EJ Update Summer Fall 2000

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^!4;j Environmental Justice Update for Region 7 Stakeholders

EPA Region 7

Summer / Fall 2000

Iowa ~ Kansas ~ Missouri ~ Nebraska

www.epa.gov/region7

Front Page
Headlines

~ EJ Forum

~ A message
from Althea
Moses, Region
7 EJ Program
Coordinator

PG.

q q Community
Updates

a Funding &
Technical
Assist.

4~5 Fair

Treatment...

EJ Q & A

'The EJ Fcirmn Attracts Over
200 Attendees August 10, 2000

Over 200 participants attended the EJ Forum held on
August 10, 2000, at the Jack Reardon Civic Center in
Kansas City, ICansas. The EJ Forum was presented
by the Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7.
Co-sponsors of the event included: The Department
of Housing and Urban Development, Mid-America
Regional Council, and Bridging The Gap.

Among the stakeholders
in attendance at the forum
were: federal, state, and
local governments; non-
profit organizations;
environmental grassroots
organizations; academia;
tribal groups;
transportation
associations; engineering
firms; and others.

The purpose of the Environmental Justice (EJ) Forum
was to allow the EPA an opportunity to reinforce its
belief that partnerships between stakeholder groups
are vital to the pursuit of environmental justice. The
goal of the EJ Forum was to provide a place for
people to interact, and to encourage dialogue among
all regional stakeholder groups. This setting fostered
partnerships and provided an opportunity to exchange
viewpoints, information, and ideas.

Continued on page 3

A Message from Region 7's EJ
Coordinator

A s the summer ends and fall begins we find
ourselves at a point of reflection. In this
period of transition we look back and take
account of our actions and look forward to the
result of our efforts. The EPA Region 7
environmental justice program has focused this
past year on improving communication and
building partnerships.

The EJ Update serves as a communication tool
for you our partners in the journey towards
recognizing environmental justice.

This summer's activities included an EJ Forum
at which stakeholders engaged in dialogue to
discuss priorities and ways to partner in
addressing environmental justice.

Partnerships and working together has led to
the national recognition of communities in
New Madrid County, MO as a demonstration
project for the Integrated Inter-Agency Work
Group on Environmental Justice.

The Region 7 EJ program would like to thank
all those who supported our efforts as we
crossed into the new millennium, and to
congratulate all those who joined the
partnership efforts to ensure environmental
justice to all populations regardless of race,
ethnicity, or income.

Sincerely,
— Althea Moses

Region 7 Environmental Justice Program Manager

"To the greatest extent practicable and permitted by law, and consistent with the principles set forth in the report on the National Performance
Review, each Federal Agency shall make achieving environmental justice part of its mission by identifying and addressing as appropriate,
disproportionately high and adverse human health and environmental effects of its programs, policies, and activities on minority populations and
low income populations... " - Presidential Executive Order 12898

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i

Community Updates & Opportunities

New Madrid Demonstration Project

The New Madrid County Tri-Community Health
Campaign has begun to attract nation-wide attention
as a national pilot project for children's health. The
EPA Region 7 and the Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS) Midwest Region have
created a partnership to focus efforts on portions of
the population that are disproportionately impacted.

The three towns involved, Howardville, Lilbourn, and
North Lilbourn, MO. have joined to work with EPA,
NRCS, the Great Rivers Alliance of Natural Resource
District (GRAND), and the U.S. Department of
Agriculture to educate, inform, and prioritize health
issues in the area. The three main health concerns
include asthma, lead-based paint, and drinking water
quality. A county-wide health fair was held to help
educate and reach out to the community.

Kansas City Urban Core Youth Gain
"Environmental Literacy"

submitted by Bridging The Gap, Kansas City, MO

The Metropolitan Enviromnental Youth Academy (MEYA) is a pilot project
designed to provide inner-city youth with an understanding of the natural and
built environment, and to instill in them a sense of responsibility for the broader
community, as they design and implement related service projects in their
neighborhood.

EJ Update: Summer I Fall 2

UPCOMING EVENTS
October 2000

Latino Civil
Rights Summit

Perm Valley Community College, 3201
Southwest Trafficway, KCMQ. For more
details, contact the Coalition of Hispanic
Organizations |jj 816.756.1850 or Monica
Espinosa (EPA)!§J13.551.7058.

November 2000

Healthy
M eeting

2nd
Homes

LeadBusters is facilitating a second Safe
and Healthy Homes meeting on November
6th, from 11:30 -1:00 at the Linwood
Multi-Purpose Center, 3200 Wayne*
KCMO. It is an open meeting for all of
metro KC! Call 913-438-LEAD for more
information.

