following efforts: 1 Screening/testing of children in the target communities for lead poisoning; 1 Providing appropriate medical care service referrals for cases of high lead blood content; 1 Providing education and awareness regarding the environmental health hazards of chemical products, tobacco smoke, home insect allergens, and field and agricultural dust; 1 Planting evergreens, and long-lived trees and shrubs in areas around schools and children's playgrounds to decrease dust contaminants; 1 Providing educational materials and training workshops concerning safe drinking water, stagnant water, water sampling and also the signs/symptoms of the ill health effects due to contaminated water; 1 Building capacity in the community to recognize environmental hazards and ways to reduce those threats in drinking water, stormwater drainage, and stagnant water; 1 Improving stormwater drainage in the targeted communities; 1 Taking drinking water samples and constructing a template for a drinking water consumer confidence report; and 1 Facilitating the participation of community members in technical training provided by the state. PARTNERS AND THEIR COMMITMENTS 1 Bootheel Lead Nurses will provide health screening and information and referral services. 1 Delta Area Economic Development Corporation will conduct educational workshops. 1 EPA Region 7 will provide financial, compliance, andtechnical assistance in the areasof lead, asthma/ allergies, and water quality. Great RiversAlliance of Natural Resource Districts will assist with project coordination and technical assistance. Headstart will support/facilitate health screening. Lincoln University Cooperative Extension will provide technical assistance, information, and referral services. Missouri Department of Conservation will provide technical assistance with a design topography plan to address blowing dust and pesticides. Missouri Department of Natural Resources will provide technical and drinking water compliance assistance as well as provide operator certification training. Missouri Department of Public Health will provide technical assistance and conduct health education and information workshops. NewMadrid County Health Department will provide health screenings and assistance referrals. NMCTC Community Team will assist with project coordination, communication efforts, and education. USDA/Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) will provide technical assistance for excavating drainage ditches, surveying, and designing a stormwater drainage system. They will also provide leadership, grant writing, and managementtraining. Contacts: Althea Moses U.S. EPA Region 7 (913)551-7649 Great Rivers Alliance of Natural Resource Districts (314)830-3790 ------- Federal Interagency Environmental Justice Demonstration Projects Easing Troubled Waters: Ensuring Safe Drinking Water Sources in Migrant Farm Worker Communities in Colorado July 2000 Project Summary Sheet The overall goal of the Integrated Federal Interagency Environmental Justice Action Agenda is to increase efforts to identify, mobilize, and make use of federal resources to benefit environmentally and economically distressed communities. The Action Agenda is building dynamic and proactive partnerships that access the initiatives and resources of federal agencies to improve the quality of life of minority and low-income communities that suffer disproportionate environmental impacts. MAJOR FOCUS OF THE PROJECT: Ensuring Safe Drinking Water PROJECT PURPOSE: A new partnership has been created among environmental and community groups, educational institutions, and government agencies to identify the location and assess the safety of drinking water sources for Colorado migrant farm worker camps. The network created by these partnerships will be used to more effectively deliver human health and environmental services in the future. WHY IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INVOLVED? Although many health problems found in the general population also affect migrant farm workers, in many cases the frequency or intensity of the problem is greater within the migrant population than in the population at large. Migrant farm workers in the United States represent a diverse group of people. About 85 percent are from minority groups Hispanics (65 percent), African Americans, Jamaicans, Haitians, Laotians, and Thais. While contributions made by migrant farm workers are essential to the U.S. economy, an estimated 61 percent of farm workers live in poverty. Additionally, migrant farm workers are often found to be living with a number of health problems related to their working environments, yet fewer than 20 percent are served by accessible health care centers. A 1997 report issued by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) found that more than 300,000 workers a year are poisoned by pesticides. A variety of contaminants may affect drinking water sources in these areas, including organophosphates and other pesticides from agricultural