Jul 21: U.S. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson delivered a major speech on environmental justice to the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC). NEJAC is conducting a Public Meeting in Arlington, Virginia from July 21 – 23. The Council is participating in discussions about EPA priorities related to environmental justice, school air toxics monitoring, recommendations for goods movement impacts on air quality, and other topics.
The following is an excerpt from the Administrator's speech and a reaction from the Sierra Club. Jackson said, "Earlier this year we also provided $800,000 in grants to fund environmental justice projects. Those will address environmental and public health issues in 28 states. And we’ve also been working hard to expand our message to new communities. I just returned from the 80th annual meeting of the League of United Latin American Citizens, where we discussed the unique challenges their community faces. Tomorrow, I’ll be speaking to a tribal group. And I’ve had several meetings with many of your local Environmental Justice partners across the country.
"But let me say loud and clear: this is just the beginning. The inauguration of the first African American president, and my subsequent confirmation as the first African American Administrator of this Agency, has forever changed the face of environmentalism in this country. I hope it sends a clear signal that environmentalism does not come in any one shape, size, or look. And if anyone lives out this truth on a daily basis -- it’s you. Environmentalism is not only about protecting wilderness or saving polar ice caps. As important as those things are, environmentalism is also about protecting people in the places where they live, and work, and raise families. It’s about making our urban and suburban neighborhoods safe and clean, about protecting children in their schools, and workers at their jobs. . .
"We have to go to every community – especially those that have been left out and left behind – and impress upon them that the issues of environmental protection are their issues, their work is our work, and their struggles are our struggles. I want you to know that I get that. I also want to be sure we’re not only talking about downsides. We have in President Obama a leader who rejects the false choice between a green environment and a green economy. That opens up opportunities to create green jobs in the places where both the 'green' and 'jobs' are absolutely vital. . .
"In the years ahead, I want to see a full-scale revitalization of what we do and how we think about environmental justice. This is not an issue we can afford to relegate to the margins. It has to be part of our thinking in every decision we make. And not just at EPA. We need the nonprofit sector. We need the academic sector. And we need the private sector. It’s absolutely essential that we have a wide range of voices raising these issues. . . My friends, the EPA is once again guided by a broad vision of public health protection and environmental preservation. Environmental justice is central to that vision. I look forward to making real progress in the months and years ahead, and continuing this important partnership."
Sierra Club applauded Administrator Lisa Jackson's call for greater diversity in the environmental movement and indicated it "takes pride in our leadership on these issues." Sierra Club President Allison Chin said, "Now, with the leadership of a diversity council and my election as our first Asian-American president, Sierra Club is committed to becoming an even more welcoming and inclusive organization."
Leslie Fields, Director of the Sierra Club's Environmental Justice and Community Partnerships program said, "The environmental movement should belong to anyone who wants clean air, clean water and a healthy planet for their families. All too often people face disproportionate risks of harm because of their demographic characteristics or economic condition, and we applaud Administrator Jackson for her sincere leadership in supporting more diversity in the environmental movement so all people can have a voice."
Access the complete text of Jackson's speech (click here). Access a release from Sierra Club with links to additional information (click here). Access the agenda for the NEJAC meeting (click here). Access the NEJAC website for additional information (click here). Access EPA's Environmental Justice website for more information (click here).
Showing posts with label Environmental Justice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Environmental Justice. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Mossville, LA Group Submits Environmental Racism Petition
Jun 23: Advocates for Environmental Human Rights (AEHR), a human rights law firm, has submitted a Second Amended Petition and Petitioners’ Observations on the Government’s Reply Concerning the United States Government’s Failure to Protect the Human Rights of the Residents of Mossville, Louisiana, to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) of the Organization of American States (OAS). The submission is on behalf of Mossville Environmental Action Now (MEAN) and residents of Mossville, Louisiana, pursuant to Article 23 of the Rules of Procedure of the Inter-American Commission.
The 97-page petition charges that the residents of the small unincorporated area of Mossville, composed of approximately 375 households, predominantly African American, located between two incorporated areas suffer from severe health problems, elevated levels of cancer-causing and hormone-disrupting chemicals, a devastated environment, and a deteriorated quality of life, all of which arise from governmental approvals of highly toxic industrial development in and around Mossville.
The petition indicates that the United States government and its political subdivisions have authorized fourteen industrial facilities to manufacture, process, store, and discharge toxic and hazardous substances in close geographic proximity to Mossville residents. Three of these facilities -- an oil refinery, a vinyl manufacturer, and a petrochemical facility -- are located within the recognized historic boundaries of Mossville, and eleven other facilities -- three vinyl manufacturers, one coal-fired power plant, and eight petrochemical facilities -- are located within 0.8 kilometers (one-half mile) of the community. Each of the facilities in the Mossville area has received from governmental agencies the requisite permits to pollute the air, water, and land.
