United States Enforcement and EPA/300-R-96-004
Environmental Protection Compliance Assurance April 1996
Agency (2201 A)
Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ)
1996
Environmental
Justice
Implementation
Plan
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Table of Contents
Implementation of EPA's Environmental Justice Strategy
Background 2
EPA's Commitment 2
Environmental Justice Themes 3
Format of the Implementation Plan 4
Lead Office Acronyms 5
Mission Areas:
Public Participation, Accountability, Partnerships, Outreach, and Communication With Stakeholders 6
Health and Environmental Research 12
Data Collection, Analysis, and Stakeholder Access to Public Information 14
American Indian, Alaska Native, and Indigenous Environmental Protection 19
Enforcement, Compliance Assurance, and Regulatory Review 21
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IMPLEMENTATION OF EPA'S
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE STRATEGY
Background
On February 11, 1994, President Clinton signed Executive
Order 12898 "Federal Actions to Address Environmental
Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income
Populations." The Executive Order required EPA and other
federal agencies to develop agency-wide strategies to
identify and address, as appropriate, disproportionately
high and adverse human health or environmental effects of
programs, policies, and activities on minority populations
and low-income populations. As a part of the strategy,
each agency was to identify several specific projects that
could be promptly undertaken to address particular
concerns identified during the development of the proposed
environmental justice strategy.
Environmental justice is one of Administrator Browner's
stated top priorities. Because of its importance, EPA began
developing a strategy to address environmental justice
concerns prior to the signing of Executive Order 12898.
EPA's action document, issued in April 1995 and entitled
"Environmental Justice Strategy: Executive Order 12898"
(the Strategy), was the result of nearly two years of work
within the Agency and with stakeholders. The Strategy not
only identified specific EPA programs, polices, and
activities but also listed actions EPA will take to
incorporate environmental justice into its mission.
EPA's Strategy was designed as "an initial step in an
ongoing effort to integrate environmental justice objectives
into the Agencys activities." The attached draft
Implementation Plan supplements the Strategy by
providing not only the timetable for undertaking revisions,
as required by the Executive Order, but also identifies lead
process owners and realistic measures of success. The
Agency - and its stakeholders— will judge the success of
its efforts by how well it carries out the Strategy and the
Implementation Plan.
EPA's Commitment
The Agency is committed to ensuring that:
4 No segment of the population, regardless of race, color,
national origin, or income, as a result of EPA's policies,
programs, and activities, suffers disproportionately from
adverse human health or environmental effects, and all
people live in clean and sustainable communities.
4 Those who must live with environmental decisions —
community residents, environmental groups, State, Tribal
and local governments, businesses — must have every
opportunity for public participation in the making of those
decisions. An informed and involved local community is a
necessary and integral part of the process to protect the
environment.
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Environmental Justice Themes
The following are several themes outlined in the
Environmental Justice Strategy that are components of the
objectives described in this Implementation Plan:
4 The Agency is committed to ensuring active public
participation of our stakeholders and to receive their input
early in environmental decision-making. EPA will enhance
partnerships and coordination with stakeholders, including:
affected communities, Federal, Tribal, State, and local
governments, environmental organizations, non-profit
organizations, academic institutions (including Historically
Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic
Serving Institutions (HSIs), and Tribal Colleges, and
business and industry. EPA will use the National
Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC), their
public participation models, and other outreach and
communication activities along with input from other
stakeholders, particularly those from affected communities,
early in the decision-making process.
4 Public documents and notices will be reviewed to ensure
that they are concise, understandable, and accessible;
published in languages other than English, in local and
minority-oriented newspapers, and through electronic
media, including radio and television; ensure mailing lists
include the broadest possible range of stakeholder and
interested parties (e.g. Tribal governments, community
groups, academic institutions).
4 Each EPA Office and Region will develop a system for
monitoring and evaluating program improvements resulting
from the integration of environmental justice, focusing on
both major environmental justice projects and routine
implementation of the policy by staff. (Some Offices and
Regions have already published their own plans that
further describe their environmental justice activities).
4 Working with affected stakeholders, EPA will conduct
research in areas where it can make the greatest
contribution to environmental justice and in a manner to
ensure that the Agency's environmental justice policies are
based on sound science.
4 EPA will incorporate on-going training and orientation
programs for its personnel on environmental justice issues.
4 All key efforts described in the Implementation Plan will
respect the unique issues and concerns associated with
Tribal governments, their members, and other indigenous
communities.
This two-year Implementation Plan does not reflect final budget decisions for FY
96 or FY 97. Actions and time lines were developed assuming FY 1995 budget
information. Some adjustment may be needed to reflect final Congressional
authorization. Despite current budgetary uncertainties, the Agency has a strong
commitment to the integration of environmental justice into all EPA policies,
programs, and activities.
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Format of the Implementation Plan
The Implementation Plan contains the same five mission
areas as the April 1995 Strategy. They are: 1) Public
Participation, Accountability, Partnerships, Outreach, and
Communication with Stakeholders; 2) Health and
Environmental Research; 3) Data Collection, Analysis, and
Stakeholder Access to Public Information; 4) American
Indian and Indigenous Environmental Protection; and 5)
Enforcement, Compliance Assurance, and Regulatory
Reviews. This Implementation Plan contains goals and
objectives that track directly to the Strategy, with the
additional elements of key efforts, measures of progress,
lead organization, and dates of completion. Each of these
components are explained below.
Mission Areas:
These areas demonstrate the links between Executive Order
12898, the Strategy, and this Implementation Plan. Each
Mission Area contains the following:
Goals:
A goal is a condition that we are trying to achieve. In this
Implementation Plan, the 16 goals, taken directly from the
Strategy, are specific to the integration of environmental
justice into the mission areas listed above.
Measures of Progress:
At this time, the Agency is developing a limited number of
measures of progress. The purpose of these measures will
be to inform the Agency and its stakeholders on how the
Agency is doing under each of the 16 goal areas articulated
in the Strategy and listed in this Plan. Examples of draft
measures have been included in this Plan to provide a
general sense of the direction EPA is moving. The
measures, once finalized, will be used to evaluate the
progress EPA has made toward achieving the goals
outlined in this Plan. The measures will not be used to
evaluate the individual key efforts.
A number of the draft measures in this Plan assume the
existence of "baseline" data; the starting point from which
we will judge progress. At this time, such baseline data do
not exist. The process of determining baseline data and for
evaluating measures of progress has not yet been finalized.
This process will be further discussed and refined with the
benefit of the Agency's Environmental Justice Policy Work
Group and stakeholder input. The National Environmental
Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC) will initially serve as
our stakeholder group during the development of measures
and for eventual surveying (as outlined in some of the
Plan's measures).
The Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ) will be the
principal lead for evaluating the measures of progress (for
the goals) outlined in this Plan. The leads designated for
each key effort in the Plan will measure the success of their
own activities and report to OEJ their progress in
completing the key efforts. A number of regional and
program offices have already developed their own, more
detailed, plans that include processes for measuring
progress.
As the Agency moves toward a greater reliance on
environmental results or administrative outcome-type
measures, the types of measures contained in this Plan will
change. Measures that indicate better environmental
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quality in a specific geographic community, or that reflect
intended outcomes of greater and/or enhanced participation
(did the involvement of stakeholder's result in a change?)
may become the measures of choice.
Key Efforts:
Key efforts are specific program activities that support the
completion of the objectives and goals. Specific criteria for
key efforts included in this Implementation Plan are:
1) Funding - The program activities and projects listed
under key efforts must already be funded and committed to
by senior management at the EPA.
2) Completion within two years - Key efforts, or discrete
phases of on-going efforts, must be completed by second
quarter FY 97 due to reporting requirements and budget
considerations.
3) Broad representation of Agency activities - Selected
projects must represent the range, not necessarily the depth,
of regional and programmatic activities in each of the goal
areas.
Dates of Completion:
Self-explanatory.
Leads:
Although many key efforts represent inter-Agency or inter-
Office collaborations, each key effort has a designated
program or regional lead.
Lead Office Acronyms
OAR Office of Air and Radiation
OARM Office of Administration and Resources
Managment
OCEPA Office of Communication, Education, and
Public Affairs
OCR Office of Civil Rights
OECA Office of Enforcement and Compliance
Assurance
OEJ Office of Environmental Justice
OGC Office of General Counsel
OIA Office of International Activities
OPPE Office of Policy, Planning, and Evaluation
OPPTS Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic
Substances
ORD Office of Research and Development
OSWER Office of Solid Waste and Emergency
Response
OW Office of Water
Reg EPA Region
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Mission Area: PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, ACCOUNTABILITY, PARTNERSHIPS, OUTREACH, AND COMMUNICATION WITH STAKEHOLDERS
Goal (1) Outreach and Partnerships - To ensure their active public
participation and to provide input early in environmental decision-making,
EPA will enhance partnerships and coordination with stakeholders,
including: affected communities, Federal, Tribal, State, and local
governments, environmental organizations, non-profit organizations,
academic institutions (including Historically Black Colleges and
Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), and
Tribal Colleges), and business and industry.
Measure of Progress: (Draft) 50% of stakeholders surveyed indicate that
the Agency's level of effort to ensure active public participation and early
in-put has improved.
Objectives
EPA will use the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council
(NEJAC) along with input from other stakeholders, particularly those from
affected communities, early in the decision-making process.
EPA will utilize public participation models, such as the one created by
NEJAC, in its partnerships, and outreach and communication activities.
EPA will work to improve environmental education, training
opportunities and partnerships with academic institutions, including
HBCUs, HSIs, and Tribal Colleges. EPA will improve communication,
education, and outreach on environmental justice issues among all
stakeholders.
EPA will ensure that public documents and notices related to human
health or the environment are concise, understandable to the community
involved, and are made readily accessible to the public.
Whenever possible and appropriate, EPA will publish public notices for
EPA public meetings in languages other than English, in local and minority-
oriented newspapers, and through electronic media, including radio and
television. EPA will identify a network of translators to assist in conducting
public meetings.
Key Efforts
a. Develop the "NEJAC public participation model and checklist" to
provide a comprehensive, easy to follow guide on how to enhance
participation of stakeholders in the decision making process. Finalize, test
model in a pilot, distribute, review its use by the program offices and
regions, and conduct a customer service review to check effectiveness.
b. Develop an accessible data base of stakeholders in coordination
with all EPA offices. Identify stakeholders, develop master list and sub-
lists, and distribute lists for validation and use.
c. Continue annual funding for environmental education grants that
improve teaching skills; educate the public about human health problems
from environmental pollution; enhance State, local, and Tribal government
agency programs; promote environmental careers; and provide education
for communities and the general public.
d. Review, by the "Steering Committee," of established guidance to
ensure that public documents and notice related to the environment are
understandable to the affected community and are made readily accessible
to the public. Additionally, environmental justice components will be
added to established training for public documents development.
e. Develop a national relocation policy to describe more fully the
criteria for when to conduct permanent relocations or temporary
relocations as part of remedial activities under Superfund. OERR is jointly
planning with the NEJAC a roundtable to acquire community comment
from various sites around the Nation, has identified a relocation pilot in
one Region, and is working closely with several Regions on their ongoing
relocation efforts. *Community roundtable - May 1996; Initiate Relocation
Pilot - June '96; Draft National Policy - June '97.
Completion
Date
3/97
Lead
OEJ
3/96
9/96
OEJ
OCEPA
ongoing
OPPE
OSWER
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Mission Area: PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, ACCOUNTABILITY, PARTNERSHIPS, OUTREACH, AND COMMUNICATION WITH STAKEHOLDERS
Objectives (contd.)
EPA will ensure mailing lists include Tribal governments and
organizations, environmental justice organizations, and other
interested stakeholders including schools, civic associations, local
business and industry associations, and religious institutions as
appropriate.
EPA will exchange information and expertise with affected
stakeholders.
EPA will work to ensure that future legislation will incorporate
techniques to improve public participation.
Key Efforts
f. Implement EPA's Brownfields Economic Redevelopment Initiative to
empower States, communities, and other stakeholders in joint efforts to prevent,
assess, safely clean up, and sustainably use "brownfields," where opportunities for
expansion or redevelopment are complicated by real or perceived environmental
contamination. EPA plans to complete awards of 50 Brownfields pilot cooperative
agreements to States, cities, towns, counties, and Tribes to test redevelopment
models, direct special efforts toward removing regulatory barriers (without
sacrificing protectiveness), and facilitate coordinated public and private efforts at the
Federal, State, and local levels. In February 1996, EPA hosted its first Brownfields
Pilots National Workshop in Washington, DC to bring together key stakeholders to
identify and leverage opportunities for building on the environmental assessment,
cleanup, and redevelopment efforts of the Brownfields pilots.
g. Prepare specific demographic information for regional Superfund sites.
