University, 2001 and 2002. The grants have enabled
hundreds of teachers to learn more about environ-
mental and public health topics and pass on this
knowledge to thousands of students from the
potentially affected communities.

Region 6

Training on Interagency National
Tribal Open Dump Solicitation

The Tribal Solid Waste Interagency Workgroup is
soliciting proposals for its fourth year for the Tribal
Open Dump Cleanup Project. The workgroup
members include representatives from EPA, the
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Indian Health
Service (IHS), the BLM, USDA, DoD, HUD, and
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin-
istration (NOAA). The workgroup identified four
new proposals to solicit funding: (1) proposals that
characterize/assess open dumps, (2) proposals to
develop tribal integrated solid waste management
plans, (3) proposals that develop and implement
solid waste management activities/facilities for a
tribe, and (4) proposals that clean up, close, and
develop post-closure programs for open dump
waste sites.

In December 2001, Region 6 solid waste staff pro-
vided grant writing training to more than 31 tribes
in Ponca City, Oklahoma. Region 6 is the first EPA
region in the country to initiate this type of techni-
cal training to promote effective integrated solid
waste management planning and to close open
dumps in Indian country.

Tar Creek Superfund Site

The Tar Creek Site located in Ottawa County,
Oklahoma, encompasses the towns of North
Miami, Picher, Cardin, Quapaw, Commerce and
other areas within Ottawa County. From the 1900s
through the 1970s, the site was mined primarily for
lead and zinc, When major mining operations

oo

Chapter 3

ceased in the 1960s, so did dewatering activities.
This allowed mines to fill with ground water.
Highly acidic mine water containing high concen-
trations of heavy metals began discharging into Tar
Creek from natural springs, bore holes, and aban-
doned mine shafts.

A remedial investigation was conducted in 1982 and
1983, resulting in the construction of a new drink-
ing water well and the flushing of existing city lines
in 1984. An ROD was issued to stop surface water
from entering the collapsed mine shafts utilizing
dikes and diversion structures. Approximately 66
abandoned wells were also plugged to prevent the
downward migration of acid mine water into the
Roubidoux Aquifer.

A second ROD was issued to address contaminated
soil on residential properties in 1997. The remedy
included excavation and remediation of approxi-
mately 1,542 lead-contaminated
residential properties. Approx-
imately 80 percent of the land in
the mining area is owned by the
Quapaw Tribe and its members.
In addition, 30,000 people live in
the surrounding area. IHS testing
in 1994 indicated that 35 percent
of the Indian children in the area
had elevated blood lead levels. z
These concerns and others were brought to the
attention of EPA in 2000.

From October 2001 to May 2002, 105 Indian-owned
properties were remediated, and remediation of eight
schools and school properties (seven in Miami, one in
Picher) were completed in August 2002. Remediation
of 457 residential properties began in Fall 2002. Recent
independent studies comparing data collected in 1997
to data from 2000 show an approximately 50 percent
decrease in the number of children living in Picher and
Cardin between the ages of 1 and 6 years old with
blood lead levels equal to or greater than the standard

59



lected at schools and exposure estimates from air qual-
ity models. The lung function measurements will be
compared to the same air quality measurements and
to the health data from the questionnaires.

Conditions Along the Texas/Mexico
Border

Texas DOH, CDC, and ORD conducted a study to
establish a baseline of environmental health condi-
tions along the Texas/Mexico border and to use the
results to assess the need for environmental health
education, environmental monitoring, and promo-
tion of targeted health services. This population-
based household survey was the first comprehensive
description of health and environmental conditions
facing Texas families living near the Mexican border.

The specific project activities included: (1) collecting
existing demographic, environmental, and health data
for 2,100 randomly selected households in the princi-
pal population areas of the Texas/Mexico border (i.e.,
Brownsville, McAllen, Laredo, Eagle Pass, Del Rio, El
Paso, and Colonias); (2) collecting data on household
structure, general sanitation, health conditions, and
potential sources of exposure to environmental con-
taminants; (3) measuring blood lead levels in about
500 children from 1 to 12 years in age; (4) conduct-
ing seroprevalence of hepatitis A markers in about
500 children from 1 to 12 years in age; (5) screening
for lead in ceramic pottery used for cooking and stor-
ing food; and (6) testing susceptibility for microbial
contamination of drinking water kept in storage con-
tainers (chlorine residual). This survey is a model for
other entities planning or conducting health studies
or surveys along the U.S./Mexico border.

Nearly 500 blood samples from children ages 1 to 12
years old were analyzed for lead and hepatitis A. Data
for 2,100 households were collected and analyzed.
Comparisons were made between the three major
regions of the Texas/Mexico border and in “colonias.”

123

Cha

Measuring Neurobehavioral Effects of
Pesticides in Children

This project is a pilot study designed to identify or
develop a field-ready method to evaluate cognitive
and/or behavioral endpoints in young children.

Although the potential neurological impact of devel-
opmental exposure to pesticides is an issue of con-
siderable concern in the U.S./Mexico border region,
research in this area has been minimal. This is due
in part to the lack of appropriate assessment meth-
ods, particularly for cognitive endpoints. A suitable
assessment method must be reliable, valid, standard-
ized, sensitive to neurobehavioral impairment, appli-
cable for use in a field setting, and applicable to a
broad age-range of children.

One test system that appears to meet these require-
ments is the Behavioral Assessment and Research
System (BARS). This system is computerized, cost-
effective, portable, validated across all age groups, and
available in Spanish and English. If suitable, the
BARS will provide a means to obtain invaluable
effects data collected in conjunction with current and
planned exposure studies along the border. The pres-
ent project is a pilot study designed to determine the
feasibility of using the BARS to evaluate neurobehay-
ioral function in field studies in children. It includes
initial training of the investigators, evaluation of a
population of children expected to exhibit a range of
neurobehavioral functioning, analysis of resulting
data, and preparation of a project report. Children
first will be recruited and evaluated in various loca-
tions in North Carolina. If this is successful, later
studies will be conducted in children recruited from
populations living along the U.S./Mexico border.

r7



Region 9, DTSC, and the Los Angeles Unified
School District held a risk communication workshop
to facilitate team building among the various agen-
cies and to provide techniques and tools for staff
involved in the program to communicate potential
risks to parents and the school community. In com-
bination, these efforts have played a significant role
in the success of the program and contribute in a
major way to the environmental health and safety of
school-aged children.

Protecting Children’s Health in High
Risk Areas of Las Vegas

In an effort to reduce children’s exposure to haz-
ardous waste, Region 9, in partnership with the
Nevada Division of Environmental Protection
(NDEP), is conducting a community-based compli-
ance initiative in Las Vegas. This project focuses on
evaluating compliance in areas of high population
density and high facility density. Facilities located
near schools and other locations where children
gather will be targeted.

As part of this initiative, Region 9 is promoting
community awareness of the initiative, as well as
increasing the community's awareness of neighbor-
hood facilities that are regulated under the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and the
related facility-specific information that is publicly
available. This community-based project was selected
in a growing urban area in Nevada with a combina-
tion of high population density and a high number
of hazardous waste handlers.