December 2000s

12-14

16th Bi-Annual
NE J AC M eeting

Die 16th Bi-Annual NE.TAC Meeting will be
held December 12 - 14, 2000 in Washington,
D.C. The policy issues up for discussion is:
Has there been success ill the integration of
environmental justice in the Federal
Government's programs, policies, and operation
and guidance consistent with existing
environmental laws and Executive Order
12898? For more information visit NE.TAC's
-web =site located- at:

http://es.epa.gov/oeca/main/ej/nejac/index.html

They learned about
issues of pollution,
waste reduction,
energy consumption,
and how to
understand their own
neighborhoods in the
context of these

The project began with a weekend wilderness retreat, June 9-11. 2000 in
Garden City, Missouri. Ten urban core youth were selected to participate in
the pilot project and attend the retreat. During their retreat, youth participated
in activities like "sensory hikes," fishing, walking in the wetlands, and a
hay ride in the country.

problems. They \-* I

developed leadership I I

skills and designed projects to improve the environment in their community.
The Summer Youth Academy graduation was held September and this
summer's youth were presented certificates of achievement.

( £ f =.\ Send your organization or community events to: The EJ Update, Attn: Althea Moses, 901 N. 5th Street, Kansas City, KS 66101 or
—w m email to Bishop.Debbie@epa.gov or King.Dapline(g)epa.gov or fax to the EJ Program 0 913.551.7941.
EPA reserves the right to edit submissions.

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, Community Update cont.

EJ Update: Summer I Fall 2

Metropolitan Energy Center Works with Westside
Neighbors to Improve Public Transportation

submitted by JefFUmreit Metropolitan Energy Center, Kansas City, MO

The Metropolitan Energy Center began
organizing its Westside Sustainable
Community Partnership in 1997 with
significant funding support from the
EPA's EJ Program. The Metropolitan
Energy Center, working with Kansas City,
Missouri's Westside community, began
the process to enhance the neighborhood's
public transportation in the fall of 1997.
Discussions with the Kansas City Area
Transportation Authority developed into a
working partnership that would address
the community's needs and help the
KCATA reach its long-term goal of better
connecting downtown Kansas City with
its surrounding neighborhoods.

This project stood
out because it was
one of the first
times the KCATA
looked towards a
community or
community-based
project to provide
neighborhood
input on the
design and
development of a
neighborhood bus
route. The
Westside
Circulator Route
was implemented
October 5, 1998.

Westside community participation has
continued to provide valuable input on the
bus route and schedule, specifically
through the involvement of a group of neighbors called Working
Together / Trabajando Juntos.

Team Sweep Environmental Education (TSEEI
Program Receives EPA Grant

submitted by the Team Sweep Program, St. Louis, MO

The Team Sweep program is very proud to announce the start-up
of "TSEE." TSEE stands for Team Sweep Environmental
Education program. Thanks to support and funding from the EPA
the TSEE program has started its activities with two pilot Team
Sweep teams.

The TSEE pilot project will build on its current success for
addressing issues of litter and trash, public safety, youth
development, intergenerational activities, and volunteerism.
Expanding on these activities we will include tackling other "low
tech" environmental issues like recycling, household hazardous
waste disposal, reporting of illegal dumping, vacant and
abandoned buildings. A somewhat unique benefit of the Team

Sweep program model is that
most activities occur in the
neighborhoods and on the
blocks where participants live.
TSEE will continue these
efforts by offering a majority of
the ins truction and training as part of the regular clean-up
activities, through engaging the support and assistance of
other community-based programs.

The TSEE pilot project provides

a unique opportunity for
environmental agencies to work
on a sustained basis directly with
youth in their neighborhoods.

EPA Programs Attend the
9th Annual Missouri Black Expo

The 9th annual Missouri Black Expo was held August 19-
20, in St. Louis, MO, and included over 500 booth
participants and attracted more than 30,000 attendees. The
EPA participated again this year to provide education and
outreach to the St. Louis community and beyond. EPA's
theme this year was, "Hazardous Chemicals in Your
Community." Debbie Bishop and Kimberly Hill of the
ECO/EJ Program partnered with Christine Hoard from the
Chemical Risk Information Branch, Community Right-To-
Know, and Ken Rapplean from the Enforcement / Fund-
Lead Removal Branch.

Some highlights of EPA's participation included the
showcase of Superfund emergency response equipment such
as the GEO PROBE, dive tank equipment, and protective
gear. Also featured was an explanation of the hazard
diamond, chemical risk information and environmental
justice program material.

