U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
OFFICE OF WATER
CALENDAR YEAR 2007 & FISCAL YEAR 2008
ACTION PLAN TO
INTEGRATE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
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Final Action Plan
Calendar Year 2007 & Fiscal Year 2008
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Table of Contents
Office of Water Environmental Justice Contacts 3
Introduction 4
Office of Water's Environmental Justice Accomplishments 5
Office of Water's Environmental Justice Policy 6
Section 1: Organizational Infrastructure 7
Section 2: Management Support 8
Section 3: Organizational Resources and Program Support 9
Section 4: Government Performance and Results Act Alignment 12
Section 5: Internal Organizational Engagement 13
Section 6: External Stakeholder Engagement 15
Section 7: Data Collection, Management, and Evaluation 17
Section 8: Professional and Organization Development 18
Section 9: Environmental Justice Assessment 19
Section 10: Program Evaluation 20
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OFFICE OF WATER ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE CONTACTS
Office of Water Environmental Justice Coordinator
Alice Walker
Ariel Rios Building
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW (MC: 4101M)
Washington, DC 20460
Telephone: 202-529-7534
E-mail: walker.alice@epa.gov
American Indian Environmental Office Environmental Justice Contact
Teresa Kuklinski
Ariel Rios Building
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW (MC: 4104M)
Washington, DC 20460
Telephone: 202-564-0246
E-mail: kuklinski.teresa@eDa.aov
Office of Groundwater and Drinking Water Environmental Justice Contact
Towana Dorsey
Ariel Rios Building
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW (MC: 4606M)
Washington, DC 20460
Telephone: 202-564-4099
E-mail: dorsey.towana@epa.gov
Office of Science and Technology Environmental Justice Contact
Ted Johnson
Ariel Rios Building
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW (MC: 4301T)
Washington, DC 20460
Telephone: 202-566-0435
E-mail: johnson.theodore@epa.gov
Office of Wastewater Management Environmental Justice Contact
William M. Webster III
Ariel Rios Building
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW (MC: 4203M)
Washington, DC 20460
Telephone: 202-564-0616
E-mail: Webster.william@epa.gov
Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds Environmental Justice Contact
Donna Downing
Ariel Rios Building
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW (MC: 4502T)
Washington, DC 20460
Telephone: 202-566-1367
E-mail: downina.donna@epa.gov
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U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY - OFFICE OF WATER
CALENDAR YEAR 2007 & FISCAL YEAR 2008 ACTION PLAN
TO INTEGRATE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
INTRODUCTION
The Environmental Justice Action Plan for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Water Calendar
Year (CY) 2007 - Fiscal Year 2008 is intended as a guide for implementing strategies and activities to integrate
environmental justice into existing and future priorities and commitments. In accordance with the President's
Executive Order 12898, Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-
Income Populations (1994), and the Administrator's Environmental Justice Memorandum (November 4, 2004),
Office of Water (OW) has developed this action plan to help achieve the Agency's overarching goal "to
integrate environmental justice into all EPA programs, policies, and activities that results in a measurable
benefit to the environment and/or public health of affected communities."
This action plan serves as a meaningful resource for OW staff and managers as they develop and implement
their policies, programs, and activities for CY 2007/FY 2008. This action plan addresses management
accountability; internal and external organizational engagements; collection, management, and, evaluation of
data; professional and organizational development; environmental justice assessment process; and program
evaluation.
Under the Safe Drinking Water Act (1974) [SDWA] and the Clean
Water Act (1977) [CWA], OW works with EPA regional water
divisions, states, tribes, water systems, and the public to set
national drinking water standards and develop pollution control
programs. OW is committed to incorporate environmental justice
principles throughout these decision-making processes to ensure
protection of human health for all communities and populations.
The Office of Water is organized into five program offices.
Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water (OGWDW) protects public health by ensuring safe
drinking water and protecting sources of drinking water. OGWDW, along with EPA's ten regional drinking water
programs, oversees the implementation of the SDWA. OGWDW develops and provides assistance to implement
national drinking water standards; oversees, assists, and helps fund state drinking water standards and source
water protection programs; helps small drinking water programs; protects underground sources of drinking
water through the Underground Injection Control Program; and provides information to the public. OGWDW
also works in cooperation with regions, states, and tribes. In addition, to further protect the nation's drinking
water systems from terrorist acts, OGWDW has formed the Water Security Division to help the water sector to
understand and use the best scientific information and technologies for water security, support the assessment
of the vulnerabilities that large, urban utilities may have to possible attack, and respond effectively in the event
that an incident occurs.
Office of Science and Technology (OST) is responsible for developing sound, scientifically
defensible standards, criteria, advisories, guidelines, limitations, and standards guidelines under the CWA and
SWDA. OST also is responsible for developing risk assessment methodologies and providing risk assessment
support for OW. These products articulate the goals and provide the regulatory framework for restoring and
maintaining the biological, chemical, and physical integrity of the nation's water resources; protecting the
nation's public water supplies; and achieving technology-based pollution control requirements in support of
point source (end of pipe) discharge programs, nonpoint source programs, wetlands programs, drinking water
programs, dredge material management programs and geographic-specific programs (such as, Great Lakes,
coastal areas and estuaries).
OW's reference to environmental justice
principles throughout this action plan means 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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OST consists of three divisions that include the Engineering and Analysis Division, the Health and Ecological
Criteria Division, and the Standards and Health Protection Division.
Office of Wastewater Management (OWM) oversees a range of programs contributing to the well-
being of the nation's waters and watersheds. Through its programs and initiatives, OWM promotes compliance
with the requirements of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. Under the CWA, OWM works in partnership
with EPA regions, states, and tribes to regulate discharges into surface waters such as wetlands, lakes, rivers,
estuaries, bays, and oceans. Specifically, OWM focuses on control of water that is collected in discrete
conveyances (also called point sources), including pipes, ditches, and sanitary or storm sewers. OWM also is
responsible for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, the largest water quality funding source, focused on
funding wastewater treatment systems, nonpoint source projects, and estuary protection. In addition, OWM
manages the Water Pollution Control Program grants program for states and tribes.
Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds (OWOW) promotes a watershed approach to manage,
protect, and restore the water resources and aquatic ecosystems of our marine and fresh waters. This
strategy is based on the premise that water quality and ecosystem problems are best solved at the watershed
level and that local citizens play an integral role in achieving clean water goals. Through its many programs,
including ocean and coastal protection, wetlands protection, nonpoint source pollution, and monitoring, OWOW
provides technical and financial assistance and develops regulations and guidance to support the watershed
approach. OWOW works with states, tribes, territories, local governments, the private sector, and non-profit
organizations to implement aspects of its program.
American Indian Environmental Office (AIEO) The American Indian Environmental Office (AIEO)
coordinates the Agency-wide effort to strengthen public health and environmental protection in Indian country, with
a special emphasis on building capacity for tribes to administer their own environmental programs. AIEO oversees
development and implementation of EPA's Indian Policy and strives to ensure that all EPA Headquarters and regional
offices implement their parts of EPA's Indian program in a manner consistent with administration policy to work with
tribes on a government-to-government basis and with EPA's trust responsibility to protect Tribal health and
environments.
Environmental Justice Accomplishments
The Office of Water provides funding for infrastructure improvements to small and disadvantaged communities
through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF). The funding of infrastructure improvements
reduces public exposure to contaminants though compliance with rules and supports the reliable delivery of
safe water in small and disadvantaged communities and for Tribal and territorial public water systems. In
2006, 72% of loans made by state Drinking Water State Revolving Fund programs were to small systems. Also
in 2006, 27% of loans (which may include lower-interest or longer-term loans and/or principal forgiveness)
made by state DWSRF were to systems serving disadvantaged communities.
The Office of Water maintains the Fish Consumption Advisory Program Website that includes the National
Listing of Fish and Wildlife Consumption Advisories (NFLA). In 2006, the NFLA was updated to include current
information about fish consumption advisories issued by state, tribal, local and federal agencies. The website
will disseminate information to health professionals and the public to make informed decisions on when and
where to fish, and how to prepare fish caught for recreation and subsistence. Information on the website will
provide greater access to information to minority and low-income populations, with the goal of reducing their
exposure to contaminants in fish.
Staff in OW led and participated on a cross-media Fish Consumption Workgroup to develop a response to the
National Environmental Justice Advisory Council's (NEJAC) Recommendations on Fish Consumption and the
Environment.
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Water, Office of Science and Technology, in partnership
with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, completed six new
translations of the National Mercury Advisory brochure. The brochure, "What You Need to Know about Mercury
in Fish and Shellfish" is now translated into Cambodian, Hmong, Vietnamese, Chinese, Portuguese and Korean.
This brochure provides guidance to women of childbearing age and children on selecting and eating fish to
avoid exposure to harmful effects of mercury.
EPA developed and released in January of 2006 a suite of new tools and guidance documents to better protect
children from lead in drinking water and encourage voluntary activity by schools and child-care centers. The
guidance documents teach schools and childcare facilities how to implement a 3Ts -Training, Testing, and
Telling. The goal is to encourage voluntary lead in drinking water reduction programs. EPA's objective is to
provide school officials and child-care providers with the tools they need to understand and address lead in
drinking water in their facilities. This effort is in alignment with the National Environmental Justice Priority -
Water Safe to Drink, and EPA's Strategic Plan 2003 - 2008, Goal 2: Clean and Safe Drinking Water, Objective
2: Clean and Safe Drinking Water. For more information on starting your 3Ts program, please visit
www.epa.gov/safewater/schools.
