open ooors Summer/Fall 2004 Information Bulletin produced by the Environmental Justice Program Is EJ Incorporated into the Region's Everyday Practices? - A Message from the Director Inside this •issue: Is EJ Incorporated Into the Regions Everyday Practice? An EJ Approach to developing SEPs Colorado's Turning Point Initiative Brownfields and EJ EJ Interns Grant Writing Environmental Outreach in Pueblo, Colorado EJ & Childhood Lead Poisoning Interviews with EJ Stars Special points of interest: • Play Ej eopardy and win a Mug. • New EJ Website Launched. • EJ Program Interns, the cream of the crop! • "Inside Out" / "Outside In" Interviews As the Environmental Justice Program Director, I've often heard the following: "environmental justice is not mentioned in the statutes or regulations, so there is no need for me to be concerned with it." I've also been asked the following: "Exactly what is environmental justice?" and "Why should I care about it?" What is EJ? I will address the "What is environmental justice" question first. To state it simply, environmental justice means that EPA should take into account the racial and/ or socioeconomic makeup of the community(ies) likely to be affected by the environmental or health risks of a proposed or on-going activity. Why should I care? Health data indicates that Hispanics, African Americans, and Native Americans consistently experience poorer health than other racial and ethnic groups in the areas of chronic disease, infectious disease, injury, and maternal and child health. Furthermore, environmental and health risks that appear acceptable in isolation may be unacceptable when combined with social impacts. Historically, environmental justice communities have not had the resources to bring citizen suit enforcement actions or to monitor the compliance of polluting facilities. Why is it important to consider the demographics of the community? The process is a simple one, it involves the identification of the environmental justice community, and any potential disproportionate impacts, and consideration of the community's concerns. Our inquiry into these factors is necessary to give us the information to make a more informed decision regarding the actual environmental and health effects of a facility's activity(ies). Does this mean that the Agency should deny a permit, for example, solely because the affected area is a low-income or minority community? No, it does not. What it does mean is that the Agency could, as part of its permit conditions, provide communities with greater capacity to participate in permit development and compliance. This can be accomplished by enhancing the community's participation early- on in the permitting process and by making monitoring reports more readily available to the community. Early engagement of the community can be an effective tool to ensure community acceptance of a proposed action. This is being done now by the Colorado Department of Health and Environment's Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Division with respect to the Pueblo Chemical Depot permitting process. Is EJ in the statutes or regulations? Now I turn to a statement that I keep hearing: "If it is not in the statute or in the regulations, I do not need to address it." While it may be correct to say that the various environmental statutes (except (Continued on page 2) "It is important for the Environmental Justice Program to form partnerships with our Regional programs and our State and local partners to achieve future environmental justice successes." An Palomares, EJ Director ------- Is EJ addressed in the Statutes and/or Regulations? for the National Environmental Policy Act and the Toxic Substances Control Act, Section 305), do not specifically highlight or mention environmental justice, EPA's Office of General Counsel conducted an analysis of various statutes and determined that a significant number of statutory and regulatory authorities are available to address environmental justice. Several Environmental Appeals Board opinions have supported addressing environmental justice in Agency actions. And finally, the document titled: "Opportunities for Advancing Environmental Justice: An Analysis of U.S. EPA Statutory Authorities, November 2001," by the Environmental Law Institute provides an in- depth analysis of how the Agency can use its statutory authorities to address environmental justice concerns. Therefore, there are tools available to address environmental justice concerns through the permitting processes, the compliance processes, and the enforcement processes. environmental and health concerns alone. We need the collaboration and participation of our Regional environmental programs. To accomplish our mission we have formed partnerships with various program offices, including the Pollution Prevention, Pesticides and Toxics Program and the Air Program. Participation by the