PLAN EJ 2014
 

SUPPORTING COMMUNITY­BASED
 

ACTION PROGRAMS
 

DRAFT IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
 

Led by
 

Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response
 

and Regions 2, 3 and 4
 

Plan EJ 2014 is EPA’s roadmap to integrate

environmental justice (EJ) into its programs and policies.

2014 represents the 20th anniversary of the signing of

Executive Order 12898 on environmental justice.
   

          

                 

                             

   

Comments regarding the Supporting Community‐Based
 

Action Programs Draft Implementation Plan can be submitted on Regulations.gov.
 

For more information on Plan EJ 2014, visit the US EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice

website at: http://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/plan‐ej/index.html.
                       

                              

                          

                     

                       

                  

                     

                       

                            

               

                    

                      

                   

                       

                               

                   

                           

               

                 

                         

                      

                            

                           

                          

                       

                     

                           

   

                 

             

                             

                            

                         

                   

                     

                   

                 

             

Plan EJ 2014: Supporting Community‐Based Action Programs Draft Implementation Plan, March 1, 2011

1.0 INTRODUCTION

For over forty years, EPA’s top priority has been protecting human health and the environment.

The Agency has learned that communities must be the driver for local solutions. Consequently,

EPA has implemented numerous programs that support community empowerment and provide

community benefits at all levels, from basic educational and leadership development to

comprehensive approaches to achieving healthy, sustainable and green communities. These

efforts include financial assistance programs such as Environmental Justice (EJ), Community

Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE), Brownfields Area‐Wide Planning, Lead, and Tribal

grants. They also include other place‐based programs such as EPA’s Local Climate and Energy,

Childhood Asthma, Smart Growth/Sustainable Communities, Urban Waters, Superfund, and

Brownfields programs. EPA undertakes these programs in collaboration with other federal

agencies, state, tribal, and local governments, and multiple stakeholders. Significantly, EPA’s

ten Regions play a leading role in implementing these programs.

While communities continue to impress EPA with their dedication, their innovative ideas, and

most importantly their ability to bring real change to their communities, we realize that far too

many communities still lack the capacity to affect environmental conditions. Many low‐income,

minority, and indigenous communities continue to live in the shadows of the worst pollution

and face some of the harshest impacts.

The Plan EJ 2014 Supporting Community‐Based Action Programs Implementation Plan builds

upon an Agency effort to improve the effectiveness of EPA’s place‐based community programs

through better information access, coordination, and leveraging. Through this process, EPA

hopes to make “community” an organizing principle for our work. To implement this principle,

EPA is currently doing the difficult foundational work of internally aligning and coordinating its

programs. The resulting foundation will enable EPA, particularly its Regions, to more effectively

expand partnerships, build local capacity, and foster health and economic benefits in minority,

low‐income, indigenous, and other underserved communities, as well as aligning EPA programs

and investments with those of other federal agencies, state, local and tribal governments, and

other stakeholders.

1.1 Goals

EPA will strengthen community‐based programs to engage overburdened communities and

build partnerships that promote healthy, sustainable and green communities.

To accomplish this goal, EPA will build upon and leverage Agency efforts to promote greater

coordination in the use of programs and tools that support community empowerment. EPA will

pursue this goal at all levels, from basic educational and leadership development to

comprehensive approaches to achieving healthy, sustainable, and green communities. Through

these efforts, EPA will make the Agency’s resources more accessible to underserved

communities, while achieving greater internal efficiency through feedback and better

understanding of implementing community‐based programs. This approach will result in

environmental, health, and economic improvements in such communities.

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Plan EJ 2014: Supporting Community‐Based Action Programs Draft Implementation Plan, March 1, 2011

1.2 Organizational Structure

The Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER) and Regions 2, 3, and 4 are

responsible for designing and implementing the Plan EJ 2014 Supporting Community‐Based

Action Programs focus area. They will be supported by the Office of Water (OW), Office of Air

and Radiation (OAR), Office of Policy (OP), Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance

(OECA), Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ), Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO), and

Regions 1, 6, and 10.

EPA recognizes that Supporting Community‐Based Action Programs is cross‐cutting in nature

and requires the participation of all EPA Programs and Regions. This One‐EPA approach enables

the Agency to better engage and empower communities and their partners, particularly those

who have been historically under‐represented, in order to support and advance environmental

protection and foster environmental, health and economic benefits for all communities.

