EPA 200-D-95-001 January 1995 United States Environmental Protection Agency Draft Environmental Justice Strategy for Executive Order 12898 JANUARY 1995 ------- TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 2 MISSION AREAS ,-. HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH , .7 DATA COLLECTION, ANALYSIS, AND STAKEHOLDER ACCESS TO PUBLIC INFORMATION 9 ENFORCEMENT AND COMPLIANCE ".. 12 PARTNERSHIPS, OUTREACH, AND COMMUNICATION WITH STAKEHOLDERS., 15 NATIVE AMERICAN, INDIGENOUS, AND TRIBAL PROGRAMS .18 INTEGRATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE 21 ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE MODEL PROJECTS 25 ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE CONTACT LISTING 33 ------- EPA'S ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE STRATEGY Over the past 25 years, our nation has made significant progress in protecting public health and our environment but much remains to be done. Millions of Americans still breathe unhealthy air. Many cannot take for granted the safety of their drinking water. Over forty percent of our rivers, lakes, and streams are not clean enough for fishing or swimming. Toxic waste sites inhibit economic growth in thousands of communities. Our goal is to ensure that: * No segment of the population, regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, as a result of EPA's policies, programs, and activities, suffers disproportionately from adverse human health or environmental effects, and all people live in clean and sustainable communities. 4 Those who must live with environmental decisions -- community residents, environmental groups, State, Tribal and local governments, businesses -- must have every opportunity for public participation in the making of those decisions. An informed and involved local community is a necessary and integral part of the process to protect the environment. EPA believes that protecting public health and our environment means the health of our air, our land, and our water, the health of our families, the health of our communities, and the health of our economy. EPA is committed to working with the American people to find common-sense, cost-effective solutions for environmental problems solutions that work for real people in real communities. . President Clinton's Executive Order directs all Federal agencies to develop an implementation strategy. EPA's strategic plan for the next five years calls for integrating environmental justice into all that we do. The attached draft strategy spells out how EPA will work toward the goal of incorporating environmental justice into the fabric of the Agency. Areas for action include the following: integration of the principles into all we collectively do; initiatives related to health and research; public access to information,- enforcement of and compliance with environmental laws; and partnerships with communities, State, Tribal and local governments, business, and environmental organizations. I look forward to prompting EPA's efforts to ensure that all Americans have safe, healthy communities to live in. Carol M. Browner EPA Draff Environmental Justice Strategy January 1995 ------- THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY'S ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE STRATEGIC PLAN INTRODUCTION EPA was established in 1970 in response to growing concerns about the problems and the difficulties in protecting the public health and improving environmental conditions in our country. These concerns included unhealthy air, polluted rivers, unsafe drinking water, endangered species, and waste disposal. Over the past almost-quarter century, environmental quality in our nation has been improved, in some cases, dramatically. However, various case studies and reports over the years have clearly indicated that some Americans shoulder a disproportionate share of the burdens of pollution. An EPA report, "Environmental Equity: Reducing Risk in All Communities," issued in June 1992, found: V Clear differences among racial groups in terms of disease and death rates (although there is a general lack of data on environmental health effects by race and income); > Minority populations and low-income populations experience higher than average exposures to selected air pollutants, hazardous waste facilities, contaminated fish, and farm pesticides in the workplace; * Data are not routinely collected on health risks posed by multiple industrial facilities, cumulative and synergistic effects, or multiple pathways of exposure; and, + Native Americans have a unique relationship to the Federal government, with distinct environmental concerns, and Tribes generally do not have a regulatory infrastructure that meets EPA standards, trained personnel, and resources necessary to protect Tribal environments and public health. Our economy will not remain healthy for long if we continue to degrade our natural capital and allow any of our people to become ill from pollution. EPA, and this Administration, believe that all Americans are important to the future of our nation and deserve to be protected from pollution, regardless of race or economic circumstance. Environmental justice is not limited to specific programs, such as the permitting and siting of facilities and protection of farm workers, but extends to cross-cutting processes such as public input in decision-making. The Agency will continue to move toward integrating programs that will help in efforts which can address the unique problems confronting low- income communities and minority communities. EPA Draft Environmental Justice Strategy January 1995 2 ------- Introduction EPA cannot tackle this challenge alone. It is vital that the wealth of accumulated knowledge from communities, scientists, State, Tribal, and local governments, industrial facilities, and EPA's diverse workforce guides the Agency in these changing times. Early involvement and strong partnerships make good common sense and will result in sound public health and environmental policy. By bringing people to the table representing all sides of an issue, EPA will identify common ground, bridge old differences, and find new solutions. HISTORICAL SUMMARY Early in her tenure, EPA Administrator Carol Browner made the pursuit of environmental justice one of the Agency's highest priorities. It is important to give credit to the efforts of grassroots groups, civil rights organizations, and Tribal and indigenous peoples' organizations in highlighting these issues. EPA recognizes the importance of these and other stakeholders in the development and implementation of its Environmental Justice Strategy. On April 22, 1993, President Clinton's Earth Day address directed EPA to work with the Department of Justice "...to begin an interagency review of Federal, State and local regulations and enforcement that affect communities of color and low-income communities with the goal of formulating an aggressive investigation of the inequalities in exposure to environmental hazards." As part of the National Performance Review (NPR) efforts to reinvent government, the Administrator formed a team of EPA employees to focus on EPA's mission, including environmental justice and the barriers that impede the fulfillment of the mission. EPA's Environmental Justice Team of the NPR found that despite some progress in recognizing environmental justice as a critical issue, the Agency was still falling short. The Team found that many of the Agency's efforts were disjointed and that the Agency lacked effective processes to ensure accountability and to ensure that environmental justice is incorporated and sustained in the daily work of EPA in all aspects of its programs and activities. On February 11, 1994, President Clinton issued Executive Order 12898, "Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations," and an accompanying Presidential memorandum, to focus Federal attention on the environmental and human health conditions of minority communities and low-income communities. The Executive Order directed Federal agencies to develop an Environmental Justice Strategy by February 11, 1995, that identifies and addresses disproportionately high exposure and adverse human health or environmental effects of their programs, policies, and activities on minority populations and low-income populations. EPA has taken a leadership role in helping Federal agencies implement the Executive Order and in efforts to tackle the unique problems confronting minority populations and low- income populations. Administrator Browner chairs the Interagency Working Group on EPA Draft Environmental Justice Strategy January 1995 ' ' 3 ------- Introduction Environmental Justice _(IWG) established under the Executive Order. In addition, EPA chairs the IWG's Subcommittee on Policy and Coordination made up of the chairs of the eight IWG task forces. EPA co-chairs two of the task forces and has representatives on each task force. The Office of Environmental Justice (created in 1992 and originally called the Office of Environmental Equity) coordinates the Agency efforts to develop and implement environmental justice initiatives. As an agency whose primary mission involves protecting public health and the environment, EPA has much to offer its sister