Region 10

Childhood Asthma Project—
Toppenish, Washington

The Toppenish Childhood Asthma Project involves a
culturally diverse, impoverished, rural community
possessing many risk factors associated with child-
hood asthma. The project has demonstrated cultur-

,

Chapter 3

ally appropriate approaches for working with fami-
lies, The goal is to reduce the need to access health-
care for preventable asthma exacerbation in children
under 5 years of age through home visits, asthma
education, and training for childcare providers and
others; education of parents of asthmatic children;
and broad-based education for the Toppenish com-
munity. EPA’s partners included the Yakima Valley
Farm Workers clinic and the Toppenish Childhood
Asthma Community Team.

Communities with Multiple
Problems

Region 1

Urban Environmental Initiative (UEI)
UEI was first launched as a pilot program in 1995 in
Region 1 to address environmental and public health
problems in the targeted cities of Boston,
Massachusetts; Providence, Rhode Island; and
Hartford, Connecticut. To mark the first 5 years of
the initiative, a report entitled Agents of Change:
Making the Vision a Reality was published and
released in 2001 to document UEI’s measurable
results, resource investments, community develop-
ment model, unique program elements, and case
studies in each city. UEI was the first coordinated
effort in Region 1 to respond to urban environmen-
tal problems in a holistic way by connecting urban

25


th (Sab) at Environmen e) (cd BPrniai Report

Table of Contents

Preface . 6... ec eeeeeeeeeeeeee veneers eaens i
Executive Summary ....... 00.0. c eee eee eee eee ete eens iv
Chapter 1: Office of Environmental Justice Initiatives ..........--.000005 1
Chapter 2: Environmental Justice Integration at the Federal Level .......... 6
Interagency Working Group ([WG) on Environmental Justice . . 6
Examples of Existing Demonstration Projects 2.0.2.6 6 00. cece cee recente etter etn enes 7
Other Interagency Cooperative Efforts... 0.0.6. c cee cece eee eee erence eet nee ee nee 10
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Implementation ........ 06.000 seeee eee eeeees ll
Chapter 3: Addressing Environmental Justice Problems 15

Air Problems and Solutions
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Lee
Children’s Health Problems and Solutions ..........0 0000s cece cece eee n ene e eet wee 22

Communities with Multiple Problems

Drinking Water Problems and Solutions

Federal Facilities Problems and Solutions
Fish Consumption Problems and Solutions

International Problems and Solutions ....

Lead Problems and Solutions 0... 66... e cece cee cence ete renee center ne ees

Permit Problems and Solutions ©... 0.6.00 sce e eee eee eee teen eee ete ener enees 4G
Pesticide Problems and Solutions .....6.. 0:00 cece eee e eee reece tent ete eee e teens tenes 48
Solid and Hazardous Waste Sites/Brownfields Cleanup Problems and Solutions...............+ 55

Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPs)
State Efforts to Address Problems and Find Solutions .
Tribal Efforts to Address Problems and Find Solutions

Chapter 4: Public Participation and Training Initiatives ...............05 71
Public Participation Initiatives 6.0... ese cece ete teeter terete nee 71
Environmental Justice Training Activities ..77
Interagency Environmental Justice Training .. 81



Region 3

Auto Body Initiative

Region 3 partnered with the state of Maryland and
the District of Columbia on an integrated strategy
and outreach project focused on auto body/repair
shops in a given geographic area. Maryland chose to
conduct the project in the Park Heights section of
Baltimore, and the District chose to conduct the
project in the city’s Ward 5.

The partners developed the following list of project
activities: (1) identify the universe of facilities in the
geographic area; (2) conduct inspections at a statisti~
cally valid number of randomly selected facilities to
obtain a compliance rate for this sector in the partic-
ular area; (3) provide compliance assistance and pol-
lution prevention outreach to all auto body shops in
the area; (4) conduct a self-certification program,
and (5) measure the results of the compliance assis-
tance efforts.

Both Maryland and the District have received grants
from EPA to implement these integrated strategies.
The city, state, and community groups have identi-
fied the universe of auto body shops in their target
area and are developing the compliance assistance
materials to be distributed.

During 2002, Region 3 conducted 46 inspections
in the District and 30 in Maryland. The District is
receiving an influx of calls from auto body shops
seeking compliance assistance, as well as calls from
citizens reporting non-compliant body shops.
Region 3 will assist in coordinating the compliance
assistance efforts and will work with the communi-

ty groups.

With assistance from Region 3, Maryland and the
District completed the checklist for inspections and
wrote an environmental business performance indi-
cator (EBPI). The EBPI will be used in the measure-

ge

Environmental

nial Report

ment phase of the project. For 2003, Region 3 will
continue to assist with follow-up inspections.

.
Region 8

Targeting Inspections

Region 8 developed a preliminary inspection target-
ing tool based on county data within each state in
the Region. The purpose of the screening tool is to
help inspectors set priorities for enforcement activi-
ties based on environmental justice considerations.

The screening tool was used to rank the potential for
environmental justice in each county based upon
four types of data: (1) percentage of low-income
population; (2) percentage of minority population;
(3) number of regulated facilities; and (4) TRI data.
For a county to be flagged as having a potential
environmental justice concern, it must be at the top
of at least three of four data categories, For Utah and
Wyoming, which both have approximately 30 coun-
ties, the top 10 counties in each category were com-
pared. For North Dakota, South Dakota, Colorado,
and Montana, the top 15 counties for each category
were compared.

Region 9

South Phoenix Initiative

During various public meetings in the predominant-
ly Latino south Phoenix area, many community
members expressed concerns about the general quali-
ty of the environment in south Phoenix and the
number of industrial facilities in and around their
neighborhoods. Several requests were made for the
Arizona DEQ to have a more visible presence in the
area and inspect local facilities more frequently.
Region 9 also was contacted with similar concerns.

In response, Arizona DEQ and EPA initiated a joint
inspection project to comprehensively look at all
major hazardous waste operations in south Phoenix.
The agencies combined their resources and per-

119


ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

demonstration on how to cut the fatty tissue from
fish); and the Penobscot Nation.

Region 2

Seneca Nation of Indians Brownfields
Assessment Demonstration Pilot

In 1999, the Seneca Nation successfully applied for a
competitive brownfields pilot funding. The Nation
is using the $200,000 EPA award for environmental
investigations to inform redevelopment planning of
a 100-acre former rail yard in the city of Salamanca,
New York, which is at the centerpiece of its commu-
nity revitalization effort.

EPA is working closely with the Nation and has
assigned a staff person to provide assistance. To sup-
port the Nation’s overall community development
activities, Region 2 has coordinated a meeting with
the brownfields [WG, which brought together
Seneca Nation leaders responsible for environmental
issues, public health, planning, and economic devel-
opment with mote than 20 federal and state agen-
cies to strategize approaches and resources to meet
local needs.

The objectives of the Nation’s brownfields pilot are to
conduct an environmental assessment of the rail yard
and to develop site-specific remediation alternatives
based on the findings. With community and partner
input, the Nation is developing a
comprehensive redevelopment
plan to promote the reuse of the
rail yard as part of an overall
local and regional revitalization
effort that is consistent with the
cultural and economic goals of
the Seneca Nation.