program offices has been a key element in ensuring the success of the above mentioned projects. Is EJ incorporated into the Region's everyday work practices? In closing, Region 8 is addressing and incorporating environmental justice principles into our everyday work. Future success will come from strengthening our partnerships with the permitting programs and our State and local partners. EJ Successes The Environmental Justice Program, by collaborating with Agency environmental programs, has been successful in implementing some of the tools I have mentioned. Some of our achievements include: the Northeast Denver initiative, where we are working to reduce exposure to toxic pollutants; the Colorado and North Dakota blood lead level projects, where we are working to address high blood lead levels in children; the migrant farm worker project where we are working to reduce exposure to pesticides, and where we are collaborating with external stakeholders to ensure a safe drinking water supply; the Toxics Release Inventory project, where we are identifying sources which may be located in environmental justice communities; the blood lead levels project on Tribal Lands, where we are working to determine if Tribal children are being exposed to lead dangers; and our review and comments on National Environmental Policy Act projects to ensure that environmental justice principles are incorporated into the process. These are all examples where the Environmental Justice Program has been successful at identifying at risk populations and addressing their environmental and health concerns. ART PALOMARES, DIRECTOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE PROGRAM U. S. EPA-Region8 Opportunities for Advancing EiwlronillLJIll.il Justice: EPA Collaboration with Agency Programs http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/publications/ej/ej_annual_project_reports. html The Environmental Justice Program cannot address the community's Famous Environmental Quotes "He who knows what sweets and virtues are in the ground, the waters, the plants, the heavens, and how to come at these enchantments, is the rich and royal man." - Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), Essays, Second Series, 1844 COLORADO UTAH WYOMING MONTANA NORTH DAKOTA SOUTH DAKOTA DID YOU KNOW? ACCORDING TO 2000 CENSUS Population 4,301,261 2,233,169 493,782 902,195 642,200 754,844 % Minority 25.5 14.7 11.1 10.5 8.3 12.0 % Low Income 9.3 9.4 11.4 14.6 11.9 13.2 ------- Page 3 An EJ Approach to developing SEP's A Supplement Environmental Project (SEP) is part of an enforcement settlement connected with the violation of an environmental statutory or regulatory requirement. As part of the enforcement settlement, a party voluntarily agrees to undertake an environmentally beneficial project in exchange for a reduction in the penalty. A SEP furthers EPA's goal of protecting and enhancing the public health and the environment, and does not include the activities that must be taken to return to compliance. The Environmental Justice program is fully committed to the use of SEPs in settlements. We are working with EPA staff at all stages of the settlement process where we can contribute to the successful inclusion of SEPs in any given settlement. This effort results in the application of money from settlements to environmentally beneficial projects in Environmental justice communities across the Region. The example which follows, the settlement with Rocky Mountain Steel Mills (RMSM), demonstrates how resources from SEPs benefit a community. RMSM agreed to include Supplemental Environmental Projects in the settlement of a case for Clean Air Act violations. The challenge was how to develop projects which met the needs of the community, were acceptable to the company and complied with the EPA SEP Guidance. $432,000 was agreed to for SEPs which would directly benefit the communities surrounding the mill. The 14 projects included an investigation of lead in homes, asthma education for school children, restoration of habitat along the Arkansas River and environmental improvements in the Bessemer neighborhood. These projects and those included in other settlements will bring revitalization and environmental improvements directly to the communities. The Environmental Justice Program is continuing to work with our government, corporate and community partners to encourage the development of SEPs for the benefit of communities in all Region 8 states. For more information contact: Michael Wenstrom, Environmental Justice Coordinator, 303-312-7009. Colorado's Turning Point Initiative Colorado Turning Point Initiative (TPI) "Building Capacity Toward Health Equality" Colorado is one of the healthiest states in the country. However, not all demographic groups have equal health status. There are dispari- ties in health among different populations groups. Health disparities can be defined as a specific group bearing a disproportionate share of negative health outcomes compared to the general population, i.e. disease, disabil- ity, and death. People of color (minority groups) experience poorer health outcomes in almost every area of health then the rest of the state's population. As researchers, advo- cates and collaborative leaders, the Colorado Turning Point Initiative has worked to create systems change in policies and practices of agencies, organizations and communities to- ward the pursuit of health equity and elimination of health disparities. