Open Doors
An information bulletin produced by the US EPA Region 8
Environmental Justice Program
June 2000
Spotlight on
Community Health
Last month in Atlanta, the National Environmental
Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC) held its 15th meeting
which focused on preventing disease and improving
health in communities where health disparities exist.
NEJAC was established in 1993 to provide independent
advice, consultation, and recommendations to EPA's
Administrator on matters related to Environmental
Justice (EJ).
Health disparities may result from disproportionate
effects of environmental pollutants and certain
socioeconomic and cultural factors. Participants
identified the following needs regarding community-
based health:
a community-based public health model in
environmental justice communities
more effective community-based efforts
incorporation of socioeconomic and cultural
factors into community health assessments
more effective community-public-private
partnerships
The NEJAC recommended that EPA: address EJ issues
related to persistent organic pollutants; study the
incidence of multiple chemical sensitivity in low-income
and minority communities; commit resources to remedy
issues associated with large-scale confined animal
feeding operations in EJ communities; and continue to
regulate mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants.
Cleaning Up
Communities
Summer is in full swing in the Cole and Clayton
neighborhoods of Denver. The trees are lush,
gardens colorful and earthmovers are preparing to
remove lawns, soil, plants and trees from a
number of homes this fall. For the second time in
the Vasquez Boulevard/1-70 Superfund site study
area, the goal will be to remove arsenic-laden soils
from selected yards along these tree-lined streets.
The yards will be restored to a condition at least as
good as before the removal.
Last summer, the area was formally designated a
Superfund site triggering a series of actions to
determine the nature and extent of soil
contamination within the study area. Since the
designation, Region 8 EPA staff have been working
with representatives of the Cole, Clayton, Swansea
and Elyria neighborhoods; the Colorado
Department of Health and Environment; the City
and County of Denver; and the Agency for Toxic
Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) and
others.
EPA, its partners and community residents meet
routinely to discuss the Superfund process and to
determine whether all community issues have been
considered.
There is a long way to go before work at this site is
complete, but according to one community
member, "It's working."
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Clean Water for All
EPA is joining forces with federal, state and local
agencies and organizations to determine the
quality of the drinking water available to migrant
farm workers. This project brings together farm
worker advocates, community organizations and
government agencies.
Participants in the project will develop a
comprehensive list of key contacts and develop a
database containing camp locations and water
sources. One of the primary goals of the project is
to ensure these water sources are safe.
This effort was selected by the federal Interagency
Working Group on Environmental Justice as one of
fifteen national pilot projects. If successful, it may
serve as a model for use in other agricultural
states.
EJ in Natural Resources
Community organizers, environmentalists, state,
federal and local government representatives and
academics agreed to work together to combat
environmental injustice. Close to 80 people
attended a two-day workshop on Environmental
Justice and Natural Resources. The symposium
was co-sponsored by the Natural Resources Law
Center, EPA Region 8 and the Colorado People's
Environmental and Economic Network (COPEEN).
The workshop was part of the Law Center's
"Environmental Justice in Natural Resources
Program," funded by the Ford Foundation. For
information on the Center's EJ Program, please
contact Kathryn Mutz at
kathryn.mutz@colorado.edu or 303-492-1293.
Pasa, Doc?
A small truck sits idling outside a wooden dormitory, on
its bumper you can see the American flag and the
message, "Agriculture: the best job in America." Inside
the dormitory are close to twenty migrant farm workers;
inside the idling truck is the grower who provides housing
for these workers and others who pass through Colorado
each growing season.
Dr. Hendrickson is a physician's assistant with Plan de
Salude de Valle, a nonprofit organization that provides
health care to migrant farm workers throughout eastern
Colorado. For more than a dozen years, he has visited
migrant worker camps in his trailer, a mobile medical
clinic. Because many migrant farm workers fall outside
the traditional parameters of the American health care
system, Dr. Hendrickson's visits are often their only
chance for medical treatment.
