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Summary of the Meeting of the
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PREFACE
The National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC) is a federal advisory committee that was
established by charter on September 30,1993, to provide independent advice, consultation, and
recommendations to the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on matters related
to environmental justice. The NEJAC is made up .of 25 members, and one DFO, who serve on a parent council
that has six subcommittees., Along with the NEJAC members who fill subcommittee posts, an additional 39
individuals serve on the various subcommittees. To date, NEJAC has held ten meetings in the following
locations: . . '
Washington, D.C., May 20, 1994 . •'.-_'
Albuquerque, New Mexico, August 3 through 5, 1994 .
Herndon, Virginia, October 25 through 27, 1994 ,
Atlanta, Georgia, January 17 and 18,1995 .
Arlington, Virginia, July 25 and 26,1995
Washington, D.C., December 12 through 14/1995
Detroit, Michigan, May 29 through 31, 1996
Baltimore, Maryland, December 10 through 12,1996 .
• Wabeno, Wisconsin, May 13 through 15,1997
Durham, North Carolina, December 8 through 10, 1997
The NEJAC also has held other meetings which include:
• Environmental Justice Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Roundtable, San Antonio, Texas,
October 17 through 19, 1996
„ -'
EPA Region 4 Environmental Justice Enforcement Roundtable, Durham, North Carolina, December
11, through 13,1997 .'.-'•
As a federal advisory committee, the NEJAC is bound by all requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee
Act (FACA) of October 6,1972. Those requirements include:
Members must be selected and appointed by EPA , . "
Members must attend and participate fully in meetings of NEJAC
Meetings must be open to the public, except as specified by the Administrator
All meetings must be announced in the Federal Register •
Public participation must be allowed at all public meetings
The public must be provided access to materials distributed during the meeting
Meeting minutes must be kept and made available to the public
A designated federal official (DFO) must be present at all meetings of the NEJAC (and its
subcommittees) •
NEJAC must provide independent judgment that is not influenced by special interest groups
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Each subcommittee, formed to deal with a specific topic and to facilitate the conduct of the business of
NEJAC, has a DFO and is bound by the requirements of FAQA. Subcommittees of the NEJAC meet
independently of the full NEJAC and present their findings to the NEJAC for review. Subcommittees cannot
make recommendations independently to EPA. In addition to the six subcommittees, NEJAC has established a
P'rptocol Committee, the members of which are the chair of NEJAC and the chairs of each subcommittee.
Members of the NEJAC are presented in the table on the following page. A list of the members of each
of the six subcommittees are presented in the appropriate chapters of the report.
NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ADVISORY COUNCIL
MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
(1997-1998)
Designated Federal Official:
Mr. Robert Knox
Acting Director, EPA Office of Environmental Justice
General Members
Mr. Don Aragon
Ms. Leslie Ann Beckhoff
Ms. Jean Belille
Ms. Christine Benally
Ms. Sue Briggum
Ms. Dollie Burwell
Mr. Luke Cole
Ms. Mary English
Ms. Rosa Franklin
Mr. Arnoldo Garcia
Mr. Graver Hankins
Mr. James Hill
Chair:
Mr. Haywood Turrentine
Mr. Lawrence Hurst
Ms. Annabelle Jaramillo
Ms. Lillian Kawasaki
Mr. Charles Lee
Mr. Gerald Prout
Ms. Rosa Hilda Ramos
Mr. Arthur Ray
Mr. Robert Lewis Shaw
Mr. Gerald Torres
Mr. Baldemar Velasquez
Mr. Damon Whitehead
Ms. Margaret Williams
EPA's Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ) maintains transcripts, summary reports, and other material
distributed during the meetings. Those documents are available to the public upon request.
Comments or questions can be directed to OEJ through the Internet. OEJ's Internet E-mail address is:
envlronmental-justice-epa@epamail.epa.gov.