Information will be provided to site managers and will include but not be limited to
information on income levels, race and nationality, number of non-English speaking
residents, and what languages are spoken. With this information on demographics
around each Superfund site, site managers will be able to better target
communication activities and improve efforts to get residents involved.
h. Work with other Federal agencies, the private sector, municipal government, and
community groups on a variety of projects (e.g., creation of an eco-industrial park,
energy efficiency retrofits for the public school system) that are designed to improve
environmental quality while providing jobs and economic opportunity in poor and
minority neighborhoods. This effort will be accomplished through the Vice President's
Community Empowerment Board and many of the 105 Empowerment Zone and
Enterprise Communities.
Completion
Date
12/96
Lead
OSWER
9/96
Reg 10
ongoing
OPPE
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Mission Area: PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, ACCOUNTABILITY, PARTNERSHIPS, OUTREACH, AND COMMUNICATION WITH STAKEHOLDERS
Goal (2) Technical Assistance -EPA will examine its current
technical assistance programs for minority communities and
low-income communities.
Measure of Progress: (Draft) 15 % of Agency grants
awarded to minority communities and low-income
communities that are exposed to disproportionately high and
adverse human health or environmental effects.
Objective
EPA will administer appropriate grant programs for and
promote technical assistance to partners particularly small
business, community-based organizations, and Tribal
governments.
EPA will exchange information and expertise with affected
stakeholders.
Key Efforts
a. Work with community groups through a grant to address the environmental health
issues in the Nogales, AZ area (predominantly low income Latino communities). The
project will provide environmental health workshops, a quarterly bilingual newsletter,
informational hotline, monthly lupus screening clinics, and provide outreach and case
management services. Work with individual community members to encourage their
leadership skills and share information with friends and neighbors.
b. Provide $350,000 to the Rural Community Assistance Program to help improve or
establish basic wastewater and water supply services in twenty four rural, minority
communities around the country.
c. Initiate a small grants program as part of Border XXI, the next phase of binational
environmental planning between the U.S. and Mexico. The program will address
environmental issues along the border by strengthening local capacity at the community
level. For example, a grant was awarded to develop a cross-border planning mechanism
to enhance long-range environmental protection of the natural resources on Kumeyaay
reservation lands and to develop a water quality control plan. The grant project also
involves cooperation among the Kumeyaay sister Tribes in Baja California.
d. Continue the Office of Environmental Justice Small Grants Program and other
similar Agency programs to provide assistance to community-based/grassroots
organizations and Tribal governments that are working on local solutions to local
environmental problems.
e. Continue the Office of Environmental Justice Community/ University Partnership
(CUP) Grants Program to encourage collaborative projects that provide technical
assistance to community organizations.
f. Continue the 'Open Airways for Schools' program, which focuses on developing
asthma management skills for students, helping parents and teachers create more
supportive environments for asthmatic children, and developing activities to reduce
indoor pollutants. This partnership between EPA, the American Lung Association, and
Zeta Phi Beta sorority will impact millions of urban, poor households with asthmatic
children.
Completion
Date
ongoing
Lead
Reg 9
6/97
11/96
OW
OIA
ongoing
OEJ
ongoing
ongoing
OEJ
OAR
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Mission Area: PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, ACCOUNTABILITY, PARTNERSHIPS, OUTREACH, AND COMMUNICATION WITH STAKEHOLDERS
Goal (3) Training - EPA will encourage State, Tribal, and local
governments to work with the Federal government to achieve
environmental justice goals through training and other coordinated
activities.
Measure of Progress: (Draft) 60% of EPA's training
programs/materials for internal and external use, where appropriate,
include discussion of environmental justice issues over the next two
years.
Objectives
EPA will incorporate an ongoing orientation and training
program for its personnel on environmental justice issues,
including those related to public participation, Tribal relations,
health research, and data gathering. The development of
training programs will include input from stakeholders, including
grassroots organizations. The training will be tailored to the needs of the
Office or Region. Training kits may include: generic information on
environmental justice, examples of model initiatives and projects, and
public participation guidelines.
EPA will offer training assistance to other Federal agencies and
Tribal, State, and local officials on environmental justice issues.
EPA will sponsor environmental justice seminars or workshops to
focus on media-specific environmental justice activities and case
examples
Key Efforts
a. Sponsor an EJ Symposium with the Maryland Dept. of the Environment, City
of Baltimore, International City/County Mgt. Assoc., and several colleges and
community organizations in Baltimore, MD at Morgan State University on October
21/22, 1995. The "Baltimore Symposium on Urban Environmental Justice Research
and Education" created an opportunity for scientists, educators; Federal, State and
local government representatives, and community leaders to discuss past and
ongoing urban environmental justice research and future research needs of the
Baltimore community.
b. Work with the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation (LPBF) on education and
outreach activities in the Basin regarding watershed protection and lake restoration.
Young children in minority communities have limited opportunity to learn about,
visit or enjoy the Lake. The Foundation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service co-
sponsor a nature camp for youth from New Orleans inner-city areas. The event
allows children to participate in environmental and educational activities focusing on
the Lake. Other activities include: working with teachers in developing curriculum
about the basin's environmental issues; field trips for students to the canal pumping
stations and to the Lake; and field trips to New Orleans' area nature centers.
c. Coordinate with the Denver Federal Executive Board to organize meetings,
conferences, and/or training sessions with other Federal agencies in the Denver
metropolitan area to provide coordination and improve awareness of EJ efforts.
Topics for the meetings will include: (1) education on environmentaljustice issues
for staff; (2) coordination of EJ research and identification of future needs; and (3) a
conference on coordinating EJ activities in Indian country.
d. Continue the Radon Education and Outreach program which provides
targeted inner city communities with education about the risks from exposure to
radon. Provide training for the mitigation of those risks by the community members
themselves.
Completion
Date
complete
Lead
Reg 3
ongoing
Ree6
2/97
Reg 8
ongoing
OAR
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Mission Area: PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, ACCOUNTABILITY, PARTNERSHIPS, OUTREACH, AND COMMUNICATION WITH STAKEHOLDERS
Goal (4) Management Accountability - EPA will
strengthen management accountability for environmental
justice activities.
Measure of Progress: (Draft) EPA will be able to report
quantitatively and qualitatively environmental justice-related
actions and outcomes it has achieved since implementation.
Objectives
EPA will reorganize to strengthen leadership and
management of environmental justice activities in the
Agency.
EPA will develop a system for monitoring and evaluating
program improvements resulting from the integration of
environmental justice.
Each Office or Region will develop a feedback
mechanism for tracking environmental justice activities
across the Office or Region, focusing on both major
environmental justice projects and routine implementation of
the policy by staff.