Environmengal «)

@ BiPhniai Report

Remediation of St. Lawrence River,
New York

The town of Massena, New York, on the St. Lawrence
River is the location of three Superfund sites, all of
which are directly upstream from St. Regis Mohawk
tribal lands, The Reynolds Metals Company was the
site of a large-scale remediation in 2001, and the
General Motors (GM) facility, immediately adjacent
to tribal lands, has also seen large-scale removal of
contaminated sediments, soils, and sludge.
Representatives of the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe's
Environment Division, through a support agency
assistance grant, have worked hand-in-hand with
EPA’s project manager and field oversight team to
monitor the responsible parties’ performance during
the remediation, To date, working in partnership with
the tribe has allowed for the removal of 170,000 tons
of PCB-contaminated soils, sediments, and sludge
from areas in and around the GM and Reynolds
Metals facilities,

The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe has become a major
partner in the EPA’s technical oversight team during
the remediation of these sites. The tribe provided
support by taking EPA inspectors on the tribe's
research and enforcement boat, so that a joint
inspection of the dredging activities could be per-
formed. The tribe has performed sampling and
analysis of suspected contaminants, and coordinated
the collection of air samples on tribal lands. The
tribe has also done extensive community relations
with local tribal residents concerning excavations
near tribal lands on the Raquette River.

The cleanup plan was designed with the considera-
tion of fish consumption by the local population. By
dredging 23,000 tons of PCB-contaminated sedi-
ments from the St. Lawrence River system, the
potential for continued contamination of edible fish
and wildlife is reduced.

68



NEPA Environmental Impact
Assessment Training

Region 2 was invited to present a course on envi-
ronmental impact assessment to New York City
agencies in April 2002. As part of the course, a
presentation was provided on the role of environ-
mental justice in the NEPA review process. The
course was well received by nearly 40 participants.

Region 4

Fundamentals of Environmental
Justice Course

Region 4, in collaboration with the South Florida
Water Management District, hosted the national
EJTC Fundamentals of Environmental Justice
course in Miami and West Palm Beach in June
2002. Participants included staff from the South
Florida Water Management District, Army Corps
of Engineers, Florida DEP, USDA, South Florida
Ecosystem Restoration Advisory Committee, and
Region 4’s satellite office in West Palm Beach. A
U.S. Congressional representative, community-
based groups, academia, environmental consultants,
college students, and interns also attended. Based
on the course evaluations and actual communica-
tions with participants, the objectives of the course
were met and deemed a tremendous success.

Environmental Justice Small Grants
Program

Region 4 hosted its annual Environmental Justice
Small Grants Workshop for FY 2001 grantees in
October 2001, in Atlanta, Georgia. The workshop
has been an annual event for the Region for the last
3 years. The goals of the workshops are to increase
the grantees’ knowledge of grant requirements,
increase the grantees’ ability to successfully manage
an environmental justice grant, provide an oppor-
tunity for the grantees to have their questions
answered, and begin a networking process among

the grantees. The workshop was a catalyst to a suc-
cessful FY 2001 environmental justice grants year.

Region 5

Fundamentals of Environmental
Justice Workshop

In August 2002, Region 5 hosted a Fundamentals of
Environmental Justice workshop, the culmination of
over 2 years of national collaboration with multiple
stakeholder groups and state-of-the-art curriculum
development. The workshop explores origins of the
environmental justice movement, perceptions and
definitions of environmental justice, and some of the
laws pertaining to environmental justice. It provides
an overview of GIS and other analytical tools helpful
in understanding the issue. Skills and learning are
reinforced through case studies and opportunities to
meet with people addressing environmental justice
on a day-to-day basis.

In addition to providing immediately applicable
skills, the workshop teaches both the use of the ana-
lytical tools and the ability to communicate effec-
tively around sometimes complex and controversial

79



,

Chapter 3

Addressing Environmental
Justice Problems

nvironmental justice issues are quite varied
E and require a range of approaches to be

addressed effectively. This chapter will discuss
how EPA, in partnership with various stakeholders,
is working to effectively address environmental jus-
tice problems that have been either identified by the
Agency ot, more commonly, by the communities
actually facing the environmental justice issues. This
chapter is not intended to describe all of the
Agency's environmental justice projects or activities.
It is intended to provide an overview of the range of
issues and approaches EPA is taking to address these
important issues.

Air Problems and Solutions

Promoting Transit-Oriented
Development (TOD)

TOD has the potential to expand the supply of hous-
ing and services in close proximity to low-cost transit,
and provide a more balanced means to achieving
regional growth by communities. As such, it repre-
sents an opportunity to assist low-income and minori-

ty communities isolated from centers of commerce,
job opportunities, and services. As a part of a Region's

approach to growth, TOD has the potential to create
wealth and facilitate investment in formerly blighted
pockets of poverty throughout the community. It also
can use existing transit lines to better connect resi-
dents of those areas with jobs, education, and services
that were out of reach previously.

The District of Columbia has committed its
resources to the creation of a Mayoral Task Force on
TOD with the objective of creating standards and
recommendations to increase TOD in the city, and
EPA is supporting the District in that effort. The
process will result in more development directed to
areas surrounding existing metro stops and bus cor-
ridors as a means to better accommodate the bur-
geoning growth of the city, thereby improving the
region's air quality, and create more economic
opportunity in the city’s poorest communities. The
model will serve as a national example of how to use
TOD to better include low-income and minority
communities in the economic growth of the region.

Diesel Retrofit Program
Many people have seen first hand the pollution and
soot that can come from the exhaust pipes of trucks,

15



behaviors in this population, determine the possible
influence of hygiene practices and nutrition on
uptake of the pesticides found in these children’s
environment, and reevaluate existing models of pes-
ticides exposure by comparing them to models
developed in this study. This project is being con-
ducted near Laredo, Texas, in the colonia of Rio
Bravo, where more than 95 percent of the popula-
tion is Mexican-American.

Casa de Salud: A Model for Engaging
Community

ORD researchers will work with Casa de Salud
(Health House), a community research and educa-
tion effort designed to engage the residents of a
majority Latino community in Lawrence,
Massachusetts, in raising awareness and mitigating
health impacts of exposure to environmental toxins.
This research is intended to demonstrate that meet-
ings in private homes (among residents, health care
providers, and researchers) are an effective means to
bridge the gap that issues of poverty, culture, and
race impose on effective public health interventions.
Community residents, health care providers, and
environmental scientists will work together to
become better informed about exposures to environ-
mental toxins that affect public health and to devel-
op culturally appropriate interventions to mitigate
the effects of exposures,

Environmenga OG Bigmnial Report

Bioaccumulative Toxics in Shellfish

A $1.2 million research grant was awarded to the
Swinomish Tribal Community, located in
Washington state, Researchers will study whether the
Swinomish people are exposed to contaminants
when they eat shellfish from traditional harvesting
areas, Scientists will study 16 shellfish harvest areas
commonly used by the Swinomish people. Sedi-
ments, littleneck clams, Japanese oysters, butter
clams, and dungeness crabs will be analyzed for sev-
eral chemicals and heavy metals.

Researchers also will investigate effective and cultur-
ally appropriate ways to communicate any identified
health risks to the Swinomish community and other
nearby tribes that participate in subsistence shellfish
harvesting. Results of this project will help develop
and implement mitigation measures to reduce health
risks from shellfish consumption. The project also
will help the Swinomish tribe understand whether
this exposure contributes to the high incidence of
health-related problems on their reservation.