2.0 IMPLEMENTATION

2.1 Strategies

EPA will employ five strategies in the Supporting Community‐Based Action Programs

Implementation Plan that are tied to the larger Plan EJ 2014 goals and Agency priorities.

1.	 Advance EJ principles by building strong state and tribal partnerships through the FY2011

National Environmental Performance Partnership System (NEPPS) and National Program

Manager (NPM) guidance.

2.	 Align multiple community‐based programs to provide funding and technical assistance to

build capacity to address critical issues affecting minority, low‐income, indigenous, and

other underserved communities.

3.	 Promote a One‐EPA presence to better engage communities in the Agency’s work to protect

human health and the environment.

4.	 Foster community‐based programs modeled on CARE principles.

5.	 Explore how EPA funding, policies and programs can inform or help local decision‐makers to

maximize benefits and minimize adverse impacts from land use decision‐making, planning

and siting.

2.2 Activities

This section will describe the nine major activities EPA will undertake to implement these

strategies to support community‐based programs.

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Plan EJ 2014: Supporting Community‐Based Action Programs Draft Implementation Plan, March 1, 2011

Strategy 1: Advance EJ principles by building strong state and tribal partnerships

through the FY2011 National Environmental Performance Partnership System

(NEPPS) and National Program Manager (NPM) guidance

This effort will advance the Administrator’s priorities on EJ and children’s health through state,

tribal, and grant work plans. EPA Regions will work with states and tribes to advance

environmental justice by improving environmental conditions and public health in minority,

low‐income, indigenous, and other overburdened communities.

EPA will establish a workgroup and schedule a series of meetings to hold discussions. The

workgroup will make recommendations and develop appropriate language to incorporate EJ

principles and Title VI to better protect disproportionately burdened communities. This effort

will demonstrate how the Agency can positively impact minority, low‐income, indigenous and

other overburdened communities through its partnerships, agreements, work plans and grants

that are governed by NEPPS and NPM guidance principles. The workgroup will promote state

and tribal engagement with impacted communities in their discussions and decision‐making

processes. The workgroup has identified two key activities to address as part of its effort to

advance EJ through NEPPS and NPM guidance:

Activity 1: Create a workgroup to provide recommendations that mutually support

community involvement, resource/data sharing, monitoring/tracking and training within

programs implemented through performance partnership agreements, tribal agreements,

and work plans guided by NEPPS and NPM documents.

 Address specific issues and identify barriers within current practices to incorporating EJ

principles into NEPPS and NPM process

 Develop recommendations on how to best integrate EJ principles into state, tribal, and

grant work plans

 Promote state and tribal involvement in EJ discussions, reviews and decision‐making to

incorporate EJ principles into the NEPPS and NPM processes

	 Coordinate with NEPPS and NPM efforts, exploring current regional practices and lessons

learned to develop language for EJ guidance on community‐based programs for inclusion in

the annual NPM & NEPPS guidance

 Identify Agency programs to pilot the inclusion of EJ principles into negotiated work plans

and tribal agreements

 Incorporate lessons learned from pilot demonstrations of EJ in negotiated work plans and

tribal agreements into NPM & NEPPS annual guidance

Activity 2: Develop language for EJ principles including Title VI guidance (as appropriate with

all Agency grants) for inclusion in the FY 2013 NEPPS and FY 2012 NPM guidance through

collaboration and discussions with OCIR, Office of Civil Rights (OCR), Regional Offices and

States.

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Plan EJ 2014: Supporting Community‐Based Action Programs Draft Implementation Plan, March 1, 2011

	 Consult Agency legal resources for guidance in integrating EJ considerations and Title VI

guidance through NEPPS and NPM guidance documents.

	 Review language from PPA, PPG and grants of Agency and state programs being

implemented under NEPPS and NPM guidance.

Strategy 2: Align multiple community­based programs to provide funding and

technical assistance to build capacity to address critical issues affecting minority,

low­income, indigenous, and other underserved communities.

EPA has achieved great success with community‐based programs that help build capacity to
 

address critical issues affecting disproportionately burdened populations. In order to help
 

Agency community‐based programs learn from direct experience in the field, this workgroup
 

will engage regional offices regarding their successes and lessons learned with community‐

based programs.
 

