Environmental Justice
Resource Guide
A Handbook for Communities and Decision-Makers
i-
EPA
Printed on 100% recycled paper, 50% post-
consumer content—process chlorine-free
U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 2009-XXX-XXX
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®EPA
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Office Contact Information
Deldi Reyes
Environmental Justice Program
Manager
reyes.deldi@epa.gov
(415)972-3795 "
Zoe Heller
Environmental Protection Specialist
heller.zoe@epa.gov
(415)972-3074
Karen Y. Henry, M.S.
Senior Environmental Scientist
henry.karen@epa.gov
(415)972-3844
Debbie Lowe Liang
Environmental Scientist
lowe.debbie@epa.gov
(415)947-4155
Sharon Murray
Environmental Protection Specialist
murray.sharon@epa.gov
(415)947-4250
U.S. EPA Region 9's Environmental Justice
Program (clockwise from top left: Karen Henry,
Deldi Reyes, Sharon Murray, Zoe Heller, Debbie
Lowe Liang).
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Tools and Resources
Citizens Guide to the
National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA)—a guide
that explains NEPA, how it
is implemented, and how
people outside the federal
government can better
participate in environmental
impact assessments.
State Contacts
Arizona
California
www.nepa.gov/nepa/Citizens_Guide_Dec07.
pdf
Henry Darwin
Arizona Department of
Environmental Quality
(602)771-2328
darwin.henry@azdeq.gov
Malinda Dumisani
California Environmental
Protection Agency
(916)445-9480
EnvJustice@calepa.ca.gov
Hawaii
Maile Sakamoto
Hawaii Department of Health
(808) 586-4344
maile.sakamoto@doh.hawaii.gov
Nevada
Jim Najima
Nevada Division of
Environmental Protection
(775) 687-9484
jnajima@ndep.nv.gov
Tansey Smith
Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada
(775) 687-9483
tsmith@ndep.nv.gov
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Locations of Projects Highlighted in this Guide
Community Guide to
Recognizing and Reporting
Pesticide Problems
In Your Home
The Inside Story: A Guide to
Indoor Air Quality
A Citizen's Guide to Radon:
The Guide to Protecting
Yourself and Your Family
from Radon
Lead in Your Home: A
Parent's Reference Guide
Testing Your Home for Lead
www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/dept/comguide
Contact: Veda Federighi, (916) 445-3974
www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/insidest.html
Monique Nivolon, (415) 947-4195
www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/citguide.html
(English and Spanish)
Monique Nivolon (415) 947-4195
www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/leadrev.pdf
Contact: Marjorie Xavier, (415)947-4164
www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/leadtest.pdf
Contact: Marjorie Xavier, (415)947-4164
Environmental Enforcement
Report environmental
violations or spills
General information, tips,
or complaints
Other Resources
From exposure to illness:
Community Health Studies
and Environmental
Contamination—sharing the
experience and perspective of
public health staff who study
links between environmental
exposure to chemicals and
health effects.
www.epa.gov/epahome/violations.htm
(800)300-2193
Eileen Boken, (415) 972-3757 or (866) ERA-WEST
www.communityhealthstudies.com
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Tools and Resources
Table of Contents
Community Based
Air Toxics Projects—
descriptions of community-
based air toxics projects
designed to assess
and address health and
environmental issues at the
local level.
Improving Air Quality in
Your Community—activities
for reducing both indoor and
outdoor pollution, information
about costs, and how local
communities can apply for
EPA grants to kick-start their
activities.
Pesticide Resources
California Department
of Pesticide Regulation
fact sheets—consumer
information about pesticides,
their labels, safe use, and what
to do in an emergency.
Using Pesticides Safely—
fact sheets for consumers
Citizen's Guide to Pest
Control and Pesticide
Safety
National Pesticide
Information Center-
objective, science-based
information about pesticides
and pesticide-related topics
www.epa.gov/air/toxicair/community
Purpose of This Guide
www.epa.gov/air/community
Successes and Highlights
6
www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/dept/factshts/
factmenu.htm
www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/dept/factshts/
factspanish.htm (en espahol)
www.epa.gov/pesticides/health/safely.htm
Contact: (415) 947-8704
www.epa.gov/oppfead1/Publications/Cit_
Guide/citguide.pdf
Contact: (415) 947-8704
www.npic.orst.edu
Contact: (800) 858-7378
Funding Sources for Communities
23
Tools and Resources
30
Office of Environmental Justice, Region 9
Contact Information
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"We must take special pains to connect
with those who have been historically
underrepresented in EPA decision making,
including the disenfranchised in our cities
and rural areas, communities of color, native
Americans, people disproportionately
impacted by pollution, and small businesses,
cities and towns working to meet their
environmental responsibilities... [T]hey
deserve an EPA with an open mind, a big
heart and a willingness to listen ... As
we meet these challenges, we must be
sensitive to the burdens pollution has placed
on vulnerable subpopulations, including
children, the elderly, the poor and all others
who are at particular risk to threats to health
and the environment. We must seek their full
partnership in the greater aim of identifying
and eliminating the sources of pollution in
their neighborhoods, schools and homes."
— Lisa Jackson, U.S. EPA Administrator
Memo to EPA Employees, January 23, 2009
EJ and Air Pollution: Best
Practices in Collaboration,
Tools, and Resources—
handouts and presentation
materials from the September
2007 meeting
www.epa.gov/air/ej/conf2007.html
Contact: Ingrid Ward, (919)541-0300
Environmental Justice
Resources from EPA's
Office of Air and Radiation
www.epa.gov/air/ej/
Contact: Tom Link, (919) 541-5456
Community Health Air
Pollution Information
System (CHAPIS)-an
Internet-based mapping tool
that allows you to look at a
map to view sources of air
pollution.
