Federal Interagency
Working Group on
Environmental Justice
Fiscal Year 2018 Progress Report
Working together
towards collaborative
& innovative solutions
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FY18 Federal Interagency Working Group
Progress Report
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction 3
EJIWG Highlights for Fiscal Year 2018
Connecting Federal Agencies to Communities 4
Connecting Stakeholders to Environmental Justice Tools and
Resources 5
Connecting Stakeholders during Post-Disaster Recovery 6
Connecting with Leaders of the Future: Strengthening Youth
Engagement 7
Conclusion 8
Appendix A: EJ IWG Committees (May 2018) 9
EMPOWERING
Ashley Logan, 2018 Educate, Motivate and
Innovate student presenter at the National
Environmental Justice Conference and Train-
ing Program in Washington D.C.
EJ IWG Agencies
Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Department of Commerce (DOC)
Department of Defense (DOD)
Department of Education (ED)
Department of Energy (DOE)
Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS)
Department of Housing and Ur-
ban Development (HUD)
Department of the Interior (DOI)
Department of Justice (DOJ)
Department of Labor (DOL)
Department of Transportation
(DOT)
Department of Veteran Affairs
(VA)
Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA)
General Services Administration
(GSA)
White House Council on
Environmental Quality (CEQ)
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FY 18 Federal Interagency Working Group
Progress Report
Introduction
The Federal Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice (EJ IWG), chaired by the EPA Administrator, is
comprised of 17 federal agencies and White House offices with standing committees and other committees
established as necessary to carry out responsibilities outlined by the 1994 Executive Order 12898, "Federal Actions to
Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations" (EO 12898). The EJ IWG
consists of senior leadership representatives, senior staff representatives, and other persons delegated by an agency.
This report demonstrates progress that the EJ IWG has made during Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 in implementing the EJ
IWG Framework for Collaboration (FY 2016-2018).
The EJ IWG facilitates the active involvement of all federal agencies to implement EO 12898, which directs that
federal agencies must identify and address, as appropriate, disproportionately high and adverse human health or
environmental effects of their programs, policies, and activities on minority populations and low-income populations.
Established through the Order, the EJ IWG provides leadership, guidance and support for federal agencies to
collectively advance environmental justice principles. The EJ IWG works as a federal family to bring partners and
resources together, and increase local community capacity to promote and implement innovative and comprehensive
solutions to environmental justice issues. The EJ IWG recognizes that information fosters action and a common
understanding of environmental justice challenges. The three guiding principles for the federal government are:
• Accessibility — easily reached by communities, advocates, and other stakeholders regarding environmental justice
concerns;
• Awareness — knowledgeable of the environmental justice concerns and issues facing communities in order to
facilitate collaboration and coordination; and
• Accountability — capable of explaining the actions and decisions related to the implementation of E.O. 12898.
This FY 2018 report highlights some of the following primary focus areas of the EJ IWG: Title VI of the Civil Rights
Act, Rural Community Engagement, Goods Movement, Native American/Indigenous Peoples, Regional Engagement
and the National Environmental Policy Act. In FY18, the EJ IWG also prioritized efforts on strengthening
connections between:
• Federal Agencies and Communities,
• Stakeholders and EJ Tools & Resources,
• Various Stakeholders During Post-Natural Disaster Recovery, and
• The EJ IWG and Future EJ Leaders.
For a list of EJ IWG Committees (as of May 2018), please see Appendix A. For a list of agency contacts for the EJ
IWG, please visit the Agency Contacts webpage.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines Environmental Justice as:
The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people-regardless of race, color, national origin, or income- with
respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.
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Connecting Federal Agencies to Communities
The EJ IWG is committed to being Accessible, Aware and Accountable to its stakeholders through digital and in-
person outreach. The following are some FY 2018 highlights of EJ IWG members engaging with communities and
other stakeholders:
• In Los Angeles, California, the Goods Movement
Committee presented at the Moving Forward Network
4th Annual Conference to increase awareness of the
EJ IWG's Goods Movement Federal Resources
Compendium among community organizations and
other conference participants. The compendium
identifies the tools that can be used to mitigate
externalities related to goods movement.
• In Seattle, Washington, the Goods Movement
Committee facilitated the community of Beacon Hill's access to engage with the Federal Aviation Administration
to collectively address noise and air quality concerns stemming from a nearby airport.