Dioxin Analytical Support for
Moose/Deer Liver Study

Communities on Indian reservations in Maine are
dependent on moose and deer to sustain their tradi-
tional, cultural lifeways. Moose and deer livers are
important components of their food supply. In
1999, high levels of cadmium were detected in these
animals’ livers. In 2000, Region 1 decided to analyze
the fivers for other persistent priority pollutants,
including dioxin.

In 2002, a pilot study was conducted on 10 livers to
validate methodology and determine approximate
concentrations of dioxin in this food item. The find-
ings were shared with Region 1, and a combined
strategy for writing a quality assurance project plan
(QAPP) was discussed. The QAPP is currently being
developed, and the analyses of the livers will begin
after the QAPP is approved.

128



Appendix B

Acronyms

AAPI — Asian American and Pacific Islander

ACE — Alternatives for Community and
Environment

ADR — Alternative Dispute Resotution
AEP — American Electric Power
AFB — Air Force Base

AFOP — Association of Farm Worker
Opportunity Programs

ALA — American Lung Association
ARC — Asthma Regional Coordinating Council

ATSDR — Agency for Toxic Substances and
Disease Registry

BARS — Behavioral Assessment and Research
System

BGAs — Biogeographical Areas
BIA — Bureau of Indian Affairs
BLM — Bureau of Land Management
CAA — Clean Air Act

CAFO — Concentrated Animal Feeding

Operations

Cal/EPA — California Environmental
Protection Agency

CBI — Consensus Building Institute

CBEP — Community-Based Environmental
Protection

CBEP — Casco Bay Estuary Project
CCAG — Chelsea Creek Action Group
CCHS — Cesar Chavez High School
CDC — Centers for Disease Control
CEP — Cumulative Exposure Project
CEQ — Council of Environmental Quality

CERCLA — Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act

CFCs — chlorofluorocarbons
CHC — Child Health Champion

CIEN — Chemical Information Exchange
Network

CORE — Community Advocates for Rights
and/or Privileges

CPC — Campaign to Protect Chinatown
CRA — Comparative Risk Assessment
CSO — combined sewer overflow
CTA — Chicago Transit Authority
CWA — Clean Water Act

DEC — Department of Environmental
Conservation

DEM — Department of Environmental
Management

DEP — Department of Environmental Protection

134


Outreach Service for Communities (TOSC) and the
HSRC Technical Assistance for Brownfields (TAB),
which provide customized workshops and other
assistance to meet the specific information needs of
the particular community. Examples of customized
assistance has included meeting facilitation, role-play
exercises to increase understanding among stake-
holders, and meetings geared to address the concerns
of private property owners.

Region 2 also publishes the Quarterly Brownfields
Community Report, which addresses the information
needs of regional stakeholders. It is distributed to
approximately 3,000 local, state, and federal govern-
ment officials; citizen groups; community organiza-
tions; environmental groups; and concerned citizens.
The Quarterly often includes articles specific to
environmental justice issues and has highlighted
community organizations’ proactive brownfield rede-
velopment activities. In addition, the Quarterly
invites article submissions to better serve regional
information needs.

Region 5

Good Neighbors United Initiative

The Good Neighbors United Initiative Pilot involves
a highly industrialized, low-income, and minority
residential area in southwest Detroit and parts of
surrounding communities, including Dearborn,
Melvindale, River Rouge, Ecorse, Allen Park,
Hamtramck, and Highland Park. In this geographic
area, public notification regarding air permits to be

Environmenga OHQDPn- Report

issued will be broadened, thus increasing public par-
ticipation under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and
EPA’ draft Public Involvement Policy.

The Good Neighbors forum currently includes
members representing federal, state, and local gov-
ernment; industry; private businesses; environmental
groups; citizens; and elected officials. Increased par-
ticipation is being sought from various ethnic com-
munities in the initiative’s target area, and task force
meetings have been held to discuss projects and
attract new members,

Information also is being gathered regarding New
Source Review (NSR) permit applications for facili-
ties in the designated geographic areas. The
Michigan DEQ is being consulted to develop a
strategy on addressing the public notification
process.

Cleveland Air Toxics Pilot Project

Tn March 2001, EPA launched the Cleveland Air
Toxics Pilot Project to demonstrate a community-
based approach to air toxics control. EPA’s Office of
Radiation and Indoor Air (ORIA) funded this pilot
to test whether an inclusive, local-scale decision-
making process can result in voluntary reductions in
air toxics exposure with wide-based community
acceptance and support,

The project utilizes an integrated approach to
address air toxics through projects directed at
stationary sources, mobile sources, and indoor
sources of air toxics. Although the project is for

the benefit of the Cleveland area, the pilot focused
initially on two specific neighborhoods: Slavic
Village and Superior-St.Clair, which are urban areas
with a mix of residential properties and light to
medium industries,

The three main goals of the pilot ate to reduce air
toxics, to ensure the project is sustainable, and to
ensure that this approach can be replicated by other

74



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sak

“ Sar

ft Se, ait.

EXVIRONSUNIAT TUSTICL

Environmen nial Report

Fishers’ Brochure Translations

OST published Should I Eat the Fish I Catch? in
English, Spanish, Hmong, Korean, and Vietnamese.
This brochure provides information for sport and
subsistence fishers on methods for catching, clean-
ing, and cooking fish to reduce exposure to chemical
pollutants in fish tissue. The brochure discusses how
fishers can find out if waters are polluted, whether
some fish contain more pollutants than others, how
fish can be cleaned and cooked to reduce potential
health risks, and other steps fishers can take to
reduce health risks from eating fish containing
chemical pollutants.

Region 1

Contaminated Shellfish Exposure
The Casco Bay Estuary Project (CBEP) received a
$20,000 Environmental Justice Small Grant from
Region 1 in 2000 to determine whether people,
especially low-income and Southeast Asian popula-
tions, were harvesting shellfish in con-
taminated areas of Casco Bay in
Maine. In 1990, Casco Bay was desig-
nated an “estuary of national signifi-
cance” and included in the EPA's
National Estuary Program, which was
established in 1987 to protect nation-
ally significant estuaries threatened by pollution,
development, and overuse.

Following this designation, CBEP was formed with
the mission of preserving the ecological integrity of
Casco Bay and ensuring compatible human uses of
its resources through public stewardship and effec-
tive management. CBEP works to maintain the
health of the 985-square mile watershed through a
community-based, cooperative effort that involves
concerned citizens; businesses and industries; aca-
demic and research institutions; and local, state, and
federal government agencies.

Local shellfish officers noted that subsistence
shellfishing in closed clam and mussel bed areas
takes place in Casco Bay, and that low-income fami-
lies and immigrant populations from the Asian
community appear to make up the majority of these
subsistence shell fishers. CBEP surveyed the
Southeast Asian community in Portland about its
seafood harvesting and consumption patterns.
Vietnamese, Cambodians, and Filipinos are the
largest groups of Southeast Asians in the communi-
ty, so CBEP distributed surveys in Vietnamese,
Khmer, and English. Because a high fraction of
individuals in the community fish, it is possible that
increased activity around Portland would be
observed in the future.