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), in recognition of the critical need to address health disparities, has created an Office of Health Dis- parities. The two principal roles of the office are (1) advocate for attention to the health-related resources for disproportionately affected popula- tions and (2) to reach out to and (continued on page 4) Brownfields and Environmental Justice EJ communities may want to take note of the Brownfields programs that are managed by EPA. Brown- fields are defined as "real property, the expansion, development, or reuse of which may be compli- cated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant." In either case, developers tend to avoid such property, so these worn-out properties remain un- redeveloped. Brownfields programs can help a community assess the extent of contamination (Brownfields Assessments) before a property is actually purchased by a developer. Other brownfields programs can pay to clean-up existing contamination (Brownfields Clean-up) from a property so the prop- erty will be attractive to developers. Some of these programs are low-interest loan programs with mini- mal qualification requirements. EPA manages these programs directly, and some are managed by our partners in state governments in the region. Cities and other municipal governments are eligible to receive grants or loans, as are tribal gov- ernments. Community-based not-for-profit organizations can also receive these funds. There are several programs; for further information, contact Kenneth Cotton (SEE), EPA-R8 Environmental Justice Coordinator, 303-312-6726 or email at: cotton.kenneth@epa.gov. ------- "The most important thing I have learned from my Internship is that even if you think you're doing your part as a citizen of the world, there is always more to be done; and if you work with others you have a better chance accomplishing something" Tamara Toles, EJ ECO Intern, Summer 2004 "I have learned that the Environment and its management are intrinsically connected to every facet of government, industry and public life and that good environmental management depends on input from members of all three of these sectors." Kevin Tohill, STEP Intern Prg. Fall 2003—Fall 2004 "Basically, I learned what EJ is. It's one thing to read about it in school or in a newspaper, but to actually get out into the community to see and hear from those actually experiencing EJ issues is something that will forever be ingrained in me." Andrea Marafino, ECO Intern Summer 2004 Environmental Justice Interns, the Cream of the Crop ! The Environmental Justice Pro- gram in Region 8 has been very fortunate in attracting very capa- ble, smart and hard working interns. Each summer, fresh new faces appear in our hallway and each has his/her own story to tell. Comingfrom South Ozone Park in New York, Tamara Toles is cur- rently working on a project that will serve as a pilot for outreach to children in Indian Country who are or have been exposed to lead. She is a Political Science major attending City College of New York. Andrea Marafino is from Tucson, Arizona and is seeking a Master's of Public Administration Degree with a concentration in Natural Resources, at the University of Arizona in Tucson. Andrea is working on the redesign of the Region 8 EJ Program Website and has been involved in con- ducting Geographic Infor- mation System (GIS) Map- ping of Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) regulated facilities located minority and low income communi- ties that exceed the state average for these catego- ries. Kevin Tohill is from Den- ver, Colorado and attends Metropolitan State College of Denver. Kevin is major- ing in Environmental Sci- ence with a Water Quality emphasis and a minor in Spanish. Kevin is working on a Colorado lead poison- ing prevention project. He has been involved in draft- ing a statewide strategic plan to eliminate child- hood blood lead poison- ing. He has also assisted with case screening activities to help the EJ program deter- mine if communities sur- rounding facilities where en- forcement actions are being Andrea, Kevin, and Tamara taken might include EJ identi- fied communities. EJ Interns, ECO & STEP Both Tamara and Andrea are interns who come to us from an organization called the Environment Careers Organi- zation or