Four case studies on the water quality standards programs in the Hoopa Valley Tribe, Hualapai Tribe,
Sokaogon Chippewa Community, and Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation
were completed. The case studies highlight the benefits of a water quality standards program to Indians
Tribes. Case studies will also be distributed to other stakeholders (States, watershed groups and others) to
showcase the positive efforts being made by Tribes to protect waters The case studies are available on-line at
httD://eDa.aov/waterscience/tribes/video.htm. The case studies were distributed at the National Forum on
Environmental Science in Washington in September 25, 2006.
OFFICE OF WATER'S ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE POLICY
EPA's mission is to protect human health and safeguard the environment - air, water, and land - upon
which the health and well being of all Americans depends, regardless of race, color, national origin, or
economic circumstance. OW strives to provide clean and safe surface and drinking water that all Americans can
enjoy. This is consistent with achieving the Agency's Environmental Justice priorities of Fish and Shellfish Safe
to Eat and Water Safe to Drink.
To achieve these benefits for all Americans, OW is committed to integrate environmental justice principles as
appropriate into its policies, programs, and activities to ensure that no segment of the population is
disproportionately burdened from adverse human health or environmental effects.
OW is dedicated to enhancing programmatic areas to prevent disproportionate exposure to risks of
environmental health hazards. OW is aware that data collection and analysis are fundamental to identifying
and prioritizing environmental health risks, as well as pollution prevention opportunities for risk reduction, in
environmental justice communities. OW commits to improving information collection as quickly as possible by
working with states and tribes to help preserve the integrity of their current programs in the face of significant
funding cutbacks; making better use of statistical modeling techniques to fill the gaps; and upgrading existing
data and information. Therefore, OW will ensure that its staff has access to information and analytical support
necessary to explore ways to improve environmental systems. In resolving these gaps, OW will additionally
gain best practices and lessons learned about environmental justice to be woven into future priorities and
commitments.
OW commits to engaging stakeholders early in the environmental decision making process through public
participation, cross media team involvement, outreach and partnerships. OW fosters improving stakeholders'
capacity to address problems and engage diverse stakeholders in solving problems. OW believes pooling all
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available knowledge and leveraging resources are pertinent tools to effectively address environmental justice
concerns. Furthermore, OW is dedicated to strengthening collaborative relationships with external water
programs to assure OW policies in environmental justice are being implemented accordingly.
OW also commits to working with the states, tribal partners, and other stakeholders to develop and
implement broad based and integrated monitoring and assessment programs that strengthen their water
quality standards and improve decision-making.
OW management will strongly communicate environmental justice principles throughout its program offices to
ensure that these principles are fairly considered during the entire decision-making process. OW promotes and
encourages environmental justice training for all staff to strengthen the knowledge, skills, and abilities
necessary to successfully integrate environmental justice principles as appropriate into all policies, programs,
and activities.
Section 1: Organizational Infrastructure
How will your organizational structure promote the integration of environmental justice within all
program areas?
OW considers concerns and principles related to environmental justice in the development of its policies,
guidance, and regulations. To ensure that OW's approach to addressing environmental justice issues is
consistent and coordinated, OW has designated a lead Environmental Justice Coordinator. In addition, OW has
designated environmental justice contacts within each of the five program offices to communicate
environmental justice information and to further promote the integration of environmental justice within the
five program areas.
The Environmental Justice Coordinator serves as the lead for OW's Environmental Justice Integration
Committee (EJIC), which is comprised of the environmental justice contacts from each of the five program
offices. OW's EJIC convenes on a monthly basis through conference calls. The purpose of the EJIC will be to
ensure that environmental justice principles and concerns continue to be integrated among all program offices
in OW. The lead Environmental Justice Coordinator will chair the EJIC and the responsibilities of the members
of the EJIC will include, but are not limited to the following:
Promote the integration of environmental justice principles into the day-to-day activities of OW staff
Provide assistance to promote the implementation of OW's Environmental Justice Action Plan
Distribute information to OW staff on issues related to environmental justice
Provide communities with early and meaningful involvement in the decision-making process
Continue to gather, analyze, and interpret data, and provide an environmental justice perspective on relevant
information associated with activities conducted by OW's program offices
The OW Environmental Justice Coordinator meets monthly with OEJ, the Agency Environmental Justice
Coordinator and the OW EJIC to discuss and develop strategies to address emerging and outstanding
environmental justice issues. The OW EJ Coordinator also meets monthly with the OW DAA to develop
strategies for integrating environmental justice into the day-to-day operations.
OW's program offices also work towards integrating environmental justice principles into their infrastructure
through a variety of activities and projects. For example, OW has established national programs that provide
technical assistance to state and local governments for warnings to the public about consumption of
contaminated fish and swimming waters with high level of pathogens. These programs emphasize promotion
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of environmental justice through contaminant and pathogen monitoring, as well as effective risk
communications to minority populations who may consume large amounts of fish taken from polluted waters or
swim in urban and other waters containing high levels of pathogens.
The public health advisory programs are managed by the Standards and Health Protection Division (SHPD) in
the Office of Science and Technology (OST), where they are integrated into EPA's Water Quality Standards
Program. Integration of public health advisory activities into the Water Quality Standards Program promotes
environmental justice by ensuring that advisories and minority population health risks are considered in making
water quality standards attainment decisions, developing Total Maximum Daily Loads for impaired waters, and
developing permits to control sources of pollution.
OST published guidance in 2002, the following language in appropriate acquisition instruments: "Executive
Order 12898 (Environmental Justice) directs Federal agencies to focus on minority and low-income populations
in implementing their programs, policies, and activities. Consistent with the Agency's continuing commitment to
environmental justice and fair treatment of all people, the contractor shall notify the EPA project officer of
minority and low-income populations, as well as populations with differential patterns of subsistence
consumption of fish and wildlife, likely to be affected by a program, policy, or activity associated with work
done under the contract and, when directed by EPA, shall identify any disproportionately high and adverse
human health or environmental effect of the program, policy, or activity of concern on these populations (to be
tailored as appropriate for individual statements of work)."
SHPD, in coordination with the Regions, reviews and approves or disapproves water quality standards adopted
by states and authorized Indian tribes. SHPD develops guidance and regulations that govern the program. Its
mechanisms and processes ensure that issues affecting Tribes are fully integrated into day-to-day aspects of
the water quality standards program.
The Office of Wastewater Management (OWM) does not implement any programs specifically to address
environmental justice concerns; it does provide technical and financial assistance to many rural and
disadvantaged communities where environmental justice populations reside. The National Small Communities
and Rural Communities Assistance Programs seek to assist communities with limited economic resources in
making informed water quality and public health decisions and investments. Two additional OWM programs -
The U.S.-Mexico Border and Alaska Native Village programs - target disadvantaged and underserved
communities. These assistance programs are designed to increase the number of citizens provided with basic
water and wastewater sanitation services.
Section 2: Management Support
How will your Regional/Headquarters office management communicate expectations about the
Environmental Justice Program, review tangible/intangible outcomes, and evaluate performance?
OW's management will ensure that appropriate staff are available to manage projects aimed at preventing,
addressing and/or alleviating environmental justice issues raised by the NEJAC; state, tribal, and local
governments; environmental justice communities; and other stakeholders. In addition, the OW's Deputy
Assistant Administrator is an active participant in the Agency's Executive Steering Committee on Environmental
Justice.
OW's management is committed to incorporating environmental justice principles throughout these decision-
making processes to ensure protection of human health for all communities and populations. For example, to
communicate expectations for integrating environmental justice into OW's day-to-day activities, OW's senior
management will issue a Memorandum to all staff that clearly defines and reaffirms OW's commitment to EPA's
environmental justice program as well as establishes goals and objectives for each program office to work
towards. For example, OW staff will be encouraged to staff take the OEJ on-line Introduction to Environmental
Justice Training. In addition, OW will add the on-line Introduction to EJ training to the OW Water Careers
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Programs. OW also plans to add a hyperlink for the training to the the Drinking Water Academy, Watershed
Academy, Water Quality Standards Academy, and Working Effectively with Tribal Governments training will all
have a link to the on-line Introduction to Environmental Justice training. OW staff will also be encouraged to
participate in Agency workgroups addressing cross-media issues such as OECA's Environmental Justice Reviews
Workgroup.
In 2008, OW will present the first OW Environmental Justice Award to honor employees who have shown
exceptional devotion to integrating environmental justice principles in their day-to-day activities.
OW also plans to offer Environmental Justice Brown Bag discussions on water related issues. This will provide
OW staff with an opportunity to learn first hand how EPA's policies, programs and activities affect the lives of
EJ stakeholders. The EJ Brown Bags will also provide OW staff with an opportunity to engage in a dialogue
with EJ stakeholders.
OW continues to include environmental justice among issues to be considered in planning all of our work. This
is reflected in our planning documents and EJ Action Plans.