Executive Summaries of the reports of "the NEJAC meetings are available in English and Spanish on the
Internet at the NEJAC's World Wide Web home page:
„ http:/www.ttemi.com/nejac.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION
This executive summary provides highlights of the
tenth meeting of the National Environmental
Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC), held
December 8 through 10, 1997 at the Regal
University Hotel in Durham, North Carolina. The
Executive Council of the NEJAC met on
December 8 and 10, 1997. Each of the six
subcommittees met for a full day on December 9,
1997. In addition, on December 8, 1997,
members of the NEJAC participated in a site tour
of three communities in the Durham area to learn
about environmental issues and concerns related
to the communities. The NEJAC also hosted
public comment periods on December 8 and 10,
1997. Approximately 245 persons attended the
meetings and the public comment sessions.
The NEJAC is a federal advisory committee that
was established by charter, on September 30,
1993 to provide independent advice, consultation,
and recommendations to the Administrator of the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on
matters related to environmental justice. Mr.
Haywood Turrentine, Laborers' District Cfouncil
Education and Training Trust Fund (an affiliate of
the Laborers International Union of North
America), serves as the newly elected chair of the
Executive Council. Mr. Robert Knox, Acting
Director, EPA Office of Environmental Justice
(OEJ), serves as the acting Designated Federal
Official (DFO) for the Executive Council. Exhibit
ES-1 lists the chair and DFO for the Executive
Council, as well as trie persons who chair the six
subcommittees of the NEJAC and the EPA staff
appointed to serve as the DFOs for the
subcommittees.
To date, the NEJAC has held ten meetings. OEJ
maintains public transcripts and summary reports
of the proceedings of the meetings. Those
documents are available to the public upon
request. The public also can access the
executive summaries of reports of previous
meetings as well as other NEJAC publications
through the Internet at http://www.ttemi.com/
nejac. Versions of the executive, summaries are
available in both English and Spanish.
OVERVIEW
Mr. Turrentine - opened the meeting of the
Executive Council by expressing his gratitude and
Exhibit ES-1
NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE ADVISORY COUNCIL
CHAIRS AND DESIGNATED FEDERAL
OFFICIALS (DFO)
Executive Council:
Mr. Haywqod Turrentine, Chair
Mr. Robert Knox, Acting DFO
Enforcement Subcommittee; '
Mr. Arthur Ray, Chair
Ms. Sherry Milan, DFO
Health and Research Subcommittee:
, Ms. Mary English, Chair
Ms. Carol Christensen, co-DFO
Mr. Lawrence Martin, co-DFO
Indigenous Peoples Subcommittee:
Mr. James Hill, Chair
Ms. Elizabeth Bell, DFO
International Subcommittee:
Mr. Baldemar Velasquez, Chair
Ms. Dona Canales, DFO
Public Participation and
Accountability Subcommittee:
' Ms. Rosa Hilda Ramos, Chair
Ms. Renee Goins, DFO
Waste and Facility Siting Subcommittee:
Mr. Charles Lee, Chair
Mr. Kent Benjamin, DFO
appreciation to all individuals who volunteer their
time to the NEJAC and its activities. He then
recognized the efforts of the former chair of the
NEJAC and other members of the NEJAC,
explaining that, although the current council has
many new members, there would be no need to
"reinvent" what the previous council had
accomplished. Mr. Turrentine expressed his hope
that the members of the current council would
carry on the hard work and dedication of the
members of the earlier bodies.
Mr. Turrentine made special mention of the
Enforcement Subcommittee of the NEJAC for its
Durham, North Carolina, December 8 through 10,1997
ES-1
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Executive Summary
National Environmental Justice Advisory Council
efforts in planning and coordinating activities for
t|ie Environmental Justice Enforcement
Roqndtable that was held on December 11
through 13, 199? at North Carolina Central
University (NCCU) in Durham, North Carolina.