ECO. ECO has been called the most respected environmental internship program in the United States. ECO provides prospective Interns with a database of available internships, and provides EPA with a list of available ECO associates. You can find more about the ECO program by visiting their web site at: www.eco.org. On the other hand, Kevin has a year long internship through the Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP). So, these are the "Cream of the Crop." If you know of some- one who is interested in learning about the environment through a program focus on Environmental Justice, please contact Jean Be- lille, Environmental Justice Coor- dinator, at 303-312-6556 or email at: beille.jean@epa.gov. eco.org Colorado Turning Point Initiative Continued— work with these communities to improve health. The EPA Region 8's Environmental Justice Program has been working with the Turning Point Initiative for the past several years to provide an EJ per- spective to this ongoing work. Now, with the creation of the Office of Health Disparities, the EJ Program will work with the office to find opportunities to collaborate on issues of common concern. To see more on this Initiative visit their web site at: www.cdphe.state.co.us.tpi/ or Contact Michael Wenstrom, EPA-R8,Environmental Justice Coordinator 303-312-7009. EPA Region 8 El Website .' www.epa.gov/regionOS (Click on EJ) Web Design created by Intern: Andrea Marifino ------- Page 5 If you would like to learn about writing a federal grant, then this is the workshop for you. It is a one-day workshop sched- uled from 8:30am-4:30pm on Wednesday, October 27, 2004 at EPA Denver Office, 999 18th Street, EPA Conference Center. There will be a number of different competitive grant programs giving details about their grants as well as a comprehensive grant writing presentation given by the Envi- ronmental Justice Program and Grant Office. For more details on how to register visit our website at http://www.epa.gov/region8/ej/ejgrants.html or contact Nancy Reish, Environmental Justice Coordinator at 303-312-6040. "No Disproportionate Impacts on any person(s) or communities" Recognizing Environmental Outreach in Pueblo, Colorado For the past five years, Margaret Barber has worked tirelessly to improve the quality of the air and water throughout Southern Colorado. To more effectively address her concerns, she formed Citizens for Clean Air/Water in Pueblo and South- ern Colorado (CCAP). Through CCAP, Margaret addresses vi- tally important community con- cerns about development and activities in southern Colorado which affect the quality of the air and water. In recognition of this critical work on behalf of Pueblo's residents, the Environmental Justice Program nominated Mar- garet and CCAP for the Agency's "Friend of EPA" award. The award was presented to Margaret and the CCAP Board on July 20th. Margaret works full- time (and then some) as a Professor of Eng- lish at Colorado State University in Pueblo. She is an outstanding (—Continued on pg 6—) eed Help in Reducing oxic Pollution in your ommunity? This fall, EPA will solicit proposals for a new grant program: Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) Pro- gram. Eligible entities are non-profit community-based organizations, other non-profits, states, locals or tribal gov- ernment agencies or education institu- tions. CARE is a community-based, mul- timedia program designed to help local communities address the cumulative risk of toxics exposure. The goal of the CARE program is: to empower commu- nities to reduce risks from exposure to toxics, and to create self-sustaining community-based organizations that will continue to improve local environments. This is a competitive grant program and for more information and other grants available from EPA, please visit EPA's website at: www.epa.gov/ogd. Environmental Justice and Childhood Lead II Outstanding progress has been made in reducing the occurrence of childhood lead poisoning over the last several years. The Cen- ters for Disease Control (CDC) had been instrumental in coordi- nating the most recent initiative to end childhood lead poisoning, the Healthy People 2010 goal to eliminate lead poisoning nation- wide. As part of the initiative, CDC has enlisted the involvement of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). EJ Intern, Kevin Tohill took a lead role in this project by interacting with other governmental agencies to identify lead exposure sources and to educate communities on avoiding lead exposure and securing needed resources. The most recent activities began in September of 2003, when the Environmental Justice Program conducted outreach in South Dakota to educate the public on lead poisoning prevention. Also, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) has partnered with EPA by providing data from various labs across the state in order to integrate into a