agencies. DEVELOPMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE STRATEGY The Vision: The intent of the draft strategy is to ensure the integration of environmental justice into the Agency's programs, policies, and activities consistent with the Executive Order. As the Administrator said when the President issued the environmental justice Executive Order: "We will develop strategies to bring justice to Americans who are suffering disproportionately... We will develop strategies to ensure that low-income and minority communities have access to information about their environment-and that they have an opportunity to participate in shaping the government policies that affect their health and environment." The Process: Since the NPR report and the issuance of the Executive Order, a number of steps were undertaken by the Agency: + EPA established the Environmental Justice Steering Committee and Policy Workgroup, to develop, help implement, and monitor EPA's environmental justice activities. The Steering Committee acts as a senior management "board of directors" to guide environmental justice at EPA. The Policy Workgroup, made up of senior level staff, develops, implements, and reviews environmental justice policy. In addition, 'each Office and Region has established Environmental Justice Coordinators. These three groups are assisted by the Office of Environmental Justice. + On April 11, 1994, EPA formed the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC) which is comprised of 23 representatives from academia, business and industry, State, Tribal, and local governments, environmental organizations, community groups, and non-governmental organizations. The NEJAC provides advice to the Agency on matters related to environmental justice. - - + The EPA National Goals Project has held a series of public meetings around the country to identify major environmental priorities, including environmental justice issues. Environmental justice concerns are integrated into EPA's process . of identifying national environmental goals. EPA Draft Environmental Justice Strategy January 1995 4 ------- Introduction The Steering Committee and Policy Workgroup have been developing an environmental justice strategy for the last year. The first step was the Environmental Justice Action Plan developed in response to the recommendations of the National Performance Review. The Action Plan was incorporated into the Agency's draft outline of the Environmental Justice Strategy produced pursuant to the Executive Order. Administrator Browner established environmental justice as one of EPA's seven guiding principles and included the outline in the Agency's five-year strategic plan, "The New Generation of Environmental Protection." Expanding on the draft outline, Offices and Regions contributed to this strategy. The draft strategy incorporates the Agency's work with the Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice, its task forces, and with other agencies. This document was produced with the hard work and expertise not only of those within the government, but, more importantly, with the support of a broad range of individuals who care about these issues. The early documents leading up to the development of this strategy were developed with involvement of diverse people and groups working together. No process would be appropriate without up-front involvement of our communities and stakeholders. For example, the NEJAC and its four subcommittees have been actively involved in the strategy development process by reviewing and commenting on EPA's Environmental Justice Action Plan and EPA's draft outline. EPA will ask NEJAC and other stakeholders to assist us in reviewing our strategy's options for actions. In reviewing the options for actions, we want them to tell us what major actions should be of the highest priority, what actions are missing, and then help us map out a path to meet our objectives. The draft strategy uses the term "minority" rather than "people of color" in order to be consistent with the Executive Order, but EPA is mindful and supportive of many communities desire to use "people of color." In addition, low-income transcends the color barrier to . include non-minority populations. Also, the draft strategy uses the terms "populations," which appears in the Executive Order, and "communities," which appears in the accompanying Presidential memorandum, interchangeably. The draft strategy is respectful of the unique relationship EPA has with Tribal governments and the special issues involving Native and Indigenous people. The draft strategy is designed to address areas identified by the Steering Committee and the Policy Workgroup which directly relate to the Executive Order. EPA has programs and activities that complement and support environmental justice goals which are not included in the scope of this strategy. The draft strategy describes environmental justice efforts in six cross-cutting mission areas: + Health and Environmental.Research 4 Data Collection, Analysis, and Stakeholder Access to Information * Enforcement and Compliance Assurance * .Partnerships, Outreach, and Communication with Stakeholders EPA Draft Environmental Justice Strategy January 1995 ------- Introduction + Native American, Indigenous, and Tribal Programs f Integration of Environmental Justice into all Agency's Activities Additionally, a number of model projects are highlighted, and included in a separate section. EPA Draft Environmental Justice Strategy January 1995 6 ------- Health and Environmental Research HEALTH AND ENVIRO3NMENTAL RESEARCH In coordination with other Federal agencies, EPA will design the environmental and human health research needed to support its environmental justice programs. IMPORTANCE OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH An important aspect to advancing environmental justice in minority populations and low-income populations is the need to evaluate the risks that toxic exposure poses to human health. Minority and low-income populations may bear a greater burden and higher frequency of these exposures and, consequently, may have a higher risk or increased susceptibility to . cancer, respiratory diseases, reproductive, immunologic, neurologic, and other health effects. One goal of environmental justice research is to improve the scientific basis for informed decision-making. OBJECTIVES FOR HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 1) Sound Science: EPA will ensure that the Agency's environmental policies are based on sound science and significantly address and incorporate environmental justice and socioeconomic concerns into its research and related activities. Opfinns fnr Actions * EPA will work with the scientific community, the affected community, business, industry and other stakeholders to improve health assessments and risk assessments and incorporate environmental justice and socioeconomic issues into its policies and guidance. * EPA will evaluate the current state of knowledge in exposure and cumulative risk fields, and then identify data gaps and research needs. + EPA will assess, as appropriate, major pollution sources of high environmental risks in targeted minority communities and low-income communities, and provide pollution prevention research into risk reduction from those sources. 4 EPA will support environmental justice research through (1) financial support to academic centers or organizations whose mission is to examine environmental justice issues, (2) competitive grants to specific researchers examining environmental justice questions, (3) sponsorship of symposia and conferences aimed at advancing environmental justice scholarship, and/or (4) exchange EPA Draft Environmental Justice Strategy January 1995 ------- Health and Environmental Research programs between EPA and non-governmental groups with a shared research agenda. 2) Expanded Research Capacity: EPA will expand its capability to conduct research in areas where it can make the greatest contribution to environmental justice including human exposure, cumulative risk, risk reduction, and pollution prevention. Qph'nn.<; fnr Ar.h'nn.s; + EPA will address exposure in at least three main areas: methods development, monitoring data, and model development. The Office of Research and Development (ORD) will continue developing the Natural Human Exposure Assessment Survey (NHEXAS) to generate a human exposure database to include relevant geographic and demographic questions. + EPA will assess and compare the environmental and human health risks borne by populations identified by race, national origin, or income. EPA, in conjunction with other agencies, is developing standards for demographic data and data access. Many Regions are conducting Geographic Information System (GIS) analyses to test methods of identifying areas of potential concern. EPA is analyzing population demographics and Federal facilities to assess populations at risk and potential disproportionate impact to surrounding communities. 