The roundtable meeting provided an opportunity
for stakeholders in environmental justice issues to
exchange ideas about how communities can play
a more active role in enforcement and compliance
assurance activities.
fyfr. Fred Hansen, Deputy Administrator of EPA,
emphasized the continuing commitment of the
E=PA Administrator to ensure environmental
justice. Exhibit ES-2 presents a letter from the
EPA Administrator and Mr. Hansen to the
membe.rs of the NEJAC and the meeting
participants. Mr. Hansen stressed the importance
of the NEJAC in helping to create a model that
other federal agencies can follow in carrying out
their environmental justice strategies and
President Clinton's commitment to improve race
relations. Mr. Harjsen identified for the NEJAC
issues he believes have high priority for EPA:
le'ad, asthma, and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act
df 1964. He emphasized that he and the EPA
Administrator also are committed to improving the
diversity in the workforce of EPA. Mr. Hansen
announced that EPA's draft guidance on Title VI
would be distributed to the NEJAC by the end of
December 1997. He added that the EPA
Administrator has requested that the senior
managers for each EPA program office identify
additional ways in which the agency can increase
its efforts to ensure environmental justice.
Ms. Sylvia Lowrance, Principal Deputy Assistant
Administrator, EPA Office of Enforcement and
Compliance Assurance (OECA), provided the
NEJAC with an update on the agency's
environmental justice activities. She stated that
EPA is reconvening its Executive Steering
Committee on Environmental Justice to ensure
that EPA's efforts to respond to concerns raised
by the NEJAC are coordinated among EPA
offices. She ajso announced that EPA is
developing a grants program in which the agency
v^ilf provide "seed money" to a small number of
states to support the states' own programs related
to Title VI. She informed the NEJAC that EPA's
Community and University Partnership (CUP)
drant Program will not be funded in 1998.
NJr. John Hankinsqn, Regional Administrator, EPA
Region 4, stated that EPA had made significant
progress in the four years during which he has
served as the top official in the region. He
stressed the importance of preventing health
threats to communities, and engaging in
discussions about enforcement and "ways to use
existing laws in preventive ways." Mr. Hankinson
concluded his remarks by stressing his
commitment to the development of partnerships
and the conduct of dialogue to address such
important issues as environmental enforcement,
health risks, and community education.
On December 8, 1997, members of the NEJAC
participated in a site tour of several communities
near Durham, North Carolina. Exhibit ES-3
presents a photograph of the members of the
NEJAC listening to environmental justice
concerns of the members of the Shiloh
community. The site tour also stopped at the
Eufala Street Landfill in Fayetteville, North
Carolina to listen to the environmental concerns
of members of the community, who wish to be
relocated because of the landfill.
The NEJAC hosted public comment periods on
December 8 and 10,1997. More than 36 people
participated in the two public comment periods.
Mr. Richard Moore, Southwest Network for
Environmental and Economic Justice and former
chair of the NEJAC, addressed the NEJAC to
stress that the environmental justice movement is
not driven by a federal advisory committee, but by
those "brothers and sisters" to whom the NEJAC
listens to during the public comment periods, as
well as those the NEJAC meets on the site tours.
Issues discussed during the two public comment
periods included concerns about the effects of
confined animal feeding operations (CAFO) on
communities, the identification of environmental
justice cases related to indigenous peoples, the
siting of polyvinylchloride (PVC) companies in
Louisiana, and the protection of farm workers.
The Executive Council also heard presentations
by representatives of EPA's Office of
Administration and Resource Management
(OARM) at Research Triangle Park (RTP); EPA's
Office of Children's Health Protection (OCHP);
EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning and
Standards (OAQPS) at RTP; and the White
House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ).