runoff, chemicals from nearby industrial facilities, and lead and biological contaminants resulting from structural sources such as defective plumbing and sewer lines. In addition to the direct exposure facing workers, children may also be affected. They come into WHERE IS THE PARTICIPATING COMMUNITY? This project will address the drinking water concerns of migrant farm workers in various parts of Colorado. ------- contact with pesticides through residue from their parents' clothing, dust tracked into their homes, contaminated soil in areas where they play, food brought directly from the fields to the table, and contaminated well water. Federal agencies, like the USEPA, are committed to bringing together the expertise, resources, and attention needed to address the human health risks facing this disenfranchised population. WHAT IS THE BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY? The community will benefit through the following efforts: 1 Developing geographic information system (GIS) maps of migrant farm worker camps and water sources; 1 Assessing available water quality data for these camps; 1 Conducting additional water testing for identified sites; 1 Recommendingchangestofederal policies regarding testing of migrant worker water sources as a result of data analysis and interagency/worker dialogue; 1 Developing an interagency and community plan to address communication and education needs; 1 Developing a database to track issues such as migrant farm worker camp locations, water source location and types of contamination, and the number of workers at specific sites to ensure the provision of safe drinking water; and 1 Buildingasustainablesupportnetworkto implement policy and communication changes. PARTNERS AND THEIR COMMITMENTS Colorado Department of Labor will assist with information for database development and help assess potential programmaticand/orpolicychanges regarding worker camps. Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment will assist with information fordatabase development, clarify drinking water regulations and inspection process for Colorado, and help assess potential programmatic and/or policy changes regarding regulation of drinking water sources in worker camps. Colorado State UniversityHigh Plains Intermountain Centerfor Agricultural Health and Safety will assist with information for database development. Cooperative Extension Service will assist with database development and help develop and implement a communication plan. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will assist with providing information for database development. DOL currently performs inspections to enforce the Migrant Seasonal Protection Act to ensure workers receive promised wages, transportation, and housing. They willalso be assisting with database development related to these inspections, including camp location and, potentially, water quality information. EPA Region Swill facilitate dialogue among partners and help defineneeded programmatic/policy changes. Region 8 will provide outreach support and legal and technical expertise. National Centerfor Farmworker Health will provide information on relevant studies. Plan de Salud del Valle (Salud Family Health Center) will assist with database development and help with additional water sampling and help assess potential programmatic and/or policy changes regarding farm worker camps. Contacts: JeanBelille U.S. EPA Region 8 (303)312-6556 ------- Federal Interagency Environmental Justice Demonstration Projects Environmental Justice and Public Participation Through Technology: Defeating the Digital Divide and Building Community Capacity (Savannah, GA and Fort Belknap, MT) July 2000 Project Summary Sheet The overall goal of the Integrated Federal Interagency Environmental Justice Action Agenda is to increase efforts to identify, mobilize, and make use of federal resources to benefit environmentally and economically distressed communities. The Action Agenda is building dynamic and proactive partnerships that access the initiatives and resources of federal agencies to improve the quality of life of minority and low-income communities that suffer disproportionate environmental impacts. MAJOR FOCUS OF THE PROJECT: Community Education and Capacity Building PROJECT PURPOSE: This partnership of federal, tribal, and local agencies, community organizations, and historically black colleges and universities will workto help communities gain access to information technology and gain capacity to participate in environmental decision making. Federal agencies will provide both computers and technical assistance to establish community technology centers. The project will targettwocommunities:thefirst in Savannah, Georgia and the second at the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. These willserve as modelsforeventual replication by other communities and tribes. Along with federal agencies, Howard University will provide training and ongoing technical support. WHY IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INVOLVED? In 1992, the EPA chartered the Federal Facilities Environmental Restoration Dialogue Committee (FFERDC) to examine issues surrounding environmental cleanup at federal facilities. The committee made a series of recommendations that were designed to improve environmental cleanup decision making at federal facilities. One such recommendation stated that federal, state, tribal, and local governments need to make special efforts to consult with groups that have been commonly excluded from this process, such as minority, low- income, rural and inner-city residents, and Native American communities. The committee furtherstated that these groups need assistance to expand and develop their capacities where needed to participate in cleanup decision-making processes. WHERE IS THE PARTICIPATING COMMUNITY? The project will target two communities: the first in Savannah, Georgia, and the second at the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation in Montana. A partnership of federal, tribal, and local agencies, community organizations, and historically black colleges and universities will workto help these communities gain access to information technology and gain capacity to participate in environmental decision making. These activities will serve as models for eventual replication by other communities and tribes. ------- The development of community technology centers to provide access to computers and the Internet for these underrepresented groups is one way to empowerthem in environmental decision-making processes. These technology centers will enable thetargetcommunitiesto participate in information exchanges and policy-formation dialogues. The proposed community technology center three- year project will allow federal and nonfederal partners to combine resources to develop model community technology centers in an environmental justice community and a Native American community that will have applicability across similar stakeholder communities. WHAT IS THE BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY? The objective of this effort is to help targeted communities gain access to computers and the Internet in order to expand and develop capacity to participate in environmental decision making. Specific activities associated with this objective which will benefit the community are as follows: 1 Create community technology centers to give communities access to federal agencies and a wide range of environmental information on the Internet; 1 Conduct training programs that include computer- based and Internet research and tools; toxic release, chemical, and risk assessment information; and community economics; 1 Supervise community use of the training and tools received; 'Create and implement youth development programs; 'Provide economic development tools, entrepreneurship training, and other resources such as proposal writing and grant management to make the technology centers self-sufficient; 1 Provide continuous technical assistance from historically black colleges and universities and other sources via the Internet and e-mail; 1 Develop a technical assistance Web site (TechNet) and listserve; 1 Conduct a research meeting with the targeted communities and others to discuss experiences, lessons learned, and implications for the future; and 1 Conduct a research project to evaluate the results and examine the implications for program modification and replication. PARTNERS AND THEIR COMMITMENTS DOE Office of Intergovernmental and Public Accountability will provide surplus computers, environmental training, and public participation assistance. EPA will provide surplus computers and environmental training. Urban Environment Institute will provide training and ongoing technical support. OTHER PARTICIPATING PARTNERS These partners will provide support as appropriate to this technology project: AOL Center for Environmental Justice City of Savannah Fort Belknap Indian Community Council International Institute For Indigenous Resource Management National Urban Internet Contacts: Dr. Mildred McClain Citizens for Environmental Justice (912)233-0907 John Rosenthal Urban Environment Institute (703) 922-7653 Mervyn Tano International Institute for Indigenous Resource Management (303) 733-0481 Melinda Downing DOE (202) 586-7703 Ben Speakthunder Fort Belknap Indian Community Council (406) 353-2205 ------- Federal Interagency Environmental Justice Demonstration Projects Protecting Community Health and Reducing Toxic Air Exposure through Collaborative Partnerships In Barrio Logan (San Diego, CA) July 2000 Project Summary Sheet The overall goal of the Integrated Federal Interagency Environmental Justice Action Agenda is to increase efforts to identify, mobilize, and make use of federal resources to benefit environmentally and economically distressed communities. The Action Agenda is building dynamic and proactive partnerships that access the initiatives and resources of federal agencies to improve the