3) Research Partnerships: EPA will enhance partnerships with the affected public, the scientific community," and other agencies to broaden perspectives and efforts in understanding and addressing environmental justice health research issues. Options fnr Actions; * EPA will expand interagency and intergovernmental partnerships to ensure a coordinated research strategy and the ability to target cross-disciplinary projects in communities "at risk". + EPA will support multi-stakeholder conferences, workshops, and programs to focus on national environmental health research needs. * EPA will provide minority populations and low-income populations the opportunity to comment on the development and design of research strategies developed under the Order. EPA Draft Environmental Justice Strategy January 1995 ------- Data Collection, Analysis, and Access DATA COLLECTION, ANALYSIS, AND STAKEHOLDER ACCESS TO PUBLIC INFORMATION EPA's mission of protecting public health and the environment depends on individuals within and outside of the Federal government having access to good data to make informed decisions. IMPORTANCE OF DATA COLLECTION, ANALYSIS, AND ACCESS The Agency must manage its information resources more strategically to support comprehensive approaches, such as community-based and common sense initiatives. Integrated information will help the Agency and our stakeholders better understand environmental issues and make decisions that will protect public health and the environment. A sound information resource management foundation is vital to the Agency in its ability to provide objective, reliable, integrated, and understandable information. Effective use of existing databases and the development of new national databases will help the Agency target areas of greatest concern. Studying and monitoring these areas will help identify risks from which all stakeholders in the area, including the affected communities, can help devise a mutually agreeable solution for all parties. The Agency has recently developed a comprehensive Information Resources Management Strategic Plan. The objectives and actions below are consistent with and support this plan. . OBJECTIVES FOR DATA COLLECTION, ANALYSIS, AND ACCESS 1) Public Access: EPA will work to provide our stakeholders easy access to standardized and integrated environmental information. Options fnr Ar.tinns! * EPA will develop policies which will promote the use of key identifiers to integrate and share environmental data. * EPA will continue to make strategic investments in systems which will assist the Agency in examining complex data sets focused on minority populations and low-income populations. , * EPA will continue efforts to make data and information accessible to stakeholders. EPA will continue coordination with interagency efforts to ensure EPA Draft EnvironmentalJustice Strategy January 1995 ------- Data Collection, Analysis, and Access data system compatibility with developing information technology access points (from the local library to the Information Superhighway). 2) Addressing Data Gaps: EPA will identify gaps in the data inventory and work to address these gaps. Opfinns for Ar.Hnn.s: * EPA will conduct an inventory of the Agency's major data systems to identify ^ uses, limitations, and gaps, / * EPA will examine its databases to determine major facilities, particularly Federal facilities or sites, that could pose a substantial human health or environmental threat. * EPA will identify data requirements, including data needed for risk assessments and management decisions. * EPA will identify acceptable methods of analysis for geographical information to address environmental justice. - * EPA will increase the accuracy of its locational data for major sites of potential toxic releases and environmental quality morjitoring points. 4 EPA will examine the data obtained from environmental quality monitors placed in minority and low-income communities. 3) Data Reporting: EPA will work to improve data collection quality and reduce the burden on providers of information. Options fnr Actions- * EPA will create effective reporting mechanisms to minimize cumbersome or duplicative reporting requirements. * EPA will use electronic methods to receive data from providers in order to improve accuracy and reduce burden. + EPA will assist small businesses by using innovative technologies to convert hard'copy reports. 4) Data Integration and Analysis: EPA will integrate the information resource management process linking environmental priorities, data needs, and the Agency's budget process. The Agency will use its data and that of others to do environmental justice analysis. EPA Draft Environmental Justice Strategy January 1995 10 ------- Data Collection, Analysis, and Access Options for 4 EPA will use information to establish environmental priorities, identify goals and environmental indicators, and manage results. EPA will gather and analyze data as needed to evaluate environmental risks and trends, particularly as they affect minority populations and low-income populations. 4 . EPA will routinely collect, analyze, and disseminate environmental and health data. That data will compare environmental and human health risks to populations identified by race, national origin or income. 4 EPA will work with the Interagency Working Group Task Force on Data to coordinate data collection and to avoid duplication of efforts. 4 EPA will standardize databases and definitions relevant to the analysis of environmental justice. 4 EPA will maintain a strong executive-level information resource management steering committee who will oversee, sponsor, and review the Agency's IRM program. . 4 EPA will establish mechanisms so that sound, integrated data is accessible to the EPA workforce, its partners, and stakeholders: These include disseminating and providing access to EPA information to educate and empower its partners and the public; providing EPA employees means to access the information and technical resources needed to perform their duties; and effectively collecting and managing the information that the Agency and its partners require in order to manage for environmental results. 4 EPA will continue efforts to integrate Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) and cross- link multiple data systems to support specific Agency programs. 4 EPA will use Geographical Information Systems (CIS) to identify minority communities and low-income communities which lack monitors. Overlays may include the existing monitoring network and a demographic profile. EPA will provide this information to EPA personnel responsible for permit oversight, air modeling, and risk modeling. 4 EPA will use hazardous waste information on facilities to track environmental justice issues. . i 4 EPA will collect and analyze water-related data in rural areas dependent upon small water systems. The data will identify minority communities and low- income communities, and Tribal and.indigenous peoples who rely on grouhdwater as a drinking water source.1 This data will support efforts to assure the protection of this critical resource. EPA Draft Environmental Justice Strategy January 1995 11 ------- Enforcement and Compliance Assurance ENFORCEMENT AND COMPLIANCE ASSURANCE EPA will include a focus on environmental justice issues in its enforcement initiatives and through compliance analysis and targeted data analysis of communities exposed to multiple environmental risks. EPA will implement Title VI. EPA will consider environmental justice issues through the review of and comments on other Federal agencies' proposals and actions under the National Environmental Policy Act and Section 309 of the Clean Air Act. IMPORTANCE OF ENFORCEMENT AND COiMPLIANCE ASSURANCE The Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) manages the Agency's recently consolidated civil and criminal enforcement activities as well as its complementary compliance assistance efforts. Strong and effective enforcement of environmental laws is fundamental to virtually every mission of EPA. In response to the provisions of the Order, the Agency is developing practical strategies and initiatives to ensure the full integration of environmental justice considerations into all enforcement and compliance activities, and into the review of Federal agency activities under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Section 309 of the Clean Air Act. The Presidential memorandum issued with the Order emphasizes that Title VI-of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 provides an opportunity for Federal agencies to address environmental hazards in minority communities and low-income communities. Enforcement of the basic non-discrimination provisions in Federally-financed programs, and the activities of the Office of Civil Rights, directly support EPA's environmental justice objectives. OBJECTIVES FOR ENFORCEMENT AND COMPLIANCE 1) Strategic Enforcement of Environmental Statutes: EPA will incorporate environmental justice concerns into its program for ensuring compliance with Federal environmental requirements. The Agency will review and revise as needed significant policy and guidance documents to address environmental justice issues. A major feature of this approach will be to ensure that EPA's enforcement and compliance assurance activities will include a focus on communities and populations which suffer from disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects. EPA will use, as appropriate, the full range of