Section 3: Organizational Resources and Program Support
Identify the aggregate full-time equivalents (FTE) in your Regional/Headquarters office that will
specifically focus on environmental justice issues. If responsibilities and duties are parceled out as
collateral duties to one or more employees, please compute what the FTE equivalent would be.
What are the functions and day-to-day responsibilities of your environmental justice coordinator(s)
and/or team?
Will your Regional/Headquarters' office have any ongoing mechanisms for focusing on environmental
justice issues, such as teams and workgroups? If yes, please list and describe. Also, state how
these mechanisms will be tied to other programs and activities in your Regional/Headquarters
office.
OW's Environmental Justice Coordinator represents one (1) FTE that is dedicated to addressing environmental
justice issues. In addition, each program office has appointed an Environmental Justice Contact to ensure that
environmental justice is being considered in all of the work that OW does, and to maximize the use of OW's
statutory authority under the CWA and SWDA as well as the permitting process for the National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) to address environmental justice issues. Each of OW's program offices
also is committed to assigning staff to work on environmental justice issues when the need arises. Given the
broad range of activities that OW is involved in the environmental justice arena, it is not possible to identify the
number of FTEs devoted solely to environmental justice issues. For example, work on environmental justice
issues and risk management for subpopulations is integrated into all of the activities of the Fish Advisory
Program and the Beach Programs.
OW's Environmental Justice Coordinator, who serves on the Water Policy Staff of the Assistant Administrator, is
the focal point to coordinate and disseminate information about environmental justice. Responsibilities of OW's
Environmental Justice Coordinator include:
Coordinates a multi-disciplinary approach to OW's environmental justice program that includes providing
administrative, technical, and policy direction to staff who address environmental justice issues; manages the
flow of information within OW; and helps to coordinate inter-disciplinary teams to address concerns related to
environmental justice
Serves as a conduit to ensure effective communication between internal and external stakeholders
Develops and recommends to the senior management a budget to meet resource needs of OW's
Environmental justice program
Works with other EPA program offices to ensure that the Agency's goals and objectives on Environmental
justice are achieved
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Represents OW Headquarters and regional offices to inform stakeholders about OW's environmental
justice activities as well as participates on national workgroups that address concerns related to environmental
justice
Facilitates building relationships and partnerships with external stakeholders who are affected by OW's
policies, guidance, and regulations
OW is committed to becoming more active on workgroups and other projects related to environmental
justice that are sponsored or chaired by programs outside of the OW. Through its participation in the
Agency's Environmental Justice Executive Steering Committee, OW will continue to look for opportunities to
lend its expertise to address environmental justice. For example, OW staff participates on OEJ's Environmental
Justice Review workgroup and two of the Function Specific workgroups to develop protocols for conducting
environmental justice reviews of Agency policies, programs and activities.
In addition, the OW staff is involved in a number of projects designed to ensure that the goals of
environmental justice are achieved and fully integrated in OW's policies, programs, and guidance. Examples
include:
AIEO is working with other EPA offices to issue an update to the 1992 Guidelines for Exposure Assessment
guidelines. AIEO is developing a new section that will provide information specifically to tribes.
The Director of AIEO is leading efforts with Health Canada to conduct an international indigenous forum on
tribal ecological knowledge.
OW is developing better tools to conduct environmental justice analyses and develop tribal water programs.
During the period covered by this plan, OWM plans to establish an environmental services contract to provide
the Tribes access to environmental service providers. The environmental service providers will assist the Tribes
with core environmental functions associated with the new Tribal water quality grant guidance.
Additionally, many staff from OW's program offices serve on workgroups or teams that address issues related
to environmental justice. For example:
OST's Tribal Coordinator is a member of EPA's National Indian Work Group. In addition, OST's Tribal
Coordinator and a team of Regional Office Water Quality Standards Coordinators and Regional and
Headquarters attorneys serve a key role in reviewing tribal applications for Treatment as State (TAS), and
providing advice and assistance to tribes so that those applications can be approved by EPA.
EPA's water quality standards regulation (40 CFR Part 131) requires that states and authorized tribes review
their water quality standards at least once every three years and revise them, as necessary. During the next
round of triennial reviews, OST will work with the regions to provide guidance to states and authorized tribes
to ensure that notifications of public hearings are targeted toward low-income and minority populations. This
includes targeted mailings and notifications in newspapers serving minority communities in the locally affected
areas, including non-English speaking publications.
The BEACH Program has a Headquarters team and one beach program coordinator in each coastal or Great
Lakes EPA Region. The BEACH Program is focused on environmental justice issues such as highlighting
frequently used urban beaches, or other waters used by minority populations for recreation, for state or local
government monitoring and informing swimmers about unacceptably high levels of pathogen indicators. The
team holds monthly conference calls with Regional Program Coordinators and plans to hold an annual meeting
with state and local government health departments and environmental agencies.
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OWM provides water and wastewater services to tribal and community leaders through its Small Communities
Team. The team partners with organizations to manage programs of technical assistance, financial assistance,
and education and training to small communities and tribes. Many of the Small Communities' publications are
offered in Spanish and English.
AIEO serves as an active member of the Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice's Native
American Task Force. The Task Force coordinates Federal efforts to address the range of environmental and
public health concerns facing federally-recognized tribes, state-recognized tribes, non-recognized tribes, and
tribal members.
OWOW established the Five Star Restoration Program to work with EPA's partners for community-based
wetlands restoration projects in watersheds across the U.S. The National Association of Counties, the National
Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and the Wildlife Habitat Council have joined with EPA for this effort. Funding for
the program is provided by OWOW and the National Marine Fisheries Service's Community-based Restoration
Program.
OGWDW supports the National Drinking Water Advisory Council, established under the Federal Advisory
Committee Act (FACA). The Council has members representing small systems, public health professionals, and
minority populations.
In OST's Standards and Health Protection Division, the Tribal Coordinator plays a lead role in reviewing tribal TAS
applications and developing and leading a broad range of activities designed to assist Indian tribes. This includes
developing outreach, technical assistance, specialized training courses, videos, case study materials that focus on
tribal water quality standards programs, hands-on, experiential workshops to assist tribes to fully develop their own
environmental programs and consultation plans. These activities are carried out in concert with Regional Offices. The
Tribal Coordinator is a member of EPA's National Indian Work Group.
The Fish Advisory Program has a Headquarters team and one coordinator in each region. The coordinators meet
with state fish advisory program representatives at a biannual forum on contaminants in fish. Tribal representatives
also attend the forum. Environmental justice issues such as the development of fish consumption advisories to
protect targeted communities are discussed at these meetings. Targeted communities may include those with
subsistence fishers, cultural traditions that involve consuming organs of fish that can contain high concentrations of
contaminants, limited proficiency in English, limited or no literacy, low income, or large numbers of immigrants or
refugees. The BEACH and Fish Advisory Program meetings also provide opportunities to hold discussions on
important issues with representative from other EPA and Federal Agency programs.
Are there any specific programs/initiatives for which environmental justice will be listed as a funding
priority?
Activities to promote environmental justice are integrated into the Fish Advisory Program and the Beaches
Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Program. These programs have emphasized
promotion of environmental justice through contaminant and pathogen monitoring and effective risk
communications to minority populations who may consume large amounts of fish taken from polluted waters,
or swim in urban and other waters containing high levels of pathogens.
The Fish Advisory Program will focus resources on activities encouraging states to conduct fish tissue
contaminant studies in waters used for fishing by minority populations, particularly those that catch fish for
subsistence. Such populations may include African Americans, Asian Pacific Islanders, Hispanics, Native
Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Alaska Natives. The BEACH program provides grants to coastal and Great
Lakes state and local governments for beach monitoring and public notification.
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OWOW plans to award combined FY2006/FY 2007 funds under the FY2006/Fy2007 Targeted Watershed Grants
(TWG) Request for Proposals, which promotes a cohesive and integrated approach to watershed issues and
implementing environmental change. The TWG program has a two-pronged approach of awarding grants for
capacity building as well as for implementation of watershed projects. Training and outreach to tribes and
other communities foster stronger, more diverse watershed based partnerships. The TWG program promotes
cooperative conservation and environmental justice components by assisting watershed groups to become
effective, results-oriented, and self-sustaining.
Section 4: Government Performance and Results Act Alignment
How will your Regional/Headquarters office's environmental justice program be linked to your
Regional/Headquarters office's main GPRA priorities?
How will your Regional/Headquarters office's environmental justice strategies and activities be
integrated into specific programmatic areas/functions? (e.g., permitting, community outreach, etc.)
Will your Regional/Headquarters office utilize Performance Partnership Agreements (PPA) and
Performance Partnership Grants (PPG) to specifically address environmental justice issues?
OW places emphasis on achieving results in areas with potential environmental justice concerns through Water
Safe to Drink (Sub-objective 2.1.1) and Fish and Shellfish Safe to Eat (Sub-objective 2.1.2). This will result in
improved environmental quality for all people, especially for those living in areas with potential
disproportionately high and adverse human health conditions.