quality of life of minority and low-income communities that suffer disproportionate environmental impacts. MAJOR FOCUS OF THE PROJECT: Improving Children's Health PROJECT PURPOSE: Federal, state, and local agencies will work with local partnerships led by the Environmental Health Coalition to conduct a model project on ways to improve air quality in the predominantly Latino community of Barrio Logan. The project will provide information to the community by utilizing an air monitoring station in a local high school recently established by California Air Resources Board (CARB). CARB envisions the project providing a model for the new Neighborhood Impacts Program and plans to duplicate this community involvement and participation effort in other low-income, minority communities in California. The project also will involve clinical studies to substantiate the high rate of asthma and will work to improve health care delivery. WHY IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INVOLVED? The Barrio Logan community is a low-income Latino community plagued by substandard housing, over crowded schools, a lack of health care and social services, and high unemployment rates. Criss-crossed by two major freeways, this community is subject to the release of three million pounds of toxic air pollution each year from numerous small industries, large shipyards, naval installations, and waste storage facilities adjacent to the area. Poor air quality has been attributed to the high incidence of asthma (28 percent compared with a national average of 7 percent) and other respiratory illnesses in the children living in these communities. The respiratory health hazard index for the area is 100-200 times above acceptable levels and is rising, however, there are no air monitors in the immediate area to assess the kinds of toxins impacting these communities. Federal, state and local agencies will work together to create a model project that examines ways to improve air quality in this community. The project will provide information to the community by utilizing an air monitoring station in a local high school recently established by the CARB, and will also involve clinical studies to substantiate the high rate of asthma and work to reduce health risks in this community. WHERE IS THE PARTICIPATING COMMUNITY? The community of Barrio Logan and surrounding areas have a population that is 85 percent Latino. Forty percent of these residents are living below the state's poverty level. The community borders an industrialized portion of San Diego Bay and is considered to be one of the most polluted communities in the county. ------- WHAT IS THE BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY? The Barrio Logan Air Monitoring Workgroup is studying how to improve air quality in the Southeast San Diego County community of Barrio Logan and surrounding communities. This project will provide a range of benefits to the Barrio Logan community by doing the following things: 1 Building community capacity andskillsto understand environmental impacts on their health and how to effectively deal with local, state, and federal authorities to change their communities and environment; 1 Encouraging local, state, and federal authorities to more aggressively inspect, regulate, and enforce environmental laws in small businesses that are located right next to residential areas; 1 Identifying major pollutant sources in Barrio Logan and helping the community/local authorities reduce or eliminate these sources. For instance, Barrio Logan is working with all industries in the area to implement pollution prevention strategies and/or relocation to industrial zones. Also, trucks should be rerouted from going through the Barrio Logan community to prevent dust and other paniculate exposure to residents; 1 Showing a reduction in the asthma and respiratory illnesses of children living in Barrio Logan once pollution sources are identified and cleanup is initiated; and 1 Identifying a process to allow local communities to have a meaningful voice in selectingtheircommunity for the city's redevelopment effort. PARTNERS AND THEIR COMMITMENTS > American Lung Association (ALA) will conduct Open Airways training in school and is working to provide scientific input on source identification for air pollutants. > Air Pollution Control District (APCD) provided staff, a web site, and data/information to a workgroup and their community on air station; is comparing information with other parts of city; and has modified behavior on granting air variances in area. 1 California AirResource Board (CARS) will use the Barrio Logan Air Monitoring Project as a model for a new Neighborhood Impacts Program and duplicate the community-based involvement approach in other low-income, minority communities. CARB will also develop methods and protocols for identifying, monitoring, and reducing air pollution impacts in communities affected by multiple emission sources. CARB provided $500,000 in resources (staff and equipment) to