Key Efforts
a. Develop a regional internal tracking system for program support activities provided by
the E J core. The system will track activities by site and note the type of involvement by EJ
staff, the time frame, and the outcome of such involvement. This system will provide both a
current record of ongoing EJ involvement as well as a historical record of past EJ
involvement and the outcome.
b. Develop a monitoring and evaluation program for tracking project commitments and
measuring successes as part of the Implementation Plan for the EJ Strategy.
c. Encourage Superfund contractors to promote environmental justice through the
development of Environmental Justice award-fee criteria for the award-fee plans of all new
Response Action Contracts (RACs). The RACs are the long-term remedial clean-up
contracts placed in the regions to support the Superfund program. The Environmental
Justice award-fee criteria provide monetary incentives for contractors to demonstrate a
commitment to environmental justice throughout contract performance.
d. Produce the "OSWER Environmental Justice Action Agenda" and "Waste Programs
Environmental Justice Accomplishments Report" through partnership with EPA regional
offices and NEJAC. These publications track program accomplishments and ensure
management accountability on environmental justice issues within the solid waste and
emergency response programs. * Agenda/Report - 5/95; Accountability - ongoing
Completion
Date
7/96
Lead
Reg
3/96
complete
OEJ
OSWER
/OARM
OSWER
10
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Mission Area: PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, ACCOUNTABILITY, PARTNERSHIPS, OUTREACH, AND COMMUNICATION WITH STAKEHOLDERS
Goal (5) Public Participation in Facility Siting and Permitting
- A major priority for the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency
Response (OSWER) is to address the siting and permitting of
hazardous waste facilities that might have a disproportionately
high and adverse human health or environmental effect on
minority or low-income communities.
Measure of Progress: (Draft) 30% of stakeholders surveyed
indicate that the Agency's level of effort to ensure active public
participation and early in-put has improved.
Objectives
EPA will improve public participation in siting and permitting
decisions.
Resolution of these issues is expected to focus on at least two
major avenues: 1) early and ongoing public participation in
permitting and siting decisions, and, 2) active participation in the
Agency-wide effort to develop methodologies for defining
cumulative risk from multiple sources.
Key Efforts
a. Provide avenues for earlier and more meaningful stakeholder input into the
RCRA permitting process. Promulgate the "RCRA Expanded Public Participation
Rule" (12/95) to provide earlier opportunities for public involvement and expands
public access to information. Revise the "RCRA Public Involvement Manual" to meet
the needs of permitting agencies, facilities, and the public.
b. Improve all EPA permitting processes through the Permits Improvement Team
and the Enhanced Public Participation Task Force. Develop an "easy reference"
guidance for public participation activities. Generate recommendations for more
meaningful public participation. Explore a pilot project on the use of comprehensive
Community Involvement Plans (CIPs) at selected facilities.
Completion
Date
6/96
Lead
OSWER
9/96
OSWER
/Reg 2
11
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Mission Area: HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
Goal: (1) Research Partnerships - Working with affected
stakeholders.
Measure of Progress: (Draft) 20% of Agency research plans and/or
processes where appropriate that are developed with affected
stakeholders.
Objectives
An early EPA priority will be to explore the dimensions of
community-led research and to better integrate this model into EPA's
research strategy.
EPA will explore through pilot projects the resources and strategies
necessary to help train community people to be effective collaborators
in the research process. This training will include such things as
decision-making processes, research design, questionnaire
construction, data collection, and data analysis.
EPA will work with minority communities and low-income
communities under study to incorporate, to the extent practicable, their
concerns and comments in EPA research design, data analysis,
implementation, and information dissemination.
EPA will work with the scientific community to improve health
assessments and risk assessments and incorporate environmental
justice including socioeconomic issues into its policies and guidance.
EPA will support environmental justice research through (1)
competitive grants to researchers examining environmental justice
questions and, (2) exchange programs between EPA and non-
governmental groups with a shared research agenda.
EPA will expand interagency and other intergovernmental
partnerships to ensure a coordinated research strategy and the ability
to target cross-disciplinary projects in affected communities.
Key Efforts
a. Present diverse community concerns and bring together community,
government, and academia to address the environmental and health issues raised by
individuals and neighborhood groups in the South/Southwest Philadelphia study.
Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health is characterizing the state of the
environment and the health of the population in the study area. The local academic
community formed a Science Advisory Board to address the direction of the study
and future courses of action. Community representatives will communicate from and
relate findings to the neighborhoods. A team of representatives from the city, State,
and Federal governments has been formed to address issues that may be quickly
resolved through joint intervention.
b. Implement two pilot EJ community assessments in West Oakland and
Watsonville, California. The pilot assessments are comprehensive, community-based
projects where EPA will work in conjunction with other agencies and community
groups to identify and address significant environmental concerns in specific "EJ
communities" in the Region. The pilot projects will serve to test the implementation
phases of the EJ Assessment Project.
c. Coordinate activities and capabilities within EPA and with other Federal and
State environmental and health agencies to identify and address environmental health
issues along the U.S.-Mexico border. This includes surveillance/monitoring, registry
development, exposure/health studies, risk assessment, education, training and
communication. This research effort is a model of partnership to generate better data
for decision making by the community. Projects underway and future projects
include a transboundary air pollution project, a FDA market basket survey, a
Border-wide health and environmental survey, a surveillance evaluation system, and
a study of cumulative exposure/cumulative risk from pesticides.
Completion
Date
2/97
Lead
Reg 3
12/96
Reg 9
ongoing
ORD
12
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Mission Area: HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
Goal: (2) Sound Science - Working with affected stakeholders, EPA will conduct
research in areas where it can make the greatest contribution to environmental justice
and in a manner to ensure that the Agency's environmental justice policies are based on
sound science.
Measure of Progress: (Draft) The percentage of Agency EJ Key Efforts supported by
and evaluated positively for good scientific methods in peer review.
Objectives
EPA, in coordination with other Federal agencies, will: collect, analyze, and
maintain information on fish and/or wildlife subsistence consumption patterns, conduct
research, develop methodologies, collect data, and publish guidance on the human
health risks and effects associated with the consumption of pollutant-bearing fish, and
wildlife. EPA will communicate the risks of those consumption patterns and work to
integrate differential consumption patterns of natural resources and exposure patterns
into the Agency's regulations, guidance, policies, and other activities.
EPA will continue to develop human exposure data and will address exposure in at
least three main areas: methods development, model development, and monitoring data.
EPA will assess major pollution sources of high environmental risks in communities
and support pollution prevention with research, as needed, to reduce risk from those
sources.
EPA will evaluate the current state of knowledge in exposure and cumulative risk
fields, and then identify data gaps and research needs. In particular, research needs to
include diverse exposed populations in epidemiological and clinical studies, especially
those population segments at high exposure.