tools available to it to correct noncompliance in targeted communities. EPA Draft Environmental Justice Strategy January 1995 12 ------- Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Options fnr Actions' * EPA will include in its enforcement efforts identification of communities and populations, such as low-income urban and rural populations which suffer from disproportionate high and adverse human health or environmental effects, that can be targeted for potential enforcement and compliance assurance activities. EPA's targeting efforts will use the.most current demographic information (using Geographic Information System mapping techniques), Toxics Release Inventory data, media specific and multi-media data, community reports, and relevant health statistics. Where violations' are discovered, the Agency will fashion an appropriate enforcement response. t EPA will customize its enforcement and compliance assurance program for targeted communities to reflect the needs of the community and the particular compliance problems in that community. EPA will also use technical support and assistance as a supplement to traditional enforcement where that is most appropriate. . . * EPA will actively encourage the use of creative approaches to settlement of enforcement actions, particularly where violations have been identified in communities disproportionately impacted by environmental problems (traditionally, many enforcement actions have been resolved by assessing cash penalties and imposing "end of pipe" solutions). Specifically, Regions will be encouraged to obtain settlements which promote pollution prevention, remedy environmental damage, and collect adequate monetary fines. The goal of the projects will be to reduce long-term exposures within the community. * EPA will work with minority institutions and other local environmental justice - . groups to develop an educational program that provides targeted communities with information on environmental protection, such as statutory .and regulatory matters; citizen rights under Federal and State environmental statutes; whistle- blower protection for employees; the interpretation of data on performance available to the public; and the regulator's role in ensuring compliance. f EPA will review its existing policy and guidance which informs enforcement and compliance activities to ensure that it adequately considers/ addresses environmental justice concerns. Examples of policy/guidance which will be reviewed include penalty policies, inspection strategies, and the Supplemental : Environmental Projects (SEP) policy. EPA will also assess existing practices to determine whether new policies are needed to address effectively environmental justice issues. ' . 2) National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Clean Air Act (CAA) Section 309 Responsibilities: Under the authority of Sec. 309 of the CAA, EPA will routinely review the environmental effects of major federal actions significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. EPA reviewers will focus on the spatial distribution of human health, social, and economic effects to ensure that agency decisionmakers are EPA Draft Environmental Justice Strategy January 1995 13 ------- Enforcement.and Compliance Assurance . aware of the extent to which those impacts fall disproportionately on low-income and minority communities. . Options for Action1;' * EPA will aid Federal reviewers in the' use of guidance to aid reviewers of Federal actions as it relates to carrying out its responsibilities under NEPA and CAA section 309. + EPA will consider holding workshops and seminars with Section 309 reviewers and NEPA coordinators to further explore environmental justice impact analysis methods. 3) Title VI Compliance: EPA will develop a strategy to improve its implementation of Title VI requirements. EPA will review the need for guidance and oversight for EPA authorized State and local programs. Options for Actions; 4 EPA will work with the Department of Justice to develop case referral guidance for Title VI cases. .* EPA will develop training materials on environmental justice and Title VI. * EPA will develop training materials on Title VI compliance reviews. EPA Draft Environmental Justice Strategy January 1995 14 ------- Partnerships, Outreach, and Communication PARTNERSHIPS, OUTREACH, AND COMMUNICATION WITH STAKEHOLDERS EPA will promote partnerships, outreach, and communication with affected communities, community organizations, other non-profit organizations, Federal, Tribal, State, and local governments, environmental organizations, academic institutions, and business and industry. IMPORTANCE OF PARTNERSHIPS, OUTREACH, AND COMMUNICATION Environmental justice issues are multi-dimensional and multi-disciplinary. Stakeholders must work together to further the nation's goal toward ensuring the protection of public health and the environment. There is a need to bring together stakeholders with similar interests to communicate concerns, coordinate activities, build critical literature, develop hypotheses, formulate problem statements and address the issues. Because industrial facilities have the first responsibility for considering environmental justice matters, EPA will build upon the leadership many industry trade associations have demonstrated in seeking to understand environmental justice concerns and integrate these concerns into their planning, assessment, and activities. EPA will work closely with these organizations -- in cooperation with our state and local governmental regulatory partners and with leaders of the environmental justice community to develop clear standards and expectations for the non-discriminatory distribution of environmental burdens and benefits under the principles of the Executive Order. By working with the private sector to develop an appropriate framework for consideration of environmental justice issues, our nation can more effectively leverage the impact of government actions in this area than by merely waiting until environmental justice concerns arise in the enforcement context. A comprehensive approach to identifying and addressing environmental justice concerns requires the early involvement of communities affected by environmental pollution. Additionally, approaches to effectively address environmental justice issues require the partnership and pooling of expertise, the leveraging of resources, and effective coordination. One of EPA's tasks under this principle will be to help its partners and stakeholders carry out their responsibilities by working together to define respective roles. EPA will listen, be responsive and work to develop and implement more innovative, effective and efficient approaches to environmental protection and sustainable development for all communities. OBJECTIVES FOR PARTNERSHIPS, OUTREACH, AND COMMUNICATION 1) Partnership and Coordination: EPA will enhance partnerships and coordination with stakeholders (affected communities; community organizations; non-profit organizations; EPA Draft EnvironmentalJustice Strategy January 1995 15 ------- Partnerships, Outreach, and Communication - Federal, Tribal, State, and local-governments; environmental organizations, academic institutions; and business and industry) to ensure their active participation and providing input early in environmental decision-making. Options for Actions: * EPA will use the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council as a vehicle for obtaining stakeholder input. 4 EPA will work to obtain input from stakeholders, particularly the affected public, early in the decision-making process. 4 EPA will foster partnerships with other Federal agencies to continue a shared government commitment to environmental justice. * In particular, EPA will endeavor to develop jointly with State and local governments clear expectations as to the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 for carrying out Federally authorized permitting programs under the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. These requirements should include obligations for data collection and evaluation of potential discriminatory effects, including cumulative effects, in making permitting decisions as part of their Federally authorized program activities and annual reporting requirements on such permitting activities. EPA will also work with these partners in developing guidance for the non-discriminatory distribution of benefits, under other Federal statutes with significant State and Federal roles, such as the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (Superfund). 2) Technical Assistance: EPA will examine its current technical assistance programs for low-income communities and minority communities. Option fnr Ar.rinn- . 4 EPA will administer grant programs and technical assistance to partners particularly small business, community-based organizations, and Tribes, so that they can better address local environmental problems. 3) Communication, Education and Outreach: EPA will improve communication, education and outreach on environmental justice issues among all stakeholders, promoting multi-lingual, user-friendly, innovative efforts to exchange information and experience with affected stakeholders. EPA Draft Environmental Justice Strategy January 1995 16 ------- Partnerships, Outreach, and Communication Options for Arrinns; * Ensure that documents, notices, and hearings related to human health or the environment are concise, understandable, in non-technical language, jargon-free and readily accessible to the public. 