• In Savannah, Georgia, the Goods Movement
Committee visited a local Near-Port Community
Capacity Building Pilot Project site to discuss the
community's action plan and raised the awareness of
community members and other stakeholders (e.g. port
authority and other local government) of the Goods
Movement Committee as a potential resource.
Tarni Thomas-Burton & Sabrina Johnson (EPA) awarded Certificates of
Appreciation to Dr. McClain (Harambee House), Dr. Caroline Bell (Savannah
Mayor Pro Tem), and Hope Moorer (Georgia Ports Authority) for their
outstanding partnership with EPA's 1st Near-port Community Capacity
Building Pilot Project.
• To assist Lowndes County, Alabama, the Rural Communities Committee convened a local Interagency Working
Group and facilitated dialogue with federal, regional, state and local government and community stakeholders to
address health, economic and environmental challenges related to long-standing rural wastewater infrastructure
issues. Participants included several federal agencies, including the Department of Agriculture (USDA),
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), General Services Administration (GSA) and EPA; the Alabama
Department of Public Health (ADPH), the Alabama State Agency for Surplus Personal Property; and other
stakeholders. After connecting with these stakeholders, ADPH was able to access surplus supplies (e.g., backhoes,
dump trucks, etc.) valued at almost $1 million for no cost. Federal EJ efforts are ongoing to help 100 families in
Lowndes County obtain decentralized sewer systems.
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Connecting Stakeholders to Ei Tools and Resources
As the EJ IWG worked to remain accessible by connecting communities to federal agencies, it also continued to
connect stakeholders to valuable tools and resources. The EJ IWG developed online tools, resources and webi-
nars to share information broadly and help the public address environmental justice concerns in their local com-
munities through existing laws. Examples of this work include the following below.
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Trainings:
• Council on Environmental Quality (CEO) Federal NEPA Contacts Webinar — The EJ IWG NEPA Committee
conducted a webinar for federal agency partners to raise agency awareness and facilitate implementation of the
"Promising Practices for EJ Methodologies in NEPA Reviews" (Promising Practices) resource.
• 2018 National Environmental Justice Conference &
7 raining Program (NEJC) Community Guide to
Environmental Justice and NEPA Methods Workshop —
This session conducted by the EJ IWG NEPA Committee
increased awareness of a new tool, "Community Guide to
Environmental Justice and NEPA Methods" (Community
Guide) which is a companion document to the Promising
Practices document. The workshop fostered collaboration
among the federal agencies and the public. Participants
gained a better knowledge of what practices federal
agencies use to evaluate environmental impacts to minority
and low-income populations and how they can be a more
effective advocate for their communities in agency decision
-making processes.
Civil Rights Law Trainings:
• 2018 NEJC Conference Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Training — The EJ IWG Title VI Committee
conducted this session to provide participants with an overview of Title VI, its application to environmental justice
scenarios, and information on how to file a complaint with a federal agency and how such complaints are
processed.
• EJ IWG Access and Awareness Webinar Series: Civil Rights in Federally Assisted Disaster Preparedness and
Recovery — This webinar covered efforts to protect communities before, during and after an emergency event,
including interagency activities to ensure nondiscrimination in each phase of emergency management. It was
presented by four federal agencies: Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Transportation (DOT), and Department of
Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Webinar recording can be found on the EJ IWG Web mars webpage.