EJ Forum

continued from page 1

During the seven-hour day we were able to see that it was
central that partnerships arise. Partnerships are necessary in
community planning, decision-making, holding public
meetings, enacting laws, zoning, permitting, evoking
meaningful involvement, and many other aspects as well. We
were also able to see where the gaps were. Corporate
representation was lacking, and there are barriers that still
tend to exist.

The overall goal of
the Forum was to
bring together
various regional
stakeholders, policy
and decision-
makers,	and
community
members to learn
about environmental justice. Pictured above is a panel
discussing community empowerment.

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EJ Update: Summer / Fall 2

Funding & Technical Assistance

EJ Small Grants Program Update

A record number of 33 grant applications were received
from across the region this fiscal year. Due in part to the
efforts of the EPA Region 7 EJ Program staff, "We did a
better job of getting the word out and a better job of
communicating with the public..reported Cecil Bailey,
EJ Small Grants Program Manager.

The grant money available this Fiscal Year (FY) totals
$110,000, broken down into non-superfund dollars,
$50,000 and superfund dollars, $60,000. The budgeted
money this year is down by $90,000 impacting the
number of grants the Region 7 EJ Program was able to
fund. The EPA National Announcement of this year's EJ
Small Grants will be September 30, 2000.

Distribution of grant applications

1 i receiwd

\—2

~ Nebraska

~ Iowa

¦ Kansas

~ Missouri

~ New York

^-/ ^ 12

~ South Dakota

Total = 33

The EJ Small Grants are designed to allow low-income /
minority communities or neighborhoods the ability to deal
with environmental and human health problems.

Sunerfund ?

Superfund grant
money requires
special grant
application review
and must meet the
guidance

requirements set
forth by Small
Grants Program in
W ashington, D. C.
Superfund in
comparison to non-
superfund grant
requirements in
short must

demonstrate the
need to address the
detection,

assessment, and
evaluation of the
effects on and risks
to human health
from hazardous
substances and the
detection of

hazardous
substances in the
environment.

The EJ Small Grants Program is built upon a set of
requirements and criteria set forth by the EPA and
implemented by regional offices.

Grant selections are based a number of factors that
include: community involvement; a work plan and
budget that provides a good link relative to the
environmental/health issues being addressed; and
includes a discussion of how the applicant will
evaluate the success of the project and a clear
description of quantitative "measures of success."
These are just a few aspects that are reviewed by
the selection committee.

For a more detailed description of the requirements
and criteria of the EJ Small Grants Program, please
see the EPA EJ Small Grants Program publication
entitled Application Guidance FY2000 or visit the
EPA EJ Small Grants Program web site. You may
also contact the EJ Program through the phone
numbers listed on page 5.

Fair Treatment & Meaningful Involvement

NE JAC Records Highest Attendance
this Mav. Focusing on Health Issues

More than 500 enviromnental justice stakeholders attended the
15th meeting of the National Environmental Justice Advisory
Council Meeting (NEJAC), May 23-26 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Health was the guiding theme that drove the discussions of the
council, public comment, and subcommittees. The meeting
began with a series of panels comprised of various stakeholders
that were designed to provide insight into the issues and
concerns raised about enviromnental justice and community-
based health models.

Althea Moses, EPA Region 7 EJ Program Coordinator,
attended the meeting and participated in special meetings with
Assistant Regional Administrators and EJ Coordinators to
discuss the EJ Grants Program, lead regional responsibilities,
and the EJ Training Collaborative. The next NEJAC meeting
will be held in Washington D.C., December 12th - 14th, 2000,
discussing Interagency Integration of Enviromnental Justice
into Federal Government's programs, policies, and operations.

What's NEJAC?

The National Environmental Justice
Advisory Council (NEJAC) is a federal
advisory committee that was established
by charter on September 30, 1993, to
provide independent advice,
consultation, and recommendations to
the Administrator of the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency on
matters related to environmental justice.

NEJAC council members represent
7 different stakeholder groups
including state/local government,
community groups, non-
governmental organizations,
academia, tribal governments,
business & industry and
environmental groups.

\A/\A/\A/ EJ Small Grants web site: http://es.epa.gov/oeca/oej/grlinkl.html

Vv Vv Vv INFORMATION FOR YOU: NEJAC web site: http://es.epa.gov/oeca/main/ej/nejac/index.html

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... Fair Treatment and Meaningful Involvement cont.

Priority Issues : Health & Environment

Health has become an increasingly hot topic in the
environmental justice arena. Your health and your family's
health along with the health of the environment are the top
issues that the EPA program offices address on a daily basis.