Strategies for Addressing
Asthma within a
Coordinated School Health
Program
Managing Asthma in the
School Environment
www.arb.ca.gov/ch/chapis1/chapis1.htm
Contact: (866) 397-5462
www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/Asthma/
strategies.htm
Contact: Barbara Spark, (415) 947-4189
www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/managingasthma.
html
Contact: Barbara Spark, (415) 947-4189
Resources for Addressing
Asthma in Schools
www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/Asthma/pdf/
pubs-links.pdf
Contact: Barbara Spark, (415) 947-4189
Collision Repair
Campaign—a campaign
to address health threats by
drastically reducing auto body
repair shop emissions at the
national level.
www.epa.gov/air/toxicair/community/
collision.html
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Tools and Resources
California Department of
Toxic Substance Control
Environmental Justice
Community Outreach—fact
sheets in English and Spanish
EPA's Brownfields and
Land Revitalization
Program—working to clean
up and redevelop potentially
contaminated lands, making
it easier for such lands to
become vital, functioning parts
of their communities.
Air Quality Resources
Let's Clear the Air-A Public
Participation Guide to Air
Quality Decision Making in
California
California Air Resources
Board's (CARB) community
health program—tools to
better understand the air we
breathe and what CARB is
doing to reduce air pollution.
Air Quality and Land Use
Handbook: A Community
Health Perspective
www.dtsc.ca.gov/Getlnvolved/upload/EJ_
Community_Outreach.pdf (English)
www.dtsc.ca.gov/Getlnvolved/upload/EJ_
FactSheet_Span.pdf (en espahol)
www.epa.gov/brownfields
www.arb.ca.gov/ch/public_participation_
guide.pdf
www.arb.ca.gov/ch/spanish_docs/ppg_
spanish.pdf
(en espahol)
Contact: (866) 397-5462
www.arb.ca.gov/ch/ch.htm
www.arb.ca.gov/ch/espafiol.htm (en espahol)
Contact: (866) 397-5462
www.arb.ca.gov/ch/handbook.pdf
Contact: (866) 397-5462
EPA's Plain English Guide
to the Clean Air Act—a
summary covering some
important provisions of the
law.
www.epa.gov/air/caa/peg/
Purpose of this Guide
Minority and low-income communities
are often disproportionately exposed
to environmental harm and risks. EPA
has programs and projects to protect
these communities from adverse effects
on human health and the environment.
The Agency is committed to the fair
treatment of these communities. This
includes the opportunity to participate
meaningfully in the development, imple-
mentation and enforcement of environ-
mental laws, regulations, and policies.
This participation requires access to the
wide variety of resources available from
EPA.
In light of this commitment, EPA's
Pacific Southwest Regional Office has
developed this Resource Guide as a
tool for individuals, non-governmental
organizations, community groups, and
local officials. The goal is to provide
information and access to EPA's fund-
ing sources, training opportunities, and
technical and program assistance. The
guide highlights recent successes in
communities affected by environmental
injustices and references some of the
tools these communities have used to
achieve results.
This publication will also help organiza-
tions, agencies, and academics who
work with Environmental Justice (EJ)
communities to recognize opportunities
to help their constituents.
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Successes and Highlights
EPA is committed to working in partnership with EJ communities to protect public
health and the environment, to build capacity for long-term community-based lead-
ership, and to learn new ways to support EJ. In addition to the lists of resources
in this document, these stories provide examples of what we can accomplish to-
gether. We hope these examples can stimulate dialogue about future opportunities
to collaborate.
Collaboratives
Solutions to EJ problems often require action by many different parties, including the
diverse resources that other government agencies have to offer. EPA has supported
community-based efforts to bring key partners together, using inclusive processes to
agree on priorities and take action. In addition to reducing exposure to environmental
burdens, these collaboratives enable communities to develop powerful leadership
that can have positive benefits for years to come.
Grants and Cooperative Agreements
EPA supports community-based leaders through funding from programs such as
EJ grants, Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE), Indoor Air (Open
Airways, Tools for Schools), Brownfields (assessment, training, and cleanup), and
others. The Agency has distributed over $31 million in EJ grants alone nationwide
since the program began.
Capacity Building & Technical Assistance
EJ communities and the agencies that serve them often have less access to technical
resources that could help them. EPA can provide information and cleanup support to
reduce people's exposure to pollution and toxics, and to help affected communities
have meaningful involvement in decision making.
Enforcement
EPA's enforcement programs may use EJ-related demographic information to target
its inspections in areas where EJ communities could be most heavily affected by pol-
lution and toxics.
Grant and Funding Tools
Grants.gov—find and apply
for federal government grants.
U.S. EPA Grants—funding
opportunities, information on
how to apply, new recipient
training, and more.
U.S. EPA Region 9
Requests for Proposals
Environmental Justice
Grants
West Coast Collaborative
Diesel Emissions
Reductions—Current funding
opportunities
www.grants.gov
Contact Center: (800) 518-4726
www.epa.gov/ogd/
Grants and Interagency Agreements Program:
(202)564-5315
www.epa.gov/region09/funding/rfps.html
www.epa.
gov/oecaerth/environmentaljustice/grants
www.westcoastdiesel.org/grants.htm
Toxics and Hazardous Waste Resources
Technical Assistance
Services for Communities
(TASC)—a program to provide
educational and technical
assistance to communities
affected by hazardous
waste sites regulated by the
Superfund and Resource
Conservation Recovery Act
(RCRA) programs.
www.epa.gov/superfund/community/tasc
Contact: Luis Garcia-Bakarich, (415) 972-3237
garcia-bakarich.luis@epa.gov
EPA's Toxics Release
Inventory—information on
toxic chemical releases and
waste management activities
reported annually by certain
industries
www.epa.gov/tri
Contact: Nancy Levin, (415) 972-3848
levin.nancy@epa.gov
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Tools and Resources
Environmental Justice Materials
Collaboratives
Environmental Justice
Small Grants: Emerging
Tools for Local Problem-
Solving—a snapshot of 71
small grants awarded
EPA's Environmental
Justice Biennial Reports
and Project Reports
A Citizen's Guide to Using
Federal Environmental
Laws to Secure
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice: The
Power of Partnerships—The
Collaborative Problem-Solving
Model at Work in Spartanburg,
South Carolina (A DVD
Documentary)
Communities and
Environmental Laws (DVD)
Working With Lawyers:
A Guide for Community
Residents and
Environmental Justice
Activists
Community Guide to EPA's
Voluntary Programs
www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/
publications/ej/grants/ej_smgrants_
emerging_tools_2nd_edition.pdf
Contact: EPA's Office of Environmental Justice,
(800)962-6215
www.epa.gov/compliance/
environmentaljustice/grants/ej-smgrants.