EPA's risk characterization guidance will help communicate risks by characterizing
the most important findings and conclusions. Risk characterization includes the
strengths, weaknesses, and assumptions of the risk data and analysis and a comparison to
other risks.
EPA will work to ensure that future legislation will be responsive to environmental
justice health research and data needs
Key Efforts
a. Fund a community group to work with Asian and Pacific
Islander community groups in the San Francisco Bay Area to
complete Phase I of a Fish Consumption Study that will determine
accurate exposure data. Phase I will concentrate on designing a
scientifically sound study based on community determined goals
and objectives and to develop a model of the process that involves
early community input.
b. Evaluate exposures to over 150 toxic pollutants across
multiple exposure pathways for the entire continental U.S. The goal
of the Cumulative Exposure project is to measure the distribution of
environmental exposure at the National level across demographic
groups and locations. The analysis will draw on a mixture of
monitoring data, and modeling for three major routes of exposure:
inhalation, ingestion of drinking water and ingestion of food. Each
three routes will be evaluated separately, the all three will be
integrated to estimate a national distribution of multi-pathway
cumulative exposure.
c. Maintain and make available for public access a national
database on fish consumption advisories so that people can
determine whether a particular waterbody has any advisories in
place (*Complete). Provide States with guidance and technical tools
to improve their ability to develop fish consumption advisories and
communicate any potential health risks associated with those
advisories to the public (* 7/96).
d. Contribute to the integration of environmental justice and
cumulative risk into EPA activities through the "Environmental
Justice and Cumulative Risk Study." The study examines two
questions: 1) to what extent have environmental justice studies
incorporated cumulative risk; and 2) to what extent have
cumulative risk studies incorporated environmental justice? The
study examines the variety of cumulative risk studies to identify the
gaps in our knowledge in order to determine future research venues.
Completion
Date
12/96
Lead
Reg 9
3/97
OPPE
OW
6/96
OPPE
13
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Mission Area: DATA COLLECTION, ANALYSIS, AND STAKEHOLDER ACCESS TO PUBLIC INFORMATION
Goal: (1) Addressing Data Gaps - EPA will conduct an inventory of Agency's
major data systems to identify uses, limitations, and gaps.
Measure of Progress: (Draft) 25% of Agency's major data systems will be
inventoried to identify uses, limitations, gaps, and areas for integration.
Objectives
EPA will work to fill data gaps including those related to pollution
prevention in affected communities and those identified by affected
communities through interactive needs assessments.
EPA will examine, and expand, as appropriate, its databases to identify
major facilities or sites, including Federal and non-Federal facilities or sites
(covered by the Executive Order), that could pose a substantial environmental,
human health, or economic effect on the surrounding populations.
EPA will coordinate with public health departments and other Federal
agencies to improve environmental health and exposure databases.
EPA, in partnership with affected stakeholders, will:
- identify methods of combining data and performing analysis for
geographical and exposure information, and will publish guidance on
how to use these methods to address environmental justice.
- increase the accuracy of its locational data for major facilities or
sites of potential toxic releases and environmental quality monitoring
points in affected communities
Key Efforts
a. Implement ground water protection programs through the use of
community volunteers. Senior Retired Volunteer Program (RSVP)
members conducted the contaminant source inventory for the Well
Head Protection Program (WHP). This project gained national and
international attention and the effective use of volunteers to implement
ground water protection programs is now common practice in several
States. The Discovery Channel featured the current University of
Texas at El Paso's intergenerational AmeriCorps® project using
students and RSVP members to expand WHP activities in the Border
area.
b. Work with the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE),
which is serving as the lead agency, on a fish consumption survey in
the Baltimore Harbor area. Sojourner-Douglass College, a private non-
profit minority college, was identified to perform public outreach
services including: the collection of additional survey information from
fishermen on fishing patterns; the responses/attitudes towards the
current fish advisory; and to measure the success of previous outreach
efforts aimed at those fishing in the harbor.
Completion
Date
ongoing
Lead
Reg 6
12/96
Reg 3
14
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Mission Area: DATA COLLECTION, ANALYSIS, AND STAKEHOLDER ACCESS TO PUBLIC INFORMATION
Goal (2) Improving Quality and Reducing Burdens of Data
Reporting - In partnership with affected stakeholders.
Measure of Progress: (Draft) 50 % of affected stakeholders indicate
improved accessibility and usability of EPA's major data systems.
Objectives
EPA, in coordination with other Federal agencies and State, Tribal,
and local governments, will work to create effective reporting
mechanisms, including electronic reporting, to minimize cumbersome
or duplicative reporting requirements and to improve accuracy.
EPA will develop key identifiers, assist citizen reporting of key
data elements, and facilitate analysis of human health and
environmental data.
Key Efforts
a. Establish a policy for legally accepting reports through Electronic Data
Interchange (EDI) and establish EDI production system for accepting the Agency's
Discharge Monitoring Report.
b. Work with stakeholders to identify the data and technical requirements for
establishing and implementing a standard facility ID for the regulated community.
Pilot a central system to compare and manage a standard facility ID. A standard
facility ID will enhance data integrity and facilitate public access to information
about facilities in their communities.
Completion
Date
5/96
2/97
Lead
OARM
OARM
15
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Mission Area: DATA COLLECTION, ANALYSIS, AND STAKEHOLDER ACCESS TO PUBLIC INFORMATION
Goal (3) Data Integration and Analysis - In partnership with
affected communities and stakeholders.
Measure of Progress: (Draft) 40% of Agency's major data systems
will be inventoried to identify uses, limitations, gaps, and areas for
integration.
Objectives
EPA will promote the use of Geographical Information Systems
(GIS) to enhance identification of disproportionately affected
communities.
EPA will integrate the Agency's information resource
management process linking environmental priorities, data needs, and
resource investments.
EPA will collect, analyze, and disseminate data that will compare
environmental and human health risks to populations identified by
race, national origin, or income.