ES-2
Durham, North Carolina, December 8 through 10, 1997
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National Environmental Justice Advisory Council
Executive Summary
. Exhibit ES-2
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460
DEC 08 1997
OFFICE OF
THE ADMINISTRATOR
Dear Council Members and Meeting Participants,
Welcome to the tenth meeting of the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council
(NEJAC). We thank Haywood Turrentine, the newly elected Council Chair, for accepting this
important position. We are confident that he will continue the excellent leadership demonstrated
by former NEJAC Chair Richard Moore. We thank the NEJAC members and community leaders
who helped EPA organize this important event, and also Steve Herman, Sylvia Lowrahce, John
.Hankinson, Robert Knox, and other EPA staff for their hard work in planning this meeting.
We are pleased by the Council's progress in advancing the cause of environmental justice.
You have increased awareness and understanding of environmental justice issues at EPA and
among the general public. And we have many NEJAC successes to be proud of, such as:
publication of The Model Plan for Public Participation, substantive involvement in the
Administration's Brownfields Initiative, and hosting more than 35 public meetings — including the
second Enforcement Roundtable, which will provide opportunities for exchange between EPA
and local citizens on environmental enforcement and compliance activities. Through our work
with NEJAC, EPA has been better able to ensure that all Americans are provided the information
and tools they heed to get involved in making their neighborhoods and their families safer and
healthier.
NEJAC brings together individuals with a personal commitment to environmental justice.
Your involvement in the process of finding solutions and your valuable advice to EPA is critical to
the task of building a better world for our children and their children to come. As we approach
the fourth anniversary of the President's Executive Order 12898 on Environmental Justice, we
should reflect on our many accomplishments and seek new opportunities for phange. We look
forward to continuing our work together as we take the necessary steps to achieve public health
and environmental protection in every community.
Best wishes for a successful meeting,
Carol M. Browner
Administrator
Fred Hansen
Deputy Administrator
Recycled/Recyclable
Printed with Soy/CinoU Me on ftftr tint
contain* at tout 50% raeyctod fiber
Durham, North Carolina, December 8 through 10,1997
ES-3
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Executive Summary
National Environmental Justice Advisory Council
Exhibit ES-3: Members of the NEJAC and other
participants listening to the environmental
justice concerns of the Shiloh community near
Durham, North Carolina.
COMMON THEMES
During the meetings of the Executive Council and
the subcommittees, the members of the NEJAC
discussed a wide range of issues related to
environmental justice. Specific concerns raised
Irjclude:
• Improving the integration of environmental
justice into the policies and activities of each
EPA program office
• Ensuring that OCHP coordinates activities in
consultation with the NEJAC and other
federal agencies
• Improving the progress of EPA in its
development of guidance on Title VI, as well
as addressing complaints received related to
potential violations under Title VI
il , |,'IN'| , III
• Improving EPA's response to resolutions and
Issues raised during public comment periods
• Maintaining EPA's commitment to
environmental justice by continuing to fund
the CUP grant program
• Ensuring the early involvement of all
stakeholders, particularly affected
communities, in decision making
„ „ in
Ensuring that the proposed White House
meeting on environmental justice includes in
the planning process the participation of the
NEJAC and other community leaders
• Clarifying the relationship between
environmental justice and Indian country,
given the special nature of the sovereign
status of tribes
Members of the NEJAC lauded the efforts of Mr.
Hansen and the EPA Administrator, noting that
much progress had been made in environmental
justice; however, several members noted that
there continues to be a "big gap" in the area of
integrating environmental justice throughout the
agency. The NEJAC approved a resolution from
the Waste and Facility Siting Subcommittee, in
which the NEJAC requests that EPA actively
pursue the integration of environmental justice
components into the activities of all programs and
media offices of the agency, as well as the efforts
of other federal agencies.
Members of the NEJAC urged the director of
OCHP to coordinate efforts with the NEJAC, other
EPA program offices, and other federal agencies,
particularly the National Institute of Environmental
Health Sciences (NIEHS). The Health and
Research Subcommittee discussed at length
during its deliberations the protection of children's
health and how the.subcommittee could assist
OCHP in achieving its goals.