html
Contact: EPA's Office of Environmental Justice,
(800)962-6215
To purchase a copy, visit www.elistore.org/
A limited number of free copies are available by
calling Sharon Murray, EPA, (415) 947-4250
To obtain a copy, visit www.epa.gov/
compliance/resources/publications/ej/ejcps-
dvd.html
Contact: EPA's Office of Environmental Justice,
(800)962-6215
To order a copy, call (800) 490-9198 or go to
www.epa.gov/ncepi/ordering.htm
(Search for EPA Publication # 300C04001)
To download or order a free copy in English or
Spanish, visit: www.elistore.org
www.epa.gov/care/library/guide_vol_progs_
2008.pdf
Contact: Mike Bandrowski, (415) 947-4194
West Oakland Toxic Reduction
Collaborative
THE COMMUNITY: West Oakland,
California, is a low-income community
of 25,000 people, and approximately
90% are people of color. Since recov-
ering from the 1989 Loma Prieta earth-
quake, the community has been on a
trajectory of redevelopment. Freeways
entirely surround the four-square mile
community, which is adjacent to the
Port of Oakland, the fourth largest con-
tainer port in the United States. Traffic
from the port is projected to substan-
tially increase by 2020, with commen-
surate increases in diesel emissions.
Asthma rates here are already the high-
est in the county. Despite the economic,
environmental, and social challenges,
the community has a culture of involve-
ment and activism.
THE COLLABORATION: West Oakland is
collaborating with EPA in several ca-
pacities to improve outdoor and indoor
air quality and reduce future environ-
Margaret Gordon, local EJ leader and
Collaborative co-chair, is the first-ever
environmental health expert and neighboring
community member to sit on the Port
Commission. She said that based on her
experience in the collaborative with EPA and
other agencies, "I can help the commission
understand these agencies' concerns so that
the commission can meet these environmental
and health standards."
mental risk. In 2005, the community, by
way of the West Oakland Environmental
Indicators Project (WOEIP), along with
EPA, launched the West Oakland Toxic
Reduction Collaborative (WOTRC) to re-
duce residents' exposure to toxics from
diesel truck pollution, land use, brown-
fields hazardous waste sites, and ports.
The collaborative, EPA Region 9's EJ
Program, and 18 community organiza-
tions have also worked in partnership
to create the Healthy Homes/Indoor Air
Port of Oakland
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Successes and Highlights
Collaboratives, cont.
(HHIA) group. The group used a com-
prehensive healthy homes checklist to
train 15 community members, who in-
spected 95 of the community's homes.
It also trained 60 local residents, plan-
ners, public health officials, and others
to incorporate health concerns in land
use planning.
THE RESULTS: The collaborative's efforts
have been instrumental in gaining a
commitment from the Port of Oakland to
reduce risk from port-related diesel pol-
lutants by 85% by 2020 and in support-
ing cleanup of the fleet of 2000 heavy
duty trucks serving the port. The HHIA
group's in-home inspections helped
families reduce sources of lead and in-
door air pollution. As a result of the land
use planning training, four local devel-
opers agreed to work with the partners
to develop Health Impact Assessments
for their projects, which led to voluntary
efforts to improve indoor air quality, use
green building practices, and hire local
workers.
THE RESOURCES: The collaborative's
successes have built long-term capac-
ity, enabling the group to leverage ap-
proximately $400,000 in new grants
from the San Francisco Foundation and
EPA's EJ Collaborative Problem Solving
(GPS) and Community Action for a
Renewed Environment (CARE) (page
23) programs.
Targeted Grants to Reduce
Childhood Lead Poisoning
Torres Martinez:
Contaminated Valley
In 2006, students from the Desert
Mirage High School in Coachella
Valley produced the documentary film
Contaminated Valley and a public
service announcement on the dangers of
burning pesticide-treated grape stakes, a
common practice on the Torres Martinez
Reservation. The students received EPA
Region 9's Environmental Leadership
Award because they raised awareness
about the health and environmental
dangers of illegally burning and dumping
garbage.
^H
Torres Martinez Collaborative
THE COMMUNITY: The Torres Martinez
Desert Cahuilla Indian Community en-
compasses approximately 24,000 acres
of the Coachella Valley in California's
eastern Riverside County and northern
Imperial County. Approximately 12,000
residents live on the reservation, includ-
ing approximately 250 tribal members.
The community's proximity to illegal
dumps, and exposure to toxins released
by frequent dump fires, has severely af-
fected the health of many residents.
THE COLLABORATION: Twenty-five feder-
al, state, and local agencies, the Torres
Martinez Tribal Government, and non-
profit organizations have come together
to form the Torres Martinez Solid Waste
To conduct activities designed to
reduce childhood lead poisoning in
vulnerable populations.
State, local governments, US
commonwealth and territorial
governments; federally-recognized
tribes and tribal consortia, nonprofit
organizations, private and state-
controlled institutions of higher
learning, and nonprofit organizations
having 501 (c)(3) status.
$25,000-$100,000
David Tomsovic
U.S. EPA Region 9
Toxics Office
(415)972-3858
tomsovic.david@epa.gov
www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/grantmap.
htm
Wetlands Protection Grants
To assist state, tribal and local government
wetlands protection efforts under Section
104(b)(3) of the Clean Water Act. Funds
can be used to develop new wetlands
protection programs or refine existing
protection programs. Funds cannot
be used to fund operational support of
wetland programs.