Geographic Information System for mapping. These maps are being used to target areas for outreach and re- search in areas of older housing, low-income, and minority status. I Areas where low-income and minority communities are dispro- portionately impacted by childhood lead poisoning are targeted for outreach. Kevin distributed brochures in English and Spanish explaining what parents should do concerning lead hazards and poison prevention. Also, Kevin's interaction with other agencies has led to the development of a statewide strategic plan to elimi- nate childhood lead poisoning by 2010. This plan (in accordance with CDC's Healthy People 2010 Initiative) is currently being drafted and will serve to align the goals of various agencies, lev- erage federal funding, and identify needs and resources to all organizations involved. Furthermore, Kevin worked to identify all possible stakeholders and in return, these stakeholder will be invited to a conference to be held in early 2005. It is the hope of the Environmental Justice Program that drafting this plan will solicit the involvement of any organization that can contribute to this effort, and solidify their commitment to stop childhood lead poisoning. For Further information on Kevin's work please Con- tact Nancy Reish at 303-312-6040 or email: reish.nancy@epa.gov. ------- Page Recognizing Environmental Outreach in Pueblo, Colorado continued — published author. Margaret brings a finely-tuned environmental sensibility to her teaching and focuses the teaching of English through environmental issues. During the balance of her waking hours, Margaret, together with her husband, David, fights for a bet- ter environment in Pueblo and Southern Colorado. Margaret works in an area of the state where the population is heav- ily Hispanic and environmental justice issues abound. Many of the citizens who are the poorest and most heavily impacted by environ- mental contamination have little knowledge of how to address their environmental problems. Margaret and her group have been an invaluable resource to these communities in helping them to voice their concerns, questions and grievances. In addition to the direct work relating to air and water quality, Mar- garet finds time to mentor community members who want to leam how to be more effective in addressing environmental problems. Her legacy will be a better-informed and active group of community members who will work to make Southern Colorado a better place to live. Margaret Barber (far left) and CCAP Board receiving "Friend of EPA" award. Michael Wenstrom, Environmental Justice Coordi- nator, EPA Region 8 (far right) Ej Play LI eopardy & Win a Mug The 1st Four planers who answer all six Jeopardy Questions correctly, will win an Environmental Justice Mug. (Competition is open to EPA Employees Only) Email your answers to: thomas-burton.tami@epa.gov. 3. This provides financial assistance to eligible community- based or organizations working on or planning to work on projects to address local environmental and/or public health concerns. (What are ?) A. Results-Oriented Funding Grants B. Government Match-Funding Grants C. Collaborative Problem-Solving Grants D. Community Action for Financial Assistance Programs According to 2000 Census, the United states has a popula- tion of 281,421,906. What percentage of families are below the poverty level in the United States? (What is..... ?) A. 28% B. 9.2% C. 12.4% D. 25.5% EPA defines Environmental Justice as: (WhatIs..... ?) A. the Fair Treatment, Meaningful Involvement, & No Disproportionate Impact on any group of people. B. the Fair Treatment, Environmental Compliance, & Equity for all Tribal Populations. C. the Fair Treatment of Low-income populations that live near polluting facilities. D. the civil rights movement for people of color as related to environmental injustices. When conducting an Environmental Justice Analysis of a community, what software tool is often used to produce maps? (What is. ?) A. a Geographic Information System B. a Geospatial Information Monograph C. a Global Positioning Tracking System D. a MapQuest Query The memorandum accompanying the Executive Order (EO) identifies [how many ?] important ways to consider Environmental Justice under NEPA? (What are....?) A. the seven principles of EJ and NEPA B. the four ways to consider EJ in NEPA C. the 1-step approach to EJ and NEPA D. the 2 step 1 focus approach to NEPA and EJ What are the 3 key dimensions to EO 12898? (Whatis ?) A. the IWG, Additional Research Obligations & Using existing Laws and Legal Authorities to address EJ. B. the IWG, the National Alliance of EJ, the Federal Housing Authority. C. the Interagency Working Group, the EPA, the Department of Defense. D. the IWG, NEJAC, National Minority Caucus. ------- Hello Reader, In this issue of OPENDOORS, our interview is with a Region 8 staffer of nineteen years and a representatives