The petition charges, "Although the environmental and health agencies of the United States have documented the massive industrial pollution burdens on the Mossville community, as well as residents’ exposure to health-damaging levels of toxic chemicals, these agencies have failed to adequately address this environmental health crisis that denies Mossville residents their fundamental human rights to life, health, and privacy. Furthermore, although the United States government has acknowledged the pervasive pattern of discrimination that subjects Mossville, as well as other African American, Latino, Native American, and Asian American communities throughout the nation, to racially disproportionate toxic pollution burdens, the United States government has failed to protect the human right to freedom from racial discrimination."
Mossville and the MEAN group seek remedies for these human rights violations and respectfully requests that the Commission, pursuant to human rights laws and standards, recommend to the United States that it: (1.) provide medical services to Mossville residents suffering from diseases and health problems associated with environmental toxic exposures, including health monitoring services; (2.) offer appropriate relocation to consenting Mossville residents that allows them to live in healthier environs, away from toxic industrial facilities and contaminated sites; (3.) refrain from issuing environmental permits and other approvals that would allow any increase in pollution by existing industrial facilities located in close proximity to the Mossville community, and refrain from issuing any environmental permits and other approvals that would allow the introduction of any new industrial facility in the Mossville area; and (4.) reform its existing environmental regulatory system in a number of specified ways.
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) is one of two bodies in the inter-American system for the promotion and protection of human rights. The Commission has its headquarters in Washington, DC. The IACHR is an autonomous organ of the Organization of American States (OAS). Its mandate is found in the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. The IACHR represents all of the member States of the OAS. It has seven members who act independently, without representing any particular country. The members of the IACHR are elected by the General Assembly of the OAS.
Access the complete Mossville petition (click here). Access the AEHR website for more information (click here). Access the IACHR website for additional information (click here).
The 97-page petition charges that the residents of the small unincorporated area of Mossville, composed of approximately 375 households, predominantly African American, located between two incorporated areas suffer from severe health problems, elevated levels of cancer-causing and hormone-disrupting chemicals, a devastated environment, and a deteriorated quality of life, all of which arise from governmental approvals of highly toxic industrial development in and around Mossville.
The petition indicates that the United States government and its political subdivisions have authorized fourteen industrial facilities to manufacture, process, store, and discharge toxic and hazardous substances in close geographic proximity to Mossville residents. Three of these facilities -- an oil refinery, a vinyl manufacturer, and a petrochemical facility -- are located within the recognized historic boundaries of Mossville, and eleven other facilities -- three vinyl manufacturers, one coal-fired power plant, and eight petrochemical facilities -- are located within 0.8 kilometers (one-half mile) of the community. Each of the facilities in the Mossville area has received from governmental agencies the requisite permits to pollute the air, water, and land.
The petition charges, "Although the environmental and health agencies of the United States have documented the massive industrial pollution burdens on the Mossville community, as well as residents’ exposure to health-damaging levels of toxic chemicals, these agencies have failed to adequately address this environmental health crisis that denies Mossville residents their fundamental human rights to life, health, and privacy. Furthermore, although the United States government has acknowledged the pervasive pattern of discrimination that subjects Mossville, as well as other African American, Latino, Native American, and Asian American communities throughout the nation, to racially disproportionate toxic pollution burdens, the United States government has failed to protect the human right to freedom from racial discrimination."
Mossville and the MEAN group seek remedies for these human rights violations and respectfully requests that the Commission, pursuant to human rights laws and standards, recommend to the United States that it: (1.) provide medical services to Mossville residents suffering from diseases and health problems associated with environmental toxic exposures, including health monitoring services; (2.) offer appropriate relocation to consenting Mossville residents that allows them to live in healthier environs, away from toxic industrial facilities and contaminated sites; (3.) refrain from issuing environmental permits and other approvals that would allow any increase in pollution by existing industrial facilities located in close proximity to the Mossville community, and refrain from issuing any environmental permits and other approvals that would allow the introduction of any new industrial facility in the Mossville area; and (4.) reform its existing environmental regulatory system in a number of specified ways.
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) is one of two bodies in the inter-American system for the promotion and protection of human rights. The Commission has its headquarters in Washington, DC. The IACHR is an autonomous organ of the Organization of American States (OAS). Its mandate is found in the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. The IACHR represents all of the member States of the OAS. It has seven members who act independently, without representing any particular country. The members of the IACHR are elected by the General Assembly of the OAS.
