OPEN DOORS
Information Bulletin of the U.S. EPA Region 8
Environmental Justice Program
Summer 2001
Public Involvement Policy
The U.S. EPA recently passed a new Public Involvement
Policy. The new Policy makes a clear statement about the
Agency's commitment to early and meaningful public
involvement. It promotes a variety of effective procedures
for public involvement in EPA's decision-making
processes.
The new Policy goes beyond legal and regulatory
requirements for public participation. It is meant to ensure
that environmental decisions are made with the clear
understanding and input of the people affected by them.
The Policy affects not only stakeholders at hazardous-
waste sites. It is being applied by all EPA programs and
regional offices.
To view the Policy, go to:
http://www. epa.gov/stakeholders/poUcy. htm.
or call Loretta Schumacher at 202-260-3096 for printed
copies. For e-mail copies contact kahn. lisa@epa.gov.
The EPA is seeking public comments on the Policy
through July 31st. The original comment period ended on
April 27, but was extended so the EPA could host an
Internet-based public discussion on the draft Policy from
July 10-20, 2001. You can send your e-mail comments to:
stakeholders(a)/epa.8ov or send hard copy to the address
on the printed copies.
FORWARD-
LOOKING
RETREAT
April 11, 2001
On a sunny April day, thirty
Region 8 EPA staff met at
the EPA lab in Golden to
help plot the path and
pattern of the Region's
Environmental Justice Program. Since its inception in 1995, the
Program has set its sights on making the principles of EJ
commonplace throughout the Region. This is a large order for a
small program.
In support of this mission, the EJ program has:
• given EJ Workshops to a variety of Region 8
staff
• joined issue teams to bring an EJ perspective to
internal deliberations
• consulted with program staff on specific issues
• sponsored informal luncheon meetings to
discuss EJ around particular issues
• worked to build EPA-co mm unity partnerships
around environmental problems.
To augment these efforts, the EJ program staff understands the
need for fresh perspectives, new ideas and feedback on how we
can do our jobs better. And, what better way to bring those needs
together than to gather together a group of motivated staff from
programs and offices across the Region to brainstorm with us?
This effort requires both creativity and energy. We had both in
abundance in the crowded conference room at the Lab. Staff from
RCRA Water, Air, Superfund, Enforcement, Pesticides and other
programs worked for a full day to help lay out future goals for EJ.
As one of the participants remarked, " I am learning that EJ is not
so much a matter of doing new things. Rather, it is a way of
thinking about how to do better what we already do."
To fulfill the charge to develop a vision for EJ's future in Region
8, attendees were asked to: (1) construct the history of EJ in the
region; (2) consider and discuss EJ principles; (3) develop a vision
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of what we can do better; and (4) brainstorm how to implement
that vision across the Region. The day progressed from the
general to the specific; from EJ principles and history, through
development of priorities for the EJ program and, finally, to the
creation of a work plan for each of the identified priority issues.
The six priorities identified by the group are:
1. Enhanced Enforcement and Compliance
2. Improved Internal and External Collaboration
3. Education and Training
4. Stronger Community Cooperation and
Involvement
5. The Northeast Denver Environmental
Initiative
6. Development of a model for assessing
cumulative risk
To convert these goals into tangible realities will require
thoughtful planning and determined execution. The planning has
already begun. EJ staff will review the entire set of EJ action
steps and integrate these steps into a work plan for the next two
years. However, the execution will require the combined energy,
creativity and work of staff throughout the regional office.
The staff assembled at the Retreat developed an understanding
that EJ is a way of thinking about how we all do our jobs. How
do we assure that the voices of everyone with an environmental
concern or a grievance are truly heard? How do we make it easier
for the Region to apply the principles which direct us "...to the
greatest extent practicable...make achieving environmental
justice part of [the Agency's] mission..."
Our Retreat looked backward - to look at our history and learn
from it. However, the goal was to look ahead and, with the
active assistance of all programs, to integrate EJ into all areas of
Region 8. Thanks go out to all who participated in the Retreat.
Now the work begins again. Stay tuned. You will be hearing
from us.
