High Expectations Associated with Region 4 Environmental Justice Conference

News release from EPA:

High Expectations Associated with Region 4
Environmental Justice Conference

by Jason McDonald

Armed with high expectations and concern for their local communities, more than 300 people descended on the recent Environmental Justice Conference hosted by the regional office of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on August 16-17 in Atlanta.

The conference served as a forum designed to help attendees learn about tangible solutions to address environmental, social, and health impacts associated with environmental pollution in poor and minority areas.

The event also provided a variety of networking opportunities with environmental justice leaders and organizations.

EPA defines environmental justice as the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.

The audience was treated to a rousing and soul stirring opening message from Dr. Mildred McClain Executive Director of the Harambee House in Savannah, Georgia. “Ain’t gonna let nothing stop us from creating a better, sustainable, passionate community for our children and those yet born,” sung Dr. McClain with support from conference participants.

Several noted supporters of environmental justice joined Dr. McClain on the dais for the opening of the conference including Na'Taki Osborne Jelks, West Atlanta Watershed Alliance; Mustafa S. Ali, EPA, Office of Environmental Justice; Gwen Keyes-Fleming; EPA Regional Administrator Region 4 (Southeastern States), and Lisa Garcia, EPA, Office of the Administrator, Senior Advisor on Environmental Justice.

Garcia introduced Plan Environmental Justice 2014 (Plan EJ 2014) during the opening session. EJ 2014 is a roadmap to help EPA integrate environmental justice into the Agency’s programs, policies, and activities.

The plan’s strategy seeks to empower communities and establish partnerships with stakeholders in order to protect the health of communities in environmental justice areas.

Throughout the two-day conference, federal and state government officials, educators, and industry professionals delivered presentations and moderated discussions on environmental justice.

Gwen Keyes-Fleming, Regional Administrator for the eight southeastern states, believes the conference will have a far-reaching impact in communities throughout the region. “You don’t bring this many people together at one point in time and not expect success as a result,” she affirmed.

For more on Plan EJ 2014 go to:

http://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/plan-ej/index.html

UPDATE: EPA to Hold Environmental Justice Conference in Atlanta, GA

Press release:

Media Advisory
Aug. 15, 2012

UPDATE: EPA to Hold Environmental Justice Conference in Atlanta, GA

Contact Information: Dawn Harris-Young, (404) 562-8421, harris-young.dawn@epa.gov

ATLANTA — The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will host the 2012 Southeast Regional Environmental Justice Conference, “Promoting Environmental Justice through Effective Education, Collaboration, and Mobilization” on August 16-17, 2012. The event will be held at the Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center in Atlanta, GA.

Who:   Gwen Keyes Fleming, EPA Regional Administrator
  Lisa Garcia, EPA, Office of the Administrator, Senior Advisor on Environmental Justice
Mustafa Ali, EPA, Office of Environmental Justice
 
What: 2012 Southeast Regional Environmental Justice Conference

When: August 16, 2012 at 8:45 a.m. until 4:45 p.m.
  August 17, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. until 6:30 p.m.

Where:  Atlanta Federal Center - Sam Nunn Bldg.
61 Forsyth Street SW, Atlanta, GA 30303
2nd Floor Conference Center
Cost:   FREE

Media wishing to attend should RSVP to Dawn Harris-Young at harris-young.dawn@epa.gov or Jason McDonald at mcdonald.jason@epa.gov
.
The conference aims to bring together local community activists, citizens, state and federal agencies, academia, business and industry, non-profit organizations, and other stakeholders to build relationships that will benefit their communities and promote sustainable growth. The goals of this year’s conference include:
• Developing tangible solutions to address environmental, health, and social impacts affecting communities with environmental justice concerns;
• Educating the attendees on the environmental, health, and social impacts affecting communities with environmental justice concerns; and
• Providing networking opportunities for environmental justice leaders and organizations.
About Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice is 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. EPA has this goal for all communities and persons across this Nation. It will be achieved when everyone enjoys the same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards and equal access to the decision-making process to have a healthy environment in which to live, learn, and work.

For more information on the conference: http://epa.gov/region4/ej/conference.html or follow the conversation via Twitter at #R4EJC.

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EPA To Hold Environmental Justice Conference in Atlanta, GA

Press release:

Media Advisory
Aug. 13, 2012

EPA To Hold Environmental Justice Conference in Atlanta, GA

Contact Information: Dawn Harris-Young, (404) 562-8421, harris-young.dawn@epa.gov

ATLANTA — The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will host the 2012 Southeast Regional Environmental Justice Conference, “Promoting Environmental Justice through Effective Education, Collaboration, and Mobilization” on August 16-17, 2012. The event will be held at the Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center in Atlanta, GA.