EPA has embarked on an effort to improve the effectiveness of its place‐based community
 

programs through better information access, coordination, and leveraging, with the following
 

desired outcomes:
 

 “Community” becomes an organizing principle for our work;
 

 Communities find it easier to access our programs;
 

 Communities’ needs are better met;
 

 EPA programs effectively target communities most in need;
 

 Environmental protection and quality of life at the community level are improved; and
 

 Effective basis for coordination across federal agencies is established.
 

This effort is employing a multi‐pronged approach, which is in the process of:

 Assessing a list of 27 key community‐based programs to initiate this effort;1

 Developing web‐based mapping tools and information portals to serve as an internal

management tool and to better connect communities with EPA resources and services;

 Reviewing existing grants programs to ensure use of a community‐based orientation (e.g.,

the EJ 2014 Resources Tools Development Implementation Plan is designed to supporting

this cross‐agency focus area);

 Developing and incorporating metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of community‐based

activities and to integrate this approach into ongoing Agency planning and budgeting

processes; and

 Coordinating with other federal agencies, states, regions, tribes, and municipalities to

integrate a community‐based approach.

EPA has also undertaken significant community and stakeholder engagement efforts. Examples

are provided below.

	 OSWER’ Community Engagement Initiative assists local communities and stakeholders to

meaningfully participate in government decisions on cleanup, emergency preparedness and

response, and hazardous materials management.

1 A list of EPA’s community‐based programs is provided in Appendix B.

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Plan EJ 2014: Supporting Community‐Based Action Programs Draft Implementation Plan, March 1, 2011

 The Community Involvement Conference provides training to EPA staff.

 The National Environmental Justice Advisory Council provides advice and recommendations

to the EPA Administrator.

	 The Office of Air and Radiation (OAR) organizes an Agency‐wide community training

conference. OAR is developing an EJ Learning Center, patterned after its highly successful

tribal training program in collaboration with the Institute for Tribal Environmental

Professionals.

The workgroup has identified two key activities to improve EPA’s community‐based efforts to

produce tangible results in minority, low‐income, indigenous, and other overburdened

communities.

Activity 3: Review list of Agency and key outside community‐based programs and identify

scalable and replicable program elements which encourage place‐based solutions to

environmental issues, strengthen and promote partnerships, and support healthy and

sustainable communities.

Activity 4: Make recommendations on how EPA can align its community‐based and

geographically‐centered work, particularly in EPA’s regions.

Strategy 3: Promote a One­EPA presence to better engage communities in the

Agency’s work to protect human health and the environment

The organizational structure of EPA presents a challenge for many communities that are

addressing multiple environmental issues. The reality is that most Americans see EPA as a

single entity. More and more communities are seeking comprehensive environmental solutions

that cut across individual media programs. We will find the best solutions when we work

consistently in a unified way. What we can achieve as One EPA to assure a clean and healthy

environment for all is far greater than the results of multiple uncoordinated efforts. One EPA is

a mindset that values alignment – investing our time and energy to define together the

outcomes we want and how to get there. It entails our persistent search for more integrated

ways of reaching solutions that better protect the environment. The workgroup has identified

two key activities to address as part of its effort to promote a One‐EPA presence.

Activity 5: Identify three approaches to promote a “One EPA” presence where EPA will find

the best solution by working in a consistent and unified way.

Activity 6: Promote equitable development opportunities.

EPA has a range of financing and technical assistance vehicles in place which communities

might be able to tap if they had basic, understandable information about how to do so.

However, accessing them can be a formidable challenge for communities and organizations

unfamiliar with EPA’s processes for distributing these resources.

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Plan EJ 2014: Supporting Community‐Based Action Programs Draft Implementation Plan, March 1, 2011

Strategy 4: Foster community­based programs modeled on CARE principles

The Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) program was developed from

lessons learned from EPA community‐based programs (e.g., Brownfields, EJ, Community‐Based

Environmental Protection, etc.) and advice from the 2004 National Environmental Justice

Advisory Council (NEJAC) to “initiate community‐based, collaborative, multi‐media, risk

reduction pilot projects.” The CARE principles will be applied to a One‐EPA approach toward

testing regional approaches for joint planning and non‐EPA funding of community partnerships.

These partnerships will engage private industry, foundations, universities and community

colleges, and other groups. The workgroup has identified two key activities to address as part

of its effort to foster community‐based programs modeled on CARE principles.

Activity 7: Develop a community‐based partners (CBP) program for opportunities in

undeserved and overburdened neighborhoods to collaborate with private industry,

foundations, and other institutions to implement the CARE model.