set up a monitoring station and conduct emission inventory in the Barrio Logan community. Environmental Health Coalition is working aggressively with the city and City Council on the Redevelopment Zone for Barrio Logan to make the area mainly residential. EPA is working with local CUPAs to make sure inspections and enforcement efforts are occurring and has quarterly meetings with EHC to address broad-ranging issues in community. HUD will assist the local authorities in securing adequate, safe housing for Barrio Logan residents. Industrial Environmental Association represents many of the industries in Barrio Logan and tries to encourage pollution prevention strategies. Mercado Tenants Association provides meeting space, translates, and disseminates information to the community on the project, and arranges community meetings and field trips to the monitoring station for residents. NIEHS will provide supportto conduct clinical studies on asthma incidence and work to reduce health risk related to environmental exposures. San Diego School District is working with the American Lung Association to conduct Open Airways training in schools and using Tools for Schools to identify indoor air pollution sources in schools. USC Health Centerwill provide scientific and medical investigation in the area (particularly as it relates to the children in the area). The Center has been involved in family education projects on air pollution sources in Barrio Logan. Contacts: Clarice Gaylord U.S. EPA Region 9 (619)235-4767 California Air Resource Board (916)445-3742 San Diego County Air Pollution Control District (619)694-3358 Fred Tyson NIEHS (919)541-0176 Frank Riley HUD, San Diego (619)557-5310 ------- Federal Interagency Environmental Justice Demonstration Projects Oregon Environmental Justice Initiative (Portland and Rural Communities, Oregon) July 2000 Project Summary Sheet The overall goal of the Integrated Federal Interagency Environmental Justice Action Agenda is to increase efforts to identify, mobilize, and make use of federal resources to benefit environmentally and economically distressed communities. The Action Agenda is building dynamic and proactive partnerships that access the initiatives and resources of federal agencies to improve the quality of life of minority and low-income communities that suffer disproportionate environmental impacts. MAJOR FOCUS OF THE PROJECT: Improving Public Health PROJECT PURPOSE: A partnership comprising federal, tribal, state, and local government and community partners will work to accomplish three community-identified needs in the State of Oregon that impact public health: reduce lead exposure in urban areas, reduce pesticide exposure in rural areas, and eliminate illegal dumping on tribal lands. The Initiative will include targeted inspections. It will also include community-based research, outreach, and education projects such as a mobile lab for blood lead testing; development of PC-based geographic information system profile of Oregon consisting of environmental and health databases; community- based environmental monitoring; two federal-tribal- state summits; and "Safe Food"a-farmworker, youth-designed research project to identify pesticide residues. WHY IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INVOLVED? The Environmental Justice Initiative for the District of Oregon is a multiyear partnership comprising federal, tribal, state, and local government and community partners. Through the support of state government and community-based organizations, the Initiative has generated sustainable support to achieve a goal of the Children's Health Initiative: reducing the risk of lead paint exposure. By helping communities educate themselves and establish relationships with agencies that can help them positively affect their environmental concerns, the federal partners hope to increase the lead-safe housing stock, increase testing for lead poisoning for at-risk children, and reduce pesticide exposure for farmworkers and their children through state-led inspections and appropriate judicial authority. WHERE IS THE PARTICIPATING COMMUNITY? Although the Oregon Environmental Justice Initiative is focusing on the needs of children, farmworkers, and tribes in Portland and surrounding rural communities, the Initiative responds to several important national health-related concerns. This approach to problem- solving, using the tools of enforcement and community-based research and education, can be duplicated and emulated in other Regions. ------- WHAT IS THE BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY? The participating communities and tribes will benefit from this project through activities that will achieve the following: 1 Promote place-based partnerships with grassroots community groups, local, state, and tribal governments, business, unions, community service non-profit organizations; the academic community; and the media; 1 Leverage federal resources to address three community-identified needs-reduction