Tribal Contaminated Fish Study

Tribes in Region 1 are working collaboratively to
assess the risk of consuming fish contaminated by
chemicals (such as dioxins and furans from paper
mills and industry), pesticides, and fertilizers. The
tribes are conducting consumption surveys, analyz-
ing accumulated toxins in fish and shellfish tradi-
tionally consumed by tribal members, and assessing
air toxins from deposition so that they can advise
their members on how to mitigate risk from practic-
ing subsistence lifestyles,

Because the tribes subsist on fishing and gathering
seafood near rivers, lakes, and ocean shores that
place restrictions on eating contaminated fish and
shellfish, tribal members are forced to decrease sub-
sistence, and many now rely on an unhealthy diet as
a substitute to traditional lifestyles.

The Penobscot Nation has retrieved, organized,
summarized, and analyzed water quality data from
the past several years for use in developing recom-
mendations to the Maine Department of
Environmental Protection (DEP) for reclassifying
rivers and streams within the Penobscot watershed.
The goal of reclassification is to increase protection
of the habitats of salmon and other species.

32



state, federal, and private partners and identify areas
of increased collaboration. The Regional Agriculture
Initiative sponsored the EPA Agriculture Sector
meeting in Spring 2001 to help raise the visibility
and coordination of agriculture activities across EPA.

Risk Communication and Public
Involvement

Environmental actions by government agencies have
largely been based on the regulation of specific pol-
lutants. Public awareness about general environmen-
tal contamination is growing, which has raised
expectation for greater government action and com-
munication on issues such as air toxics, dioxins,
PCBs, pesticides, hazardous waste cleanups, brown-
fields, environmental justice, and childhood sensitiv-
ity. EPA, as well as other government agencies at all
levels, industry, environmental groups, and commu-
nities alike, have had to learn new strategies for
working with the public and regulated community
because existing regulations, practices, or policies
have not been directly applicable and effective.

Region 9 is responding to this growing need and
new way of doing business. It provides federal, state,
and local agency managers, staff, and public stake-
holders with a range of stimulating and interactive
tools, including workshops, seminars, and technical
assistance. The tools provide strategies for issues
such as effective public communication, public
involvement, risk assessment, risk management, and
tisk communication. The goal is to provide tools for
government agencies, the private sector, and citizens
to work more productively together to solve environ-
mental problems.

United Farm Workers (UFW)
Education and Outreach

UFW, in partnership with the California
Department of Health Services, conducted commu-
nity outreach and education utilizing Region 9 grant
funds of $100,000. UFW launched an environmen-
tal education campaign for farm workers and small

water suppliers in the San Joaquin Valley of
California. The project entailed working directly
with the small water suppliers to help address issues
raised by the communities regarding poor drinking
water quality. Region 9 expects to expand upon
these efforts by participating in several community
forums and facilitating discussions between local
water providers and UFW.

Palos Verdes Shelf, California

As part of the institutional control program for this
Superfund site, Region 9 developed a public outreach
program to address a multilingual public that fishes
for food and sells its catch in markets off the Palos
Verdes Shelf and other piers, Region 9 is working
with the Fish Contamination Task Force, made up of
various community-based organizations and regulato-
ry agencies, to develop information and avenues to
educate the public about not eating white croaker and
other fish caught off the Palos Verdes Shelf and near-
by Long Beach area. The major task is translating
documents and information in the dialects spoken by
the majority of affected Asians and Hispanics.

Tanapag, Saipan, PCB Cleanup

Region 9 and the Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands government supported oversight of
the Army Corps of Engineer’s on-island cleanup and
treatment of PCB-contaminated soil in the Tanapag



Order, establishing a positive leadership role for EPA
among other federal agencies active in the border
region, and increased positive interaction between
human service agencies and national resource agen-
cies in the border region.

Current Region 9 efforts involve working with
Department of Labor (DOL) and Department of
Agriculture (USDA) staff to conduct a resource
analysis for the two border pilot programs in
Imperial Valley, California, and Nogales, Arizona.
DOL and USDA are the lead agencies for the pilots
in California and Arizona, respectively.

Mexico Environmental Management
Systems (EMS)

In cooperation with USAID and EPA's OW, Region 9
is supporting implementation of EMS at three
Mexican municipalities in Nogales (Sonora), Piedras
Negras (Coahuila), and Zapotlan El Grande (Jalisco).
As a condition of participation, each municipality has
agreed to design and implement a comprehensive
EMS within 2 years, adopt measurable performance
objectives for their EMS to address regulatory compli-
ance, reduce impacts from unregulated activities,
adopt appropriate pollution prevention practices, con-
duct continual improvement of the performance of
the EMS over time, communicate with relevant local
stakeholders, and share information with all stake-
holders, as well as EPA and USAID, as their EMS is
developed and implemented.

U.S./Mexico Border Hazardous
Materials (HazMat) Response
Coordination Project

‘The U.S./Mexico Border HazMat Response
Coordination Project provides funding for equip-
ment and training to improve incident response and
multi-agency coordination along the U.S./Mexico
border. The project complements the national and
state attention placed on strengthening the relation-
ship between the United States and Mexico.

7 ——

Chapt

Region 9 provided a $50,000 grant to the city of
Calexico for the purchase of emergency response
equipment and a hazardous material trailer. Region
9 and California’s DTSC worked with local agencies,
specifically county HazMat programs along the
U.S./Mexico border to enhance local capacity to
respond quickly to hazardous materials incidents at
several border crossing stations.

Calexico needed specialized equipment to respond to bor-
der hazmat incidents. Captain Navarro stands in front of
Calexico’s brand new rig, which bears a binational logo. In
September 2002, Region 9 supported a hazmat exercise
in Mexicali where the new hazmat rig was

on display.

This approach afforded EPA and the state, through
the grant relationship, greater entry to existing
mutual aid efforts, thus maximizing the local agen-
cies’ existing relationship with their Mexican coun-
terparts, their presence on the border, and their

bilingual/bicultural staff.

Additionally, this project has supported a broader
Agency effort to develop binational “sister city” haz-
ardous material response plans between California
and Baja California, Mexico. Region 9 fostered a
collective effort to provide training to firefighters in
Calexico and meet critical equipment needs, which
both Imperial and San Diego counties would have
been unable to meet otherwise. This project allowed
agencies to work together to reduce fragmentation of
effort, to maximize available resources, and to
enhance problem identification and resolution.

39

er 3


mending procedures that can be used to address
these priorities.

For additional information on New York DEC's
Environmental Justice Program, please visit the fol-
lowing Web site: <www.dec.state.ny.us/website/
ej/index.html>.

New Jersey State Environmental
Equity Policy

The New Jersey DEP’s Environmental Equity Policy
was approved by the
Environmental Equity
Advisory Council and estab-
lished within the New Jersey
DEP in 2000. The draft
process is currently being
refined in order to ensure
that the final product can be
effectively incorporated into the permitting process.

The strength of the proposed process is an up-front
approach to identify and informally resolve situations
that can potentially result in the filing of a complaint
with EPA or in court, pursuant to Title VI of the
Civil Rights Act. This up-front approach involves
New Jersey DEP, the community, and industry. It also
involves the utilization of an environmental equity
screening tool to identify, early in the permitting
process, any potentially burdened minority or low-
income community.

New Jersey DEP’s Environmental Justice Screening
Process can be used to evaluate environmental justice
issues affecting communities with regard to air, water,
and solid and hazardous waste facility permits. This
proactive approach would allow environmental justice
issues to be identified and possibly resolved through
Interest-Based Negotiations and/or ADR.