Many sites across the
country once used for
industrial/commercial purposes havebeen abandoned or are
under-used - some are contaminated, some are merely
perceived to be contaminated. EPA defines brownfields as
abandoned, idled, or under-used industrial and commercial
lands where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by
real or perceived environmental contamination. EPA's
Brownfields Economic Redevelopment Initiative is an
organized commitment to help communities revitalize such
properties both environmentally and economically, mitigate
potential health risks, and restore economic vitality to areas
where brownfields exist. The Brownfields Program in
Region 8 has many resources to assist communities in the
revitalization of their brownfields.
The Brownfields Pilot Program is an excellent resource for
communities to utilize. The three main facets of the Pilot
Program are Brownfields AssessmentDemonstration Pilots,
Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Funds, and Job
Training and Development Demonstration Pilots. Each
year, EPA has funds available to communities for grants up
to $200,000 for the assessing, inventorying, and planning
for the cleanup of contaminated properties. EPA also has
funds available to communities for grants up to $500,000 to
capitalize revolving loan funds for cleaning up
contaminated properties. Additionally, EPA has funds
available for grants up to $200,000 to establish job training
programs for communities impacted by contaminated
properties. The funds in these three grant programs are
distributed on a competitive basis. Separate from the
Brownfields Pilot Program are Targeted Brownfields
Assessments. Funding is provided to the EPA regions for
EPA contractors or State contractors to perform
assessments on individual properties identified by
communities as possibly contaminated.
For more information on the Brownfields Program in
Region 8, please visit the website at
www.epa.gov/region08/cross/brown/brownf.html. You will
find additional information on the Brownfields Pilot
Programs and much more useful information to assist you
in assessing, cleaningup, and redeveloping the brownfields
in your community.
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Community Page
announcements and updates of special interest to community
The Art of Commenting: How to Influence
Environmental Decisionmaking with Effective
Comments. By Elizabeth D. Mullin. Environmental
Law Institute, Washington B.C. : November 2000.
Book Review : Environmental decisions have
scientific, technical, economic, community,
and legal implications. Consequently, it is
essential that environmental documents
undergo a period of "comment and review" by
stakeholders. Elizabeth D. Mullin's book, The
Art of Commenting: How to Influence
Environmental Decisionmaking with Effective
Comments, "is a book for everyone who would
like to influence an environmental decision."
The book provides a step-by-step guide to
writing comments that will most likely lead to
desired results. In addition, Mullin outlines
how to locate background materials that will
increase one's expertise, and how to follow
through once comments have been made. The
Art of Commenting is an essential tool,
providing guidance on the politics of
commenting with clear, useful, and easily
accessible environmental information for
"people who can or wantto make a difference."
Constructive Engagement Resource Guide:
Practical Advice for Dialogue Among Workers,
Communities and Regulators. ( EPA Publication #
745-B-99-008)
Social Aspects of Siting RCRA Hazardous Waste
Facilities: A guide for facilities owners and operators,
governments and community representatives to assist
with collaboration in the siting process.( EPA
Publication # 530-K-00-005)
Public Involvement in Environmental Permits: A
practical guide for state and tribal personnel and
community representatives on how to effectively
engage in the permitting process.
( EPA Publication # 500-R-00-007)
Supplemental Environmental Projects: A brief guide
to Supplemental Environmental Projects which
provide resources from an enforcement settlement to
be applied to improving the environment.
( EPA Publication # 300-B-00-007)
The EPA publications may be obtained at no cost
from the National Service Center for Environmental
Publications:
Telephone Order:
Fax order:
1-800-490-9198
(toll free)
1-513-489-8995
Online order:
http ://www. epa.gov/ncepihom
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oEPA
>&n/ o
Region 8 EPA Office of Environmental Justice
Contact Information
(303)312-xxxxor
Toll Free Number 1-800-227-8917 plus extension
lastname. firstname@epa. go v
Elisabeth Evans y>6OS8 David Ordway x6557
Director Superfund
EJ Workshops Brownfields
Deldi Reyes x6055 Nancy Reish x6040
EJ in Indian Country Small Grants
NEPA & EJ GIS
Internet Contact
Jean Belille x6556 Michael Wenstrom x7009
EJ Intern RCRA
EJ Outreach Air
EJP2 Grants States
Debra Lucas x6845
Administrative Assistant
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