of lead exposure in urban areas, reduction of pesticide exposure in rural areas, and elimination of illegal dumping on tribal lands; 1 Provide a framework for interagency, multimedia, collaborations with communities, with concrete measures of success; 1 Create an Environmental Justice Working Group; 1 Implement an enforcement strategy through targeted inspections in environmental justice communities to address lead, pesticides, and illegal dumping on tribal lands; 1 Create a mobile lab for blood lead testing; 1 Develop a PC-based geographic information system profile of Oregon that consists of environmental and health databases; 'Host summits of local, state, and federal representatives with community presenters; 1 Institutecommunity-based environmental monitoring; and 1 Implement the "Safe Food" project, which will assist in identifying pesticide residues in the home; measure levels of exposure to pesticides in food, water, and the immediate home environment; and assess ways to deliver culturally appropriate prevention strategies in order to increase pesticide avoidance behaviors and decrease levels of environmental exposure to pesticides. PARTNERS AND THEIR COMMITMENTS EPA Region 10 HUD U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon OTHER PARTICIPATING PARTNERS These partners will serve in an advisory role and work together to hold an environmental justice summit and plan the summer 2001 inspections: Albina Weed & Seed Project CREATE Environmental Justice Action Group (EJAG) Environmental Justice Work Group (EJWG) Governor's Environmental Justice Advisory Board (GEJAB) King Neighborhood Association Multnomah County Health Department Oregon Environmental Council Oregon Legal Services Oregon OSHA (will also determine drinking water risks) Oregon State Health Division Pinerose y Campesinos Unidoes del Noroesta (PCUN) City of Portland Water Bureau Urban League of Portland Contacts: Monica Kirk U.S. EPA Region 10 (503) 326-3269 Okianer Christian Dark United States Attorney for the District of Oregon (503)727-1013 ------- Federal Interagency Environmental Justice Demonstration Projects Metlakatla Indian Community Unified Interagency Environmental Management Task Force (Annette Island, AK) July 2000 Project Summary Sheet The overall goal of the Integrated Federal Interagency Environmental Justice Action Agenda is to increase efforts to identify, mobilize, and make use of federal resources to benefit environmentally and economically distressed communities. The Action Agenda is building dynamic and proactive partnerships that access the initiatives and resources of federal agencies to improve the quality of life of minority and low-income communities that suffer disproportionate environmental impacts. MAJOR FOCUS OF THE PROJECT: Address environmental concerns on Annette Island. PROJECT PURPOSE: The formation of a partnership of federal, tribal and local government agencies and organizations to address areas of contamination and to develop and implement the Metlakatla Indian Community(MIC) Master Plan. This Master Plan will address land use, areas of contamination, andfuture development on the peninsula. WHY IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INVOLVED? Government activities on this land began in 1940 with the lease of 10,000 acres to the Department of War for building a World War II defense base; establishing a minor U.S. Navy base; establishing a major U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) base; creating a U.S. Air Force ballistic missile early warning system complex; and installing a U.S. Army radar/ communication system. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) assumed 5,000 acres of lease property and ownership of most of the facilities after 1949, and operated Annette Island Airport until the nearby Ketchikan International Airport displaced it in 1973. The USCG continued to use the Annette airport until relocating to Sitka in 1977. The government stored a combined total of one million gallons of fuel at several sites on the island. Today, extensive soil contamination exists around some of these fuel storage sites. In addition, lead, asbestos, and oils containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been found at building sites formerly leased by the government where abandoned government vehicles, airplane parts, drums, and other wastes now sit. To date, four federal agencies (COE, BIA, FAA, and USCG) have spent approximately $5 million investigating and cleaning up contamination on the peninsula, however, it is estimated that an additional $62 million may be needed over the next 10 years. WHERE IS THE PARTICIPATING COMMUNITY? The Annette Islands Indian Reserve is located in southeast Alaska, approximately 20 miles south of Ketchikan. This reserve has been the home of the MIC since 1887, and is the only Indian reserve in Alaska. The U .S. government currently holds this land in trust for the tribe. ------- WHAT IS THE BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY? Through