from the Refinery Industry and State Government. We inter- viewed Cynthia Reynolds who works as an Enforcement Inspector in the ECEJ Office. We will hear her story con- cerning collaboration with the Environmental Justice Pro- gram and we will meet Can- dice (Tance) Walker of Suncor Energy Incorporated (formerly ConocoPhillips Inc.) and Jill Cooper of the Colorado De- partment of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). In Each OPENDOORS publication, we will highlight other projects like this. If you would like to fea- ture your Collaborative EJ Project, please contact: Tami Thomas-Burton at, 303-312-6581. Tami: Ms. Reynolds, will you tell us a little bit about the work you do here at EPA and a brief summary of your project and what was accomplished? Cynthia: Sure, I have been an Environmental Engineer with EPA Region 8 since 1985. I am currently an enforce ment coordinator in the Air and Toxics Technical Enforcement Program of the Office of Enforcement, Com- pliance and Environmental Justice (ECEJ). My major responsibilities include: 1) overseeing Colorado's stationary source compliance and enforcement program; 2) coordinating and participating in national enforcement cases; 3) implementing the stratospheric ozone protection program; and 4) providingtechni- cal assistance to the regulated industry and state agencies. In 2000, EPA and the State of Colorado entered into a settlement agreement with Conoco, Inc. as part of the national refinery initiative. The settlement included all four Conoco refineries one of which is located in Commerce City, CO; an area containing a high percentage of low-income and minority residents. In that settlement, Conoco agreed to spend approximately $517, 000 in Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPs). A team, consisting of State and Federal regulators and Conoco, was put together to develop a process for selecting SEPs that would benefit the community. The Environmental Justice Program (EJ) was included on the team because they had first hand knowledge of the environmental needs of the communi- ties surrounding the refinery. The team held two public meetings in the affected communities to inform residents about the SEP process and to obtain input as to which projects would benefit the neighbor hoods. The team reviewed over 30 proposals and total of 20 projects were selected. The projects funded included a study of air pollution, an environmentally friendly community center, health education, energy efficiency projects, recycling, lead paint abatement and xeriscaping. Tami: And last, Cynthia what message would you like to share with others on what you have learned by incorpo- rating Environmental Justice into your EPA work? Cynthia: During this project I learned that is important to reach out to the community in different ways. For exam- ple, EJ had expertise in providing information in both English and Spanish, disseminating information appropriately and contacting community leaders. Overall the success of this project was due to the col- laboration of all the parties; EPA, state, industry and the community. Tami: Greetings Ms. Walker, will you tell us a little bit about your company, your position and the type of work you do? Candice: Sure Tami, I am the Director of Environment & Regulatory Affairs at Suncor Energy (U.S.A.), Inc. In August 2003, Suncor bought the Conoco refin- ery in Commerce City, Conoco pipeline in Wyoming & Colorado, and 43 Phillips 66 gas stations in Colorado from ConocoPhillips. My group provides the environmental compliance support for all the Suncor Energy U.S. assets. I had a similar position with Conoco prior to the sale, and that is where my connection with the EJ group started. Suncor is on the Dow Jones Sustainability index and is committed to the concept of sustainability by fo- cusing on the "triple bottom line": financial (economic prosperity), environmental quality and social well-being. Tami: Tance, can you tell us about the project you worked on with the EPA and how you worked with Region 8's EJ Program? Candice: In 2001, the then owner of the refinery, Conoco, entered in to a settlement agreement with the EPA and the 4 states in which it had refineries as part of the EPA National Refinery Enforcement Initiative. For the refinery in Colorado, in lieu of any cash penalties, the EPA and Colorado Depart ment of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) agreed to SEPs, and Conoco committed approximately 25% of the SEP amount for community projects. The EJ group helped identify and organize activities, identify potential recipients, and hosted two large community meetings, one in Com- merce City and one in Northeast Denver. Our company personnel worked with CDPHE and EPA to agree on certain criteria including selectingSEPs that would keep the environmental and health benefits in the communities around the refinery. 