In developing the CBP program, EPA will assess and implement ways by how the Agency can

better act as a conduit to bring together underserved communities with private industry,

businesses, foundations, universities, and other institutions.

Activity 8: Identify technical assistance resources, program staff, and regional staff available

to aid minority, low‐income, indigenous and other underserved communities with issues

related to their areas of expertise.

Strategy 5: Explore how EPA funding, policies and programs can inform or help local

decision­makers to maximize benefits and minimize adverse impacts from land use

decision­making, planning and siting

EPA is aware of communities concerns about land use planning. To respond to these concerns,

EPA will explore how our programs impact land use planning, siting, and decision‐making in low

income, minority, indigenous and other overburdened communities. While land use planning is

usually a local government responsibility, EPA can provide interested jurisdictions with

information on best practices regarding policies and approaches that can benefit all community

stakeholders and minimize adverse impacts. Building upon its work with the interagency

Partnership for Sustainable Communities, EPA can support a broad discussion forum to explore

how interested jurisdictions might better address the issues of overburdened communities

when making local land use decisions. Due to the cross‐cutting nature of land use planning and

its effect on communities, EPA will work collaboratively with communities and all stakeholders

to identify issues and opportunities. EPA has identified one activity to implement its effort to

examine land use decision‐making, planning, and siting in underserved and overburdened

communities.

Activity 9: Establish a workgroup and seek stakeholder feedback to explore ways the

Agency’s work intersects with land use decision‐making, planning and siting.

This workgroup will produce information discussing environmental concerns which may affect

land use planning, siting, and permitting decisions. This workgroup will be comprised of select

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Plan EJ 2014: Supporting Community‐Based Action Programs Draft Implementation Plan, March 1, 2011

EPA offices, state, local government and tribal partners. The workgroup will also develop a

complementary training course for stakeholders with the goal of increasing awareness of land‐

use decision‐making, and its impact on communities.

2.3 Community Engagement and Stakeholder Partnership Plan

Community engagement and stakeholder partnership activities are integrated into the different

strategies and activities of this Implementation Plan. Many strategies and activities of this plan

resulted from community dialogues and the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council’s

(NEJAC) advice and recommendations. In addition, we will coordinate our community outreach

and stakeholder involvement efforts with the Office of Environmental Justice.

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Plan EJ 2014: Supporting Community‐Based Action Programs Draft Implementation Plan, March 1, 2011

3.0 DELIVERABLES

The table below provides a list of activities to be completed with deliverables and associated

milestones.

ACTIVITIES DELIVERABLES MILESTONES

Activity 1: Recommendations  Necessary expertise identified for  June 30, 2011

on advancing EJ principles in developing recommendations

work plans and agreements

 Recommendations on how to best

integrate NEPPS principles into state,

tribal, and grant work plans

 Agency programs to pilot the inclusion

of EJ into negotiated work plans and

tribal agreements identified

 September 30, 2011

 September 30, 2012

Activity 2: Development of  OGC guidance on EJ and Title VI  June 30, 2011

appropriate language for language

incorporating EJ principles in

work plans and agreements  Proposed language on EJ including Title

VI guidance for CB programs for FY‐

2013 NEPPS Guidance and FY‐2012

NPM Guidance developed

 September 30, 2012

Activity 3: List of scalable and  Workgroup established to coordinate  March 31, 2011

replicable elements of with OP and look at Agency and outside

community‐based programs CB programs

 List of scalable and replicable CB

program elements developed

 September 30, 2011

Activity 4: Recommendations

on aligning Agency

community‐based programs

 Recommendations on aligning Agency

CB programs

 September 30, 2011

Activity 5: Target three  Conferences  March 31, 2011

approaches to promote a ‐ Identify 3 conference that address

“One EPA” presence overarching concerns of minority, low‐

income, and indigenous populations or

communities

‐ Explore options for a traveling One‐

EPA kiosk at conferences where people

can register for listserves, etc.