State and tribal agencies, local
governments, and conservation districts.
Varies
Suzanne Marr
U.S. EPA Region 9
Water Division
(415)972-3468
marr.suzanne@epa.gov
www.epa.
gov/owow/wetlands/grantguidelines
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Funding Sources for Communities
Source Reduction Assistance
To support source reduction and/or
pollution prevention projects that
will provide an overall benefit to the
environment by preventing pollutants
at the source.
.
Assistance Grants (TAGs)
To enable communities
affected by a site on the
Superfund National Priorities
List (NPL) to obtain technical
assistance in interpreting
information regarding the site.
ELIGIBLE
APPLICAMTS
States, U.S. territories, federally-
recognized tribes, local governments,
independent school district
governments, state-controlled
institutions of higher education,
nonprofits having a 501 (c)(3) status,
and private institutions of higher
education.
Groups must be located near
or affected by a site that is
either proposed for or on
the National Priorities List.
Groups must incorporate as
nonprofit organizations.
AWARD
AMOUNT
Typically $25,000-$75,000
Up to $50,000 initially; in
the case of complex sites,
additional funds may be
available
CONTACT
PERSON &
EPA OFFICE/
DIVISION
John Katz
U.S. EPA Region 9
Pollution Prevention Team
Dana Barton
U.S. EPA Region 9
Superfund Division
CONTACT
INFORMATION
(415)972-3283
katz.john@epa.gov
www.epa.
gov/oppt/p2home/pubs/grants
(415)972-3245
barton.dana@epa.gov
www.epa.gov/superfund/
community/tag
Collaborative, with the goal of cleaning
up and preventing illegal dumping on
the reservation in Thermal, California.
THE RESULTS: Since its inception in April,
2006, the collaborative has closed all of
the 27 major dumps and successfully
prevented the creation of new dumps
on the reservation. Dump fires have
been eliminated. The collaborative has
also cleaned up more than 20 of the
original dumps and prevented additional
dumping by preventing vehicle access
to the sites.
EPA has succeeded in cleaning up a
25-acre dumpsite, removing 100 tons of
pesticide-treated grape stakes dumped
200 yards from a school, and complet-
ing enforcement agreements with two
trailer park operators for solid waste
violations. The companies paid over
$12,000 in penalties and agreed to pro-
vide community-wide cleanup events,
implement a solid waste management
program, and distribute fact sheets to all
households in the trailer parks informing
them of how and where to dispose of
wastes.
The collaborative's Outreach Taskforce
distributed more than 500 posters and
flyers promoting proper recycling and
waste disposal habits to cities, stores,
growers, haulers and landscapers in
the Coachella Valley. Members of the
taskforce participated in a Trashbusters
community-wide cleanup event in
October, 2007.
THE RESOURCES: The collaborative
funded these successes by leveraging
$2 million from the California Integrated
Solid Waste Management Board (www.
ciwmb.ca.gov/grants or (916) 341-
6000). The collaborative has also initi-
ated targeted brownfields assess-
ments (page 23) to facilitate productive
reuse of former dump sites.
Road in Torres Martinez Reservation before
cleanup.
Road in Torres Martinez Reservation after
cleanup.
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Successes and Highlights
Grants and Cooperative Agreements
Reducing Toxics in Pacoima, CA
through EPA Grants
THE COMMUNITY: Pacoima, in the north-
east section of California's San Fernando
Valley, is a Los Angeles community with
a mostly Latino population. Residents
are affected by pollution from freeways,
a railroad line, an airport, and more than
300 industrial facilities.
THE RESOURCES: Pacoima added 243
homes to its newly created Lead-Free
Homes registry and enlisted 205 resi-
dents to identify and reduce local tox-
ics with the support of an Environmental
Justice Collaborative Problem Solving
grant from EPA. The grant recipient,
Pacoima Beautiful, partnered with
and received aid from Los Angeles
Neighborhood Housing Services to
conduct lead paint remediation at 18
homes.
With a Level I Community Action for
a Renewed Environment (CARE)
grant (page 23), Pacoima Beautiful
convened over 320 community resi-
dents, partners, and stakeholders to
review data and information on toxic
sources gathered in the community. As
a result, the community secured a Level
II CARE grant (page 23) for $300,000
to address two of the identified commu-
nity priorities: small pollution sources in
a targeted area of Pacoima and diesel
emissions from trucks and school bus-
es throughout the community
"Through programs that provide education,
advocacy and local leadership, our aim is to
improve the lives of the residents of Pacoima."
— Nury Martinez, Executive Director, Pacoima
Beautiful
THE RESULTS: Pacoima anticipates sig-
nificant health improvements through
reduced emissions, reduced resource
use, and increased use of sustainable
products. The community will achieve
these environmental and health improve-
ments by implementing environmental
Best Management Practices and pro-
viding additional education about toxics
and risk mitigation.
For more information, see www.pa-
coimabeautiful.org, 11243 Glenoaks
Blvd., Suite 1, Pacoima, California
91331. Phone: (818) 899-2454.
Pollution Prevention Incentives
(PPIS) for States/Tribes
To build and support state pollution
prevention (P2) capabilities and to
test, at the state level, innovative
pollution prevention approaches and
methodologies.
State agencies, federally-recognized
tribes, territories and possessions.
States are encouraged to form
partnerships with other P2 providers.
Up to $200,000 per grant
Jessica Counts-Arnold
U.S. EPA Region 9
Region 9 P2 Team
(415)972-3288
counts-arnold.jessica@epa.gov
www.epa.gov/oppt/p2home/pubs/
grants/ppis/ppis. htm
Solid Waste Assistance Grants/Tribal
Solid Waste Grants
(Resource Conservation)
To fund cooperative agreements that
promote recycling, solid waste reduction,
and energy conservation through source
reduction, product stewardship, reuse and
composting, market development and job
creation, education and outreach, or the
procurement of postconsumer recycled
content products.