To achieve these results, the Office of Water has committed in the Strategic Plan for Fiscals Years 2006-2011
to:
Participate in an Agency-wide effort to develop and strengthen measures to ensure that the
environmental and public health benefits of programs are equitably shared. Under our goal of
clean and safe water, we will measure tribal water systems' compliance with drinking water
standards, for the condition of tribal waters, and tribal access to safe drinking water and basic
sanitation.
In the future, the national water program expects to use established, Agency-wide criteria
and identify "environmental justice" areas for which we will develop measures of progress in
improving drinking water safety and restoring impaired waters. EPA will strive to deliver
program resources so that progress toward clean and safe water in these areas is equal to or
better than progress reported nationwide.
The Office of Water has established national programs that provide technical assistance to state and local
governments for warnings to the public about consumption of contaminated fish and waters with high levels of
pathogens. These programs have emphasized promotion of environmental justice through contaminant and
pathogen monitoring, as well as risk communication to minority populations who may consume large amounts
of fish taken from polluted waters or swim in urban and other waters containing high levels of pathogens. The
public health advisory programs are managed in the Standards and Health Protection Division in the Office of
Water where they are integrated into EPA's Water Quality Standards Program. Integration of public health
advisory activities into the Water Quality Standards Program promotes environmental justice by ensuring that
advisories and minority population health risks are considered in making water quality standards attainment
decisions, developing Total Maximum Daily Loads for impaired waters, and developing permits to control
sources of pollution.
With regards specifically to American Indians, the water quality standards program will continue to reach out to
tribal communities to publicize the benefits of water quality standards on reservation lands. This includes use
of OST's tribal web site, publications, participation in conferences, training courses and by working with
Regional Office staffs. Additionally, we will rely on existing mechanisms to communicate with Tribes through
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tribal organizations, including the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, the All-Indian Pueblo Council,
National Tribal Environmental Council and others.
SHPD will also consult with Tribal organizations and tribal members of EPA's National and Regional Tribal Operations
Committees and other key tribal organizations periodically to enlist views and information in developing water quality
standards in Indian country.
OW will address environmental justice issues and meet the community involvement goal in GPRA. OW has
established national plans and activities to provide technical assistance to communities, local governments,
state governments, and tribes. For example:
OST provides warnings to the public about consumption of contaminated fish and recreating in waters with
high levels of pathogens. These programs have emphasized promotion of environmental justice through
contaminant and pathogen monitoring, as well as effective risk communication to minority populations who
may consume large amounts of fish taken from polluted waters or swim in urban and other waters containing
high levels of pathogens.
AIEO is the National Program Manager for General Assistance Program (GAP) grants. Under the Indian
Environmental General Assistance Program Act, EPA awards capacity building grants to federally recognized
tribes and intertribal consortia to plan, develop or establish environmental programs. GAP represents the
largest single source of funding for tribal environmental programs awarded by EPA. AIEO is also the lead
Agency office for tribal Performance Partnership Grants (PPGs). PPGs are funded by EPA from funds allocated
and otherwise available for categorical grant programs. PPGs provide tribes and states with the option to
combine funds from two or more specific categorical grants into one or more PPGs. This flexibility allows tribes
and states to address their highest environmental priorities and reduce administrative burdens.
Currently, there are no PPAs or PPGs that specifically address fish and wildlife contamination or BEACH
Program activities. However, PPAs are negotiated with the states and tribes on a region-by-region basis for the
OST. Agreements therefore, could be negotiated to encourage the monitoring of waters used by minority
populations for fishing or swimming, and the issuance of fish consumption or swimming advisories for waters
where such measures are needed to protect public health.
Section 5: Internal Organizational Engagement
Will your Regional/Headquarters office's environmental justice program have any ongoing
mechanisms to communicate with, receive input from, and otherwise consistently engage with other
programs in your Regional/Headquarters office? If yes, please list and describe.
Will your Regional/Headquarters office develop any related guidance to the staff regarding the
integration of environmental justice in areas such as authorization/delegation, environmental education, grants
and contracts, inspection, enforcement and compliance assistance, permitting, performance partnership, public
participation, waste site cleanup/Brownfields, etc.? If yes, please list and describe.
OW's Environmental Justice Coordinator actively communicates with OEJ to ensure that OW's programs,
policies, and activities are consistent with the Agency's policies and guidance for addressing environmental
justice issues. The OW Environmental Justice Coordinator also meets on a regular basis with the
environmental Justice Coordinators from other Headquarters program offices and regional offices.
OW will increase its participation on Agency workgroups that address cross-media issues related to
environmental justice.
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Listed below are a number of collaborative efforts in which OW staff are involved:
The Office of Water Deputy Assistant Administrator participates on the Office of Enforcement and Compliance
Assurance, Executive Environmental Justice Steering Committee to support the integration of environmental
justice into the core of EPA's programs, policies and activities.
Staff in OW participates on the headquarters BEACH Program team and the headquarters Fish Advisory
Program Team, both of which have program coordinators in each EPA Regional Office.
The OST Tribal Coordinator plays a lead role in reviewing tribal TSA applications along with developing and
leading a broad range of activities designed to assist Indian tribes. These activities are carried out in concert
with Regional Offices.
The Office of Water DAA co-chairs, with Regional Tribal Operations Committee (TOC) representatives, the
Indian Program Policy Council (IPPC). The IPPC is comprised of two groups, the Council itself and a Steering
Committee.
The Director of the American Indian Environmental Office (AIEO) chairs the National Indian Working Group
(NIWG) composed of representatives from regional and program offices, generally the Indian Coordinator.
AIEO promotes and facilitates communication between EPA and tribal governments pursuant to the 1984
Indian Policy and Executive Order 13175 (Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments), and
between EPA and tribal governments members' and organizations.
AIEO also coordinates meetings and conference calls for the Tribal Operations Committee (TOC), comprised of
19 tribal leaders or their environmental program managers (the Tribal Caucus), and EPA's Senior Leadership
Team, including the Administrator, the Deputy Administrator, and the Assistant and Regional Administrators.
OWM conducts monthly in-house training on priority and merging issues. The May 2007 session covered
environmental justice and how environmental justice can be integrated into OW's daily work.
OST has published EJ guidance requiring the following language in appropriate OST acquisition instruments:
Executive Order 12898 (Environmental Justice) directs federal agencies to focus on minority and low-income
populations in implementing their programs, policies and activities. Consistent with the Agency's continuing
commitment to environmental justice and fair treatment of all people, the contractor shall notify the EPA
project officer of minority and low-income populations, as well as populations with differential patterns of
subsistence consumption of fish and wildlife, likely to be affected by a program, policy or activity associated
with work done under the contract and, when directed by EPA, shall identify any disproportionately high and
adverse human health or environmental effects of the program, policy or activity of concern on these
populations (to be tailored as appropriate for individual statements of work).
Additionally, OST will evaluate lists of coastal recreation waters that are being monitored by state and local
governments. This evaluation will be conducted to determine whether revisions in the BEACH Program's grant
guidance are necessary to promote Environmental Justice. Guidance revisions may be needed to encourage
state and local monitoring of waters used by minority populations for swimming, and to establish notification
programs covering those waters. The Fish Advisory Program has issued guidance on fish tissue sampling,
analysis, and risk assessment for development of fish consumption advisories. OST has developed this
guidance to protect populations eating higher-than-average quantities of fish. These populations include
Native American Subsistence fishers, Asian Pacific Islanders, and Native Hawaiians. Updated risk
communication guidance will be developed for EPA regional Fish Advisory Program coordinators, States, and
Tribes. The guidance will include information on developing and implementing risk communication strategies
for "hard-to-reach" communities. These include communities with limited English proficiency, limited literacy,
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geographic isolation, limited income, or unique cultural values and practices that may limit the effectiveness of
certain risk communication tools.
Section 6: External Stakeholder Engagement
Will your Regional/Headquarters office have any processes in place to receive input on environmental justice
issues from external stakeholders, such as workgroups, advisory bodies, or listening sessions? If yes, please
describe the process and explain how the input gathered may be (or has been) used by your
Regional/Headquarters office.
Will your Regional/Headquarters office have any ongoing mechanisms to share information to external
groups regarding environmental justice such as web sites, faxback system, printed outreach materials, etc.? If
yes, please list and describe. Also please mention the specific stakeholder group(s) which benefit from these
outreach mechanisms.
How will your Regional/Headquarters office identify stakeholders who could benefit from increased
awareness about environmental justice and being more engaged in the collaborative problem-solving
process?
How will your Regional/Headquarters office promote collaborative problem-solving among stakeholders?
Will your Regional/Headquarters office have any special initiatives or provisions to address issues for persons
with limited English proficiency? If yes, please describe or attach.
In the course of your environmental justice outreach, will your Regional/Headquarters office utilize any
informational materials translated in languages other than English? If yes, please list and describe.
Are there any specific grant programs for which environmental justice will be listed as a funding priority?
Please list and describe.
On November 19, 2002, the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC) submitted a report to
EPA on Fish Consumption and Environmental Justice. This report reflects advice and recommendations that
resulted from analyses completed by the NEJAC Fish Consumption Workgroup. The recommendations
contained in this report are being carefully considered as EPA works to further integrate environmental justice
into Agency programs.
