Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving
Cooperative Agreement Program
2007 Awards

Project Descriptions

Region 1

Organization: Vietnamese American Initiative for Development (Boston, MA)

Project Description: The identified issue for this project is worker exposure to flammable and
toxic floor finishing products. The environmental and/or public health result desired is the
reduction in exposure to these toxics by floor finish workers. Viet-AID will accomplish this goal
by: (1) working with and educating business owners and workers to practice safer handling
techniques and use less toxic alternative floor finishing products; (2) work with business owners
to promote product replacement by switching to less toxic products; (3) working with state and
local governments to adopt legislation that requires floor finishers to be certified and to ban toxic
lacquer sealers; and (4) educating customers on less toxic floor finishing products.

Region 2

Organization: Southwest Area Neighborhood Association, Inc. (Rochester, NY)

Project Description: The identified issue for this project is resident exposure to household
hazards, namely lead, asthma triggers, and carbon monoxide. The environmental and/or public
health result desired is the reduction in exposure of residents to these household hazards. SWAN
will accomplish this goal by: (1) educating the residents on how to avoid household hazards and
how to make personal changes to reduce exposure; (2) assisting residents on how to gain access
to resources and services that address exposure to household hazards more effectively and
efficiently; and (3) conducting follow-ups with the participants in the program and the resource
providers to determine if changes in behavior occurred or if services were rendered.

Region 3

Organization: Coalition for Environmentally Safe Communities (Washington, DC)

Project Description: The identified issue for this project is resident exposure to household
hazards, namely asthma triggers and lead. The environmental result desired is a reduction in
exposure to such hazards. CESC plan to achieve their desired goal by: (1) creating sustainable,
ongoing resources and technical assistance to DC organizations and agencies to improve their
ability to respond to environmental health threats; and (2) providing training to staff and
volunteers to identify procedures for informing residents of environmental hazards affecting
them.

Region 4

Organization: Rural Empowerment Association for Community Help (Duplin, NC)

Project Description: The identified issue for this project is residents' exposure to air and water
contaminants, particularly hydrogen sulfide, from local hog operations within Duplin County.
The environmental and/or public health result the community hopes to achieve is a reduction in
the exposure of residents to air and water contaminants from local hog operations. REACH
hopes to achieve this goal by: (1) working with local hog operations to utilize new technologies

1


-------
that will eliminate the need for lagoons and spray fields; or (2) working with local hog operations
to get them to comply with state guidelines for operating spray fields.

Region 5

Organization: Cleveland Tenants Association (Cleveland, OH)

Project Description: The identified issue for this project is resident exposure to indoor
environmental hazards. The environmental and/or public health result the community hopes to
achieve is the reduction in exposure to such hazards. Cleveland Tenants Association and
Environmental Health Watch hopes to achieve this goal by: (1) conducting educational outreach
at tenant sites and community events regarding hazards and self-protective actions to reduce risk
related exposure; (2) performing building inspections with tenants to evaluate hazards; (3)
assisting tenants organize to secure landlord repairs and/or remediation of hazards and to affect
local policy decisions regarding hazards and regulation and enforcement procedures; and (4)
providing referrals for additional resources, such as home visits and additional educational
opportunities, as needed.

Region 6

Organization: Louisiana Environmental Justice Community Organization Coalition (Morgan
City, LA)

Project Description: The identified issue for this project is exposure of residents to toxic air
emissions from industrial facilities. The environmental and/or public health result the
community hopes to achieve is the reduction in exposure to toxic air emissions. LEJCOC will
concentrate on two communities in Shreveport, LA and St. James Parish along Highway 44 and
18 and train residents on the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution so they will be empowered to
negotiate with the industries in these two communities to reduce the residents' exposures. They
will work with the industries to make changes to their equipment and/or operating controls,
which may involve: (1) coming into compliance with permits; (2) meeting emission levels lower
than the permit levels; and/or (3) instituting non-permit initiatives to reduce resident exposure.

Region 7

Organization: Area Resources for Community and Human Services (St. Louis, MO)

Project Description: The identified issue for this project is toxic exposure of residents in their
homes and from small businesses located in the affected community. The environmental and/or
public health result the community hopes to achieve is the reduction in exposure to toxics.
ARCHS will achieve this goal by: (1) creating a public/private partnership led by the City of St.
Louis to create a regular pick-up service for household hazardous waste; (2) educating residents
on the use of less toxic alternatives and the proper handling and disposal techniques for
household hazardous waste; and (3) working with businesses adopt pollution prevention
mechanisms.

Region 8

Organization: San Luis Valley Ecosystem Council (Alamosa, CO)

Project Description: The identified issue for this project is resident exposure to contaminants
(e.g., metals, fertilizers) via household wells. The environmental and/or public health result
desired is a reduction in the number of residents within the Valley who are exposed to
contaminants through their drinking water source. SLVEC and its partners plan to achieve their

2


-------
desired goal through: (1) educating residents to take personal steps, such as using well water only
for bathing or washing, installing or cleaning water filters, to avoid exposure to well water
contaminants; (2) educating health care providers so that they will provide services and
information to affected residents to reduce exposure and to reduce associated health problems;
and (3) promoting and implementing new technologies that are cost effective, which will allow
low-income residents to afford filtration systems or to drill for new wells.

Region 9

Organization: Pacific Institutes for Studies in Development, Environment, and Security (West
Oakland, CA)

Project Description: The identified issue for this project is exposure to diesel emissions and
other environmental hazards associated with inappropriate land use within West Oakland. The
environmental and/or public health result desired is a reduction in exposure to such hazards.
Pacific Institutes and the WOEIP plan to achieve their desired goal through: (1) incorporating the
community's vision into existing land use plans for the reuse of the Oakland Army Base and the
City of Oakland; (2) convening all relevant stakeholders including business, Port of Oakland,
and the City to participate on the Land Use Workgroup to develop and implement solutions; and
(3) working with the City and other government entities to change existing policies to favor land
uses with less environmental impacts.

Region 10

Organization: Environmental Coalition of South Seattle (Seattle, WA)

Project Description: The identified issue for this project is exposure to toxic nail care products
by nail salon workers and clients. The environmental result desired is a reduction in exposure to
toxics from nail care products. ECOSS and their partners will achieve their desired goal by: (1)
working with industry manufacturers and distributors to make less toxic nail care products more
readily accessible to salon owners; and (2) educating nail salon owners, workers, and clients
about the benefits of less toxic products, the health hazards of using more toxic products, and
changes that individuals can make to minimize exposure so that these groups can make informed
decisions to lessen their exposure to toxic products.

3


-------