Key Efforts
a. Collect and analyze available studies that attempt to sub-divide the population
for factors associated with exposure to environmental contaminants. The report,
"Exposure Factors of Specific Demographic and Ethnic Subpopulations," provides
useful data for the exposure and risk assessors determining hazards to toxic
substances among various U.S. Subpopulations. The information supports exposure
scenarios that are specific to age, region, gender, behavior, culture, and socio-
economical status. The follow-up effort, "Estimating Exposures for Susceptible
Populations," will recommend values for actual exposures and will supplement the
factors document will additional data and sources. It will also provide an index of
data.
b. Support an examination of environmental justice issues by the Organization
for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) as part of a report on U.S.
environmental performance. This report describes environmental justice issues
relating to water supply, sanitation and waste management in the U.S. The report is
being distributed to environmental stakeholders in this country and 70 countries
worldwide.
c. Develop the electronic capability to locate Tribal boundaries using
geographical data. This application, used in conjunction with other data sources,
improves EPA's ability to assess water quality conditions and problems on Native
American lands.
d. Explore the use of TRI and other data bases as tools to help protect the ground
water resource in poor/minority communities. Pilots studies are ongoing in
Vicksburg, MS and Alcorn State University, MS.
e. Utilize Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping to identify low-income
communities and communities of color where existing and potential sources of
environmental hazard and risk are numerous; identify potential options for
addressing the most significant environmental problems in these communities; and
begin to address the problems in these communities through EPA action and through
the involvement of other agencies with jurisdiction. Initial mapping completed.
Completion
Date
12/96
Lead
ORD
4/96
OIA
complete
OW
3/97
12/96
Reg 4
Reg 9
16
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Mission Area DATA COLLECTION, ANALYSIS, AND STAKEHOLDER ACCESS TO PUBLIC INFORMATION
Goal (4) Improving Public Access - In partnership with affected
stakeholders
Measure of Progress: (Draft) 30% of affected stakeholders
indicate improved accessibility and usability of EPA's major data
systems.
Objectives
EPA will work to provide, as appropriate and practicable, direct
stakeholder and user involvement in the design, implementation,
and evaluation of its information systems.
EPA information systems, as appropriate and practicable, will
allow two-way communication between the Agency and community
information users.
EPA will produce educational materials to assist the public in
their effective use of EPA data.
EPA will make available to the public, information it collects on
populations surrounding major facilities or sites.
Key Efforts
a. Continue efforts to support the Lead Clearinghouse/Hotline which: collects,
evaluates, and disseminates information on lead poisoning to the public; provides
the public with information to make informed choices on lead exposure reduction
measures or know where to seek more information; and uses multilingual ads,
PSAs, technical information, and lead abatement training centers to educate the
public.
b. Develop LandView, a personal computer-based, geographic analysis and
reference system, which combines five EPA databases, Census economic and
demographic data, and Tiger files (street address, waterways, and similar data) in a
map and table form. The system is usable by communities for identifying the
location of sources of potential environmental risk.
c. Establish an Internet Homepage to provide the public with information on
multiple water-related issues and activities. A comment box allows for two-way
communication, providing users with the opportunity to send as well as receive
information.
d. Develop the Ozone Education Program in the Baltimore region where ground-
level ozone has been increasing due to the rise in automobile travel miles. The
Program incorporates an ozone pollution, computer-generated map, which has been
broadcast overWJZ-TV (Channel 13) in Baltimore since August 7, 1995. The map
is an effective means of educating the public regarding air pollution by providing an
accessible, understandable representation of real-time ozone pollution levels
through daily television weather reports.
e. Acquire key spatial hydro logic, critical habitat, wetland, and soils data to
support analysis with GIS. Provide INTERNET access to EPA spatial data.
Completion
Date
ongoing
Lead
OPPTS
3/95
OSWER
complete
OW
complete
Ree3
7/96
OARM
17
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Mission Area: DATA COLLECTION, ANALYSIS, AND STAKEHOLDER ACCESS TO PUBLIC INFORMATION
Goal (4) Improving Public Access (contd.)
Key Efforts
f. Conduct a case study of the precedent setting Lorain County Pesticide Removal Site
in Lorain and Elyria, OH to capture "lessons learned" in addressing environmental justice
issues and use this site as a model for how environmental justice issues can been
addressed. This case, which involved the cleanup of over 200 homes and the relocation
of over 200 families in a predominantly minority and low-income community, addresses
some of the key concerns related to environmental justice, namely, communication/public
outreach, access/relocation, legal, human health, risk, social, and economic issues.
Completion
Date
3/96
Lead
Reg 5
18
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Mission Area: AMERICAN INDIAN, ALASKA NATIVE, AND INDIGENOUS ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Goal: EPA will work with Federally-recognized Tribal
governments, Tribal and indigenous organizations, affected
native populations, the Tribal Operations Committee, and the
National Environmental Justice Advisory Council to integrate the
provisions of the Executive Order into EPA's environmental
policies, programs, and activities.
Measure of Progress: (Draft) Given a baseline of the last three
years, a 10% increase in the number of Tribal governments with
developed and delegated environmental programs.
Objectives
EPA will continue to work with other Federal agencies and
Federally-recognized Tribes to effectively protect and improve
Tribal health and environmental conditions. These activities will
include: providing outreach, education, training, and technical,
financial and legal assistance to develop, implement, and maintain
comprehensive Tribal environmental programs, which will
undertake the remediation of environmental hazards and the
development and implementation of Tribal environmental codes
and Tribal-EPA Agreements to address Tribal needs, program
delegations, and direct Federal implementation.
EPA will implement its programs both for American Indians
and indigenous communities, recognizing the government-to-
government relationship, the Federal Trust responsibility, Tribal
sovereignty, treaty-protected rights, other tenets of Federal Indian
law, and particular historical and cultural needs of Tribes and
indigenous populations. To ensure consistency, the Office of
Environmental Justice, the Environmental Justice Coordinators,
the American Indian Environmental Office, the Office of
Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, and the Indian
Coordinators will work closely to coordinate activities.
Key Efforts
a. Develop guidance to encourage Tribes to monitor, assess, and report on water
quality conditions as part of the National Water Quality Inventory. This information will
help document water quality conditions and identify improvements needed to achieve
Tribal goals, including unique cultural water resource uses. Support training workshops
with the Native American Water Association (NAWA) to improve Tribal ability to
operate and maintain drinking water systems.
b. Provide grant assistance to Tribes within the Missouri River Basin who are helping
the Corp of Engineers revise the Missouri River Master Water Control Manual. MNI
SOSE (Intertribal Water Rights Coalition) is assisting Missouri River Basin Tribes to
enhance their protection, management, Tribal information systems, and sustainable
development of natural and water resources. The project aims to strengthen cooperation
between Federal, Tribal, State, and local natural resource agencies in the areas of Tribal
involvement in water rights impacts, mitigation of conflicts, resource management and
planning, environmental protection strategies, and training for Tribal leaders and natural
resource staff.
c. Directly assist Tribes, with a grant to the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, to
strengthen their infrastructure to manage environmental problems on Tribal lands. This
effort will be accomplished by providing information to Tribes on environmental issues,
assisting in training and technical assistance, and providing mechanisms for inter-
governmental cooperatives. The project will create a sustainable development model and
host an Inter-tribal environmental justice forum to address the unique problems of the
different Tribes and produce education materials.
d. Develop, with BIA, the "Healing the Earth" American Indian Environmental
Dialogue to enhance consultation between government officials and Tribal and
indigenous environmental leaders on environmental definitions, goals, and program
directions. The project featured a Washington conference/dialogue with several panels
on American Indian/Alaska Native environmental issues, especially the
spiritual/religious/cultural aspects. The proceedings were videotaped and are being
incorporated into training programs.