4 Expand mailing lists to include environmental justice organizations, non-profit organizations including schools, civic associations and churches where appropriate. 4 Identify a network of translators who will assist in conducting public meetings to be held in centrally located community-based facilities. 4 Whenever possible and appropriate, publish public notices for EPA public meetings in local and minority-oriented newspapers, and in language indigenous to the area. . 4) Training: EPA will foster shared Federal, Tribal, State, and local government commitment to achieve environmental justice goals through training and other coordinated activities. QpHnn fnr Ar.tinn- 4 EPA will provide training assistance to other Federal agencies and State, Tribal, and local officials on environmental justice issues as requested. EPA Draft Environmental Justice Strategy January 1995 17 ------- Native American, Indigenous, and Tribal Programs NATIVE AMERICAN, INDIGENOUS, AND TRIBAL PROGRAMS EPA will work with Tribes, indigenous constituents, the Tribal Operations Committee and the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council to integrate the subsistence and Native American provisions of the Order on environmental justice into EPA's regulations, policies, programs and activities. IMPORTANCE OF NATIVE AMERICAN PROGRAMS Environmental concerns differ throughout Indian Country, ranging from access to safe drinking water to remediation of hazardous waste. Furthermore, Tribal environmental priorities are affected by the Tribe's traditional cultural and religious relationship to the ecosystems in which they live, including subsistence on fish, game, and wild vegetation. For these reasons, Native Americans are often exposed to different types, degrees, and causes of environmental risks. Tribal environmental justice advocates have raised a range of environmental concerns, including comprehensive Tribal environmental program development, environmental effects on urban Native Americans and Native Hawaiians and the participation of Native American grassroots advocates in environmental protection. However, while environmental justice has brought renewed attention to the environmental concerns of Native Americans, it is not meant to replace the more than two hundred years of Federal Indian law and policies. The Federal-Tribal relationship, as defined in the United States Constitution, treaties, statutes, and federal court decisions, sets forth a framework of rights and responsibilities to be carried out by the Federal government and the Tribes. Therefore, while environmental justice includes issues regarding Native American grassroots participation and disproportionate effects on indigenous communities, it is not intended to supersede Tribal sovereignty, treaty rights, the Federal trust responsibility or the government-to-government relationship. Rather it should support these tenets of Federal Indian law by encouraging the development of Federal-Tribal environmental programs comparable in protection to Federal-State environmental programs. OBJECTIVES FOR NATIVE AMERICAN PROGRAMS 1) Tribal Environmental Programs: EPA will work with other Federal agencies and Tribes to develop comprehensive tribal environmental programs which address disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects in Indian country. EPA Draft Environmental Justice Strategy January 1995 18 ------- 4 Native American, Indigenous, and Tribal Programs Options for Actions: 4 EPA will work with the tribes to develop comprehensive Tribal - EPA Environmental Agreements to address program delegations, direct implementation, and other activities to effectively protect Tribal health and environments. 4 EPA will provide outreach, education, training, technical and financial assistance to support the implementation of environmental programs, including activities to address disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects. EPA will identify and work to promote funding, statutory, and regulatory flexibility to assist Tribes in addressing environmental justice issues. 4 EPA will integrate Tribal environmental issues, including concerns regarding differential consumption patterns and cultural, religious and/or traditional uses of natural resources, where appropriate, into EPA's regulations, guidance, policies, programs, implementation of statutes and other activities. 2) Native American Participation: EPA will ensure the participation of interested or affected Tribal members, organizations or other Native American and indigenous . constituents in EPA decisions and/or activities that may affect the public health or environment of their community. Options for Actions: 4 EPA will provide outreach, education, and training to affected Native American and indigenous constituents, including affected urban Native American communities, Native Hawaiians, and non-Federally recognized Tribes. 4 Offices and Regions will work with the Tribes to encourage public participation as part of their Tribal environmental programs and help facilitate, where necessary, public discussions on Tribal environmental protection. 4 ' EPA will work to improve education and training opportunities and partnerships with Tribal colleges. 3) Interagency Coordination: EPA will take the lead to ensure coordination and cooperation between EPA and other Federal agencies to address cross-cutting Tribal environmental issues. EPA Draft Environmental Justice Strategy January 1995 19 ------- Native American, Indigenous, and Tribal Pro grams Options for Actions: + EPA will promote active participation by the Agency on Tribal issues and on relevant interagency committees and initiatives. + Each Office and Region will work to improve interagency cooperation and actions for addressing tribal environmental justice issues. EPA Draft Environmental Justice Strategy January 1995 . 20 ------- Integrate Environmental Justice INTEGRATE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE EPA will make environmental justice a part of all of its programs, policies, and activities. IMPORTANCE OF INTEGRATION EPA was established to protect and preserve public health and the vitality of our environment. However, our efforts to do so have fallen short of this goal in some of our nation's minority communities and low-income communities. The integration of environmental justice into EPA's programs, policies, and activities will help ensure that all populations share the benefits of environmental protection and sustainable communities. To establish a solid foundation where everyone enjoys a healthy environment, EPA will integrate environmental justice tenets into the Agency's policies, programs, and daily activities as well as the short- and long-term budget and planning processes. The Agency already has a large network of committed employees working on environmental justice issues. However, there is still much work to be done to give our whole workforce the tools needed to properly address the challenges the Agency will face as it works toward achieving environmental justice. EPA will need to provide guidance, to educate our employees on environmental justice issues, and to provide incentives and accountability. In addition, lEP A must make use of the essential experience and expertise of stakeholders and those outside of EPA working on these issues. OBJECTIVES FOR INTEGRATION 1) Environmental Justice Strategy: EPA will develop and implement its Environmental Justice Strategy in accordance with the mandates and milestones contained in President Clinton's Executive Order 12898 of February 11, 1994, "Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations," and the guidance of the Interagency Work Group (IWG) on Environmental Justice established under the Order. Options for Actions: + EPA will continue to provide advice, guidance, and administrative support to the IWG. 4 EPA will meet the'deadlines of the Executive Order. 