Members of the NEJAC expressed concern about
the slow progress of the agency to formulate how
to use Title VI as an enforcement mechanism.
The members expressed particular concern about
the slow progress in developing guidance on Title
VI and responding to complaints received about
potential violations of Title VI. Noting that the
number of EPA's legal staff responsible for
responding to Title VI complaints had been
reduced from four attorneys to two, while EPA's
Office of, C|vil Rights (OCR) had been operating
without an appointed director for more than one
year, the members expressed concern about
EPA's commitment in this area. The members of
the NEJAC strongly recommended that EPA
appoint a permanent director of OCR who has
extensive experience in the civil rights field and
that EPA establish "strike teams" to investigate
complaints under Title VI. In addition, the
Executive Council approved a resolution from the
Enforcement Subcommittee in which the NEJAC
requests that the agency develop a policy to
ensure that claims of violations are addressed in
a timely manner.
Members of the NEJAC expressed strong
concern that many of the resolutions forwarded to
the EPA Administrator do not receive an
adequate response from the agency. During the
public comment periods, many commenters
expressed outrage that they continue to present
ES-4
Durham, North Carolina, December 8 through 10, 1997
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National Environmental Justice Advisory Council
Executive Summary
their testimony to the NEJAC and EPA still does
•not respond to their concerns, particularly the
case of St. James Parish, Louisiana and to cases
involving indigenous peoples.
Members of the NEJAC expressed concern about
the suspension in 1998 of funding for the CUP
grant program, emphasizing the importance of
such grants to communities. The members also
expressed concern that the agency would
suspend funds during an evaluation process of
the program, rather than after the evaluation had
been completed. The members of the NEJAC
agreed to send a letter to the EPA Administrator
requesting that the NEJAC be involved in the
evaluation of the grant program and that EPA
commit to continuing to fund the program.
Members of the NEJAC continued to emphasize
the importance of involving ajl stakeholders early
in the decision-making process. The Executive
Council of the NEJAC approved a resolution from
the Public Participation and Accountability
Subcommittee in which the NEJAC requests that
EPA modify its public notice processes to provide
early notification to communities of EPA's
intention to develop a project and to make
accessible to the public not only documents but
also share its expertise with communities to help
them understand technical issues.
Members of the NEJAC also stressed .that the
planning process for the proposed White House
meeting on environmental justice must be
community-based and community-driven. They
also recommended that the meeting should be
viewed not only as an opportunity to address
substantive issues, such as exploring ways to
encourage the Interagency Working Group (IWG)
on Environmental Justice to take action, but as a
new beginning rather than the culmination of,
events. The members also urged that diverse
populations be represented during the planning of
the meeting and that the federal agencies should
provide an update on the 'progress on
implementing their environmental justice
strategies.
Members of the NEJAC also discussed the need
to clarify the relationship between environmental
justice and Indian country because tribes, unlike
other communities, are sovereign nations. The
Indigenous Peoples Subcommittee during its
deliberations agreed to draft a resolution for the
June 1998 meeting of the NEJAC which will
address the relationship of environmental justice
and Indian country and the lack of infrastructures
within tribes to develop environmental programs.
SUMMARIES OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE
MEETINGS
Summarized below are the deliberations of the
members during the meetings of the six
subcommittees of the NEJAC.
Enforcement Subcommittee
The Enforcement Subcommittee discussed the
activities of its work groups and reviewed
selected action items and resolutions. The
subcommittee also heard' comments during a
public dialogue period on the environmental
justice concerns and the cumulative effects of
industries on the communities in St. James
Parish, Louisiana.
The status of each work group was reported as
follows: • • • _
• The Work Group on the Open-Market Trading
of Air Emissions Credits heard a presentation
from representatives of EPA's Office of Air
and Radiation (OAR), to address what the
subcommittee described as the agency's
inadequate response to Enforcement
Resolution No. 7 about EPA's policy on open-
market trading of air emissions credits.