NEPA Committee Training & Workshop at the 2018 NEJC
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Connecting Stakeholders during Post-Disaster Recovery
In addition to conducting a webinar on Civil Rights in Federally Assisted Disaster Preparedness and Recovery, the EJ
IWG prioritized working with partners to support equitable natural disaster recovery actions. Based on lessons learned
from previous natural disasters, such as Hurricanes Katrina and Maria, the EJ IWG worked to support minority and
low-income populations suffering from chronic conditions that are disproportionately vulnerable in the event of a
disaster. Here are two examples of those efforts:
Hurricane Florence
In September 2018, Hurricane Florence caused severe damage along the North Carolina coast, including widespread
power outages, storm surge and rainfall resulting in flooding. The EJ IWG worked with EPA (Office of
Environmental Justice, Region 4), USDA (Forest Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service), HHS (Health
Resource Services Administration, Office of the Assistant Secretary, National Diabetes Education Program), DHS,
American Diabetes Association, Diabetes Disaster Recovery Association, American Optometric Association and
Insulin for Life, among others, after the disaster to:
• develop and activate a network of community and environmental justice
and health care providers to receive and share information on diabetes care
in natural disasters;
• distribute information from federal agencies, non-profit organizations and
medical providers on diabetes, pharmacies and shelters, health care
providers, storing insulin and safe disposal of sharp objects; and
• connect organizations providing insulin and disease management supplies
free of charge to those with diabetes through emergency response
personnel in storm areas. P " Observed Rainfall
Last 5 Days
Ending
2 pm Tuesday 9/18
Observed Precipitation
iaJr~
U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration observed rainfall map from
Hurricane Florence
Hurricane Harvey
In August 2017, Hurricane Harvey made landfall along the Middle Texas
Coast and stalled over Texas for days. After causing severe flooding over
South and Southeast Texas, Harvey made its final landfall near Cameron,
Louisiana, causing more heavy rainfall and flooding. The environmental,
health and economic impacts of natural disasters continue long after a storm occurs. The EJ IWG worked with EPA,
USDA, HHS, DHS, Lone Star Legal Aid, Texas Campaign for the Environment, Coalition for Environmental Equity
and Resilience (CEER), Cities Changing Diabetes (CCD) and member organizations to:
• Conduct training in July 2018 on leveraging the Brownflelds to Healthfields (B2H) approach for Disaster
Recovery in collaboration with Lone Star Legal Aid. B2H is a community centric, multi-stakeholder strategy that
brings partners (e.g., government, academia, nonprofits, healthcare, agriculture) together to transform
brownfields, a property with presence or potential presence of a hazard, pollutant or contaminant, into spaces that
strengthen community health, equity, sustainability, and resiliency. Over 40 organizations participated in the
training. A follow-up meeting was held to discuss specific issues and interests of communities impacted by
contaminated sites experiencing flooding.
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• Convene a facilitated dialogue with CCD to align resources and interests. For example, CCD is producing a tool kit for
addressing diabetes during storm events. Further, member organizations of CCD are interested in redeveloping
brownfields to increase access to health care for minority and low-income populations.
• Convene a series of meetings to link EJ communities with federal departments and local governments interested in
applying urban agriculture as a flood control measure.
Connecting with Leaders of the Future: Strengthening Youth Engagement
The EJ 1WG strives to engage and elevate the next generation of environmental justice leaders by providing
opportunities for them to present their work and share their insights. Elere are two examples:
EJ IWG Access and Awareness Webinar Series: A Seat at the Table: Environmental Justice and a New Generation
of Leaders — This webinar provided insights and strategies from young adults on how to engage and support youth
leadership in environmental justice. The conversation featured Carol E. Ramos-Gerena - Urban and Environmental
Planning, University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras Campus; Eriqah R. K. Vincent - National Eco-Leaders Coordinator,
National Wildlife Federation; and Jeremy May - VISTA Member with the Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and
Enforcement (Dept. of Interior), Mountain Studies Institute. Webinar recordings can be found at EJ IWG Webinars.
National Environmental Justice Conference & Training Program: EMI Student Plenary Session
As part of the EJ IWG's Educate Motivate Innovate (EMI) Initiative, four students presented at the 201.8 National
Environmental Justice Conference & Training Program in
Washington, DC:
• Kareeni Heshmat (Texas Southern University)
discussed "Green Infrastructure, Low Income
Communities and Environmental Justice."
• Carol Ramos-Gerena (University of Puerto Rico, Rio
Piedras), a presenter in 2017, was invited back in 2018
to provide an update, "Lessons Learned from
Experience in Action-Research Approaches for
Agroecological Education in Puerto Rico."
• Ashley Logan (Virginia State University) spoke about
the "Impact of Climate Change in Virginia:
Discussion on Economic Growth and Low-Income
Population."
• Juan Lazo Bautista (Hispanic Access Foundation
Resource Assistant, USDA Forest Service) addressed "Conservation Education: Speaking to Human Potential."
For more information on the EMI students and their presentations, please visit the 2018 "Educate Motivate innovate
Student Panelists webpage.
EMI student presenters at NE.TC 2018, listed from left to right:
Kareem Heshmat, Ashley Logan, Carol Ramos-Gerena and Juan Lazo
Bautista
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Conclusion
In fiscal year 2018, the EJ IWG continued its long-standing effort to ensure individuals
from vulnerable communities have the opportunity to have their issues heard and
addressed by federal agencies. Through in-person and digital outreach, engagement,
and collaboration the EJ IWG reached over 1,000 individual stakeholders in FY 18.