a coordinated federal effort to resolve environmental concerns, this project will achieve the following: Collaborative relationships between tribal and federal officials; Mitigation of environmental impacts in order for the tribe to use its property in an economic and beneficial way; Protection of the customary and traditional use of food resources; Development and implementation of a Master Plan for cleanup and restoration of the Metlakatla Peninsula; Building tribal capacity to manage and conduct environmental programs; Providing federal technical assistance as needed and monitoring of the tribe's performance; and Planning development in order to promote economic growth through the tourism and commercial fishing industries. PARTNERS AND THEIR COMMITMENTS Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) will provide assistance and funding for planning activities associated with site cleanup and use. Central Council of Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska will conduct soil and water sampling. DOD, Army Corps of Engineers (COE) will provide assistance through funding and cleanup MOUs. EPA will provide assistance with building tribal environmental program capacity. FAA will provide funding assistance. USCG will assist with the identification and mitigation of past impacts Contacts: Johnny Duplantis Andrea Elconin COE, Alaska District COE, Alaska District (907) 753-2829 (907) 753-5680 ------- Federal Interagency Environmental Justice Demonstration Projects Environmental Justice in Indian Country: A Roundtabie to Address Conceptual, Political, and Statutory Issues July 2000 Project Summary Sheet The overall goal of the Integrated Federal Interagency Environmental Justice Action Agenda is to increase efforts to identify, mobilize, and make use of federal resources to benefit environmentally and economically distressed communities. The Action Agenda is building dynamic and proactive partnerships that access the initiatives and resources of federal agencies to improve the quality of life of minority and low-income communities that suffer disproportionate environmental impacts. MAJOR FOCUS OF THE PROJECT: Community Education and Capacity Building PROJECT PURPOSE: Federal agencies in collaboration with tribes, tribal organizations, and other interested parties will conduct a roundtable to thoroughly discuss, and identify means to address, the broad range of tribal cultural, religious, economic, social, legal, and other issues related to environmental justice in Indian country. Both tribal leaders and federal agencies have been struggling to properly interpret and implement the principles of environmental justice in a manner that is consistent with the needs of tribal communities and the complexities of federal- tribal trust relationships. This demonstration project proposes to produce a coherent implementation strategy based on substantive input from tribes. WHY IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INVOLVED? The Roundtable will provide an opportunity for all branches of the federal government to improve their understanding of the underlying issues and complexities of environmental justice in Indian Country, including gaps in policy, technical, scientific, social, and legal research. This will enable federal agencies and tribes to collaborate effectively in order to develop a framework for policy and regulations related to environmental justice in Indian country. The two-day Roundtable is planned for late summer 2000 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and grew out of a commitment by federal agencies to tribal groups at the June 1999 environmental justice conference in Hilton Head, South Carolina. WHERE IS THE PARTICIPATING COMMUNITY? The Roundtable proposes to assemble a representative group of American Indians, Alaskan natives, environmental protection experts, legal scholars, ethicists, tribal elders, religious leaders, cultural specialists, policy experts, and others from around the nation to identify and address the issues associated with environmental justice in Indian Country. ------- WHAT IS THE BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY? This Roundtable will be structured to bring discussion and attention to the pressing issues of environmental justice in Indian Country, including addressing negative perceptions of current federalI policies. The specific tasks associated with this objective are as follows: Conduct research in orderto produce a source book on environmental justice in Indian Country. The source book will be a compendium of news articles, statutes, treaties, books, and other works of differing opinions, positions, and philosophies; Distribute findings and recommendations of the Roundtable to the elected or appointed official of all tribes and tribal colleges; Design an implementation strategy for a research agenda, communication strategy, and tribal capacity- building program as identified in the roundtable; Create a working group composed of tribal