2) Comprehensive Review: EPA will review its legislation, regulations, programs, policies, and guidance for revisions as appropriate to address environmental justice concerns. EPA Draft Environmental Justice Strategy January 1995 21 ------- Integrate Environmental Justice Options for Actions: * Each Office and Region will provide the Steering Committee with a complete review of its current regulations, policies, guidance, and practices to identify and develop a strategy or action plan to address environmental justice concerns. The strategy or action plan should include:- - A list of cross-cutting functions better dealt with on an Agency- wide basis; - Prioritized action items. and deadlines; - Measures of progress; and, - Those who will be accountable for implementation. While the review is being completed, each Office and Region will continue on-going work on regulations, policies, guidance, and practices which have been identified as requiring changes to integrate environmental justice concerns. Each Office and Region will provide the Steering Committee with a brief list of the ongoing changes. The list should include: - Prioritized action items and deadlines; - Measures of progress; and, - Those who will be accountable for implementation. + For those cross-cutting functions identified and not already being addressed, the Steering Committee will: - Establish a cross-Agency work group to develop options on how to best incorporate environmental justice into the cross-cutting function; and, - Review options, select and implement the most efficient and effective method. + EPA will work to ensure that environmental justice is considered in future legislation. i EPA will develop guidance on non-discrimination responsibilities of the Agency. + EPA will complete its Regulatory Impact Analysis Guidance. This will provide the Agency guidance on how to incorporate environmental justice into its regulatory development process. f A cross-Agency work group on grants and environmental justice will examine options for incorporating environmental justice into EPA's grant programs to adequately reach minority populations and low-income populations and make recommendations to the Steering Committee on implementation. 4 EPA will continue to ensure that environmental justice issues are linked with EPA community-based initiatives and pollution prevention. EPA Draft Environmental Justice Strategy January 1995 22 ------- Integrate Environmental Justice 3) Stakeholder Input: EPA Offices and Regions will continue to establish working relationships with key stakeholders in order to further develop, implement, and coordinate program-specific strategies. . Option for Action: 4 Each Office and Region will include mechanisms for stakeholder and community input in the development of their environmental justice strategy implementation plans. . 4) Education: EPA will develop internal communication and training to educate Agency employees about environmental justice. Options for Actions: > EPA Offices and Regions will expand their environmental justice training plans in order to ensure that EPA employees have a better understanding of what environmental justice is, how it relates to their work, and what opportunities are . available to address environmental justice issues. The training will be tailored to the needs of the Office or Region. Training kits might include: generic information on environmental justice, examples of model initiatives and projects, and public participation guidelines. , 4 EPA will sponsor environmental justice seminars or workshops to focus on media- specific environmental justice activities and case examples. 5) Management Accountability: EPA will strengthen management accountability for ' environmental justice activities. Options for Actions: + EPA will reorganize to strengthen leadership and management of environmental justice activities in the Agency. 4 EPA will develop a system for monitoring and evaluating program improvements resulting from the integration of environmental justice. 4 Each Office or Region will develop a feedback mechanism for tracking implementation of environmental justice policy across the Office or Region, focusing on both major environmental justice projects and on routine implementation of the policy by staff. EPA Draft Environmental Justice Strategy January 1995 23 ------- Integrate Environmental Justice INTEGRATION WITH OTHER EPA PRINCIPLES AND APPROACHES The environmental justice strategy is well-integrated into the fabric of many of the Agency's-principles and initiatives which the Agency considers fundamental to its operation and mission. In fact, one of the seven guiding principles established in the Agency's strategic plan, "The New Generation of Environmental Protection," is environmental justice. Environmental justice linkages are apparent in a number of these efforts. For example, involving the affected communities in the fashioning of strategies to promote a healthy environment and a sustainable economy ("community-based" ecosystem protection) encourages community involvement in the protection of public health and improving environmental conditions in the nation's communities. Additionally, partnering with communities with minority populations and low-income populations which may. be suffering from disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects should be a cornerstone of pollution prevention efforts (with a traditional focus on such issues as waste minimization and "green" technology). Another innovative partnering approach is exemplified in the primary role played by States and Tribal governments in the operation of regulatory and enforcement programs. EPA recognizes the crucial jmplementation role of these State and Tribal partners, and will work to incorporate environmental justice into these efforts. Furthermore, NPR activities underway provide a foundation for addressing institutional environmental justice issues in a more coordinated fashion. One example is the reorganization of the Agency's enforcement functions along media lines (e.g., air, water, waste, pesticides). In addition, this office has included innovative compliance methods beyond traditional enforcement measures in cross-cutting areas such as multi-media enforcement, geographic initiatives and industrial sectors. Lastly, the Agency has developed an overarching approach, "common sense," focused on establishing simple principles and procedures for conducting the Agency's business. The common sense initiative, involves managing pollution control more effectively by dealing with multi-media and multi-chemical exposures. The key to successful implementation of this Environmental Justice Strategy will be seamless integration of environmental justice concepts into all of the Agency's efforts which impact human health and the environment. EPA Draft Environmental Justice Strategy January 1995 . 24 ------- Model Projects ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE MODEL PROJECTS INTRODUCTION Many EPA Offices and Regions have distinguished themselves in this area by creating model projects that reflect a "re-invented" way of doing business. The following are samples of these projects. For a complete list of projects, please contact the Office of Environmental Justice. BROWNFIELDS ECONOMIC REDEVELOPMENT PILOTS EPA has launched an activity to fund demonstration projects that will not only clean up abandoned industrial lands for redevelopment but assist in jobs and vitality of communities. These funds are to be used to pull together community groups, investors, lenders, developers, and other affected parties to address the issue of cleaning up sites and returning them to appropriate, productive use. The Brownfield Pilots will serve as living laboratories to explore the ways in which clean-up for redevelopment might work, providing a series of models for States and localities struggling with such efforts. Findings and experience from these pilots will serve as a foundation for a national EPA strategy to stimulate economic redevelopment through environmental cleanup. The strategy will provide guidance on successful processes for cleaning up and returning contaminated, abandoned industrial Brownfields to productive use. Each pilot will produce a strategy for assessment and cleanup of environmental contamination. By the completion of each pilot, recipient communities will have identified resources for cleanup and redevelopment of sites, and secured agreements to proceed with the public and private parties involved. Under a cooperative agreement with EPA, the Institute for Responsible Management is working with States, counties, cities, and a number of public and private entities and jurisdictions, to help them share the various innovative methods being used to approach the economic redevelopment of blighted Brownfields. SOUTHEAST CHICAGO ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVE Southeast Chicago is a mosaic of predominately poor or working class, African-American, Hispanic, and white neighborhoods. It is an area of high structural unemployment and multiple environmental problems, including a concentration of disposal sites, countless urban Brownfields, and heavy industries. Located within Southeast Chicago is Altgeld Gardens, a public housing community for thousands of low-income African-Americans. Altgeld Gardens was built over 40 EPA Draft Environmental Justice Strategy January 1995 25 ------- Model Projects years ago on top of an abandoned landfill and is surrounded by eleven separate polluting facilities- -landfills, incinerators, oil refineries, a paint factory, a steel mill, a sewage treatment plant, a chemical plant, a scrap metal yard, a lagoon, a sludge drying bed, and a freeway. This community has one of the highest concentrations of severe environmental problems and concerns in the country. EPA Region 5 developed the Southeast Chicago Urban Environmental Initiative Action Plan, a framework to improve the environmental conditions of the community. This unique partnership hopes to bring together representatives of the government, industry, community, and environmental groups. Agencies and actions targeted include: t The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) is conducting health assessments of the Southeast Chicago community; + The Department