The interagency working group will focus on strengthening place-based, multi-agency
collaboration and disaster recovery efforts in the coming year.
The EJ IWG will also continue working to connect communities with federal agencies,
along with tools and resources to address environmental justice concerns. In the
upcoming fiscal year, the EJ IWG will publish new resource documents, including a
Guide to Finding Federal Assistance and Resources for Environmental Justice Efforts
factsheet that provides tips on searching for resources, tools, funding and technical
assistance and a Community Guide to Environmental Justice and NEPA Methods that
provides communities with information on how to effectively engage and advocate in
federal agency actions and decisions.
joi
The EJ IWG helps ensure
the federal government
is:
Accessible
Easily reached by
communities,
advocates, and other
stakeholders regarding
environmental justice
concerns
Aware
Knowledgeable of the
environmental justice
concerns
and issues facing
communities in
order to facilitate
collaboration
and coordination
Accountable
Capable of explaining the
actions and decisions
related
to the implementation of
Executive Order 12898
STAY CONNECTED!
Find more resources and information on the EJ IWG Website:
https://www.epa.gov/environmentaliustice/federal-interagencv-
working-group-environmental-iustice-ei-iwg
To receive updates on EJ tools and resources from across the federal
government, sign up for EPA's EJ Listserv:
https://lists.epa.gov/read/all forums/subscribe?name=epa-ei
To contact the EJ IWG, call the
EJ Hotline 800-962-6215 (toll-free).
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FY 18 Federal Interagency Working Group
Progress Report
APPENDIX A: EJIWG Committees - May 2018
COMMITTEE
COMMITTEE CHAIRPER-
SON/CO-CHAIRPERSON
PURPOSE
Strategy and
Implementation
Progress Report
Committee
EPA and DOJ
Serves as a resource for federal agencies as they review, update, or devel-
op their environmental justice strategy, and the annual implementation
progress reports. Works with agencies to help coordinate programs, poli-
cies, and activities. Coordinates EJ IWG Sr. Leadership Meetings. Manag-
es implementation of the EJ IWG Framework for Collaboration and stand-
ard operating procedures.
Regional IWG
EPA and HUD
Provides targeted and coordinated technical assistance, develops rela-
tionships between federal field and regional staff, and develops best prac-
tices for prioritizing EJ concerns. Develops community resource materials.
Strengthens education, training, and/or engagement on EJ among local
and state agencies. Implement Educate, Motivate, Initiate student project
and the Access & Awareness Webinar Series.
Native Americans/
Indigenous Peoples
DOJ
Facilitates effective coordination and collaboration of federal agencies in
identifying and addressing issues of environmental justice that are con-
cern to federally recognized tribes, indigenous peoples, and others living
in Indian Country.
Rural Communities
USDA and EPA
Supports efforts to ensure: collaboration between federal agencies and
rural environmental justice communities, develop economic opportuni-
ties so rural overburdened communities are self-sustaining and economi-
cally thriving, and coordinate federal agency investments to further holis-
tic community-based solutions that reduce environmental justice issues.
Impacts from
Commercial
Transportation
"Goods
Movement"
HUD, DOT/Federal Rail Road
Administration and EPA
Serves as a resource to coordinate with other federal agencies on reduc-
ing environmental and health effects of commercial transportation and
supporting infrastructure ("goods movement") that impact low-income,
minority and tribal populations (overburdened communities). Ensures
that overburdened communities have greater opportunities to access
benefits from federal efforts related to goods movement.
National Environ-
mental Policy Act
(NEPA)
DOE and HUD
Improves effective, efficient and consistent consideration of environmen-
tal justice principles in the NEPA process by sharing promising practices
and lessons learned developed by federal departments and agencies.
Title VI of the Civil
Rights Act
DOJ
Serves a resource to help agencies connect their civil rights enforcement
responsibilities with their other efforts to achieve environmental justice.
Public Participation
DOJ and EPA
Increases transparency, language accessible outreach and addresses tech-
nological barriers. Develops listening sessions and opportunities for pub-
lic input. Facilitates collaboration and public participation with federal
agencies and external stakeholders. Utilizes traditional means of commu-
nication and social media to build participation, Helps coordinate re-
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EPA—230R19001
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