EPA's BEACH program awards grants to state and local governments for monitoring recreational waters and
issuing advisories when waters unsafe for swimming due to high levels of pathogens. The BEACH Program has
developed required program performance criteria for grant recipients. The Program held public meetings
throughout the U.S. to receive input from stakeholders on environmental justice and other issues related to the
criteria EPA will continue to work with stakeholders to receive comments on any future revisions of the
performance criteria that may be necessary. The BEACH and Fish Advisory Programs also hold biannual
meetings. The meetings provide opportunities to hold discussions on important environmental justice issues
with key stakeholder groups.
Additionally, OST's Standards and Health Protection Division receives input on environmental justice issues
directly from Indian tribes, through the American Indian Environmental Office, and with meetings of EPA's
Tribal Caucus and Tribal Operations Committee. Regional Offices are also a conduit for receiving information
on tribal issues.
The Fish Advisory Program maintains an internet website that provides information regarding fish consumption
and environmental justice. The website disseminates information to health professionals and the public in
order to enable informed decisions on when and where to fish, and how to prepare fish caught for recreation
and subsistence. Information on the website includes the "National Listing of Fish Advisories", a database of
information describing all fish advisories issued by states and tribes in the U.S. The website also includes fact
sheets, reports, posters, and other information such as EPA's, "Guide to Healthy Eating of the Fish you Catch".
Published in multiple languages, this is a guide to selection and preparation offish that are low in chemical
pollutants. In addition to providing this information on an internet website, the Fish Advisory Program has
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worked closely with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry to disseminate printed material to
the public through the medical community (medical doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and midwives).
The BEACH Program maintains a similar "Beach Watch" internet website. The Beach Watch website contains a
database of information describing state and local beach monitoring and notification programs as well as
information about advisories issued for specific beaches during the swimming season. In addition, the website
contains fact sheets, posters, reports and brochures that tell people what they need to know about beach
water pollution, the health risks associated with swimming in polluted water, and who to contact if it is
suspected that beach water is contaminated. Some of this information has been published in English and
Spanish.
The Fish Advisory program has identified and worked closely with stakeholders to develop national guidance on
fish sampling, tissue analysis, risk assessment, and risk communication for the issuance of fish consumption
advisories. EPA has provided information about the Fish Advisory Program to the Fish Consumption Workgroup
of the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council. In addition, the Fish Advisory Program has invited
stakeholder groups to national meetings for discussion of environmental justice issues. The Program has also
conducted training for tribes and states on development offish consumption advisories. Through these
activities, EPA has identified stakeholder groups who will benefit from increased awareness of environmental
justice issues, and will continue to involve stakeholders in a collaborative problem-solving process.
The BEACH Program has identified and worked closely with stakeholders to develop national guidance for
beach monitoring and public notification. Stakeholder groups have participated in national meetings to discuss
environmental justice issues. The Program will continue to engage stakeholders in a collaborative problem
solving process.
The SHPD will work with the Office of Environmental Justice, Regional Offices and umbrella groups to develop
strategies and plans of action for increasing awareness (among low income and minority populations) of the
water quality standards program and the role that these groups can play. In collaboration with other offices
and organizations, SHPD will consider developing outreach and other tools geared toward socio-economically
disadvantaged groups and minority populations.
OW continues to encourage the participation of external stakeholders in decision-making processes that affect
environmental justice communities. Through various stakeholders groups such as the Tribal Operations
Committee, the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council, and the National Drinking Water Advisory
Council, OW will continue to seek advice and comments on programs and activities that affect low income and
minority communities.
OW also will continue to serve as an information resource to these external stakeholders. OW is pursuing
several new initiatives over the next two years to improve OW's communication to external stakeholders. Such
initiatives include working with OEJ to set up its own environmental justice mailing list using OEJ's current
environmental justice mailing list that is populated with over 3,000 names. For those stakeholders that do not
have access to the Internet, the mailings will provide them with access to the
information that is available on OW's web sites.
OW also continues to support current web sites that are translated into other languages to ensure that all
stakeholders have access to information. For example, OGWDW maintains home pages that have been
translated into Spanish to reach additional stakeholders with important information related to drinking water
advisories. In addition, OWM has translated more than 100 outreach publications into Spanish, and more are
planned during the next two years. Many documents relate to CAFOs and NPDES. OW will continue to identify
other fact sheets and outreach materials that should be translated into not only Spanish but also other
languages.
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The Fish Advisory and BEACH Programs have developed and published information for the public in multiple
languages. EPA's, "Guide to Healthy Eating of the Fish you Catch" contains information on selection and
preparation of fish that are low in chemical pollutants. This document has been published in multiple
languages including Vietnamese, Laotian, Spanish, and Russian.
The BEACH Program has published information in English and Spanish about the health risks of swimming in
polluted water. EPA's brochure, "Before You go to the Beach" provides information about beach water
pollution, the health risks associated with swimming in polluted water, and who to contact if water at a beach
is contaminated. The BEACH program has also provided information about beach water pollution to radio
stations for Spanish language broadcasts.
Section 7: Data Collection, Management, and Evaluation
List your Regional/Headquarters office's main data sets - the ways in which you collect environmental justice
information. Also, describe how this information will be utilized by your
Regional/Headquarters office (e.g. environmental justice assessment, program tracking/evaluation).
Will your Regional/Headquarters office have a method of identifying and highlighting best practices
and lessons learned? If yes, please describe.
OW uses 40 water-quality data systems to maintain the flow of information between OW and appropriate users
of the information.
Each data system has three layers: data collection layer, a common services or functional layer, and a
graphic interface or user layer. The information collected for OW could be compared with U.S. Bureau of
Census data on population and community characteristics. When appropriate, OW will collect, maintain, and
analyze data on populations identified by race, national origin, and/or income. Examples of OW's data systems
include Ambient Water Quality (STORET); Drinking Water (SDWIS); Permit Compliance System (PCS);
Information Building: National Hydrology Data (NHD); BEACH Program; and Fish and Wildlife Consumption
Advisories.
AIEO will continue to play a major role in developing the Tribal Enterprise Architecture for Information
Technology system. AIEO will continue to work on development of the Tribal Program Enterprise Architecture,
a comprehensive system that extracts from existing sources (systems and databases) and transforms data to
fit the tribal program business needs. Currently, the TPEA is composed of the following applications:
Objective 5.3 Reporting
GAP Tracking
Tribal Grants Query
Tribal Information Management System (TIMS)
TPEA Data Management Center
AIEO Document Control Registry
Tribal Windows To The Environment (TWE)
Tribal Contacts Database
TPEA is intended to:
Improve tribal access to EPA and other agencies' facilities and programs in and around Indian country
Promote interagency and intertribal data sharing to support tribal programs
Streamline systems to focus on accountability in order to direct funding effectively
Facilitate information sharing among EPA HQ, EPA Regions, and tribes
Support reporting requirements of the federal Capital Planning and Investment Control (CPIC)
AIEO is coordinating with other Program Offices to promote development of metrics under all goals to indicate
tribal performance and environmental results that include tribes.
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OWM supports efforts within the Agency to identify environmental justice areas. This will enable OWM
to connect environmental justice areas with water permits and monitoring data. Once this is done,
OWM's capacity to analyze data and monitor environmental activities in environmental justice areas
will be greatly enhanced. OWM is working with the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance
(OECA) and other Agency offices on this effort.
The Fish Advisory Program is conducting a study to analyze the effectiveness of risk communication
approaches used for fish consumption advisories. When completed, this study will provide information
to effectively develop and issue advisories for populations at risk of exposure to contaminants in fish
tissue. Both the Fish Advisory and BEACH Programs will invite state and local governments to present
"success stories" and lessons learned at national meetings so that best practices can transferred
among program participants. The Fish and BEACH Programs also publish other documents
highlighting best practices. Both programs have published national guidance for monitoring and risk
communication. The Fish Program publishes technical fact sheets containing information used for risk
assessment and advisory development. The BEACH program is publishing state profiles that highlight
practices used by all state beach monitoring and public notification programs.
EPA's Fish Advisory Program conducts an annual survey of state and tribal advisory programs to obtain
information about the methods they use for fish tissue monitoring, risk assessment, and risk
communication. The Fish Advisory Program also compiles and maintains a national database of fish
consumption advisories that have been issued by state and tribal governments in the U.S. This
information can be used to help determine whether state and tribal programs are providing an
adequate level of health protection for minority populations who may consume large amounts of fish
taken from polluted waters.
EPA's BEACH Program maintains a database of information describing state and local beach monitoring
and notification programs and advisories issued for specific beaches during the swimming season.
This information can be used to help determine whether state, tribal, and local programs are providing
an adequate level of health protection for minority populations who swim in urban and other waters
containing high levels of pathogens.
The SHPD has developed case study materials detailing the benefits of water quality standards
program to Indian tribes. As resources allow, it will continue this series of case study materials as a
way to document environmental improvements on reservations. The case studies and lessons learned
are also a mechanism for promoting tribal environmental programs to other Tribes.
OGWDW maintains the Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS/FED) Violation and
Inventory Data, U.S. Census Bureau Data, and Drinking Water Mapping Application Datasets. The
Office currently is conducting a study to determine if there is a relationship between public water
systems in noncompliance with drinking water regulations and environmental justice (or
economically distressed) communities.