Completion
Date
complete
Lead
OW
12/96
OW
ongoing
OEJ/
Reg 5
12/96
OW
19
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Mission Area: AMERICAN INDIAN, ALASKA NATIVE, AND INDIGENOUS ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Objectives (contd.)
Human health and environmental research and other activities
involving Tribal and indigenous environments and communities
will take into account the cultural use of natural resources. These
activities will seek contributions from Tribal governments and
indigenous people in order to incorporate their traditional
understandings of, and relationships to, the environment.
EPA will work with other Federal agencies, Federally-recognized
Tribal governments, and environmental justice advocates to develop
appropriate guidance for addressing indigenous grassroots
environmental justice issues and encourage public participation
processes for environmental protection activities.
EPA will work with Tribal governments and indigenous
populations to protect and sustain Tribal and indigenous health,
environments, and resources.
Key Efforts
e. Research and analyze basic spatial/temporal information on military
installations and activities in the past 50-60 years and show the basic spatial
relationship between them and Alaska native villages and Tribes.
This project has four objectives: 1) develop an extensive spatial/temporal data base
including; subsistence land use patterns, demographics (e.g. population centers,
ethnicity), and descriptions of past and present military installations; 2) develop
maps that represent the data; 3) analyze the spatial/temporal and demographic
information; and 4) develop a summary of information and recommendation(s).
The results should serve as the basis for future research on health problems in
Alaska.
f. Promote and foster active involvement and participation by Tribes in technical
training sessions on the water quality criteria and standards programs. These
programs represent the basic underpinnings of all water quality protection efforts
and a thorough understanding of their features is critical if they are to be adopted
and effectively applied on Tribal lands.
g. Award a cooperative agreement (* 12/95) to the Native American
organization, Americans for Indian Opportunity, to establish a Tribal association to
advise OSWER on waste issues pertinent to Tribal lands, and to provide outreach
and technical assistance to Tribal governments on the subject of Brownfields
redevelopment.
Completion
Date
7/96
Lead
Reg 10
ongoing
OW
*ongoing
OSWER
20
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Mission Area: ENFORCEMENT, COMPLIANCE ASSURANCE, AND REGULATORY REVIEW
Goal (1) Strategic Enforcement of Environmental Statutes - EPA
will incorporate environmental justice concerns into its program for
ensuring compliance with Federal environmental requirements at
both private and Federal facilities. The Agency will review and
revise as needed significant policy and guidance documents to
address environmental justice issues. A major feature of this
approach will be to ensure that EPA's enforcement and compliance
assurance activities include a focus on minority communities and
low-income communities which suffer from disproportionately high
and adverse human health or environmental effects. EPA will use, as
appropriate, the full range of tools available to it to correct
noncompliance in such communities. EPA will ensure that
Memoranda of Agreement between Headquarters and Regional
offices reflect environmental justice activities and will include
environmental justice as a specific component of program reviews.
Measure of Progress: (Draft) 20% of enforcement cases and/or
compliance activities that are initiated or completed involve minority
communities and/or low-income communities.
Objectives
EPA will include in its enforcement efforts identification of
communities and populations, such as low-income urban and rural
populations which suffer from disproportionately high and adverse
human health or environmental effects. EPA will work to ensure that
inspection and enforcement actions are sufficient to address those
effects.
EPA's focused efforts will use the most current demographic
information (using Geographic Information System mapping
techniques), Toxics Release Inventory data, media specific and multi-
media data, community reports, and relevant health statistics.
Key Efforts
a. Work with the Technical Enforcement Program and the Case Screening
Committee to assure incorporation of EJ considerations into the full range of
Region 8 enforcement activities. The activities included are: 1) development of
an implementable mechanism for staff and managers to include EJ considerations in
priority setting for sector, media, inspections and other enforcement activities; 2) a
guidance document for staff and managers on incorporating EJ considerations into
negotiations and settlement activities; and 3) participating in case screening
activities to insure EJ considerations are met. *Priority setting mechanism-April
1996; Guidance document- June 1996; Case screening - twice a month
b. Issue grants to the Texas Office of the Attorney General Strike Force and the
New Mexico Attorney General's Office in support of enforcement actions being
taken by the Attorneys General against colonias developers who are in violation of
State laws, as related to infrastructure in Texas colonias.
c. Establish the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), which
includes as one of its three major components a Joint Public Advisory Committee
(JPAC). JPAC includes members of State and provincial governments as well as
members of Native American Tribes, business, academia, and NGOs. EPA has also
established a Government Advisory Committee (GAC) and a National Advisory
Committee (NAC) to provide guidance from U.S. communities. The GAC consists
of members of State, local, and Tribal governments. The NAC consists of
businesses, NGO,s and the public at large. The CEC prepares reports requested by
the public, and responds to allegations by members of the public that a government
is not effectively enforcing its own environmental laws (the Article 14 process).
The CEC's guidelines for the Article 14 process, prepared with extensive public
input, allow a resident of any of the three countries (U.S., Mexico, Canada) to make
a submission; the resulting information is then made public.
d. Continue to implement the new Supplemental Environmental Projects Policy
(SEP) to identify and develop SEP Projects which address environmental justice
concerns, as appropriate in each case. Implement the new Supplemental
Environmental Projects Policy (SEP) to identify and develop SEP Projects which
address environmental justice concerns.
Completion
Date
Lead
Ree8
ongoing
Ree6
ongoing
OIA
ongoing
OECA
21
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Mission Area: ENFORCEMENT, COMPLIANCE ASSURANCE, AND REGULATORY REVIEW
Objectives (contd.)
EPA will customize its enforcement and compliance assurance
program for affected communities to reflect the needs of the
community and the particular compliance problems in that
community. EPA will also use technical support and assistance as a
supplement to traditional enforcement as appropriate.