States, tribes, territories, multi-state/
tribal organizations, universities,
local governments and not-for-profit
organizations.
$30,000-$60,000 in cooperative
agreement funds
Saskia Van Gendt
U.S. EPA Region 9
Solid Waste Team
(415)947-4103
vangendt.saskia@epa.gov
www.epa.gov/region09/funding/rcra.
html
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Funding Sources for Communities
GRANT
PROGRAM
ELIGIBLE
APPLICANTS
Nonpoint Source
Water Pollution Control
Established under Section 319 of
the federal Clean Water Act, these
funds are for implementation of
state nonpoint source pollution
control programs. Each state
"passes through" a portion of
these funds to other entities for
specific nonpoint source pollution
management practices.
Public and private entities including
nonprofits, local state governments,
tribes, special districts, educational
institutions, and government
agencies. State water quality
agencies distribute the applications.
Pesticide Environmental
Stewardship Program
(PESP)
To provide funds for research,
education, and demonstration
to reduce risk and use of
pesticides, in both agricultural
and non-agricultural settings.
States, territories, federally-
recognized tribes and any
agency or instrumentality
of a state including state
universities and some
commodities groups.
AWARD
AMOUNT
Variable. Past awards range from
$20,000 to $300,000
Usually up to $47,000 per
project
CONTACT
PERSON &
EPA OFFICE/
DIVISION
Audrey Shileikis
U.S. EPA Region 9
Water Division
Cindy Wire
U.S. EPA Region 9
Agriculture Initiative
CONTACT
INFORMATION
(415)972-3459
shileikis.audrey@epa.gov
(415)947-4242
wire.cine
www.epa.gov/owow/nps/cwact.
html
www.epa.gov/oppbppd1/
pesp/regional_grants.htm
Brownfields Job Training Grant:
Long Beach, CA
THE COMMUNITY: Long Beach, California,
is home to the second busiest port in
the nation. With a 67% minority popu-
lation, the city ranks sixth among large
U.S. cities with the highest poverty rate.
Since 2000, employment has steadily
declined in the city's population of
450,000. Major environmental health
issues for the community include air
pollution from port, soil and stormwater
contamination, aquifer contamination
from contaminated groundwater migra-
tion, and childhood asthma.
THE RESOURCES: For more than ten
years, EPA's Brownfields Job Training
Program has transformed the lives of
those living in brownfields communi-
ties. The program produces the skilled
environmental technicians needed to
clean up brownfields, creating jobs and
spurring local economic development.
To date, more than 4,000 trainees have
graduated from the programs funded by
EPA's Brownfields Job Training grants.
The City of Long Beach's Pacific
Gateway Workforce Investment Alliance
was awarded a $200,000 Brownfields
Job Training Grant (page 23) in 2007.
The city plans to train approximately 200
low-income residents from Brownfields-
impacted communities in 10 sessions.
Each ten-week session combines two
weeks of community outreach, in-
take and assessment; five weeks of
Brownfields occupational skills training
and mentoring; and two weeks of job
placement strategies.
"The program was
the bridge for me to
grow and realize the
dreams of becoming
successful can come
true... This was the place
for me. I got out of the
problem and I became
part of the solution."
— Louis James,
Long Beach community
member
The five weeks of Brownfields occu-
pational skills training and mentoring
includes certificated training in OSHA
30, First Aid/CPR, asbestos abatement,
lead abatement, a refinery safety over-
view, and Hazardous Waste Worker
Protection and Emergency Response.
In addition, trainees will also receive
soft skills and career development
workshops.
THE RESULTS: The city plans to place
approximately 70% of participants who
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Successes and Highlights
Grants and Cooperative Agreements, cont.
complete the six certifications in full-time
jobs. The Alliance provides follow-up
services to ensure that trainees remain
on the job for at least nine months after
they are hired. As of September 2008,
approximately 132 participants had
completed training and 57 had obtained
employment with an average salary of
$13.50 per hour.
Reducing Exposure to Toxics in
Southern Arizona
THE COMMUNITY: In the U.S, the border
with Mexico includes nine of the poor-
est counties in the nation. The region
is characterized by little rainfall and
extreme temperatures—the border be-
tween the states of Arizona and Sonora,
Mexico, receives only 3 inches of rain-
fall per year and temperatures climb to
113°F. Rapid population growth and
industrialization have created lasting
environmental degradation and human
health problems.
THE RESOURCES: Community Assist of
Southern Arizona (CASA) and the Sonora
Environmental Research Institute, Inc.
(SERI) partner with neighborhoods that
are under economic, environmental,
and disproportionate health stress to
promote a better understanding of en-
vironmental health risks and the ways to
reduce them. Their promotora program
trains women to assist families in evalu-
ating environmental risks to their chil-
dren and to make informed choices to
improve their health. They build neigh-
borhood capacity one-by-one as they
knock on doors. Active promotoras can
continue on an educational track to re-
ceive a Certification in Public Health at
the local community college.
In 2006, the organizations received
a Level II Community Action for
a Renewed Environment (CARE)
Cooperative Agreement (page 23).
More recently, they have received fund-
ing from EPA's Pollution Prevention
program (page27), the U.S. Department
of Housing and Urban Development,
and in-kind services and support from
22 different partners.
THE RESULTS: CASA and SERI have
trained 50 promotoras who engage in
all aspects of developing action plans
to reduce toxics in their communities.
In the long term, the program aims to
strengthen the community's ability to
make informed environmental health
choices and to participate in long-term,
sustainable solutions. It will track the
community's reduction of toxicemissions
and the reduction of toxic compounds
replaced by less toxic solutions.
Environmental Justice (EJ)
Small Grants
To provide financial assistance to eligible
community groups and nonprofit tribal
organizations to work on projects that address
environmental justice issues.
501 (c)(3) non-profit organizations; certain other
nonprofit organizations; cities, townships, or
county governments; federally recognized
Native American tribal governments.