• The Work Group on . the Policy on
Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEP)
was disestablished because the members of
the subcommittee agreed that EPA had
incorporated many of the work group's
recommendations into its interim revised
policy on the use of SEPs in the settlements
negotiated by EPA.
• The Work Group on Worker Protection
updated the subcommittee on its activities,
noting in particular its work in support of the
subcommittee's co-sponsorship of the
Environmental Justice Enforcement
Roundtable that was held December 11
through 13,1997 at NCCU in Durham, North
Carolina. One of the topics discussed during '
the roundtable meeting was issues related to
the protection of workers from environmental
hazards.
Durham, North Carolina, December^ through 10, 1997
ES-S
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,
Executive Summary
National Environmental Justice Advisory Council
In addition, the members of the subcommittee
agreed to form a work group to address concerns
related to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The primary goal of the work group would be to
review EPA's draft guidance on Title VI and
submit comments to the Executive Council to be
forwarded to the EPA Administrator.
The members of the subcommittee also heard
reports on the following issues: the EPA-state
performance partnership agreements (PPA),
CAFOs, Title VI, activities of the EPA Region 3
Criminal Investigation Division, federal
enforcement authorities under the imminent and
substantial endangerment clauses contained in
specific environmental legislation, and public
participation in the Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act (RCRA) corrective action program.
Health and Research Subcommittee
The members of the Health and Research
Subcommittee discussed the development of
administrative procedures that would enable the
subcommittee to achieve its goals effectively.
The subcommittee also discussed several issues
related to the protection- of children's health to
identify topics that should be the focus of the
sybcommittee's consideration of this topic. Listed
below are a few of the actions to which the
members agreed:
'.;. ' 't,K : , ;
• Identify the mission of OCHP and explore
ways in which the office will influence the
overall mission of EPA related to
environmental health and children.
• Determine how the subcommittee can assist
OCHP in achieving its goals.
• Determine how EPA and other agencies can
coordinate their efforts to address issues that
affect children's health.
The subcommittee also heard presentations on
the environmental justice activities of EPA's
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT),
EPA's chemical indexing system, and
transnational research programs, as well as a
report from OCHP.
The subcommittee also adopted several
significant action items which encourage NIEHS
and EPA to coordinate efforts to increase funding
to support the work of NIEHS. Efforts are
underway to draft a resolution in which the
NEJAC requests that EPA agree that OCHP will
work with NIEHS to. expand the work done by
NIEHS on issues of children's health.
Indigenous Peoples Subcommittee
The deliberations of the Indigenous ^Peoples
Subcommittee focused on a number of
environmental justice cases related to indigenous
peoples. The members of the subcommittee also
reviewed selected action items and resolutions
and approved the mission statement for the
subcommittee.
The environmental justice cases discussed by the
subcommittee were:
• The opposition of the Mattaponi Indian Tribe
to the construction of a water pumping station
and reservoir in King William County, Virginia.
• The opposition of the Navajo community of
Crownpoint, New Mexico to the proposed in
situ uranium leach mines in two Navajo
communities.
• The concerns of the Spirit Lake Nation, North
Dakota about the emergency waiver of an
environmental impact statement (EIS) under
the Natipnal Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
granted by President Clinton to buiid an outlet
to control the flooding of Spirit Lake.
• The opposition of the Native Coalition for
Cultural Restoration of Mount Shasta to the
building of a second ski resort on Mount
Shasta, California, as well as the prevention
of geothermal testing in the area of Medicine
Lake Highlands, California.
The subcommittee also heard presentations and
reports on community-based environmental
'protection (CBEP) framework developed by EPA
and the Arctic Marine Environmental Education
Project of EPA's Office of International Activities
(OIA).