Who:   Gwen Keyes Fleming, EPA Regional Administrator
  Lisa Garcia, EPA, Office of the Administrator, Senior Advisor on Environmental Justice
Mustafa Ali, EPA, Office of Environmental Justice
 
What:  2012 Southeast Regional Environmental Justice Conference

When:  August 16-17, 2012

Where:  Atlanta Federal Center - Sam Nunn Bldg.
61 Forsyth Street SW, Atlanta, GA 30303
2nd Floor Conference Center

Cost:   FREE

The conference aims to bring together local community activists, citizens, state and federal agencies, academia, business and industry, non-profit organizations, and other stakeholders to build relationships that will benefit their communities and promote sustainable growth. The goals of this year’s conference include: 

• Developing tangible solutions to address environmental, health, and social impacts affecting communities with environmental justice concerns;
• Educating the attendees on the environmental, health, and social impacts affecting communities with environmental justice concerns; and
• Providing networking opportunities for environmental justice leaders and organizations. 

About Environmental Justice

Environmental Justice is 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. EPA has this goal for all communities and persons across this Nation. It will be achieved when everyone enjoys the same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards and equal access to the decision-making process to have a healthy environment in which to live, learn, and work.

For more information on the conference: http://epa.gov/region4/ej/conference.html.

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CLEANUP AND NATURAL RESOURCES IMPROVEMENT AGREEMENT REACHED AT ASHLAND LAKEFRONT SUPERFUND SITE IN WISCONSIN

Press release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DOJ (202) 514-2007

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2012 TTY (202) 544-5309

WWW.JUSTICE.GOV EPA (800) 223-0423

CLEANUP AND NATURAL RESOURCES IMPROVEMENT AGREEMENT REACHED AT ASHLAND LAKEFRONT SUPERFUND SITE IN WISCONSIN

WASHINGTON – Northern States Power Co. will begin cleanup of the Ashland/Northern States Power Lakefront Superfund Site in Northwestern Wisconsin under a settlement the Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today. The 40-acre site is located on the shore of Chequamegon Bay in Lake Superior and was used for various industrial purposes for more than a century, resulting in the release of volatile organic compounds, such as benzene, and semivolatile organic compounds, such as naphthalene, at the site.

           Under the agreement, filed today with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin in Madison, Wis., Northern States Power will design, construct and implement the cleanup plan for the on-land portion of the site. The on-land cleanup is expected to cost approximately $40 million. The United States will also require additional cleanup of sediments in Chequamegon Bay, and expects that Northern States Power and any other responsible parties will perform the rest of the cleanup. That work is not part of the agreement filed with the Court today.

           Today’s agreement also requires Northern States Power to transfer approximately 990 acres of land along the Iron River to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and 400 acres within the reservation of the Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Chippewa Indians to the Bad River tribe. These parcels, worth about $1.9 million, will be preserved by the state and the Bad River tribe to enhance natural resources in the area that have been harmed by pollution from the site, such as fisheries in Chequamegon Bay and its rivers. In addition, the state of Wisconsin will transfer 114 acres of land to the Red Cliff Band of the Lake Superior Chippewa Indians. That land will also be managed to preserve natural resources. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also serve as trustees for natural resources in the area and joined the settlement on behalf of the United States.

“This agreement will begin the long-awaited cleanup of contamination at the Ashland Lakefront site,” said Ignacia S. Moreno, Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division. “The agreement will result in the preservation of land in the Chequamegon Bay watershed, including tribal lands, to conserve and enhance natural resources and aquatic habitat that have been harmed by more than a century of pollution at the site.”

“Chequamegon Bay and Lake Superior will be better protected as a result of this agreement,” said EPA Region 5 Regional Administrator Susan Hedman. “Removing the most highly contaminated soil from the site and controlling the flow of contaminated groundwater will prevent polluted water from entering the bay and harming fisheries.”

For more than a century, the Ashland site has been home to various industrial uses, including sawmills, railroads, and a city wastewater treatment plant. The primary source of pollution at the site was the manufactured gas plant operated by Northern States Power’s predecessor company between 1885 and 1947. Pollution from the manufactured gas plant contaminated both the on-land portion of the site and the sediment in the bay.

