Enhancing Environmental Justice: Agency Initiatives and Community Engagement
In March 2010, the EPA underscored Environmental Justice (EJ) as a key priority under the leadership of Lisa Jackson. Significant budget expansions were implemented to support underserved communities, and a Special Assistant was appointed for EJ issues. The agency established internal teams to integrate EJ into rulemaking, alongside outreach efforts to engage communities more effectively. With initiatives like the Air Conference in New Orleans and targeted communications, the EPA aims to better address the environmental concerns of low-income, minority, and Tribal populations, ensuring their voices are heard in the policymaking process.
Enhancing Environmental Justice: Agency Initiatives and Community Engagement
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Presentation Transcript
OAQPS EJ Program March 16, 2010
Changing EJ Priority in the Agency • Lisa Jackson identified EJ as a priority • “Expanding the Conversation on Environmentalism and Working with Environmental Justice” • Provided and expanded budget to include funding efforts in under-served communities • Appointed Lisa Garcia as a Special Assistant on EJ Issues
Current Movement • EO 12898 • Administrator’s memo 9-11-09 • OEJ’s FAR questions on EJ • Revisions to EJ-related tiering questions • Cross-agency workgroup on EJ and rulemaking to develop guidance • Definition of EJ emphasizing low income, minority and Tribal populations • Deployed the “Rule Gateway”
Recent OAQPS Activities Related to EJ Program • Rulemaking • Outreach to communities/communication • Internal capacity building
Increased Emphasis on Integrating EJ into Rulemaking • 5 rules selected to pilot demographic or EJ analyses • New teams formed to guide the work • Policy team • Technical team • New teams supplement work of rulemaking workgroups
Cross-Agency EJ Work on Rulemaking and Analysis • EJ Executive Steering Committee established 2 teams to write guidance on integrating EJ into action development • “Process” guidance answers: • what questions to ask • who needs to be engaged • when questions should be asked • “Technical” guidance answer questions of how to structure the analysis to answer questions relevant to EJ concerns
Outreach and Communication • EJ and Air Conference in New Orleans (January 2010) • Very well received • Administrator and several AA’s attended • Around 500 attendees • Co-sponsored by NIEHS and Dillard University • Will schedule another conference in FY 2011
Outreach and Communication • Developing overall communication strategy for EJ issues • Developing plans for targeted outreach for the 5 pilot rules • Plan to also: • improve EJAir website • conduct regular conference calls with communities • develop a newsletter for EJ communities
EJ Community Efforts • On Going Communities for A Renewed Environment (CARE) • School Air Toxics Effort with the NEJAC • 2011 Proposed President’s Budget includes a community air toxics effort • Community air toxics monitoring • Individual communities raising issues on permitting, source citing and operations
Internal Capacity Building on EJ • Symposium on Disproportionate Impacts • Plan to work with rule writers • Plan to continue offering EJ courses
What Does This Mean for You? • EPA HQ and Regional Offices will be paying more attention to EJ issues • You will see more emphasis from the Agency to work with EJ communities • You will see more communities raising issues • Question to you, what do you need to help you be more prepared to work with EJ issues?