New Jersey DEP also is exploring the possibility of
forming a working partnership with the affected
community and the permitted facilities, The primary

Environmenga ere Bigmhnial Report

goal of this partnership would be to address environ-
mental equity issues in the initial stage of the per-
mitting process.

For additional information on New Jersey DEP’s
Environmental Equity Program, please visit the fol-
lowing Web site: <www.state.nj.us/dep/equity/
index.html>.

Region 9

California EPA

The California Environmental Protection Agency
(Cal/EPA) recently created the position of assistant
secretary for environmental justice with the goal of
developing the state's Environmental Justice Program
and incorporating environmental justice principles
throughout the practices of all state agencies. Region
9 is supporting this position, which is staffed by a
Region 9 employee via the Intergovernmental
Personnel Act.

To date, significant achievements have been made in
California's Environmental Justice Program to address
environmental justice concerns. Cal/EPA has: (1) sup-
ported six environmental justice-related laws, (2)
helped define environmental justice in statute, and
made environmental justice a priority within the
Agency and its six boards, departments, and offices,
(3) established an Environmental Justice Program and
recruited for an Assistant Secretary for Environmental
Justice, (4) articulated environmental justice as one of
the overarching strategic goals in Cal/EPA’ strategic
vision document, (5) established an IWG on environ-
mental justice made up of the heads of Cal/EPA
boards, departments, and offices, and the Governor's
Office of Planning and Research to guide program-
matic and policy development related to environmen-
tal justice, and (6) established a 13-member Advisory
Committee on Environmental Justice (made up of
stakeholders from community groups, environmental
organizations, businesses, local and regional planning

64



quality improvements will continue to draw resi-
dents back to the area as opportunities for fishing
and swimming continue to grow.

Region 8

Cheyenne River Sioux Fish
Consumption

Region 8 has facilitated the support of several EPA
programs to help the Cheyenne River Sioux address
a problem with mercury contamination of fish.
EPA’s Superfund program assisted the tribe in devel-
oping capacity to sample water and fish tissue for
mercury. The tribe surveyed members on fish con-
sumption practices and issued a fish advisory.

Recognizing that restricted use measures are not suf-
ficient to deal with potentially disproportionate
health impacts, Region 8 initiated a series of actions
to address the situation. The Agency convened
meetings of regional programs to address the chal-
lenge of going beyond the fish advisory to fixing the
mercury problem,

EPA staff from the air, water quality, Superfund,
TRI, and air modeling programs met with the tribe
and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to
share information and discuss possible actions, In
addition, Region 8 supported a proposal to EPA's
Office of Research and Development (ORD), which
was asked to research the source of the mercury and
develop best management practices for ponds on
the reservation,

Region 9

The Ma’‘at Youth Academy

The Ma’at Youth Academy leveraged a Region 9 grant
to obtain seed money from the California Endow-
ment. For this funding, the students secured the tech-
nical assistance of two medical physicians to design a
fish consumption survey to be administered at the

|,

Chapter 3

Richmond Marina and San Pablo Reservoir, and pub-
lished and distributed a public health advisory to cau-
tion individuals about the danger of methlymecury in
fish caught from the San Francisco Bay.

Region 10

Temperature Criteria Guidance
Development Project

Region 10, in collaboration with representatives of
the Pacific Northwest tribes, National Marine
Fisheries Service, FWS and the states of Oregon,
Washington, and Idaho, has initiat-
ed a project to establish regional
temperature criteria guidance for
the Pacific Northwest. The project
will develop water temperature cri-
teria guidance to meet the biologi-
cal requirements of native salmonid
species for survival and recovery
pursuant to the Endangered Species
Act and the CWA, Geographically diverse thermal
regimes, hydrogeological constraints, zoogeography,
and salmonid life history patterns will be reviewed in
the development of the criteria guidance.

Columbia/Snake River Temperature
Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)
Historically, the Columbia and Snake Rivers and
their tributaries teemed with salmon and steelhead.
These fish are imbedded in the culture and heritage
of the Native American tribes who continue to rely
upon them nutritionally, commercially, and spiritu-
ally. Today, the Columbia River Basin is home to 14
different species of threatened or endangered
salmonids and resident fish. Various federal agen-
cies, states, and tribes (and, increasingly, regional
and local governments) have invested heavily in fish
recovery efforts.

EPA’s work related to fish recovery focuses primarily
on water quality. Enforceable water quality standards

35


—

Chapter 3

Project partners include EPA, the National Weather
Service (NWS), the Maine DOH and DEP, the
Maine Lung Association, and local media and col-
leges. The program will be based at the tribal hous-
ing complex just west of Presque Isle, Maine. The
program will install real-time monitors for impor-
tant indicators, including nitrous oxides, sulfur
oxides, carbon dioxide, fine particulate matter,
ozone, ultraviolet radiation, and visibility (using a
digital camera). The data will be immediately avail-
able on a public Web site, and local newspapers,
radio, and TV stations have agreed to print and
broadcast air quality updates using the project’s
information. A subscription will also be available to
the public for e-mail alerts when air quality is poor.

Tribes Addressing Lead

Tribes in Region 1 have developed lead training and
certification regulations to protect members of the
tribal community and are expanding their capacity to
identify and remedy risks posed by lead poisoning
from paints and in drinking water. The Houlton
Band of Maliseets Indians has established a coopera-
tive undertaking with its Environmental, Health, and
Housing Improvement Departments and the Maine
Health Environmental Testing Laboratory (HETL) to
determine the lead poisoning risk among their chil-
dren. Blood samples have been collected and ana-
lyzed. The Penobscot Nation and the Aroostook Band
of Micmacs have developed a lead hazard reduction
plan. The Narragansett Indian Tribe has surveyed
tribal housing, public areas, and water and soil to
determine health risks. EPA has assisted by providing
education and outreach to tribal families, as well as
abatement certification training.

Tribes Addressing Persistent Bio-
Accumulative Toxins

Due to the high cancer rates among tribal members,
the tribes in Region 1 are focusing their environ-
mental studies on determining health risks to tribal
members who continue to subsist on fishing, hunt-
ing wildlife (e.g. moose and deer), drinking and

using untreated water, and eating vegetation that
may be contaminated from air deposition.

The Passamaquoddy Tribes and the Penobscot Nation
collaborated in their efforts to collect moose and deer
livers and analyze the livers for cadmium and other
heavy metals. EPA assisted in this study by further
analyzing the liver for bio-accumulative toxins.

The Houlton Band of Maliseets, Penobscot Nation,
Passamaquoddy Indian Township, Passamaquoddy
Pleasant Point, Wampanoag Tribe of Aquinnah and
Narragansett Tribe are all evaluating the effects of
mercury and other bio-accumulative toxins on their
environments from air deposition. Six air monitors
have been strategically located to help EPA and the
tribes monitor and assess the impacts of air pollution
in Indian country. The tribe's air sampling results
will be posted on a national data base.

Dioxin continues to be a threat to human health
despite control on these types of pollutants. River
beds, and therefore fish stock, where pollutants bioac-
cumulate are expected to contain silt contaminants
for a long time to come. BIA is studying the effect of
dioxin/furans on the Penobscot River with the assis-
tance of EPA, USGS, and the Penobscot Nation.