Section 8: Professional and Organization Development
Will your Regional/Headquarters office plan to provide training on environmental justice? If yes,
please list and describe.
What methods will you utilize to promote shared learning, such as best practices and lessons
learned among staff? If yes, please list and describe.
OW plans to integrate environmental justice principles into existing training courses and programs.
These include the NPDES permits writing course and OW's three training academies - the Drinking
Water Academy, Water Quality Standards Academy, and Watershed Academy. OW plans to work with
OEJ to develop EJ training specific to OW, which will then be incorporated or integrated into these
existing training courses, programs and academies.
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OW will also hold "brown bags" at lunchtime for staff to view videotapes on environmental justice and
other related topics. Other program offices' efforts related to professional development include:
AIEO coordinates EPA's "Working Effectively with Tribal Governments" (WETG) training. The training is
available on the EPA intranet for all EPA staff at
http://intranet.epa.gov/opptsval/training/tribal/EPA/mainmenu/launchPage.htm. AIEO also exhibits
and displays the WETG training at office and Agency events such as the Native American and Alaska
Native Heritage Month events and Office of Environmental Information's open house. In addition,
AIEO is expanding WETG for use outside of EPA. AIEO recently sponsored a WETG demonstration day
for other government agencies interested in possibly adapting the training to their specific
circumstances.
The Office of Wastewater Management (OWM) conducts training for State permit writers. One of the
modules covered in the training is environmental justice. In the course, OWM promotes greater
sensitivity about EJ populations in the preparation, research and outreach associated with each permit.
OWM also conducts monthly in-house training on priority and emerging issues. The May 2007 session
covered environmental justice and how environmental justice can be integrated into OWM's daily
work.
The Fish Advisory Program plans to offer training at national meetings for tribes on the development
of fish consumption advisories. Training may also be held at national meetings for Headquarters staff
and regional Fish and BEACH program coordinators on: 1) targeting waters for fish consumption and
swimming advisories, and 2) implementing risk communication strategies for "hard-to-reach"
communities such as those with limited English proficiency, limited literacy, geographic isolation,
limited income, or unique cultural values and practices that may limit the effectiveness of risk
communication tools that are currently applied.
Best practices and lessons learned in the Fish Advisory and BEACH programs will be developed as case
studies for discussion at staff meetings. A series of case studies on best practices and lessons learned
to promote environmental justice may also be published.
OWOW participates in a number of programs to help recruit minority and lower-income candidates,
including the Hispanic American Colleges and Universities (HACU) summer internship program, and
the Washington Center Native American Leadership Program. The perspective these interns bring
to Headquarters has been invaluable in a wide variety of projects, and EPA staff often hear of
interns' later involvement in helping their communities have a greater say in environmental
decision-making in their neighborhoods.
Section 9: Environmental Justice Assessment
Will your Regional/Headquarters office have a process by which an environmental justice
assessment will be conducted? If yes, please describe.
Will your Regional/Headquarters office rely on any information resources with which to conduct an
environmental justice assessment, such as the Environmental Justice Mapper, Environmental Justice
Toolkit, etc.? If yes, please list and describe.
OW plans to take a more active role in developing mechanisms to conduct environmental justice
assessments. To date OW does rely on tools such as the Environmental Justice Toolkit and
Environmental Justice Mapper. Several of the program offices have initiatives and activities under
development to conduct environmental justice assessments. These activities include: On a biannual
basis, a modeling exercise will be performed using the Regional Econometric Input-output Model
(REIM) or other appropriate tools to identify waters that may require advisories to provide public
health protection for surrounding communities. These waters will be compared to data in the National
Listing of Fish and Wildlife Advisories and Beach Watch database to determine whether protective
advisories are currently in place for those waters. The results of this analysis will be used to help
assess effectiveness of the programs, and to target waters for assessment and advisory development.
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In addition, EPA believes it is important for states to make water quality standards easily and readily
available for the public to access. OST developed tools to help states organize and display their water
quality standards on a geographic basis. This enables the user to read and view water quality
standards geographically and to overlay census and demographic data (including socioeconomic status
and minority populations) as an environmental justice assessment tool.
The BEACH and Fish Advisory programs will rely on the Beach Watch database and the National Listing of
Fish Advisories to conduct environmental justice assessments.
OGWDW will use the Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS/FED) and U.S. Census
Bureau Data to identify whether significant demographic differences exist between populations
served by systems in violation of health-based standards within geographic regions and systems not
in violation. In addition, data from the Safe Drinking Water Information System will be imported to
an OGWDW Web-based Geospatial Application for data querying and mapping of potential risks
from other sources of pollution. Further assessment will be conducted through the use of the
Environmental Justice Mapper.
Finally, AIEO is looking into the possibility to use information in Tribal Information Management
System (TIMS) to obtain data that could be useful in assessing environmental justice.
Section 10: Program Evaluation
Will your regional/Headquarters office have any performance measures specifically related to
environmental justice? If yes, please describe.
Will your Regional/Headquarters office conduct any needs assessments, reports or other documents
(produced internally or through a contract) to identify, quantify, and evaluate methods to strengthen
and/or improve your environmental justice program? If yes, please list and describe.
How will your Region/Headquarters highlight the accomplishments and results from your
Environmental Justice Action Plan?
OW will be developing specific performance measures related to how successfully OW has integrated
environmental justice into the activities that have been mentioned in this action plan. These
performance measures will assist managers on how to better integrate environmental justice principles
into policies, programs, and activities.
OWM funded a study to evaluate the reasons for the lack of access to basic sanitation in small and
disadvantaged communities. Since many environmental justice populations fall within this grouping
there may be opportunities to identify and address the needs of communities with environmental
justice concerns as well.
AIEO is conducting a program evaluation of its General Assistance Program (GAP) grants. The results
of the evaluation will be useful to GAP stakeholders involved in awarding grants, providing technical
assistance and oversight, and planning and executing Tribal environmental programs. AIEO also
produces an Annual Accomplishment's Report and has measures in its reporting system.
The Fish Advisory and BEACH programs do not have specific performance measures related to
environmental justice. However, these programs have emphasized promotion of environmental justice
through contaminant and pathogen monitoring and risk communication to minority populations who
may consume large amounts of fish taken from polluted waters, or swim in urban and other waters
containing high levels of pathogens. Therefore, the GPRA objectives, sub objectives, strategic targets,
and program activity measures established for these programs are directly related to environmental
justice. These performance measures are described earlier in this document.
The results and accomplishments of the Office of Water Environmental Justice Action Plan are
highlighted in the Agency's: (1) Environmental Justice Action Plan Progress Report and derivative Best
Practices Document, and (2) Biennial Report.
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The Fish Contamination BEACH Programs publish annual fact sheets providing public information
about fish consumption and swimming advisories issued during the year. These fact sheets will
include information about the environmental justice accomplishments of the programs.
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OW CY07-FY08 EJ Action Plan Matrix
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Environmental Justice Action Plans
Goal 2:
Objective 1:
(FY2007/2008)
Clean and Safe Water
Safe fish/shellfish
Activities
Output
Applicable Outcome Measure
Short-term Intermediate Long-term
(awareness) (l"teha\ioi) (condition)
Point of
Contact
1. In 2007, EPA, in
cooperation with state,
tribal, and federal partners,
will hold a national
conference on contaminants
in fish.
Participate in biannual national
conference
Greater information
exchange among state,
tribal, and community
representatives on
issues such as
development of fish
consumption advisories
to protect targeted
communities.
Jeffrey
Bigler,
OST
2. Maintain the Fish
Advisory Program Web site
that includes the National
Listing of Fish Advisories
Update the NLFA website to include
information about advisories for
contaminants in fish.
Disseminate information to health
professionals and the public to enable
informed decisions on when and where
to fish, and how to prepare fish caught
for recreation and subsistence.
Greater availability of
information to minority
and low-income
populations.
Reduced exposure
to contaminants in
fish.
Jeffrey
Bigler,
OST
2
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Activities Output Applicable Outcome Measure Point of
Contact
Short-terin Intermediate Long-term
(ciw iircncss) (hehii\ioi) (condition)
3. Disseminate information
in multiple languages to the
medical community
through the Interagency
Agreement with FDA and
via medical conferences.
Printed materials about reducing the
risk of exposure to contaminants in fish
caught for recreation or subsistence
will be disseminated in multiple
languages to doctors, nurses, nurse
practitioners, and midwives.
More minority, low
income and non-
English speaking
populations will obtain
information about
reducing the risks of
exposure to
contaminants in fish.
Jeffrey
Bigler,
OST
3
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Goal 2: Clean and Safe Water
Objective 2: Water safe for swimming
Activities
Output
Applicable Outcome Measure
Short-term Intermediate Long-term
(awareness) (l">elia\ ior) (condition)
Point of
Contact
1.Provide technical guidance and
assistance to states, tribes, and
local governments for beach
monitoring and public
notification
2. Provide funding for grants to
eligible states, tribes, and local
agencies for monitoring coastal
recreation waters and issuing
advisories when waters are
unsafe for swimming due to high
levels of pathogens
Provide technical assistance to
states and tribes for monitoring
bathing beach waters and notifying
the public when water quality
standards for pathogen indicators
are exceeded.