Access the complete Mossville petition (click here). Access the AEHR website for more information (click here). Access the IACHR website for additional information (click here).
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
EPA Annual Compliance & Enforcement Assessment
Nov 15: U.S. EPA announced that it has obtained commitments from industry, governments and other regulated entities to reduce pollution by nearly 900 million pounds in fiscal year 2006. The Agency released its assessment, Compliance and Enforcement Annual Results - FY2006, which it said reflects "a sustained three-year record of pollution reduction, totaling almost 3 billion pounds, and requiring companies to invest almost $20 billion in pollution control equipment." More than 70 percent of these reductions were achieved by addressing high-priority air and water pollution challenges. Granta Nakayama, EPA's assistant administrator for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance said, "Today's results show that we are making significant progress in protecting the environment and public health. EPA is encouraging environmental stewardship and vigorously enforcing our laws in order to deliver current and future generations a cleaner, healthier America."
EPA indicated that as a result of criminal enforcement actions completed this year, defendants will serve 154 years in jail and pay almost $43 million in fines, as well as another $29 million for environmental projects imposed as part of the sentences. EPA's civil enforcement program also demonstrated strong results this year by concluding a total of 173 judicial cases, 4,624 final administrative penalty order settlements, and resolving self-disclosed violations for 1,475 facilities. EPA referred 286 civil cases to the U.S. Department of Justice, the highest total in five years. As a result of EPA's Superfund enforcement actions, parties held responsible for pollution will invest $391 million to clean up 15 million cubic yards of contaminated soil and approximately 1.3 billion cubic yards of contaminated groundwater at waste sites. On top of paying penalties in 2006, regulated entities will also be required to invest $4.9 billion to reduce pollution and achieve compliance with environmental laws.
EPA also highlighted its accomplishments in environmental justice saying, each of the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance's (OECA) National Enforcement and Compliance Program Priorities has an environmental justice component in its performance-based implementation strategy. The Agency said, "This will ensure that minority and/or low income groups and communities are not disproportionately placed at risk from environmental and/or human health threats, especially by the activities covered by the National Priorities."
The Agency's assessment differs sharply with a September 18, 2006, Office of the Inspector General (OIG) assessment [See WIMS 9/18/06] which prompted some 77 House and Senate members, on October 31, to send a letter to EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson calling on him to immediately implement the recommendations of the report. The OIG report revealed that the EPA is failing to conduct environmental justice reviews of their programs, policies and activities. The report found that as a result, EPA "cannot determine whether its programs cause disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects on communities of color and low-income populations." In their letter, the Legislators said, "The failure to assess the impact of its programs, policies, and activities is a clear violation of the Executive Order... This report is part of a disturbing body of material documenting the refusal by the Administration and the Agency to comply with the Executive Order... We strongly encourage the EPA to immediately implement the recommendations of the Inspector General and adhere to the very clear language and intent of Executive Order 12898."
Access an EPA release (click here). Access EPA's Compliance and Enforcement Annual Results - FY2006 website for summaries and tables of the results (click here). Access EPA's Environmental Justice Assessment (click here). Access a release from the Legislators (click here). Access the Legislators' letter to EPA (click here). [*P2]
EPA indicated that as a result of criminal enforcement actions completed this year, defendants will serve 154 years in jail and pay almost $43 million in fines, as well as another $29 million for environmental projects imposed as part of the sentences. EPA's civil enforcement program also demonstrated strong results this year by concluding a total of 173 judicial cases, 4,624 final administrative penalty order settlements, and resolving self-disclosed violations for 1,475 facilities. EPA referred 286 civil cases to the U.S. Department of Justice, the highest total in five years. As a result of EPA's Superfund enforcement actions, parties held responsible for pollution will invest $391 million to clean up 15 million cubic yards of contaminated soil and approximately 1.3 billion cubic yards of contaminated groundwater at waste sites. On top of paying penalties in 2006, regulated entities will also be required to invest $4.9 billion to reduce pollution and achieve compliance with environmental laws.
EPA also highlighted its accomplishments in environmental justice saying, each of the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance's (OECA) National Enforcement and Compliance Program Priorities has an environmental justice component in its performance-based implementation strategy. The Agency said, "This will ensure that minority and/or low income groups and communities are not disproportionately placed at risk from environmental and/or human health threats, especially by the activities covered by the National Priorities."