Tribal Head of Household Training
Region 1 has worked with the tribes to develop a
training curriculum to educate tribal members on
the dangers that may exist in the home. The topics
of the training range from indoor air pollution, (ie.,
mold, mildew, and radon) to consumption of con-
taminated foods, to the use of hazardous chemicals
in and outside the home. The goal is to pro-
vide sufficient resources so that each tribe
may conduct training for its members at the
reservation. From 2001 to 2002, the follow-
ing three tribal governments performed this
training for its members: the Aroostook Band
of Micmacs; the Passamaquoddy Pleasant
Point Tribe (this training included a hands-on

67



Village in Saipan. The treatment of approximately
30,000 tons of PCB-contaminated soil began in
December 2001. Even though there were significant
problems, about three-quarters of the soil was treat-
ed, with the residual contaminants sent offsite to the
mainland. The treatment represents a significant risk
reduction to the community of Tanapag, which has
lived with the PCB-contaminated soil for decades,

Region 10

Outreach to the Hispanic
Community—Lower Duwamish
Waterway Superfund Site

Region 10 and the Washington State Department of
Ecology drafted a community involvement plan that
records community concerns and describes ways the
agencies will involve the community in investigating
and cleaning up the Lower Duwamish Waterway
site, The plan is based on interviews and other input
from individuals who live or work in or represent
the community around the site.

A large number of the people who live near the
Lower Duwamish Waterway speak Spanish. EPA
and the state have therefore prepared a complemen-
tary plan that reflects concerns of and community

Environmengad EJ EVDPric Report

involvement methods for Hispanic members of
the community.

The two draft plans were made available in
English and in Spanish at the site information
repositories and on EPA’s Lower Duwamish
Waterway Web site for public review. The
Hispanic Community Involvement Plan was sent
to everyone on a site mailing list and distribution
list comprised of businesses and churches that
serve a high number of Spanish-speaking people in
the south Seattle area.

In August 2002, EPA and the Department of
Ecology hosted an Open House/Public Meeting to
discuss with the community the sites that four
potentially responsible parties have proposed for
early cleanup. Interpretation of the meeting into
Spanish was available. The meeting was attended by
190 people, Before the meeting, Region 10 spoke on
“Latinos Dias,” a Spanish radio program based in
Seattle, to talk about the Superfund program, invite
people to the public meeting, and explain the health
assessment prepared by the Washington DOH for
the Lower Duwamish Waterway site.

Outreach to AAPI Communities—
Lower Duwamish Superfund Site

In addition to the Hispanic outreach effort at the
Lower Duwamish Waterway site in Seattle, Region
10 and other partners worked to inform and involve
AAPI immigrants affecced by the site. The site’s
community advisory group, funded largely by EPA
and the Department of Ecology, has met with several
immigrant groups to provide information about the
site. EPA arranged for the translation of the group's
brochures about the site into Vietnamese,
Cambodian, and Lao.

ATSDR, operating largely with Superfund appropria-
tions, provided funding to the Washington DOH to

conduct a public health assessment for the site. To get
input for the assessment, the Washington DOH, with



a ur”:
Vw

Environmengad EEDA nie Report

Region 10

Child Health Champion (CHC) Air
Quality Monitoring and Education
Program

EPA created the Child Health Champion (CHC)
Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and
Community Tracking (EMPACT) pilot program for
communities where environmental data are not
widely available and significant environmental
health threats to children exist. An important fea-
ture of the CHC/EMPACT program is the involve-
ment of the community in both the collection and
dissemination of the environmental data.

In Toppenish, Washington, EPA provided indoor and
ambient ait monitoring equipment, training, and
short-term technical support for establishing a weath-
er station/air monitoring system for Toppenish School
District students. Through the project students devel-
op skills in research, data collection, analysis, report
writing, and Web site management. The Toppenish
School District supplied the site location, preparation,
and security, plus the necessary power and internal
wiring to connect the monitoring station to the class-
room. KIMA-TV provided a camera for the weather
tower to provide real-time views of weather condi-
tions in the valley. KIMA-TV also uses the data for its
own weather reporting. The Yakama Nation provided
long-term technical support for equipment operation.

Exposure Studies

EPA's Cumulative Exposure Project
(CEP)

CEP examines how much toxic contamination
Americans are exposed to cumulatively through air,
food, and drinking water. The objectives of the CEP
are to: (1) estimate exposure levels for a wide variety
of toxic pollutants; (2) characterize the national distri-
bution of these estimated exposure levels across com-
munities and demographic groups; (3) identify the

types of communities and demographic groups that
appear to have the highest exposure levels; and (4)

identify potentially important emission sources and
pollutants for which information is most uncertain.

Many of EPA’s current exposure analyses and risk
assessments are limited to a single pollutant, a single
source or category of emissions, or a single environ-
mental medium (such as air or water). However,
people tend to be exposed through multiple path-
ways to numerous pollutants originating from a vari-
ety of sources, The CEP is part of a growing trend
toward integrated assessments. Recognizing the
importance of considering multiple pollutants, EPA’s
Guidance on Cumulative Risk Assessment states,
“The practice of risk assessment within EPA is evolv-
ing away from a focus on the potential of a single
pollutant in one environmental medium for causing
cancer toward integrated assessments involving suites
of pollutants in several media that may cause a vari-
ety of adverse effects on humans, plants, animals, or
even effects on ecological systems and their processes
and functions.”

CEP’s methodologies, which have been reviewed
by EPA's Science Advisory Board, rely on existing
data and methods to estimate national distributions
of exposure concentrations across communities and
demographic groups. The distributions assessed
include outdoor concentrations of air toxins,

food ingestion exposures, and drinking water inges-
tion exposures.

126



Indiana Lead Task Force, a broad coalition of health-
and community-based organizations serving the
needs of two northwest Indiana counties. Northwest
Indiana covers Lake, Porter, and La Porte counties in
Indiana. Mailing lists were assembled for churches,
physicians, preschools and daycare centers in three
select communities, and these parties were each
mailed a package of information concerning lead
poisoning prevention resources and contacts. The
Task Force later followed up with these parties to
offer further assistance. A state legislative luncheon
and press conference were among the outcomes
which helped to raise awareness of lead poisoning in
northwest Indiana and the need for screening and
intervention activities.

Region 6

Lead-Based Paint Poisoning
Prevention and Lead Hazard
Awareness in Houston

Region 6 provided grant funding to the Houston
Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program to
improve lead poisoning prevention efforts and lead
hazard awareness. Another goal was to enhance
screening and treatment rates among medical
providers in selected target areas of the city.

The city of Houston identified 10 high-risk zip code
areas within the city, based upon historical preva-
lence of lead poisoning, high-risk age group (1- and
2-year old children), poverty level, age of housing
unit (pre-1950), and racial (non-white) and ethnic
(Hispanic) minority status. The city of Houston
developed a pamphlet entitled The ABCs of Lead
Screening for Children: A Quick Reference for Medical
Providers and an educational program to increase
health care providers’ knowledge regarding preven-
tion of lead poisoning, awareness of blood lead
screening guidelines, followup treatment of poisoned
children, and utilization of community resources for
lead poisoning prevention efforts.