35 eligible state, tribal, and local
agencies will use grant funds to
implement coastal recreation water
monitoring and public notification
programs.
Grant recipients will provide data to
EPA about their monitoring and
notification programs, beach
advisories and closures issued, and
water quality monitoring data.
This will result in
improved risk
communication to
individuals who swim
at these beaches.
EPA will make the
information available to
the public on the
Agency's internet
website.
Decreased exposure
of minority
populations to
pathogens in
recreational waters
when indicators
exceed water
quality standards.
Beth Leamond
OST
Richard Healy
OST
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Activities
Output
Applicable Outcome Mesisure
Short-term liilcrmcriiiitc Long-term
Point of
Conliict
(;m iiivncss)
(hehii\ ioi )
(condition)
3. Conduct National Beach
Program Conference.
Hold the national conference
biannually. Second national
conference will be held in fiscal
year 2007.
Greater information
exchange among state
and local agency
representatives on
environmental justice
issues such as pathogen
monitoring to identify
waters where
swimming advisories
are needed to protect
the health of targeted
communities.
Beth Leamond
OST
4. Maintain the Beach Watch
internet Web site.
Make Internet Web site available
that contains information about
microbial pathogens in bathing
beach waters.
Access to information
describing state and
local beach monitoring
and notification
programs as well as
information about
advisories and closures
issued for specific
beaches during the
swimming season.
Richard Healy
OST
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Environmental Justice Action Plans
(CY2007-FY2008)
Goal 2: Clean and Safe Water
Objective 2: Clean and safe drinking water
1. Improve operations of tribal
community water systems by
conducting sanitary surveys at the
required frequency to evaluate the
adequacy of the facilities for
producing and distributing safe
drinking water.
By 2008, all Tribal community
water systems (100%) required to
have undergone a sanitary survey
will have their sanitary survey
completed within the required cycle
(default cycle for community water
systems is three years).
The total number of tribal
community water systems that have
undergone a sanitary survey within
three years for their last sanitary
survey (5 years for outstanding
performers).
2007 target: 30/54 Measured and
reported under EPA's Measure #
SDW-1.
Inspectors conducting
sanitary surveys must
apply basic scientific
information and have a
working knowledge of
the operation,
maintenance,
management, and
technology of a water
system to identify
sanitary risks that may
interrupt the multiple
barriers of protection at
a water system.
Deficiencies will be
identified and
recommendations for
improvement will be
provided through
technical assistance to
the tribe as needed.
6
Community water
system owners and
operators will work
to address
deficiencies
identified during a
sanitary survey.
Sanitary deficiencies
are addressed
resulting in improved
compliance and
public health
protection.
Elin Betanzo, OWM
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2. Implement Tribal Drinking
Water Operator Certification
Program to provide tribes with
further training and certification
opportunities in addition to the
existing training or certification
programs offered by states,
various federal agencies, and
private organizations.
In 2007, develop a national program
for certification of tribal water
system operators. The program will
establish testing procedures and a
question bank, conduct certification
testing, and tracking the status of
certification of tribal water system
operators.
Establish a baseline for the number
of tribal operators lacking
certification in order to measure
progress.
Conduct outreach to
tribes to raise awareness
of the national program
and provide information
on opportunities for
certification.
Increased interest
and enrollment for
certification testing
by tribal operators
as measured
through the
program tracking
system.
Water system
operators possess the
technical capacity to
effectively and safely
run their water
system resulting in
improved compliance
and public health
protection. Improved
compliance as
measured and
reported under
EPA's Strategic
Target E.
Lisa Christ, OGWDW
3. Improve Tribal access to safe
drinking water. EPA's strategic
plan goal is to reduce by half, by
2015, the number of tribal homes
that lack access to safe drinking
water.
2003 Baseline: 38,637 homes
without access to safe drinking
water (12% of the total number of
319,070 tribal homes as reported
by IHS). Measured and reported
under EPA's Strategic Target G.
In 2007, develop an interagency
strategy to improve access to safe
drinking water in coordination with
other federal partners.
Reduce the number
of homes in Indian
Country that lack
access to safe
drinking water.
Elin Betanzo, OGWDW
7
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4. Encourage voluntary activity
by schools and child-care centers
to address lead in drinking water.
EPA developed a suite of
materials, the 3Ts for Reducing
Lead in Drinking Water in
Schools and Child Care Facilities,
which provided all the necessary
information for a facility to
develop and implement a lead in
drinking water reduction
program.
Develop and release two videos/
DVDs: (1) overview of lead in
schools issues and (2) instructional
video on the importance of testing
and how to collect a sample for
lead.
Develop and release a document
outlining potential funding sources
for schools and childcare facilities
for environmental programs.
Send emails to 15 school/child care
organization listserves informing
recipients of the content and
availability of 3Ts materials.
Publish 2 articles in school/child
care organization newsletters or
other publications. Distribute 3Ts
toolkits during at least 2 school/
child care annual conferences.
Develop and implement at least 2
evaluation mechanisms to
determine effectiveness of
materials.
Schools and childcare
facilities will become
more aware of the
potential for elevated
lead levels in drinking
water in their facilities.
Officials of these
facilities will understand
the sources of lead in
drinking water, health
effects of lead exposure,
remediation options and
communication
techniques; measured by
number of web site hits,
emails, newsletter
articles published and
conferences attended.
Schools and
childcare providers
will implement a
3Ts program in their
facility.
Lisa Christ, OGWDW
Schools and childcare
providers will
order/request 3Ts
materials; measured by
orders placed for 3Ts
materials.
8
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5. Provide funding for
infrastructure improvements for
small and disadvantaged
communities.
In 2006, 72% of loans and 39% of
loan dollars made by state Drinking
Water State Revolving Fund
(DWSRF) programs were to small
systems. The output in 2007 will
depend on discretionary decisions
by States.
In 2006, 27% of loans (which may
include lower-interest or longer-
term loans and/or principal
forgiveness) made by state DWSRF
programs were to systems serving
disadvantaged communities.
Results in 2007 will also depend on
States' decisions.
In 2006, 1.88% of national
appropriation will be used to
provide grants to Tribal and
territorial public water systems
(1.5% for tribes and 0.38% for
territories). This number is
statutory and will not change for
2007.
States continue to be
aware of the SDWA
requirement to provide
15% of loan dollars to
small systems.
States determine the
appropriate balance
between applying
disadvantaged assistance
and growing the fund.
EPA will continue to
follow the DWSRF
allocation formula with
respect to tribes and
territories, as put forth in
the SDWA.
State Project
Priority Lists reflect
meeting this
requirement.
States apply their
developed
disadvantaged
assistance program
where they have
determined there is
a need for one.
EPA will continue
to make grants
based on DWSRF
allocation formula
with respect to
tribes and
territories.
Howard Rubin, OGWDW
9
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Activities Output Applicable Outcome Mcnsurc Point ğr('ontiici
Short-term
(aw iircncss)
Inlermediiite
(hehii\ ioi )
Long-term
(condition)
6. Use Safe Drinking Water
Information System/Operational Data
System (ODS) and geospatial
applications to investigate compliance
to drinking water standards in
different types of communities.
Refine the methodology,
incorporate the most
recent data for 2006 and
determine the statistical
significance of the
previous results for
2003, 2004 and 2005
data. Analyze data to
identify trends in non-
compliance over longer
periods of time (longer
than one year).
Expand decision-
makers understanding
of compliance to
drinking water
standards as it relates
to different sizes of
water systems and to
demographics,
including age,
minority status and
income.
Increase percentage of
population served by
community water systems
that receive drinking water
that meets (are in compliance
with) health-based standards.
Leslie Cronkhite, OGWD
7. Calculate and distribute
Underground Injection Control
(UIC) Headquarters Reserve
Funds. Additional Funds are taken
off the top of the UIC State and
Tribal program grant and used to
support Tribal UIC Class V efforts.
Increased emphasis on
the importance of
Class V UIC well
impacts on
Underground Sources
of Drinking Water
USDW(s).
Improved
management of tribal
UIC Class V wells.
Increased Protection of
USDW(s) and Tribal
drinking water sources.
Jeff Jollie, OGWDW
10
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Environmental Justice Action Plans
(CY2007-FY2008)
Goal 2: Clean and Safe Water
Objective 2.2: Protect Water Quality (Office of Wastewater Management)
Activities Output Applicable Outcome Measure
Short-term Intermediate Long-term Point orConlact
(awareness) (hehii\ ior) (condition)
1. Continue to provide
construction grants and
technical assistance for
wastewater treatment facilities
for Indian Tribes and Alaska
Native Villages; EPA will use
the Indian Health Service's
Sanitation Deficiency System
to identify high priority
wastewater projects.
By 2015, reduce by 50
percent the number of
homes on tribal lands
lacking access to basic
sanitation.
Adriana Hochberg, OWM
2. Continue to offer the
environmental justice module
as a component in the NPDES
Permit Writers course for
states and regions.
In 2007 and beyond, provide
annually five course
offerings for approximately
30 students per offering.