The Agency's assessment differs sharply with a September 18, 2006, Office of the Inspector General (OIG) assessment [See WIMS 9/18/06] which prompted some 77 House and Senate members, on October 31, to send a letter to EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson calling on him to immediately implement the recommendations of the report. The OIG report revealed that the EPA is failing to conduct environmental justice reviews of their programs, policies and activities. The report found that as a result, EPA "cannot determine whether its programs cause disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects on communities of color and low-income populations." In their letter, the Legislators said, "The failure to assess the impact of its programs, policies, and activities is a clear violation of the Executive Order... This report is part of a disturbing body of material documenting the refusal by the Administration and the Agency to comply with the Executive Order... We strongly encourage the EPA to immediately implement the recommendations of the Inspector General and adhere to the very clear language and intent of Executive Order 12898."
Access an EPA release (click here). Access EPA's Compliance and Enforcement Annual Results - FY2006 website for summaries and tables of the results (click here). Access EPA's Environmental Justice Assessment (click here). Access a release from the Legislators (click here). Access the Legislators' letter to EPA (click here). [*P2]
Monday, September 18, 2006
EPA Is Not Conducting Environmental Justice Reviews
Sep 18: U.S. EPA's Office of Inspector General (OIG) has issued a report entitled, EPA Needs to Conduct Environmental Justice Reviews of Its Programs, Policies, and Activities (Report No. 2006-P-00034, September 18, 2006). OIG found that EPA senior management has not sufficiently directed program and regional offices to conduct environment justice reviews in accordance with Executive Order 12898. Consequently, the majority of respondents reported their programs or offices have not performed environmental justice reviews. Though some offices may not be subject to an environmental justice review, the respondents expressed a need for further guidance to conduct reviews, including protocols, a framework, or additional directions. Until these program and regional offices perform environmental justice reviews, the Agency cannot determine whether its programs cause disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects on minority and low-income populations.
Executive Order 12898 was signed on February 11, 1994. In August 2001, the EPA Administrator issued a memorandum reaffirming the Agency’s commitment to environmental justice. On November 4, 2005, the EPA Administrator issued another memorandum reaffirming the Agency’s commitment to environmental justice and directing Agency officials “to implement [EPA] programs and activities to ensure that they do not adversely affect populations with critical environmental and public health issues, including minority and low-income communities.” The 2005 memorandum also directed “EPA to more fully and effectively integrate environmental justice considerations into its programs, policies, and activities” and “to incorporate environmental justice considerations into its planning and budgeting processes.”
OIG recommended that the EPA Deputy Administrator: (1) Require the Agency’s program and regional offices to identify which programs, policies, and activities need environmental justice reviews and require these offices to establish a plan to complete the necessary reviews; (2) Ensure that environmental justice reviews determine whether the programs, policies, and activities may have a disproportionately high and adverse health or environmental impact on minority and low-income populations; (3) Require each program and regional office to develop, with the assistance of the Office of Environmental Justice, specific environmental justice review guidance, which includes protocols, a framework, or directions for conducting environmental justice reviews; and (4) Designate a responsible office to (a) compile the results of environmental justice reviews, and (b) recommend appropriate actions to review findings and make recommendations to the decisionmaking office’s senior leadership. OIG said EPA accepted its recommendations.
Access the OIG report (click here). [*P2]
Executive Order 12898 was signed on February 11, 1994. In August 2001, the EPA Administrator issued a memorandum reaffirming the Agency’s commitment to environmental justice. On November 4, 2005, the EPA Administrator issued another memorandum reaffirming the Agency’s commitment to environmental justice and directing Agency officials “to implement [EPA] programs and activities to ensure that they do not adversely affect populations with critical environmental and public health issues, including minority and low-income communities.” The 2005 memorandum also directed “EPA to more fully and effectively integrate environmental justice considerations into its programs, policies, and activities” and “to incorporate environmental justice considerations into its planning and budgeting processes.”
OIG recommended that the EPA Deputy Administrator: (1) Require the Agency’s program and regional offices to identify which programs, policies, and activities need environmental justice reviews and require these offices to establish a plan to complete the necessary reviews; (2) Ensure that environmental justice reviews determine whether the programs, policies, and activities may have a disproportionately high and adverse health or environmental impact on minority and low-income populations; (3) Require each program and regional office to develop, with the assistance of the Office of Environmental Justice, specific environmental justice review guidance, which includes protocols, a framework, or directions for conducting environmental justice reviews; and (4) Designate a responsible office to (a) compile the results of environmental justice reviews, and (b) recommend appropriate actions to review findings and make recommendations to the decisionmaking office’s senior leadership. OIG said EPA accepted its recommendations.
Access the OIG report (click here). [*P2]
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