Eligible applicant must demonstrate that it
has worked directly with, or provided services
to, the affected community (see fact sheet for
more details: epa.gov/oecaerth/resources/
publications/ej/factsheets/fact-sheet-ej-small-
grants-4-08.pdf)
$20,000
Karen Henry
U.S. EPA Region 9
Environmental Justice Team
(415)972-3844
henry.karen@epa.gov
www.epa.gov/oecaerth/
environmentaljustice/grants/ej-smgrants.
html
Indoor Air Quality
Tools for School Program:
Asthma Management Training
To reduce school occupants'
exposure to indoor air pollution and
to aid in asthma management.
School districts or groups of
districts; community based
organizations or coalitions,
voluntary organizations and other
nonprofit organizations; colleges,
universities or other institutions
of higher education; state,
tribal, county, city or local health
departments.
Up to $50,000
Shelly Rosenblum
U.S. EPA Region 9
Air Division
(415)947-4193
rosenblum.shelly@epa.gov
www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/
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Funding Sources for Communities
GRANT
PROGRAM
Community-Scale Air
Toxics Ambient Monitoring Environmental Education (EE)
(CSATAM)
ELIGIBLE
APPLICANTS
AWARD
AMOUNT
CONTACT
PERSON &
EPA OFFICE/
DIVISION
CONTACT
INFORMATION
To support projects of one
to three year durations that
are designed to assist state,
local and tribal communities in
identifying air toxics sources and
assessing health risks.
Air pollution control agencies,
as defined in section 302(b) of
the Clean Air Act, that are also
eligible to receive grants under
section 105 of the Clean Air Act.
$25K-$750K total, depending on
the scope of project
Meredith Kurpius
U.S. EPA Region 9
Air Division
(415)947-4534
www.epa.gov/ttn/
amtic/20072008_CSATAM.
html
To provide financial support for
projects that design, demonstrate
or disseminate environmental
education practices, methods or
techniques.
Local, tribal, or state
education agencies, colleges
and universities, nonprofit
organizations, state environmental
agencies, and non-commercial
educational broadcasting
agencies.
4,000-$50,000
Sharon Jang
U.S. EPA Region 9
Office of Public Affairs
(415)947-4252
jang.sharon@epa.gov
www.epa.gov/enviroed/grants.
html
Environmental Justice Small Grant
— Oakland, California's Chinatown
THE COMMUNITY: Just 3 few blocks
from Oakland's Chinatown neighbor-
hood lies a 60-acre area of port-owned
waterfront land known as "Oak to 9th."
It had been contaminated by a century
of industrial pollution. In 2004, develop-
ers proposed to remediate the property
and build Oakland's largest housing de-
velopment since World War II—a project
that would potentially create significant
health risks to nearby residents during
construction.
THE RESOURCES: EPA gave the Asian
Pacific Environmental Network (APEN)
an EJ Small Grant (page 25) to build
the community's leadership, capacity,
and political effectiveness to address the
immediate and long-term environmental
and public health risks posed by the re-
development. The community identified
affordable housing and jobs as the key
areas to improve the local environment
and the residents' health.
THE RESULTS: APEN built a coalition of
hundreds of working class people to in-
fluence the developer and the Oakland
City Council to agree to build 465 units
of housing affordable to families earn-
ing $25,000 to $50,000 (for a family of
4)—the highest number and percentage
of extremely/very-low income units in a
private project in Oakland in more than a
decade. At least 232 units will be two or
Community members meet to discuss the "Oak
to 9th" redevelopment project.
three bedrooms to accommodate fami-
lies. The project places 300 residents
into new career-path construction jobs
and allocates $1.65 million to construc-
tion training programs that specifically
address barriers faced by immigrants
and formerly incarcerated people who
are reentering the workforce.
For more information, see www.
apen4ej.org, 310 8th Street, Suite
309, Oakland, CA 94607, Phone: (510)
834-8920, Fax: (510) 834-8926
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Successes and Highlights
Capacity Building & Technical Assistance
Shaping State Environmental
Justice Policy in Hawaii
In September 2007, EPA's Pacific
Southwest Region EJ Program partici-
pated in three community meetings to
get input on EJ in Hawaii. Nearly 100
people attended the sessions in Oahu
(Waianae), Maui, and Kauai. Participants
raised EJ issues including impacts from
the Superferry, dust control from con-
struction sites, water rights, landfills,
military activities, lack of understanding
of native Hawaiian land management
practices, cancer, and respiratory health
impacts.
The program provided four rounds of
EJ training to state officials in the spring
of 2006. Later that year, Governor
Lingle signed the State of Hawaii's first
Environmental Justice Bill, Act 294, to
hire an EJ Coordinator. Using input from
interviews and community meetings,
the EJ coordinator developed a defi-
nition of EJ for Hawaii, created guide-
lines to incorporate EJ into the state's
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
process, and recommended to the
legislature other actions to address EJ
issues.
African American Hair Salon
Roundtables
Many hair and nail salons in California
use chemicals that may endanger the
health of thousands of workers, their
children, and customers. Salon work-
ers often report respiratory problems
and headaches, and their risk of cancer,
Kauai community meeting to receive input on the State's of Hawaii's Environmental Justice Initiative.
Funding Sources for Communities
GRANT
PROGRAM
ELIGIBLE
APPLICANTS
Brownfields Grants
To provide funding for
communities and other
stakeholders in economic
redevelopment to work
together to assess, safely
clean up, and sustainably
reuse Brownfields sites.
States, cities, towns, counties,
U.S. territories, Indian tribes
and nonprofit organizations
Community Action for a
Renewed Environment (CARE)
To provide support to help
communities form collaborative
partnerships, develop a
comprehensive understanding of
many sources of risk from toxics
and environmental pollutants, set
priorities, and identify and carry out
projects to reduce risks through
collaborative action at the local
level.
Local, nonprofit organizations,
federally-recognized tribal
governments, Native American
organizations, private nonprofit
organizations, quasi-public
nonprofit organizations (both
interstate and intrastate), local
governments, colleges and
universities.