           The on-land cleanup will include removal of source material and impacted soil in Kreher Park and the adjacent bluff area and recovery wells designed to remove pollution from the Copper Falls aquifer. The work Northern States Power will perform under this agreement is expected to take approximately two to three years.

EPA will oversee the work to ensure that it follows the cleanup plan and complies with the agreement signed by the parties. The state of Wisconsin will support EPA in overseeing the work.

The proposed consent decree will be subject to public comment for 30 days prior to entry in federal court. The consent decree will be available at www.justice.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html.

EPA Envtl. Justice Grant to Help Promote Sustainable Practices

News Release from EPA Region 2:

EPA Environmental Justice Grant to Help Ironbound Community Promote Sustainable Practices through Urban Gardening and Environmental Education

Contact: Elias Rodriguez, 212-637-3664, rodriguez.elias@epa.gov

(New York, N.Y. - Jan. 23, 2012) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is providing $25,000 to the Ironbound Community Corporation to enhance a community garden and promote environmental education in the Ironbound section of Newark, New Jersey. The wide variety of pollutants that affect the Ironbound, from existing and former chemical plants, waste industries, and trucks, airplanes and ships, has made the area a focus of EPA efforts to reduce pollution in low income neighborhoods.

“EPA environmental justice grants provide much needed funds to tackle local pollution problems in low income communities," said Judith A. Enck, EPA Regional Administrator. "The grant to the Ironbound Community Corporation will expand a community gardening project that brings children and adults together to learn about sustainable practices, and will train community residents on ways to reduce pollution in the Ironbound.”

More than 50,000 people live in this Newark neighborhood and it is one of the most densely populated and diverse areas of the city. Seventy-five percent of its residents speak a language other than English, including large numbers of people who speak Portuguese or Spanish. The community suffers from double-digit unemployment and high poverty.

There are a wide variety of pollutants in the Ironbound from existing and former chemical plants, the local garbage incinerator, and trucks, airplanes, and ships. Newark is densely populated and there is an elevated level of asthma in children living in the area. Poor air quality particularly impacts children and adults who are active outdoors, and people with respiratory diseases, such as asthma. Pathogens and toxic pollutants in the water pose risks to human health and water quality.

The area is heavily industrialized, and when a property has been previously used for industrial or commercial activities, the soil is often nutrient deficient, highly compacted and potentially contaminated. The health of the soil can be improved to support community gardens like the one planted by the Ironbound Community Corporation. Healthy soil holds water and contains beneficial organisms, plant nutrients and organic matter.

The Ironbound Community Corporation is the largest comprehensive social service provider in the area. The environmental justice grant to the organization will be used to enhance a community garden that provides environmental activities for residents. The project will support existing gardening efforts at the East Ferry Street Family Success Center, add new sustainability elements such as a rain harvesting system to better manage storm water, and link all greening and gardening activities to educational activities. In addition, the group will encourage civic participation and sustainability practices, and train community members on ways to address pollution.

Environmental justice means the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race or income, in the environmental decision-making process. Since 1994, the environmental justice small grants program has provided more than $23 million in funding to community-based nonprofit organizations and local governments working to address environmental justice issues in more than 1,200 communities. The grants further EPA’s commitment to expand the conversation on environmentalism and advance environmental justice in communities across the nation.

More information on the Environmental Justice Small Grants program and a list of grantees: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/environmentaljustice/grants/ej-smgrants.html

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Envtl. Justice Grant to Prevent Lead Poisoning & Restore Wetlands

News Release from EPA Region 2:

EPA Environmental Justice Grants to Help New York City Communities Prevent Lead Poisoning and Restore Wetlands

Organizations in Northern Manhattan, the South Bronx and Jamaica to Receive Funds

Contact: Elias Rodriguez, 212-637-3664, rodriguez.elias@epa.gov

(New York, N.Y. - Jan. 23, 2012) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is providing $75,000 to two New York City organizations to help them address public health and environmental problems in Northern Manhattan, the South Bronx and Jamaica, New York. West Harlem Environmental Action, Inc. (WE ACT) will receive $50,000 to test homes for lead and conduct research on the best ways to detect lead hazards in households in Northern Manhattan and the South Bronx. The Rockaway Waterfront Alliance will be provided $25,000 to train students to restore wetland habitats.