Pravin Rana, OWM
11
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Environmental Justice Action Plans
(CY2007-FY2008)
Goal 4: Healthy Communities and Ecosystems
Objective 4.2: Communities (Office of Wastewater Management)
Activities Output Applicable Outcome Measure
Short-term
(aw aidless)
In termed in to
(|->eha\ ioi)
Long-term
(condition)
Point of Contact
1. Provide people in the
Mexico Border area with
adequate drinking water
systems.
By 2008, increase the
number of homes
connected to potable
water supply systems.
Ben Hamm, OWM
2. Provide people in the
Mexico Border area with
adequate wastewater sanitation
systems.
By 2008, increase the
number of homes
connected to
wastewater collection
and treatment systems.
By 2012, achieve a
majority of currently
exceeded water quality
standards in impaired
transboundary
segments of US
surface waters.
Ben Hamm, OWM
12
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Environmental Justice Action Plans
(CY2007-FY2008)
Goal 4: Healthy Communities and Ecosystems
Objective 2: Collaborative problem-solving to address environmental justice issues
Activities Output Applicable Outcome Measure Point orConlact
Short-term Intermediate Long-term
(awareness) (beha\ioi) (condition)
1. Offer Tribal workshops to
assist Tribes in preparing
nonpoint source control
management programs.
Conduct three to four
workshops annually (or
as requested by Tribes)
Attendance at
workshops by Tribal
representatives
An increase in the
number of Tribes that
develop Nonpoint
Source Pollution Control
Management Programs,
and/or apply for section
319 grants.
Increase in number of
Tribes that achieve one
or more water quality
goals in their
management plans.
Andrea Matzke, OWOW
2. Conduct outreach to local
disadvantaged communities
regarding wetlands and
watershed issues.
Hold three to five hands-
on field events per year
with local community
groups; attendance by at
least 50 children at hands-
on field events.
The majority of the
children in attendance
gain exposure to basic
watershed issues in their
community.
Some of the children in
attendance take positive
environmental action in
their community.
Rebecca Dils, OWOW
13
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Activities Output Applicable Outcome Mesisure Point orConlncl
Short-term
Inlermedisite
Long-term
(aw iiivncss)
(Mui\ ioi )
(condition)
3. Partnering to protect
wetlands through the Five Star
Program
Provide project funding
for approximately 50
projects per year.
Develop knowledge and
skills in young people
through aquatic resource
restoration projects.
Increased participation
in restoration projects by
youth in disadvantaged
communities. Project
participants have
experience and
confidence, and are well
positioned to take on
similar projects in the
future.
Myra Price, OWOW
4. Award 06-07 grants for
Targeted Watersheds Grant
(TWG) Program.
Foster watershed-based
partnerships with Tribes
and other communities;
encourage community-
driven efforts to meet
CWA goals.
Encourage capacity
building efforts with
special focus on
disproportionately
affected communities
(Arid West, Appalachia,
and Great Plains).
Grantees use technical
and organizational
experience and tools to
achieve CWA goals.
Erin Collard, OWOW
14
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Environmental Justice Action Plans
(CY2007-FY2008)
Cross Cutting Strategies:
Objective: Internal Capacity Building (e.g., internal program management)
\ctivities Output Applicable Outcome Measure
Short-term Intermediate Long-term
(awareness) (hehii\ ior) (eoiulilion)
1. OW DAA will serve on the
OECA Environmental Justice
Executive Steering Committee
(EJ ESC).
EPA DAAs and DRAs will
provide advice and
guidance on efforts to
improve the Agency's
integration of EJ into its
policies, programs,
activities, and planning and
budgeting process.
EPA is more focused
and proactive in
considering and
including EJ
communities'
concerns in the
development and
implementation of its
programs, policies,
activities, planning/
budgeting process.
Water related
environmental
justice conditions in
communities with
EJ concerns are
addressed,
improved and/or
changed.
Mike Shapiro, 10
2. Convene the Office of Water
Environmental Justice
Integration Committee (OW
EJIC) to assist with steering the
OW Environmental Justice
Program.
Assist the DAA with the
integration of EJ into the
OW Environmental Justice
Program through the
development of OW EJ
Action Plans and Agency
EJ Reports. OW EJIC also
develops strategies to
improve integration of EJ
into OW.
OW EJIC will focus
on cultivating a
consistent and
coordinated approach
to integrate
Environmental
Justice in OW
policies, programs
and activities.
Conditions in
communities with
environmental
concerns will
improve.
OW EJ Contacts:
Alice Walker, 10
Towanda Dorsey, OGW
Donna Downing, OWO1
Theodore Johnson, OST
Teresa Kuklinski, AIEO
William Webster, OWIV
15
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Activities Output Applicable Outcome Men sure
Shorl-tcrm
Inlcrmcrihite
Long-term
Point of ( outnc
(aw iircncss)
(bchii\ ioi)
(condition)
3. Provide OW staff with On-
line Intro to Environmental
Justice Training and
incorporate On-line EJ
Training into the Water Careers
Program, Drinking Water
Academy, Water Quality
Standards Academy and the
Watersheds Academy.
Provide an on-line tool for
integrating environmental
justice.
Training will provide an
understanding of EJ-related issues
and concerns.
Knowledge from the
training is applied to
EPA work and
programs.
Environmental
conditions in
communities with
EJ concerns are
improved.
Alice Walker, 10
4. Conduct a survey of existing
EJ Training and develop draft
proposal for EJ Training
specific to OW's programs,
policies and activities.
Provide OW staff with
environmental justice
training that specifically
relates to their work.
Skill level of OW staff will increase
to better identify the concerns of
environmental justice communities
and the impact that OW's programs,
policies and activities have on these
communities.
Concerns of EJ
communities will be
considered when
decisions are made
for areas where EJ
communities are
located.
Environmental
conditions will
improve in
communities with
Environmental
Justice concerns
Alice Walker, 10
5. OW staff provides support to
the Agency and Office of
Environmental Justice
Workgroups efforts to integrate
EJ into the Agency and OW's
policies, programs and
initiatives.
OW staff serves on OEJ and
Agency workgroups such as
National EJ Coordinators
Planning Workgroups and
the Agency EJ Review
Workgroup - Permits
Workgroup and Standards
and Rulemaking
Workgroups.
Identify whether the Agency is
effectively identifying and
addressing EJ concerns that may
arise with respect to OW
Permitting, Standard Setting and
Rulemaking/Regulatory
Development and other OW
programs, policies or activities; and
identify opportunities for the
Agency to enhance its effectiveness
in identify and addressing EJ
concerns.
Concerns of EJ
communities will be
considered when
decisions are made
for areas where EJ
communities are
located.
Environmental
conditions will
improve in
communities with
Environmental
Justice concerns
Alice Walker, 10
16
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Activities Output Applicable Outcome Men sure
Shorl-tcrm
Inlcrmcrihite
Long-term
Point of ( outnc
(aw iircncss)
(bchii\ ioi)
(condition)
6. Conduct Environmental
Justice Brown Bag
Offer several EJ Brown
Bags to broaden OW staff
understanding of
Environmental Justice
issues, and to allow
interaction with EJ
community stakeholders
Gain knowledge of water related
environmental justice issues that
affect EJ community stakeholders.
OW staff will focus
work and apply
knowledge gained as
they develop OW
programs, policies
and activities.
Work product and
decisions about
work in OW
improve
environmental
justice conditions in
communities with
environmental
justice concerns
Alice Walker, 10
7. Participate in the Agency's
Community Action for A
Renewed Environment
(CARE) Program
Educate and encourage the
use of OW volunteer
programs, i.e., Adopt A
Watershed, Volunteer
Water Monitoring Program,
and Water Use Efficiency
Program.
Assist CARE grant holders to
develop their own approaches to
reducing toxics and creating safe
communities.
Kitty Miller, 10
8. Train EPA personnel to
work more effectively with
tribal governments and to
understand the unique nature
of working with tribes.
Administer Agency wide
the Working Effectively
with Tribal Governments
training.
Offer on-line training to an
increased number of EPA staff
and management. (Measure: # of
people satisfactorily completing
the training).
Knowledge from the
training is applied to
EPA work and
programs (measure:
post training survey
or tracking
mechanism on how
tribal concerns are
incorporated into
programs, etc.
Environmental
conditions on
Indian lands are
improved.
Caren Robinson, AIEO
17
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Activities Output Applicable Outcome Men sure
Short-term Inlcrmcriisite Long-term Point ol ( o ill sir
(ciwiircncss) (bclui\ ioi) (condition)
9. Coordinate and work with
federally recognized tribes
and EPA Program Offices to
build an environmental
presence and environmental
programs in Indian country.
Coordinate funding for
Seniors Environmental
Employees (SEE) Circuit
Rider Program in the
Regions.
Increase the capacity of interested
tribes to administer their
environmental programs to protect
human health and the environment
of tribal lands (measure: # of
Regions served by Senior Service
America, Inc).
SEE advice is
incorporated into
tribal environmental
programs (measure:
The number of tribal
council or program
actions that are
related to SEE
advice).
Program and
project changes
improve the
environment in
Indian Country
(measure: GAP 5.3
measures).
Elvira Dixon, AIEO
18
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