AWARD
AMOUNT
Between $200,000 and
$1,000,000 depending on type
of grant
Two funding levels:
Level 1: $75,000-$100,000
Level2:$150,000-$300,000
CONTACT
PERSON &
EPA OFFICE/
DIVISION
Debbie Schechter
U.S. EPA Region 9 Brownfields
Team
Mike Bandrowski
U.S. EPA Region 9
CARE Program
CONTACT
INFORMATION
(415)972-3093
schechter.debbie@epa.gov
www.epa.gov/brownfields/
pilot.htm
(415)947-4194
bandrowski.mike@epa.gov
www.epa.gov/care/
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Successes and Highlights
Enforcement, cont.
encounter when approaching and inter-
viewing migrant farmworkers.
Because county inspectors do most
fieldworker inspections, the EPA's Pacific
Southwest Region Pesticides Office
worked with the California Department
of Pesticide Regulation to organize a
similar training for county inspectors in
Spring 2009.
Targeting Enforcement in "At-Risk"
Communities
In 2008, inspectors with EPA Region 9's
Resource Conservation and Recovery
Act (RCRA) Program began a pilot pro-
gram to target their enforcement efforts
in communities that suffer disproportion-
ate environmental burdens. The inspec-
tors identified areas with high levels of air
and water pollution, and areas closest
to industrial-use land. This environmen-
tal data was overlaid with demographic
information about the community, such
as income levels, health indicators, ac-
cess to health care, level of education,
and access to community resources.
Then, they began targeting their inspec-
tions at 245 metal plating facilities in
the most impacted geographic areas in
Gardena, Pacoima, and Vernon com-
munities of Los Angeles County. Metal
plating shops have a historically high
rate of environmental violations, enforce-
ment, and cleanup actions. The RCRA
Enforcement Program's targeted in-
spections have identified an even higher
rate of significant non-compliance.
The Agency is currently pursuing formal
enforcement actions at facilities where
there was significant non-compliance,
and is continuing their inspection tar-
geting in 2009. By using environmen-
tal data to target their inspections, the
RCRA Enforcement Program was able
to maximize their limited resources to
protect human health and the environ-
ment in communities with the greatest
need.
birth defects and asthma is similar to
that of industrial workers. Studies indi-
cate that some hair products used by
African-Americans contain estrogenic
chemicals that can cause premature
puberty in girls and may also be linked
to breast cancer.
With a $78,000 Pollution Prevention
Grant (page 27), the Environmental
Finance Center 9 (EFC9) worked with
EPA to determine how to reduce expo-
sure to and use of toxic chemicals by
African-American hair salon owners,
employees, and clients in California. To
accomplish this, EFC9 and EPA con-
ducted site visits at four salons and
convened a multi-stakeholder round-
table to discuss the science, regulations
and business practices that affect the
ethnic hair care industry.
The research showed that it was even
more difficult to obtain information
about the health risks of ingredients in
ethnic hair products than in other types
of cosmetics. EFC9 used the round-
tables to discuss safer alternatives and
ways to share their findings with other
organizations, salons, and communities
that are exposed to toxic chemicals in
salon products.
The information from the research and
roundtables will be used to develop a
"Healthy Hair Care Guide" to identify
and promote safer and healthier hair
styles and techniques. It will serve as
L ."
Reducing exposure to toxic chemicals at hair
salons.
an outreach tool that salons can use to
help salon owners, stylists, and clients
learn about potential health risks and
ways to reduce their exposure to harm-
ful chemicals.
Halaco Site Cleanup
THE SITE: During its 40 years of opera-
tion, the Halaco Engineering Company
produced over 700,000 cubic yards of
waste from its metal recycling operation,
contaminating the surrounding soil, wet-
lands, and water in Oxnard, California.
Approximately half a mile north of the
site lies the predominantly Latino, work-
ing class neighborhoods of Southwinds
and Cypress in South Oxnard. Because
of its dilapidated structures, the con-
taminated site is dangerous to enter, but
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Successes and Highlights
Capacity Building & Technical Assistance, cont.
even after its addition to the Superfund
National Priorities List in 2006, trespass-
ing remains a problem.
Because the residents are ethnically
diverse and speak several different
languages, EPA has issued warnings
in both Spanish and Mixtec. U.S. EPA
also worked with the Oxnard nonprofit
Central Coast Alliance United for a
Sustainable Economy (CAUSE) and the
local volunteer youth community service
organization City Corps, to distribute fly-
ers door-to-door. The organizations help
explain the risks to residents whose le-
gal status or work schedules may pre-
vent them from attending a federally-
sponsored community meeting.
THE RESOURCES: To help the commu-
nity understand the technical issues
surrounding ongoing site work, EPA will
award a Technical Assistance Grant
(TAG) (page 28).
THE RESULTS: EPA has responded to
community concerns at the Halaco
site. With the help of the Oxnard Police
Department, access to the abandoned
facility has been greatly reduced. The
Agency has also minimized exposure by
consolidating and stabilizing the major-
ity of the Site's waste, while working to
better understand the risks presented
by the contamination.
A pesticide inspector interviews a Spanish-speaking farmworker.
tion with 24-hour access to water from
26% to over 60%. With the implementa-
tion of the new requirements beginning
in 2009, even more significant improve-
ments are expected to move the island
closer to achieving a safe, reliable drink-
ing water supply for all residents.
Breaking Language and Culture
Barriers in Pesticide Use
Interviewing field workers is one of the
most effective ways a pesticide inspec-
tor can determine whether a farm is
complying with the Worker Protection
Standard, a federal regulation that aims
to reduce the risks of occupational ex-
posure to pesticides. The agricultural
workforce in California is approximately
70% Latino, and many workers have
limited English-speaking skills, or no
English at all.
