Find out more about what
our regional offices are
doing for environmental
justice in your community!

Region 1
(ME, VT, NH, MA, CN, Rl)
One Congress Street
Boston, MA 02203
Phone: 617-918-1346

Region 2 (NY, NJ, PR, VI)
290 Broadway, 26th Floor
New York, NY 10007
Phone: 212-637-5027

Region 3
(MD, DE, WV, VA, PA, DC)
841 Chestnut Building
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone: 215-814-2988

Region 4
(AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN)
61 Forsyth Street
Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: 404-562-8460

Region 5
(IL, IN, Ml, MN, OH, Wl)
77 West Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604-3507
Phone: 312-353-5614

Region 6 (AR, LA, NM, OK, TX)
1445 Ross Ave, Suite 1200
Dallas, TX 75202-2733
Phone: 214-665-3138

Region 7 (IA, KS, MO, NB)
726 Minnesota Ave
Kansas City, KS 66101
Phone: 913-551-7649

Region 8
(CO, MT, ND,SD, UT, WY)
999 18th Street, Suite 500
Denver, CO 80202-2405
Phone: 303-462-9252

Region 9
(CA, AZ, HI, NV, GM, AS)
75 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
Phone: 415-972-3795

Region 10 (AK, ID, OR, WA)
1200 Sixth Ave (MD-142)
Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: 206-553-2899
 SEPA
 EPA 300F12002
 April 2012
Quarterly EJ Teleconference

These calls provide information to participants about EPA's EJ activities and maintain an open dialogue with EJ
advocates. To find out more, visit: www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/events/ej-outreach-calls

                                 Tools for EJ Action

 OEJ programs have established the following tools to promote agency action on critical environmental justice
 issuses. These cross-cutting efforts aim to create consistency and clarity around how EPA identifies and addresses
 EJ concerns.

 EJ  View

 EJ View is a mapping tool that allows users to create maps and generate detailed reports based on geographic
 areas and data such as demographics, health and environmental information. The tool helps users identify areas in
 the US overburdened with pollution at the state, county, city and census tract level. To find out more information
 about EJ View or to use the application, visit: www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/mapping

 Science
 OEJ is leading the effort to understand how populations of EJ concern disproportionately
 experience environmental health impacts and develop guidance on considering environmental
 justice concerns in rulemaking. The office hosted the Symposium on the Science of
 Disproportionate Environmental Health Impacts, to examine the reasons low income and
 minority communities may experience disparities in environmental health. OEJ is also working
 to strengthen consideration of EJ during the National Environmental Policy Act review process.
 To read about these scientific developments, visit: www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/policy

 Legal

 OEJ promotes the use of existing statutory and regulatory authorities to advance environmental justice and
 community health.  For example, the memorandum, "Improving EPA Review of Appalachian Surface Coal Mining
 Operations Under the Clean Water Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and the Environmental Justice
 Executive Order", explains how  EPA can apply these authorities to address EJ concerns in Appalachia. To learn more
 about OEJ's work on legal issues, visit: www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/policy

                 Policy
                 To advance the consideration of EJ in policy making, EPA develops guidance documents that
                 ensure that the needs of overburdened communities are factored into regulatory and policy
                 decision-making. EPA released an interim guide on incorporating environmental justice
                 into the agency's process for developing rules and regulations. EPA also released voluntary
                 school siting guidelines to help local school districts and community members evaluate
                 environmental and public health risks, (e.g. onsite contamination like chemicals in soil or offsite
                 risks like industrial facilities) and benefits of potential school locations (e.g. location that's close
                 to where students live so they can walk or bike to school) during the school siting process. To
                 access these guidance documents, visit: www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/policy
 Training and Workshops

 OEJ and the regional offices provide training courses and other workshops to educate environmental stakeholders
 about the public health and environmental issues which impact communities overburdened by pollution. To date
 more than 4,000 environmental stakeholders have been trained on the fundamentals of environmental justice. OEJ
 has also developed an online EJ course, which explores the origins of the environmental justice movement, and
 provides an overview of analytical tools to help understand, integrate, and address environmental justice issues. To
 find out more, visit: www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/resources
   For More Information
                                                                                                                Expanding the
                                                                                                                Conversation
   To find out more about the Office of Environmental Justice, call 202-564-2515, or visit:
   www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice

   For a direct way to provide feedback and find answers to questions related to environmental
   justice, call the EJ Hotline at 800-962-6215.
                    r/Eft
                  www.epa.gov/environmentaljustjce
                             Office  of  Environmental
                                                     Justice  in  Action
                   In January 2010, Administrator Lisa P. Jackson announced the
                   Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) top priorities: reducing
                 greenhouse gas emissions; improving air quality; managing chemical
                 risks; cleaning up hazardous waste disposal sites; protecting America's
                 water; expanding the conversation on environmentalist!) and working
                 for environmental justice, and building strong state and tribal
                 partnerships.
                                 During a speech about environmental justice,
                                 Administrator Jackson emphasized, "In the years
                                 ahead, I want to see a full-scale revitalization
                                 of what we do and how we think about
                                 environmental justice. This is not an issue we can
                                 afford to relegate to the margins. It has to be part
                                 of our thinking in every decision we make."
                 To revitalize the agency's environmental justice efforts, the
                 Administrator directed the EPA's national programs and regional
                 offices to address the needs of overburdened communities by
                 decreasing environmental burdens, increasing environmental
                 benefits, and working collaboratively to build healthy, sustainable,
                 and green communities.
                  Plan EJ 2014
                                           Plan EJ 2014
                  Plan EJ 2014 has been developed to support
                  Administrator Jackson's priority to advance
                  environmental justice. Plan EJ 2014 is not a
                  rule or regulation. It is a strategy to integrate
                  environmental justice into EPA's day-to-day
                  activities.
                  Implementation of Plan EJ 2014 is the responsibility of the entire
                  agency. Each national program and region has taken a leadership
                  role in Plan EJ 2014 and has developed an implementation plan to
                  manage their commitments. The Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ)
                  supports the management and communication of the plan, and in
                  some areas directly participates in the execution of implementation
                  plans.
                                                          About the Office of Environmental Justice

                                                          The Office of Environmental Justice, formerly known as the
                                                          Office of Environmental Equity, was created in 1992 and has the
                                                          primary responsibility for coordinating agency efforts to integrate
                                                          environmental justice consideration into all of EPA's policies,
                                                          programs, and activities. OEJ works to empower stakeholders to
                                                          constructively and collaboratively address environmental justice
                                                          issues. The office also establishes partnerships with local, state,
                                                          tribal, and federal governments and organizations to achieve
                                                          healthy and sustainable communities.
For the past 20 years OEJ has worked to foster public health and
sustainability in overburdened communities and to enable all
EPA Headquarters and regional offices to address environmental
justice as a part of their day-to-day activities. Under Administrator
Jackson's leadership, the EPA has expanded this concept to not
only address disproportionately adverse human health problems in
overburdened communities, but also to focus on providing access
to the environmental, public health, and economic benefits of all
federal  agency programs.

To accomplish this mission, OEJ has created programs, policies, and
activities outlined in this document, to engage federal agencies to
help them understand environmental justice issues; build capacity
for community-based action programs; incorporate the voice
of communities into agency decisions; and provide tools for EJ
actions.
>. » i K i n g 19,
environmental
justice
 D/d tyou     November 2, 2012 marks the 20th anniversary of the creation of EPA's
  is            Office of Environmental Equity, which would eventually become the Office of
^jynou'...      Environmental Justice.

-------
 Agency Milestones
Environmental
Equity Work
Group formed.
   1990
1991
                                  President Clinton issues EO 12898,
                                  Federal Actions to Address Environmental
                                 | Justice in Minority Populations and Low-
                                  Income Populations.
I Office of Environmental
 Justice formed (formerly
 Office of Environmental
 Equity).


   1992
                                       National
                                       Environmental
                                      I Justice Advisory
                                       Council established.
1993
1994
                                                                                                                                                                           National Environmental
                                                                                                                                                                           Justice Training
                                                                                                                                                                           Collaborative formed.
                                                                                                       EPA and the
                                                                                                       President's Council
                                                                                                       for Environmental
                                                                                                       Quality convene the
                                                                                                       1st public listening
                                                                                                       session.
                                                                                          Federal Environmental
                                                                                          Justice Interagency
                                                                                          Working Group formed.
                                                                                                                                                                 Environmental
                                                                                                                                                                 Justice Action Plans
                                                                                                                                                                 implementation
                                                                                                                                                                 besins.
                                                                                                               EPA issues memorandum,
                                                                                                               "Statutory and Regulatory
                                                                                                               Authorities Under Which
                                                                                                               Environmental Justice Issues May
                                                                                                               Be Addressed in Permitting."
                                    Environmental Justice Smal
                                    Grants Prosram established.
1995
1996
1997
1998
             Engaging Other Agencies to Understand and Address EJ Issues
    In order to support the achievement of public health and sustainability
    in overburdened communities, the federal government can use a
    variety of authorities and resources.  To leverage these resources, EPA
    engages federal agencies to help them participate in a coordinated
    approach.