Issues of health and the environment map a disproportionate
impact zone among disadvantaged communities. The EPA
Region 7 EJ Program has health on its priority list and has
begun initiating children's health programs and environmental
health awareness projects aimed at informing and assisting
members of our regional community stakeholders. Hiunan and
environmental health concerns facing our regional community
include: children's health, lead health effects, asthma, and
drinking water quality.

EJ Update: Summer I Fall 2

Health Effect

Source of potential problems

• Lead effects

• Lead-based paint.contaminated soil.



dust, and drinking water.

• Drinking water

• Surface water & groundwater

quality



• Astluna

• Indoor & outdoor air pollution



(i.e. synthetic building materials.



smog. & CO)

•Inadequate drinking water quantity and quality are problems the
EPA lias continued to address. The EPA has developed water
quality standards designed to protect children and adults.

•Asthma-related hospitalizations have risen disproportionately
for inner-city children and in particular, for minority
populations.

Pictured above is evidence of the importance of health education
and awareness. A young girl participates in getting her lead
blood level tested as part of the Tri-Community Child Health
Campaign held in New Madrid, MO.

EJ Q & A

What is Environmental Justice ?

Environmental Justice (EJ) means the fair
treatment of people regardless of race, income,
and cultures, in the developing, carrying-out,
and enforcing of environmental laws,
regulations and policies. Fair treatment means
that no person or group of people should bear
a greater share of negative enviromnental
impacts resulting from enviromnental
programs.

How do I file a. Title VI
Civil Rights Complaint?

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,
prohibits recipients of federal financial
assistance from discriminating on the basis of
race, color, or national origin in their programs
or activities. The EPA is prohibited from
taking acts, including issuing permits, that are
intentionally discriminatory or have a
discriminatory effect based on race, color, or
national origin. Please contact EPA's Office
of Civil Rights (OCR) for more information:
www.epa.gov/civilrights or call 202.260.4575
in Washington, D C.

E J Staff Contacts

EJ Program Manager:

Althea Moses 913.551.7649

Publications:

Daphne King 913.551.7815
Debbie Bishop 913.5 51.752 9

Outreach / Training:

Kimberly Hill
(St. Louis Field Office)
314.821.2630

Grants / Tribal Contact:

March Runner 913.551.7898

For more infonnation on the
topics listed in this issue of
the B Update and regarding
the EPA EJ Program, please
contact the EJ Program at
EPA Region 7.

How do I recognize and report
environmental injustices?

An environmental injustice is any type of undue
environmental burden usually carried by low-
income or minority communities. Examples
include: toxic dumping, poor water quality, and
inadequate access to environmental infonnation.
To report an EJ issue to the EPA Region 7,
contact Althea Moses, EPA Enviromnental
Justice Program Coordinator.

What is EPA's strategy for
addressing EJ issues?

The EPA, under Executive Order 12898,
ensures the integration of enviromnental justice
into the Agency's programs, policies, and
activities. The strategy contains 5 major areas
including: 1) Public participation, outreach,
partnerships, and communication with
stakeholders; 2) Health and environmental
research; 3) Data collection, analysis, and
stakeholder access to public infonnation; 4)
American Indian and Indigenous enviromnental
protection; 5) Enforcement. compliance
assurance, and regulatory review.

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b

Useful Environmental Justice publications
available unon request:

To request publications, please contact Daphne King @ 1-800-223-0425, ext. 7815

• EJ Fact Sheet in English and Spanish

EJ Update: Summer I Fall 2

iffl

•	EPA Journal: Environmental Protection - Has
It Been Fair?

•	Environmental Enforcement: A Citizen's
Guide

•	Environmental Equity: Reducing Risk for All
Communities; Volume 1: Workgroup Report to
the Administrator

•	Environmental Equity: Reducing Risk for All
Communities; Volume 2: Supporting Document

•	Environmental Justice 1996 Annual Report:
Working Toward Solutions

•Environmental Justice Community Handbook

•	Environmental Justice Strategy:

Executive Order 12898

• Executive Order 12898: Federal Registrar; Volume
59, Number 32

•	Guide to Sustainable Community Indicators

•	La Linea de Emergencia Para Justicia Ambiental

•	Public's Role in Environmental Enforcement

•	Serving a Diverse Society: EPA's Role in
Environmental Justice

•	Sirviendo A Una Sociedad Que Es Diversa: Funcion
De EPA En Justicia Ambiental

•	Region 7 Environmental Justice Quarterly Update:
Winter 1998

•	Region 7 Environmental Justice Quarterly Update:
Summer 1999

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL

PROTECTION AGENCY

Region VII

901 North 5th Street

Kansas City, KS 66101

Mail Code: RA / ECO / EJ

OFFICIAL BUISNESS
Penalty for Private Use $300

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