EPA will actively encourage the use of creative approaches to
settlement of enforcement actions, particularly where violations have
been identified in communities disproportionately impacted by
environmental problems (traditionally, many enforcement actions
have been resolved by assessing cash penalties and imposing "end of
pipe" solutions). Specifically, Regions and States will be encouraged
to obtain Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPS) which
promote pollution prevention, remedy environmental damage, and
collect adequate monetary fines. The goal of the projects will be to
reduce long-term exposures within the affected community.
EPA will work with academic institutions, including HBCUs,
HSIs, and Tribal Colleges, and other local environmental justice
groups to develop an educational program that provides affected
communities with information on environmental protection, such as
statutory and regulatory matters; citizen rights under Federal and
State environmental statutes; whistle-blower protection for
employees; the interpretation of data on performance available to the
public; and the regulator's role in ensuring compliance.
Key Efforts
e. Enhance enforcement of EPA Worker Protection Standards through (1)
protecting workers from adverse effects by enforcing the labeling requirements
for use, application, and protective action and (2) working with applicators,
farmers, and State agencies to ensure compliance with Worker Protection
Standards.
f. Include environmental justice factors in EPA compliance and enforcement
agreements with States. Develop a list of State-EPA authorities and encourage
and support State pilot projects in environmental justice.
g. Provide GIS technical assistance to Clark/Atlanta University (CAU) and
Xavier University (XU) in New Orleans. CAU will be developing workshops and
conducting surveys in five Superfund locations and XU will be conducting
outreach and workshops at two military locations in Biloxi, MS.
h. Organize a conference with public interest attorneys in partnership with
Illinois Institute of Technology - Kent School of Law. The purpose of this
conference will be to stimulate dialogue on how environmental justice and citizen
input can be taken into account in the enforcement process.
i. In the South Bronx, New York City: 1) address community environmental
justice concerns (*4/96 - a public meeting) ; 2) improve compliance rates through
increased enforcement presence (*5/96 - field activities: interviewing citizens,
inspections, etc.); 3) promote voluntary pollution prevention; 4) develop a
program to help the public and industry to access information and comply with
existing and new regulations; 5) increase public participation in selecting
alternative compliance measures (e.g., supplemental environmental projects); and
6) establish partnerships between State and local governments (*3/96 - draft
strategy).
Completion
Date
12/96
Lead
OECA
12/96
ongoing
OECA
Reg 4
9/96
Reg 5
* ongoing
Reg 2
22
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Mission Area ENFORCEMENT, COMPLIANCE ASSURANCE, AND REGULATORY REVIEW
Goal (2) National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Clean Air Act (CAA)
Section 309 Responsibilities -Under the authority of NEPA and Sec. 309 of the CAA,
EPA will, consistent with regulations and guidelines issued by the President's Council
on Environmental Quality, routinely review the environmental effects of major Federal
actions significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. For such actions,
EPA reviewers will focus on the spatial distribution of human health, social, and
economic effects to ensure that agency decision makers are aware of the extent to
which those impacts fall disproportionately on covered communities.
Measure of Progress: (Draft) Number of major Federal actions reviewed under the
authority of NEPA and Section 309 of the CAA that had included consideration of
spatial distribution of human health, social, and economic effects.
Objectives
EPA will aid Federal officials in their review of Federal actions as it relates to
carrying out its responsibilities under NEPA and CAA Sec. 309.
EPA will consider holding workshops and seminars with Sec. 309 reviewers and
NEPA coordinators to further explore environmental justice impact analysis methods.
Key Efforts
a. Provide training for other regional staff to further explore
environmental justice impact analysis methods in EIS reviews.
In addition, this training will be made to Tribal groups, other
Federal agencies, and grassroots organizations.
Completion
Date
12/96
Lead
Reg 8
23
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Mission Area ENFORCEMENT, COMPLIANCE ASSURANCE, AND REGULATORY REVIEW
Goal (3) Non-discrimination - EPA will work to ensure non-
discrimination in the development and implementation of environmental
protection programs.
Measure of Progress: (Draft) Reduce complaint processing time by 10%.
Objectives
EPA will improve its implementation of requirements of Title VI of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI) by issuing guidance, and conducting
oversight for State and local recipients of EPA funding.
EPA will develop guidance on the requirements of Title VI for carrying
out Federally-authorized State permitting programs under the Clean Air
Act, Clean Water Act, and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.
EPA will work to develop case referral guidance, training materials on
environmental justice and Title VI, and materials on Title VI compliance
EPA will develop guidance on non-discrimination responsibilities of the
Agency under the Executive Order.
Key Efforts
a. Develop a data and information collection instrument, through an
external compliance pilot project with the Grants Administration Division
and the Office of Water, to assess whether recipients of EPA financial
assistance are in compliance with Title VI and the other external civil rights
statutes.
b. Develop, issue, and implement guidance, in consultation with
program offices, on the requirements of Title VI for carrying out Federally-
authorized State permitting programs.
Completion
Date
9/96
Lead
OCR
pending
OCR/
OECA
24
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Mission Area: ENFORCEMENT, COMPLIANCE ASSURANCE, AND REGULATORY REVIEW
Goal (4) Regulatory Review - EPA will work to ensure
that environmental justice is incorporated into the Agency's
regulatory process.
Measure of Progress: (Draft) 10% of the Agency's
regulatory packages that identify and address
environmental justice concerns.
Objectives
EPA will complete its Regulatory Impact Analysis
Guidance. This will provide the Agency guidance on ways
to incorporate environmental justice into its regulatory
development process.
A cross-Agency work group on grants and
environmental justice will examine options for
incorporating environmental justice into EPA's grant
programs to adequately reach minority populations and
low-income populations and make recommendations to the
Steering Committee on implementation.
EPA will work with other Federal agencies and State,
Tribal, and local governments to address environmental
problems involving jurisdictional disputes or gaps in
environmental laws.
EPA will work to address cross-border pollution.
Key Efforts
a. Work with the Enforcement and Compliance Task Force of the
Interagency Working Group to identify gaps or weaknesses in environmental
statutes and develop recommendations for addressing those gaps and
weaknesses.
b. Simplify the administrative demands of applying for and
administering a TAG, since the management of Superfund Technical
Assistance Grants (TAGs) entails much administrative burden on behalf of a
community group that lacks extensive resources. TAG application materials
were simplified and reduced (9/94). Proposed regulations for modifying the
TAG process are planned for Federal Register publication to get public
comment.
c. Continue to develop work plans under New England's Urban
Enforcement Initiative to target enforcement and compliance assistance
efforts in minority and low-income communities. Workplans include risk
based priority setting, on-site compliance assistance in urban environments,
and multi-media inspections.
Completion
Date
pending
Lead
OGC
9/96
OSWER
ongoing
Regl
25
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