“EPA environmental justice grants provide much needed funds to tackle local pollution problems in low income communities," said Judith A. Enck, EPA Regional Administrator. "Lead poisoning can have serious and long-term effects on children’s abilities to learn. The environmental justice grant to WE ACT will advance our knowledge about how to best protect thousands of New York City children from lead poisoning. The Rockaway Waterfront Alliance will educate middle school and high school students about water pollution and give them the skills they need to be the next generation of environmental stewards.”

It is estimated three-quarters of U.S. residential dwellings built before 1978 contain some lead-based paint. Lead poisoning in children can have serious, long-term consequences including learning disabilities, hearing impairment and behavioral problems.

WE ACT will use the grant funds to conduct a research project that will expand scientific knowledge on the best ways to detect lead poisoning hazards in homes. The research will identify potential sources of lead in dust particles in homes, public drinking water systems and consumer products. The organization will enlist 100 residents to have their homes tested for lead. The field testing will look at the differences between having people test for lead using an instructional DVD or being instructed by a field technician. Simple lead dust wipe tests costs $40 to perform compared to a professional lead inspection, which costs approximately $500. If the cheaper test can first be performed to reliably determine whether a more robust and expensive test is needed, this will increase the number of homes identified as having lead hazards and save money for residents.

The Rockaway Waterfront Alliance will use its grant funds to create a Rockaway Youth Marine Conservation Corps in Jamaica, New York to restore wetland habitats. The group will launch a year-long wetland restoration program that will train low-income high school and middle school students about water pollution problems around Jamaica Bay. The bay is severely impacted by sewage and chemical pollutants, which has damaged water quality. Students will participate in oyster gardening along the Sommerville and Norton/Conch Basins and design and implement projects that involve their schools and communities in the cleanup and restoration of the Jamaica Bay.

Environmental justice means the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race or income, in the environmental decision-making process. Since 1994, the environmental justice small grants program has provided more than $23 million in funding to community-based nonprofit organizations and local governments working to address environmental justice issues in more than 1,200 communities. The grants further EPA’s commitment to expand the conversation on environmentalism and advance environmental justice in communities across the nation.

More information on the Environmental Justice Small Grants program and a list of grantees: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/environmentaljustice/grants/ej-smgrants.html

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EPA Environmental Justice Grant to Help Farm Workers

News Release from EPA Region 2:

EPA Environmental Justice Grant to Help Farm Workers Reduce Pesticide Risks

Contact: Elias Rodriguez, 212-637-3664, rodriguez.elias@epa.gov

(New York, N.Y. - Jan. 23, 2012) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is providing a $25,000 grant to the Comite de Apoyo a los Trabajadores Agrícolas (CATA) to reduce exposure to pesticides for farm workers in southern New Jersey. CATA, a Latino-led nonprofit organization, will educate migrant farm workers throughout the counties of Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem, New Jersey about the risks of pesticide exposure and how to protect their health during field work.

““EPA environmental justice grants provide much needed funds to tackle local pollution problems in low income communities," said Judith A. Enck, EPA Regional Administrator. "Exposure to pesticides can have serious effects on people’s health. The grant to Comite de Apoyo a los Trabajadores Agrícolas will train migrant farm workers in southern New Jersey about steps they can take to better protect their health on the job.”

Pesticides are intended to harm or kill pests and are toxic by design. They can be very harmful to people’s health depending on the toxicity of the pesticide and the level of exposure. According to the Centers for Disease Control, doctors diagnose between 10,000 and 20,000 farm workers with pesticide poisonings each year. Workers can become exposed to toxic levels of pesticides during spills, direct spraying or pesticide drift. In addition, migrant farm workers may not be supplied protective gear needed to protect their health or the equipment they do receive is defective.

Southern New Jersey has a large population of migrant farm workers. For the past twenty years, CATA has managed an environmental program that provides information on pesticide protection, the reduction of harmful chemicals in the workplace and general health and safety training. The EPA funding to CATA will help farm workers implement worker protection standards and identify training needs. Under the project funded by the grant, the group will survey workers and train them using the We Work with Pesticides curriculum developed by the Farm Worker Health and Safety Institute and approved by the EPA.

Environmental justice means the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race or income, in the environmental decision-making process. Since 1994, the environmental justice small grants program has provided more than $23 million in funding to community-based nonprofit organizations and local governments working to address environmental justice issues in more than 1,200 communities. The grants further EPA’s commitment to expand the conversation on environmentalism and advance environmental justice in communities across the nation.

More information on the Environmental Justice Small Grants program and a list of grantees: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/environmentaljustice/grants/ej-smgrants.html

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