International Subcommittee
The deliberations of the International
Subcommittee focused on a review of the goals
and mission of the subcommittee, and included
an update on the formation of the subcommittee's
South Africa Working Group.
ES-6
Durham, North Carolina, December 8 through 10, 1997
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National Environmental Justice Advisory Council
Executive Summary
The subcommittee heard reports on EPA's
international programs in South Africa and areas
along the border between the United States and
Mexico.
Public Participation and Accountability
Subcommittee
Much of the deliberations of the Public
Participation and Accountability Subcommittee
focused on ways to improve public participation in
the activities of the NEJAC. Topics discussed
included the planning of NEJAC site tours and
public comment periods of the NEJAC,
development of a public participation process,
identification of technical and other resources to
assist communities, hosting a meeting of the-
NEJAC in Puerto Rico, and establishment of
requirements applicable at the state level for
public participation.
The subcommittee reviewed selected action items
from earlier public comment periods of the
NEJAC and subcommittee meetings, as well as
minutes from an informal conference call held on
November 17, 1997. The subcommittee also
discussed the need to incorporate revisions into
the NEJAC model plan for public participation,
planning for the next meeting of the
subcommittee, and forming a work group to
address issues in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.
The subcommittee heard presentations on the
process and procedures for public participation at
the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC),
public participation in the designation of
Superfund sites, risk assessments and issues
related to public participation,. and EPA's
framework for CBEP.
Waste and Facility Siting Subcommittee
The Waste and Facility Siting Subcommittee
agreed to form several work groups which
include:
• Work Group on Risk Assessment to plan a
roundtable meeting to facilitate discussions
about community concerns related to
cumulative risk; disease clusters; and
cultural, economic, and behavioral issues that
. affect levels of exposure to risk.
• Work Group on RCRA to address
environmental justice issues specific to
- permitting and siting facilities, particularly
waste transfer facilities under RCRA.
• Work Group on Community Impact
Statements (CIS) to continue examining
issues related to the use of CISs.
The subcommittee heard presentations.on EPA's
national Superfund relocation policy; risk
assessment and Superfund; the Dutch
Boy/International Harvester Site; social siting
criteria developed by EPA's Office of Solid Waste
(OSW); issues related to Brownfields, CISs, and
Superfund sites in Puerto Rico; issues related to
waste transfer stations; and the environmental
justice action agenda of EPA's Office of Solid
Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER).
NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the NEJAC is tentatively
scheduled for May 31 through June 3,1998 in the
San Francisco Bay area, California. Planned
activities will include a site tour of the local
community and two opportunities for the public to
offer comment. Exhibit ES-4 identifies the
NEJAC's preferences for the dates and locations
of other future meetings.
Exhibit ES-4
FUTURE MEETINGS OF THE NEJAC
June 1998 San Francisco Bay area,
California
December 1998 Louisiana
May 1999 New York or New Jersey
December 1999 Chattanooga, Tennessee
SUMMARY OF RESOLUTIONS APPROVED
This section summarizes the resolutions
discussed by the subcommittees and approved by
the Executive Council of the NEJAC:
Durham, North Carolina, Decembers through 10,1997
ES-7
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Executive Summary
National Environmental Justice Advisory Council
Jjesplution from the Enforcement
Subcommittee
'h, • •" "I!ii' • " '< "
Tjiis section presents a summary of the resolution
forwarded by the Enforcement Subcommittee and
approved by the Executive Council of the NEJAC.
1 • ' '-T!5 ,.' . , : .',' ' : . .
« The members discussed a resolution in which
the NEJAC requests that EPA develop policy
to ensure that claims of violations under Title
VI are addressed in a timely manner and
tracked publicly.
Resolutions from the Health and Research
Subcommittee
This section presents a summary of the
resolutions forwarded by the Health and
Research Subcommittee and approved by the
Executive Council of the NEJAC.
• The members discussed a resolution in which
the NEJAC requests that the EPA
Administrator seek to expand funding for
community-based research and that the
agency document existing cases of
community-based research.