leaders, tribal colleges, and other interested parties to develop research issues set out in the roundtable; Develop tribal college capacity to become a clearinghouse for environmental justice issues in Indian Country; and Use recommendations and findings from the Roundtable for the development of resource management, environmental protection, environmental restoration, and cultural risk management curricula for workshop training and future tribal college courses. PARTNERS AND THEIR COMMITMENTS DHHS Indian Health Services will provide information on barriers they face in building infrastructure and howthey handle waste disposal of their own facilities in tribal areas. DHHS Administration for Native Americans will provide financial assistance for the Roundtable. DoD will provide information on their Indian policy and howtheir Department is implementing that policy in the course of cleanups on Indian lands. DoD will also provide information on how they manage waste disposal facilities in Indian Country to comply with federal laws. DOE will assist with the planning and implementation of the roundtable, provide information on their programs and how they have worked to increased tribal capacity through their activities, and provide personnel to assist in IWG's Tribal Outreach Plan. DOI Bureau of Indian Affairs will play a major role in the planning of the roundtable and assist with ensuring follow-up and implementation of action items identified during the roundtable. DOI will also provide expert knowledge of the federal trust responsibility to tribes, give insights to how environmental justice impacts the trust responsibility, and explain how they manage their facilities on tribal land to comply with all federal environmental laws. DOI Bureau of Reclamation will provide information on how the Bureau implements DOI's Indian policy during projects that may impact tribes. EPA will assist with the communication and tribal capacity-building component of the roundtable, provide technical and policy expertise on environmental laws and regulations in Indian Country, and explain the difficulties associated with enforcing federal environmental laws on tribal lands. HUD will provide information on their Indian programs and how they have assisted tribes with economic development. USDA will provide information on how their rural development programs assist economic development in Indian Country. They will also discuss potential grant programsfortribal infrastructure development, and howthe Department implements its Indian policy. Contacts: Derrick Watchman DOE (202)586-0211 JessicaAlcorn DOE (202) 586-0798 Danny Gogal EPA (202) 564-2576 Clifford Mahooty DOI - BIA (505) 346-7507 Roy Miller DHHS-IHS (301)295-1522 ------- SECTION III FEDERAL INTERAGENCY ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE WORKING GROUP KEY CONTACTS 43 ------- Intentionally Left Blank 44 ------- FEDERALINTERAGENCY ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE WORKING GROUP KEY CONTACTS AGENCY EPA/OEJ DOC/NOAA DOD DOE DOJ DOI DDL DOT HHS/ATSDR NAME Charles Lee, Associate Director, OEJ Environmental Protection Agency Roan Conrad, Director Office of Sustainable Development Department of Commerce Len Richeson Environmental Protection Specialist Department of Defense Robert Moore Environmental Justice Coordinator Department of Energy Quentin C. Pair, Attorney Department of Justice Willie Taylor, Director Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance Department of Interior David Demers, Director Office of Research and Technical Support Department of Labor Wendell Stills, Team Leader Federal Highway Administration Department of Transportation Dr. Rueben Warren Asst. Adm. for the Office of Urban Affairs, ATSDR Health and Human Services TELEPHONE 202/564-2515 Fax: 202/501-1163 202/482-3384 Fax: 202/482-2663 703/604-0518 202/586-4758 Fax: 202/586-9260 202/514-1999 Fax: 202/514-2583 202/208-3891 Fax: 202/208-6970 202/219-6197x184 Fax: 202/212-9216 202/366-2052 Fax: 202/366-3409 404/639-5060 Fax: 404/639-5063 E-MAIL lee.charles@epa.gov roan, con rad@hdq.noaa.qov richeslh @acq.osd .mil robert.moore@hq.doe.qov quentin.pair@usdoi.gov willie tavlor@os.doi.qov demers david@dol.gov wendell.stills@fhwa.dot.gov RCW4@cdc.gov 45 ------- AGENCY NAME TELEPHONE E-MAIL HHS/HRSA Jeanean Willis, MPH Senior Health Advisor Health and Human Services 301/443-0943 iwillis@hrsa.gov HHS/NIEHS Dr. Charles Wells, Director Environmental Justice/Health Disparities and Public Health, NIEHS Health and Human Services 301/496-2920 Fax:301/496-0563 wells1@niehs.nih.gov HUD Antoinette G. Sebastian Community Planning and Development Housing and Urban Development 202/708-0614 X4458 antoinette sebastian@hud.gov OMB Carol Dennis Environmental Justice Contact Office of Managementand Budget 202/395-4822 Fax: 202/395-5836 cdennis@eop.omb.gov USDA/US Forest Service Carol Wettstein Environmental Justice Coordinator, USFS US Department of Agriculture 202/205-1588 Fax: 202/205-1174 cwettstein@fs.fed.us 46 ------- |