of Housing and Urban Development is developing residential lead-based paint removal projects and other environmental improvements; and, + EPA, Chicago's Department of Environment, and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency are working together to ensure tougher enforcement and compliance of existing environmental regulations. MISSISSIPPI DELTA PROJECT The Mississippi Delta area has a high concentration of transportation routes, heavy and petrochemical industries, waste sites, and other facilities. Environmental justice organizations have complained that many of these facilities are sited close to minority communities and that these communities are disproportionately exposed to environmental pollution. An interagency steering committee comprised of ATSDR, the Center of Disease Control (CDC), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), EPA, and the State Health and Environmental departments is working to address these issues. The goal of this interagency project is to reduce environmental hazards and to prevent them from adversely affecting minority and low-income populations residing in the highly industrialized areas along the Mississippi River. This project covers 219 counties in seven States (Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee), affecting more than 8.3 million people. The project intends to: (1) identify the key environmental hazards that may affect high risk communities; (2) evaluate the public health impact on high exposure populations; (3) increase health care delivery services in the region, including capacity of State and local health departments to address public health associated to environmental exposures; and EPA Draft Environmental Justice Strategy January 1995 26 ------- Model Projects (4) engage Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other academic institutions to help increase environmental awareness in these communities. This project represents the largest, geographic-specific public health initiative ever attempted to study the association between hazardous environmental exposure and health .effects in minority communities and low-income communities. NEW MEXICO AND TEXAS COLONIAS BORDER PROJECTS Colonias are Hispanic rural neighborhoods and unincorporated subdivisions in or near cities in Texas and New Mexico along the U.S.-Mexico border. Between Texas and New Mexico there are about 1,200 colonias with an estimated population of 300,000 people. Colonias are characterized by substandard housing, inadequate plumbing and sewage disposal systems, and inadequate access to clean water. The common thread is the potential and immediate health threat due to inadequate or lack of safe potable water and sewage disposal. Under recent grants from New Mexico and Texas, nine facility plans and four construction design plans are nearing completion for the thirteen new waste water collection and treatment systems to serve colonias in New Mexico. This grant program, administered by the New Mexico Environment Department, is made possible through a $10 million grant by EPA Region 6. The Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission has awarded fifteen grants totaling 51.02 million to provide waste water collection and treatment systems in Texas Colonias. These projects will affect 64,000 colonias residents. Additional facility plans are being prepared for six colonias which have received grants for innovative/alternative methods of waste water collection and treatment. These six projects are designed to identify low cost methods of waste water treatment for colonia application. TARGETED PENNSYLVANIA RISK AND ENFORCEMENT PROJECTS The City of Chester has among the highest concentration of industrial facilities in Pennsylvania. Chester hosts a number of waste processing plants and two oil refineries. All solid waste from Delaware County is incinerated in Chester and at least 85% of raw sewage and associated sludge is treated there. A large infectious medical waste facility was also recently sited in Chester. Many of the plants are located in close proximity to low-income, minority residential neighborhoods. In fact, a clustering of waste treatment facilities have been permitted within 100 feet of over 200 Chester homes. EPA Draft Environmental Justice Strategy January 1995 27 ------- Model Projects Chester residents are concerned about the health effects of living and working amid toxic substances and complain of frequent illness. Of cities in the State, Chester has the highest infant mortality rate, the lowest birth rate, and among the highest death rate due to certain malignant tumors. In response to the Chester community concerns, EPA Region 3 has committed to a major initiative involving two studies addressing environmental regulatory and pollutant impact/risk exposure issues. The first was a 30-day study of EPA's legal authority for existing and proposed facilities in the Chester area. As a result of the 30-Day Study, the Region has targeted enforcement actions and just recently issued field citations to a number of underground storage tanks located in Chester and the nearby area of Marcus Hook. Other targeted enforcement-- related activities are proceeding in air toxics reduction and compliance, innovative settlements for toxic emissions violators, and multi-media compliance reviews. In addition, an 180-day study, conducted by a team of toxicologists working with State and local officials is assessing all available environmental media and human exposure pathways. Work products will be displayed through a Regional Geographic Information System overlaying industrial facilities data, NPL sites and small quantity waste generators, and air emissions data. BALTIMORE URBAN ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVE The Baltimore Urban Environmental Initiative (URI) is an interagency activity being conducted by Region 3 in cooperation with the City of Baltimore and the Maryland Department of the Environment. The URI is designed to identify and rank areas of disproportionate risk in Baltimore City for purposes of implementing risk reduction, pollution prevention, public awareness, and other appropriate environmental activities to minimize risks. The Baltimore URI has both short- and long-term tracks. The short-term efforts address issues of immediate concern as well as initial data collection, data analyses, and project planning. The long-term effects will be expanded in areas that warrant continued action. A project development and problem identification report for the URI will describe the data gathering and risk identification and characterization efforts in support of the overall Initiative. Data has been gathered from a number of existing environmental and demographics-based databases in order to identify and evaluate human health and ecological threats for purposes of targeting risk reduction/prevention activities. Quantitative and qualitative risk assessment methods have been applied and displayed through the use of a Geographic Information System. The short-term efforts, based upon preliminary risk analyses, applied the knowledge and experience of an ihteragency team to jointly target areas of environmental concern that could benefit from immediate action. The six areas of concern identified were: 1) lead; 2) hazardous EPA Draft Environmental Justice Strategy January 1995 28 ------- Model Projects materials incident; 3) fish consumption/toxics in the Harbor; 4) air toxics; 5) ground-level ozone; and 6) indoor air and radon. Individual action teams were formed to address each issue. These teams were responsible for developing action agendas to address the overall goals of risk reduction, pollution prevention, and outreach and education, for each risk area. LEAD ABATEMENT TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE INNER CITY COMMUNITY EPA, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the city of Boston, and Roxbury Community College, joined by local community groups, have undertaken a pilot project to train unemployed workers in a minority community to remove harmful lead paint from homes and bridges, and provide specialized training so that minority contractors can gain access to State and city lead paint abatement contracts. Eighty-five percent of Boston's 230,000 public housing units contain lead-based paint and less than 2% have been abated to date. The current workforce of 21 minority contracting firms is limited; this project closes the gap between trained workers and contract workers. Boston's Office of Public Facilities received a S3.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to do lead abatement of 400,000 housing units. Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency will invest S2.5 million to de-lead 2,000 housing units in . Boston. In addition, this pilot project will also build the management capacity of struggling minority firms to support bonding, insurance, and equipment expenditures necessary to compete on large lead abatement contracts. COMMUNITY CHEMICAL EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND PREVENTION OUTREACH AND TRAINING Kellog, Idaho is one of the communities within the Bunker Hill Superfund site boundaries. Once a mining/smelting industry town, the area now faces a multi-million dollar cleanup effort. This primarily blue collar community must also confront a 25% unemployment rate. Citizens were concerned that despite an increase in local employment opportunities, jobs are not being filled locally. Contractors were encouraged by EPA to hire locally, but most local'individuals had not completed the 40-hour Health and Safety Training required for employment at cleanup sites. The Region 10 Superfund Site Response Section is piloting a program which conducts Hazardous Waste Health and Safety Training for communities with nearby cleanup sites. In 1993 and 1994, Region 10's training targeted communities with high unemployment rates, with the goal EPA Draft Environmental Justice Strategy January 1995 29 ------- Model Projects of aiding the local workers' eligibility for employment by cleanup contractors at nearby Superfund sites. For example, 90 people in Kellog, Idaho, were trained and certified, making them eligible for employment at the nearby Bunker Hill Superfund Site. The project's success was in addressing the unemployment rate and in providing local education and awareness training. Training was also conducted for the Makah tribe at Neah Bay, the Coeur d'Alene tribe, and for Galena, Alaska (an Alaska Native Village). Operational level emergency response training was conducted in Fairbanks, Alaska for the Tanana Chiefs Council. Future training efforts will include Tok, Alaska and other communities that request training as a method for becoming integrated into nearby clean-up efforts. WATER PROJECTS FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES EPA's Office of Water, in partnership with the Office of Environmental Justice, is sponsoring a series of 14 projects around the country to address the pressing water and wastewater needs of underserved rural minority communities. EPA is working with the Rural Community Assistance Program (RCAP), who is responsible for the actual implementation of the projects. The overall goal of the effort is to demonstrate effective approaches for providing essential water and wastewater services to selected African American, Native American, and Hispanic communities. Each project will last approximately one year. During this period, RCAP field office have taken various steps to address the specific needs of these communities. Some of the services provided by RCAP include training and education on properly operating and maintaining alternative wastewater and water treatment systems, identifying affordable treatment options for these communities, and helping communities access affordable sources of funding. This initiative targets underserved, rural and Native American communities. PARTNERS IN PROTECTION PILOT PROGRAM This environmental justice pilot was initiated by the EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance and Region 6 to assist low-income and minority populations in becoming involved in environmental decisions concerning their communities. The pilot will provide more opportunities for public participation in the Agency's activities along the Mississippi River between the cities of New Orleans and Baton Rouge, known as the Louisiana Industrial Corridor. EPA Draft Environmental Justice Strategy January 1995 30 ------- Model Projects Specifically, the pilot involves three components: 1) an education program for affected minority and low-income communities on citizens' rights, regulatory processes, pollution prevention, and use of compliance data; 2) specific opportunities for community involvement in permitting processes; and 3) an.enforcement outreach program aimed at empowering community residents with knowledge about the Agency's enforcement program. Integrated activities include but are not limited to the State environmental agency, the regulated community, grassroots communities and their leaders, minority academic institutions, and other State agencies. ' LOUISIANA ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE PROGRAM Louisiana.is one of the first States to set up a formal environmental justice program to address its wide-ranging environmental issues. The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) implemented an Environmental Justice Program under a grant from EPA Region 6. Fact finding public hearings are being used to serve as a forum for discussion and resolution of local environmental justice issues. The Department hired a full-time coordinator to establish Environmental Justice Advisory panels comprised of community and industry representatives. In the first year of the program, the State hosted public meetings and built the foundation of an environmental justice program within the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality. A follow-up grant was given to LDEQ to continue the environmental justice work with formation of community advisory boards in key pilot parishes around the State. Region 6 is also creating a Partners in Protection program to further empower and educate citizens along the Louisiana Industrial Corridor. OPEN AIRWAYS FOR SCHOOLS According to recent statistics from the American Lung Association (ALA), asthma deaths in urban minority children have increased 30% over a ten-year period. While the reasons for this increase are many, indoor air pollutants are among the leading factors. To address this problem, the Office of Air and Radiation in partnership with the American Lung Association and Zeta Phi. Beta (a national minority sorority) have launched a model school-based asthma health education program for children with asthma, their parents and teachers. . The program, called Open Airways for Schools, focuses on developing asthma management skills for students, helping parents and teachers create more supportive environments for asthmatic children and developing activities to reduce indoor pollutants. This partnership EPA Draft Environmental Justice Strategy January 1995 31 ------- Model Projects between EPA, ALA, and a national minority sorority will impact millions of urban, poor households with asthmatic children. MASTER HOME ENVIRONMENTALIST PROGRAM Region 10, in conjunction with the City of Seattle and the YMCA, has established a Master Home Environmental Program which is designed to reduce exposures from toxic materials and pollutants in the home. The focus is on indoor pollutants including lead, contaminated soil, toxics, in-house dust, hazardous household chemicals and pollutants from smoke and tobacco products. A group of Seattle Health Department nurses are working with low-income families in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program to provide them with information on home toxics and lead. The program targets communities with higher populations of minority and low- income residents and relies on volunteers, many from the targeted communities. Volunteers who successfully complete the training present this information to community groups and organizations, and assist people in implementing a survey of pollution problems in their homes. EPA Draft Environmental Justice Strategy January 1995 32 ------- Environmental Justice Contacts FArVTRnNMENTAT.JTTSTTrF. TJSF.PA - OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE Dr. Clarice E. Gaylord 401 M Street, SW Room 27 10 -MS 3 103 Washington, DC 20460 800/962-6215, 202/260-6357 OFFICE OF AIR Will Wilson; 202/260-5574 OFFICE OF PREVENTION, PESTICIDES & TOXIC SUBSTANCES Shantrel Brown; 202/260-6906 OFFICE OF REGIONAL OPERATIONS & STATE/LOCAL RELATIONS Janice Berry-Chen; 202/260-3870 OFFICE OF COMMUNICATION, EDUCATION AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS Doretta Reaves; 202/260-3534 OFFICE OF WATER Ginny Kibler; 202/260-3722 OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT Lawrence Martin; .202/260-7667 OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNCIL MaryO'Lone: 202/260-5313 OFFICE OF POLICY, PLANNING AND EVALUATION Darlene Cockfield; 202/260-4907 OFFICE OF ENFORCEMENT Sherry Milan; 202/260-9807 OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS Rodney Cash; 202/260-4582 OFFICE OF SOLID WASTE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE GregMertz; 202/260-5714 TJSF.PA - USEPA, REGION 1 James Younger; 617/565-3427 John F. Kennedy Federal Bldg. One Congress Street Boston, MA 02203 USEPA, REGION 2 Connie Simon; 212/264-2301 Jacob K. Javits Federal Building 26 Federal Plaza New York, NY 10278 USEPA, REGION 3 Dominique Luckenhoff; 841 Chestnut Building Philadelphia, PA 19107 215/597-6529 USEPA, REGION 4 Vivian Malone-Jones; 404/347-4294 345 Courtland Street, NE Atlanta, GA 30365 USEPA, REGION 5 Gina Rosario; 312/353-4716 Waste Management Division (HM7J) 77 West Jackson Blvd. Chicago, IL 60604-3507 USEPA, REGION 6 Lynda Carroll; 214/655-6500 First Interstate Bank, at Front PI. 1445 Ross Ave., 12th Floor, Suite 1200 Dallas, TX 75202-2733 USEPA, REGION 7 Rupert Thomas; 913/551-7282 726 Minnesota Avenue Kansas City, KS 66101 USEPA, REGION 8 Mel McCottry; 303/293-1645 999 18th Street. Suite 500 Denver, CO 80202-2405 USEPA, REGION 9 Lori Lewis; 415/744-1561 . 75 Hawthorne Street San Francisco, CA 94105 USEPA, REGION 10 Joyce Crosson-Kelly Planning and Evaluation Branch 1200 Sixth Avenue Seattle, WA 98101 Phone: 206/553-4029 EPA Draff Environmental Justice Strategy January 1995 33 ------- |