• The members discussed a resolution in which
the NEJAC requests that EPA establish
partnerships with various federal and tribal
agencies to develop funding for research into
the effects of mining on the health of Native
American workers and communities.
Resolutions from the Indigenous Peoples
Subcommittee
This section presents a summary of the
resolutions forwarded by the Indigenous Peoples
Subcommittee and approved by the Executive
Council of the NEJAC.
V: ;: ; H : •: , • ; ;,•-•• '
•... The members discussed a resolution in which
the NEJAC urges EPA to advocate within the
agency the requirement that a full EIS be
conducted for the proposed inlet at Spirit
Lake, North Dakota, whether or not required
by law, and that the agency advocate for a
repeal of the enacted EIS emergency waiver.
• The members discussed a resolution in which
the NEJAC requests that EPA recommend to
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USAGE)
that the EIS developed for the proposed
reservoir near Newport News, Virginia did not
adequately include the social, economic, and
cultural effects such a project would have on
the Mattaponi Indian Tribe and that the
USAGE conduct .a supplemental EIS to
include such considerations.
. ; • '.• ,i.;i. . , •••••.• ' :."
Resolutions from the International
Subcommittee
This section presents a summary of the
resolutions forwarded by the International
Subcommittee and approved by the Executive
Council of the NEJAC. ,
• The members discussed a resolution in which
the NEJAC joins the 50th Anniversary of the
United Nations Declaration of Human Rights
on December 10,1997, and calls on the U.S.
, government to adhere to the letter and spirit
of declaration to protect, conserve, and
restore the environment, communities, and
social, economic, and democratic rights.
* The members discussed a resolution in which
the NEJAC urges OIA, through its South
African Environmental Justice Initiative, to
highlight the importance of a partnership
between the NEJAC and the South African
Environmental Justice Network and its
affiliated community groups, as well as
drawing on the expertise of the U.S.
environmental justice communities and their
networks.
Resolution from the Public Participation and
Accountability Subcommittee
This section presents a summary of the resolution
forwarded by the Public Participation and
Accountability Subcommittee and approved by
the Executive Council of the NEJAC.
• The members discussed a resolution in which
the NEJAC requests that EPA:
Modify its public notice processes to
provide early notification to communities
of EPA's intention to develop a project
- Prepare public notices to notify and invite
the participation of members of affected
communities as soon as a proponent
informs EPA of its intention to develop a
project
ES-8
Durham, North Carolina, December 8 through 10, 1997
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National Environmental Justice Advisory Council ' \ Executive Summary
Make accessible to the public not only
documents such as letters, reports, and .
files, but also share its expertise with
communities to help them understand
technical issues - . ,
Invite representatives of low-income and - ,
minority communities to participate in '
meetings with proponents of projects • . . ' :;
Provide to affected communities the
same forum for open discussions that is
provided to proponents of projects and . • '
encourage the early involvement of the
public in EPA's decision-making ,
procedures to ensure that individuals can
participate in decisions affecting their ,
communities ,'••••.. ,
Resolutions from the Waste and Facility Siting
Subcommittee
' ' 9»r
This section presents a summary of the
resolutions forwarded by the Waste and. Facility
Siting Subcommittee and approved by the
Executive Council of the NEJAC. •
• The members of the subcommittee discussed
a resolution in which the NEJAC requests that
EPA provide to the subcommittee a status
report on actual and potential NPL sites in
Puerto Rico. The resolution specifically
requests that the report include schedules, '
timetables, and goals for the expedited
cleanup of the NPL sites. . .
• The members of the subcommittee discussed . .
a resolution in which the NEJAC requests that
EPA actively pursue the integration of
environmental justice components into the
activities of all program and media offices of
the agency and into the efforts of other
federal agencies. •
Durham, North Carolina, Decembers through 10,1997 ES-9
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