Tonight he solicits clients with his limited knowledge of
Spanish. Once the first patient enters the trailer, others
follow wearing nervous smiles. Some men bring
blistered feet and sore joints, others have burning eyes
and hearing loss. It is a busy night for Dr. Hendrickson.
The grower is upset by Dr. Hendrickson's visit. Although
Dr. Hendrickson and his staff focus strictly on health
problems, the farmer wonders if the visit will attract the
attention of agencies that he feels may interfere with the
efficiency of his operation. "What he does not
understand," Dr. Hendrickson explains, "is that medical
attention helps maintain the efficiency of his work force."
Like Dr. Hendrickson, many government agencies want
to provide services to vulnerable populations who may
not have access to adequate health care, housing,
nutrition or even clean drinking water. At EPA, staff are
learning from grassroots organizations like Plan de
Salude de Valle how to best reach workers and the
growers who employ them. By working together to keep
the farm a safe place to be, agencies, organizations,
growers and workers, can ensure that agriculture really is
the best job in America.
EPA Spanish Hotline:
1-800-312-6384
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EJ Small Grants Program
Grant selections for this year will be awarded in
September. Although we received many excellent
proposals, we were unfortunately limited to only
$50,000 to award in Region 8.
We anticipate continued funding next year with
similar funding levels. Guidance should available in
December 2000. Proposals will be due the first
week of March 2001. Keep in mind that although
our funding is limited, we also try identify additional
funding sources for qualified project proposals.
If you would like to fine tune your grant writing
skills, Nancy Reish and Marcella DeVargas offer a
three hour grant writing workshop. If your
organization would like to host a workshop in your
area, please contact either Nancy or Marcella for
details.
Community Internships
The EPA Office of Environmental Justice has
provided resources to support five environmental
justice internships in Region 8:
Colorado
The International Institute for Indigenous Resource
Management
• Colorado People's Environmental and Economic
Network (COPEEN)
• Front Range Earth Force
• Environmental Defense
Montana (N. Cheyenne Reservation)
• Native Action
Keep an eye on the website: www.eco.org for
information on the types of organizations involved
& internships offered through this program.
EJ Brown Bag Speakers
Don't miss these great speakers!
Pete Padilla: A Day in the Life of a Migrant
Farm Worker
August 15th
Tom King: Using Cultural Resource Laws
to fight injustice
September 19
EPA Conference Center
11:30-12:30
EJ Listens to Denver
Community
Denver community leaders met with EPA
representatives at the Swansea Recreation Center
on May 1st. During the information-exchange
meeting, community members shared concerns
regarding a range of issues. Issues discussed
included: how to define EJ, what works well in the
EJ Program, how to improve the program, cleanup
levels, partnerships, community representation on
advisory boards and the need for a joint strategy
between EPA and the community.
Elisabeth Evans, Director of the Regional EJ
Program, served as the facilitator and Barry Hill,
Director of the Office of Environmental Justice,
provided opening remarks. Community
representation at the meeting included: Globeville,
Clayton, Swansea and Montbellow neighborhoods.
There was also representation from the Natural
Resources Law Center and the Agency for Toxic
Substances and Disease Registry.
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US EPA Region 8
999 18lhStSte500
Denver, CO 80202-2466
Attn: ENF-EJ
REGION 8 EPA's OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
CONTACT INFORMATION
V * 9 J
(303)312-xxxxor . -p- .
Toll Free Number 1-800-227-8917 plus extension
lastname.firstname@epa.gov
Elisabeth Evans Nancy Reish
x6053 x6040
Director Small Grants Coordinator
Deldi Reyes x6055 CIS Coordinator
EJ in Indian Country
EJ Workshops Debra Lucas x6845
Marcel la DeVargas x6161 Administrative Assistant
EJ through Pollution
Prevention Grants Brenda South x7076
State Liaison N. Denver Environmental Initiative
Desiree Mondragon - SIS x6975
Database & Info. Coordinator Jan Buhrmann - Intern x6557
EJ Policy
Michael Wenstrom - SEE x7009 Social Impact Assessment
Superfund Liason
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