20 projects were selected in 2002, totaling ap- proximately $517,000. Approximately half the money was provided by Conoco, and Suncor will complete the funding. Over half of the community projects will be finished by the end of 2004. The projects included asthma education and materials for the schools; various environmental educat- ion resources and opportunities for youth; lead reduction, energy efficiency and xeriscaping for homes; retrofitting school buses; and supporting parks and gardens in the communities. Tami: And last question Tance, as an Industry representative, what message would you like to share with others in the community concerning your organi- zation's commitment to the community & the environment? Candice: In 2001, one of the reason's Conoco entered and completed the negotiations on the Refinery Enforcement Initiative is because it believed it was the right thing to do for the community and the environment. I am very pleased that Suncor, as the new operator of the refinery is committed to this community and the environment. Suncor has celebrated the purchase of the refinery and the one year anniversary with contributions to com- munity environmental and education organizations, includingthe Adams 14 Education Foundation and the Sand Creek Regional Greenway Suncor is also Investing $300 million in the Refinery by early 2006, which means the refinery will produce the required low sulfur diesel on time, lower sulfur gasoline, and finish the requirements in the Refinery Enforcement Initiative Consent Decree early. It is good to see the investments in the community and investments to reducing the environmental impacts from our operations and products. ( Continued on page 8) ------- U.S. EPA-Region 8 999 18th Street Suite 300 Denver, CO 80202-2466 inzon: "Garbage Wars: The Struggle for Environmental Justice in Chicago (Urban and Industrial Environments)" by David Naguib Fellow (October 2004) "Diamond: A Struggle for Envi- ronmental Justice in Louisiana's Chemical Corridor (Urban and Industrial Environments)" By Steve Lerner (November 2004) "Poisoned Places: Seeking Environmental Justice in a Contaminated World" by Michael R Edelstein (November 2004) Region 8 EJ Staff Contacts Art Palomares, Program Director 303-312-6053 palomares.art@epa.gov Jean Belille 303-312-6556 belille.jean@epa.gov Nancy Reish 303-312-6040 reish.nancy@epa.gov Stephanie Gordon, Administrative Assistant 303-312-6845 gordon. stephanie@epa. gov Tami Thomas-Burton 303-312-6581 thomas-burton.tami@epa.gov Michael Wenstrom 303-312-7009 wenstrom.michael@epa.gov Kenneth Cotton (SEE) 303-312-6726 cotton. kenneth@ep a. gov Look for Our Next Issue Spring/Fall of 2005 Inside Out / Outside In (Continued from page 7) Tami: Jill: Tami: Jill: Tami: Jill: Hi Jill, can you tell me a little bit about the work you do and your organization? I have worked at CDPHE since 1996, first in the Air Division as the Legal Administrator and about two years ago, I moved into the position of Director of the Sustainability Program and Senior Advisor to the Office of Environmental Programs. My responsibilities include advising the directors on cross media and sustainability, directing CDPHE's Environmental Justice, Pollution Prevention, Environmental Leadership TRI/SARA, and Self-Audit programs, acting as SEP Coordinator, and in- volvement in various cross media teams. Jill can you tell us a about the project you worked on with EPA and how you worked with Region 8's Environmental Justice Program? Through a settlement agreement with EPA Region 8 and Conoco (now Suncor) we worked with CDPHE's EJ Program and EPA's EJ Program to craft a community-based SEP effort to provide about $517,000 in funding to community projects in the northeast Denver metro area. We worked closely with the EJ programs to establish a community outreach approach that allowed to us to most effectively determine the needs and interests of the community. The projects Conoco ulti- mately selected and CDPHE and EPA approved, were tailored to what the community needed thanks to the assistance of the state and federal EJ programs. We at CDPHE recognize that each of us are responsible to ensure the state's environ- mental justice goals are carried out and that we need to continually utilize the expertise of the EJ program staff in achiev- ing these goals. And last Jill, what message would you like to share with others concerning your organization's commitment to the com- munity & the environment? This year, CDPHE developed a new strategic plan. Our environmental goal is to "create a sustainable Colorado by pro- tecting, preserving and improving the quality of life, environment and ecosystems through performance-based environ- mental programs." We are committed to continuous improvement in the quality of our air, water and land, in order to protect and enhance the quality of life for current and future generations of Coloradoans. ------- |