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Plan EJ 2014: Supporting Community‐Based Action Programs Draft Implementation Plan, March 1, 2011

ACTIVITIES DELIVERABLES MILESTONES

 Communication and Outreach

‐ Recommendations for effective public

listening sessions

‐ Identify best practices

 Capacity Building

‐ Workforce development

‐ Job training

‐ Coordinate with Office of Air (OAR)

on the Community Learning Center

Project

 June 30, 2011

 December 31, 2011

Activity 6: Promote equitable  Conduct research on financing vehicles  March 31, 2011

development opportunities  Prepare the Analysis

 Produce “EPA Agency‐wide Financing

and Technical Assistance Vehicle:

Strategies to Apply Them to Support

Equitable Community Development”

and Post on the web

 June 30, 2011

 December 31, 2011

Activity 7: Develop and  Communities with the established  April 2011

implement CBP program framework in place to implement this

based on the CARE model program identified by EPA regional

offices

 Select communities

 Preliminary program initiated

 Lessons learned from selected

communities developed

 June 2011

 July 2011

 June 2012

Activity 8: Identify resources

available to underserved

communities

 Identify areas of need

 Reach out to offices and regions to

identify resources and staff

 Develop a list and a system for

updating the list

 June 2011

 June 2011

 May 2011

Activity 9: Explore how EPA  Establish a workgroup  TBD

funding, policies and  Set up a series of meetings to begin  TBD

programs can inform and looking at intersection of Agency work

help local decision‐makers to and land use planning

maximize benefits and  Develop an outreach strategy to get  TBD

mininize adverse impacts stakeholder feedback

from land use decision‐  Develop training course for  TBD

making, planning and siting stakeholders

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Plan EJ 2014: Supporting Community‐Based Action Programs Draft Implementation Plan, March 1, 2011

3.1 Reports

Progress reports on this Implementation Plan will be made annually. The planned deliverables

and milestones for each of the activities described above are set forth in the tables. Each of the

offices responsible will further refined and developed during the process of implementation.

For information, please contact: Pat Carey, 202‐566‐0199, carey.pat@epa.gov.

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Plan EJ 2014: Supporting Community‐Based Action Programs Draft Implementation Plan, March 1, 2011

4.0 APPENDICES

Appendix A: Acronyms

CARE – Community Action for a Renewed Environment

CB – Community Based

CBCE – Community Based Coordination Effort

CBP – Community‐Based Partners

CEI – Community Engagement Initiative

EPA – Environmental Protection Agency

EJ – Environmental Justice

FY – Fiscal Year

IWG – Interagency Working Group

NEJAC – National Environmental Justice Advisory Council

NEPPS – National Environmental Performance Partnership System

NPM – National Program Management

OAR – Office of Air and Radiation

OCFO – Office of the Chief Financial Officer

OCSPP – Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention

OECA – Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance

OEJ – Office of Environmental Justice

OGC – Office of General Counsel

OIA – Office Indian Affairs

OP – Office of Policy

OPE – Office of Public Engagement

OSWER – Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response

OW – Office of Water

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Plan EJ 2014: Supporting Community‐Based Action Programs Draft Implementation Plan, March 1, 2011

Appendix B: Community­Based Programs, Projects and Investments (2009­10)

1. Community Action for a Renewed Environment (Leads: OW and OAR)

OAR

2. Community‐Based Childhood Asthma Program

3. Local Climate and Energy Program (Climate Showcase Communities)

4. EPA School Monitoring Initiative

OSWER

5.	 Brownfields – Training, Technical Assistance Grants, including Technical Assistance to

Brownfields Communities (TAB) grants

6.	 Targeted Brownfields Assessment

7.	 Superfund Job Training Initiative

8.	 Superfund Redevelopment Initiative

9.	 Superfund Community Technical Assistance Grants

10.	 Brownfields Sustainability Pilots

11.	 Brownfields Assessment, Cleanup, and RLF Grants, including Brownfields Area‐Wide

Planning Pilots

12.	 Technical Assistance Services for Communities Program

13.	 Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training Grants

14.	 Partnership for Sustainable Communities Brownfields Pilots (2010)

15.	 On‐Scene Coordinators

16.	 RE‐Powering Feasibility Studies

17.	 Brownfields and Land Revitalization Technical Support Centers

OW

18.	 Five Star Restoration Grants Program

19.	 Lead in Schools Program

20.	 Urban Waters Initiative

21.	 Stormwater/SSO/CSO permits

OCSPP

22.	 Community‐Based Lead Grant Program

23.	 Tribal Lead Grant Program

OP

24.	 Smart Growth

OIA

25.	 Indian Environmental General Assistance Program

OECA

26.	 EJ Showcase Communities

27.	 EJ Small Grants Program

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