    The Federal Interagency Working Group on
    Environmental Justice (EJ IWG)

    The EJ IWG was established in 1994 under Executive Order 12898. The
    EJ IWG guides, supports, and enhances federal environmental justice
    and community-based activities. It is comprised of 15 federal agencies
    and several White House offices. The Memorandum of Understanding
    on Environmental Justice is an  agreement between EJ IWG agencies
    to recommit to environmental justice through a collaborative effort.
    Each agency released an EJ strategy in February, 2012.
                                             The Partnership for Sustainable Communities is an excellent
                                             illustration of how this type of inter-agency collaboration can
                                             work. By working together, the departments of Housing and Urban
                                             Development and Transportation, and EPA are helping to improve
                                             access to affordable housing, provide more transportation options at
                                             lower costs, and protect the environment in communities nationwide.
                                             For more information about current EJ IWG activities, visit:
                                             www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/interagency
                 Building Capacity for Community-Based Action  Programs
    The EPA has learned that communities must be the driver for local
    solutions. To build capacity in these communities, OEJ provides grants
    to organizations, works with regional offices to provide technical
    assistance to communities, and engages overburdened populations
    to build partnerships that promote healthy communities.

    Small Grants Programs

    The Environmental Justice Small Grants Program provides financial
    assistance to community-based organizations and local and tribal
    governments working on community projects aimed at addressing
    environmental and public health issues. Since 1994, the program  has
    awarded $24 million to 1,466 grant recipients. The goal of the EJ Small
    Grants Program is to help affected communities create self-sustaining,
    community-based partnerships that will continue to improve local
                                             environments in the future. To find out more about the EJ Small
                                             Grants Program, visit: www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/grants/
                                             ej-smgrants

                                             Environmental Justice Showcase Communities

                                             The EPA provided $1 million to help alleviate environmental and
                                             human health challenges in ten communities across the nation.
                                             The effort brings together the collective resources and expertise of
                                             governmental and non-governmental organizations to achieve real
                                             results in communities. The lessons learned from the projects increase
                                             EPA's ability to address local environmental challenges and support
                                             community development in more effective, efficient, and sustainable
                                             ways,. To learn more about EJ Showcase Community projects, visit:
                                             www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/grants/ej-showcase
                                                                                                  Youth Workshops

                                                                                                  Young people experience the world through a different lens, allowing
                                                                                                  them to bring innovative ideas to the table. To harness this energy, OEJ
                                                                                                  hosts workshops to promote youth participation in the environmental
                                                                                                  decision-making process. Local youths range between the ages of 14
                                                                                                  and 25 years of age.

                                                                                                  Environmental Justice Eco-Ambassadors

                                                                                                  The EJ Eco-Ambassador program provides student career development
                                                                                                  opportunities for graduate students. The program aims to expand
                                                                                                  opportunities for graduate students to work collaboratively with EPA
                                                                                                  offices to support community based programs and increase local
                                                                                                                                         community's capacity to address environmental concerns; and facilitate
                                                                                                                                         career development opportunities for graduate level students who
                                                                                                                                         have been involved in or have a strong interest in environmental
                                                                                                                                         justice. To learn more, visit: www.epa.gov/ecoambassadors/
                                                                                                                                         environmentaljustice
                                                                                                                             Incorporating the Voice of Communities in Agency Decisions
                                                                                                   OEJ is working to integrate consideration of environmental
                                                                                                   justice concerns and incorporate EJ communities' voices into the
                                                                                                   planning and implementation of the agencies' program strategies.

                                                                                                   National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC)

                                                                                                   The mission of NEJAC is to provide independent advice and
                                                                                                   recommendations to the Administrator about broad, crosscutting
                                                                                                   issues related to environmental justice. NEJAC also holds public
                                                                                                   meetings to receive comments, questions, and recommendations
                                                                                                   regarding environmental justice issues. Since 1993, the NEJAC has
                                                                                                   developed 27 recommendation reports to better address
                                                                                                   the needs of disadvantaged and underserved communities. To read
                                                                                                   the NEJAC's reports, visit: www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/nejac

                                                                                                   EJ Listserv

                                                                                                   The listserv notifies individuals about EPA's programs, projects, grants,
                                                                                                   public input opportunities and EJ activities at other agencies. To join
                                                                                                   the EJ Listserv, visit: www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/resources
                                                                                                                                         Tribal and Indigenous Stakeholder Consultation

                                                                                                                                         To work more effectively with federally-recognized tribes and other
                                                                                                                                         indigenous peoples on EJ issues, EPA is developing new processes to
                                                                                                                                         coordinate & collaborate with tribes and indigenous stakeholders.
                                                                                                                                         The NEJAC/lndigenous Peoples Work Group is providing advice and
                                                                                                                                         recommendations to EPA on how to work more effectively with tribes,
                                                                                                                                         indigenous stakeholders, and other federal  agencies to address EJ
                                                                                                                                         issues. EPA will use the input from the tribes, the NEJAC, and other
                                                                                                                                         indigenous stakeholders, to develop its tribal and indigenous peoples
                                                                                                                                         EJ guiding principles/policy. To learn more about OEJ's efforts on tribal
                                                                                                                                         policy, visit: www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/indigenous
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  (continues on back)

-------