In April 2008, EPA, state and tribal in-
spectors attended training on how to
open communication channels with
Latino farmworkers. This "Breaking
Barriers" course taught inspectors how
to interview workers in Spanish, using a
flip chart with images of decontamina-
tion supplies, personal protective equip-
ment, and other protections required
by law. Trainees also learned about
overcoming cultural barriers they may
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Successes and Highlights
Enforcement, cont.
THE ACTIONS: Enforcement has played a
major role in the U.S. Pacific territories.
In 2002, EPA developed an enforce-
ment order that required many specific
improvements to Guam's critical drink-
ing water and wastewater infrastruc-
ture. The order also required Guam
Waterworks Authority (GWA) to make
management improvements, including
specific qualifications for management
personnel and the development of a
water and wastewater master plan. EPA
has vigorously enforced the order—is-
suing penalties when necessary—while
continuing technical and financial as-
sistance to GWA to help meet the
requirements.
In the CNMI, EPA developed two en-
forcement orders to improve water and
wastewater systems and prevent oil
spills in 2008. The first order requires
the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. (CUC)
to undertake major improvements to
Saipan's drinking water and wastewa-
ter systems, including ensuring compli-
ance with discharge permit limits and
preventing sewer overflows. A second
order requires that CUC comply with oil
spill prevention and preparedness rules
and ensures that CUC take steps to
prevent future oil spills into ocean wa-
ters. EPA continues to give technical
assistance and grant funding to CUC to
help fix these problems.
Worker Safety Enforcement
Farmworker complaints about pesticide
exposure symptoms triggered an
investigation at Vector Tobacco's
research facility in Kekaha, Kauai, Hawaii.
Inspectors found that the company failed
to provide its workers and pesticide
handlers with required protective
equipment, pesticide information,
decontamination supplies, safety training,
and notification that pesticides had been
applied. The company paid fines totaling
$65,040 for the alleged violations.
THE RESULTS: Since the court order on
Guam, GWA has eliminated boil-water
notices for four years in a row and has
reduced sewage spills by 99.9% com
pared to pre-enforcement levels. GWA
made new physical improvements to
its system, including finishing a $15 mil
lion rehabilitation of Guam's two largest
wastewater plants and completing the
rehabilitation of a major booster pump
station and water transmission line. As
a result, Guam's water is now the safest
it has been in decades.
In the CNMI, CUC and the
Commonwealth's Water Task Force are
implementing improvements to Saipan's
drinking water and wastewater systems.
Actions since 2006 on Saipan have in-
creased the proportion of the popula-
Lower left and above: Cleaning up petroleum contamination at a former Underground Storage Tank site,
in Tuba City, Arizona.
Leaking Underground Storage
Tanks in Indian Country
THE SITE: The Davis Chevrolet Leaking
Underground Storage Tank (LUST) site
in Tuba City, Arizona, affects both the
Hopi Tribe and Navajo Nation. The for-
mer owner abandoned the site, and the
UST system lacked the proper controls
to ensure tank integrity and safety. In
the late 1990's, petroleum leaked into
the ground and has contaminated soil in
an area approximately 1000 feet away,
in the direction of the local springs.
The Hopi Tribe uses these springs for
ceremonies.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: After assess-
ing the site, removing approximately
2,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil
and evaluating treatment alternatives,
EPA and the tribes chose a clean up
approach. In 2008, they installed 12 ex-
traction wells to remove the petroleum
contamination from the shallow ground-
water. They expect to finish the full treat-
ment system in 2009.
THE RESULTS: In addition to protect-
ing public health, the environment,
and culturally important springs, this
cleanup will provide much-needed ac-
cess to food and other goods to iso-
lated Navajo, Hopi, and other residents.
A new supermarket, department store,
hotel and other retail properties will save
residents 70 miles of driving to the next
nearest similar services and provide
lodging for visitors.
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Successes and Highlights
Enforcement
Fighting Leptospirosis in
American Samoa
THE COMMUNITY: In the South Pacific,
the U.S. Territory of American Samoa
faces significant public health challeng-
es, including lack of wastewater treat-
ment and disposal, and consumption
of fish contaminated with heavy metals
and other toxins found in their main har-
bor. The per capita income of American
Samoa is only $4,357, by far the low-
est in the U.S. About 17% of residents
have tested positive for Leptospirosis,
a serious bacterial disease associated
with improperly managed pig waste,
and five people died of the disease in
2003-2004.
THE ACTIONS: EPA funded American
Samoa's "Team Lepto," who conduct-
ed 223 inspections of small pig farms,
many of which were located on streams
for easy disposal of waste. The team
closed 117 non-compliant pig farms
and has worked with 23 owners to bring
their pig farms into compliance with lo-
cal regulations. The team has invento-
ried and mapped every pig farm and pig
in American Samoa.
THE RESULTS: "Team Lepto" has signifi-
cantly reduced the pig waste discharged
EPA provided nearly $3 million in grant funding to construct this one million gallon water storage
tank and improve the distribution system in the Kannat Tabla area on the island of Saipan, in the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). The new tank is part of a number of system
improvements that will eventually lead to 24-hour water on Saipan.
into the territory's waters, protecting
health and nearby coral reefs. In one
watershed, the team reduced bacterial
contamination by over 90%. No deaths
have been attributed to the disease in
2007 or 2008.
Improving Water Infrastructure in
the Pacific Islands
THE COMMUNITY: The U.S. Pacific
Island territories of Guam and the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands (CNMI)—home to more than
250,000 people—face significant envi-
ronmental and public health challenges,
particularly related to water resources.
In CNMI, the island of Saipan is the
only municipality of its size in the United
States without 24-hour water delivery.
For almost half of Saipan's residents,
water flows through their pipes only a
few hours per day. Until recently, the
island of Guam had some of the worst
water problems in the U.S., with more
than 500 million gallons of raw sewage
spills and nearly constant boil-water no-
tices between 1999 and 2002.
Outbreaks of leptospirosis are usually caused by exposure to water contaminated with the waste of
infected animals, such as pigs.
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