—

Chapter 3

Lead-Based Paint Poisoning
Prevention and Lead Hazard
Awareness in Dallas

Region 6 provided grant funding to the city of
Dallas Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention
Program to improve followup testing rates for con-
firmation of elevated blood lead levels in children in
the city. The city identified five zip codes where little
or no followup occurred by health care providers for
children with blood lead levels equal to or above 10
ug/dl. One of the major findings of the project was
that 76 percent of the parents were not told by
physicians/clinics about the need for followup test-
ing, and 86 percent of the parents who received such
information related to blood lead poisoning did
return to the clinic for followup. Approximately 90
percent of the parents of children with elevated
blood lead levels who did not receive appropriate
information related to blood lead poisoning did not
return for followup confirmation testing. The proj-
ect has allowed the city of Dallas to identify the fac-
tors contributing to the poor blood lead level
confirmation testing rates in the city.

Region 8

Lead Information Booklet

Region 8 is supporting the work of partnerships to
abate the health risks of lead-based paint. The north-
east Denver housing stock is some of the oldest in
the city, and indeed, the West. Partnerships have
formed among local, state, and federal agencies and
community organizations to bring together the
resources to test children’s blood, identify the source
of contamination, find funding for abatement, and
clean up the residences. While existing partnerships
are committed and effective, Region 8 is working to
further support these partnerships to provide wide-
spread testing, identify consistent long-term funding
for testing and abatement, and educate health care
professionals and community residents about the
importance of testing for lead.

45


Innovation, a collaboration between EPA and the
Global Environment & Technology Foundation,
recently launched a new industry-focused Internet
site, SectorSTAR, at <www.sectorstar.org>, which
provides information on federal- and state-sector
programs, tools and resources, and links to other
information sources

Pesticide Incident Response Officer
(PIRO)

OPP assists individuals who may have been exposed
to a pesticide and suffered toxic or adverse effects, or
delayed or chronic adverse effects. PIRO provides
highly skilled technical assistance that can include
medical consultation, laboratory analyses, toxicology
and pesticide information, enforcement, and cleanup.
PIRO coordinates efforts with EPA's Regional offices,
other federal agencies, state and local government
agencies, and the general public. Incidents can involve
one or more individuals (a family, a migrant work-
force, office employees, schoolchildren, or even a
whole community). In the past 2 years, PIRO has
responded to several incidents as described above.

IPM in Tribal Schools

In FY 2001, OPP worked with BIA to create an IPM
program in several BIA schools on the Navajo reserva-
tion. The project provided school staff, including
board members, educators, and janitors, with practical
ways to cut pesticide applications (and budgets) while
safeguarding the health of children in the school envi-
ronment. Region 9 is now encouraging tribal schools
to implement IPM practices.

National Pesticide Information Center
(NPIC)

NPIC, supported by EPA and Oregon State
University, is an information service center for both
the general public and professionals regarding pesti-
cides and pesticide-related issues, NPIC dissemi-
nates information through various media, including
a toll-free hotline, e-mail, a Web site, and faxes,
with the aim of providing objective, science-based

information about pesticides and pesticide-related
topics, and of promoting informed decisionmaking.
NPIC’s toll-free number is found on pesticide
labels, and the majority of phone inquiries are
referred in this manner.

To encourage ethnically diverse communities to take
advantage of these resources, OPP has been working
with NPIC on an awareness campaign, which
includes distributing radio announcements, writing
articles for community newsletters, and informing
consumers of NPIC and its information resources.

To better serve the Spanish-speaking community,
NPIC provides services in both English and
Spanish. Both English-speaking and Spanish-speak-
ing professionals staff the toll-free number for
inquiries and information.

Outreach to Public Health Clinics
OPP has provided a grant.to the University of the
District of Columbia’s Cooperative Extension
Service to work with Unity Health Care, Inc.,
which is the umbrella group for District public
health clinics. Through this collaboration, OPP
provides information to the public on the link
between cockroach allergens and asthma, as well as
safe pesticide use and IPM techniques for control-
ling cockroaches.

87



ment strategies, and a community-owned and oper-
ated health clinic. At the center of this project ate
two sites that are being addressed by the Region's
Superfund program. The committee for this pilot is
chaired by Re-Genesis, a community-based group,
and is engaged in a process of stakeholder education,
structured dialogues, and planning charettes to cre-
ate short- and long-term development strategies.
The committee, which consists of community
groups, federal and state agencies, business, industry,
non- governmental and academic organizations, and
elected officials, is coordinated by representatives
from the City of Spartanburg, Spartanburg County,
and Re-Genesis.

Key stakeholders include Re-Genesis, the city of
Spartanburg, Spartanburg County, the Spartanburg
Development Council, the South Carolina
Department of Health and Environmental Control,
the South Carolina Economic Development
Administration, the National Institute for
Environmental Health Sciences, the Agency for Toxic
Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), the
Department of Transportation (DOT), the
Department of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD), the Department of Energy (DOE), a num-
ber of local businesses and banks, and a number of
federal, state, and local elected officials.

Region 7

New Madrid Environmental Justice
Demonstration Project

Howardville, Lilbourn, and North Lilbourn are three
small, rural, low-income and/or minority communi-
ties clustered in the Bootheel region of Missouri. All
three communities lack a sustainable economic base,
leaving residents o live in poverty and substandard
housing. The New Madrid Environmental Justice
Demonstration Project focuses on the protection of

Environmengal fe)

C)giprniai Report

children’s health in these communities through the
Tri-Community Child Health Champion
Campaign. With more than $100,000 in financial
assistance, the project was able to identify and miti-
gate children’s environmental health hazards and
risks. The overall approach used to address risks
involved a combination of education, capacity build-
ing, and proactive measures, such as health fairs and
tisk-specific workshops, childhood lead poisoning
screening, and drinking water sampling for insecti-
cides, The partnership achievements include: (1) an
increased awareness of lead poisoning issues, (2) an
increased community capacity to address children’s
health issues through community teamwork, and (3)
reduced exposure to water-related contaminants and
disease vectors through storm ditch cleaning.
Partnering organizations include the Natural
Resource Conservation Service, Great Rivers
Alliance of Natural Resource Districts, Missouri
Department of Public Health (DPH), Headstart,
Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR),
Bootheel Nurses, and Lincoln University
Cooperative Extension,

Top Left: Girl being screened for lead poisoning.
Top Right: Informational booth at Tri-Community Child
Health Champion Campaign Health Fair.
Bottom: House in New Madrid County.



Office of Environmental
Justice Initiatives

lhe Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ)
| provides leadership and overall coordination
of the Agency's environmental justice efforts.
In particular, 2002 was a banner year for OEJ, with

many projects coming to fruition and new initia-
tives beginning.

OEJ continues to chair the Interagency Working
Group (IWG) on Environmental Justice and is
responsible for coordinating the [WG’s revitalization
projects. Much progress has been made in the area
of environmental justice training and stakeholder
dialogues, with the cooperation of various EPA
Regional and Headquarter offices. Created through
cooperative agreements and contracts with inde-
pendent, renowned organizations, various reports
and studies identify possibilities for integrating envi-
ronmental justice at all levels of government, as well
as in public participation and industry-based initia-
tives. OE] also has invested in the development of
training materials and other valuable resources for
promoting practical applications of environmental
justice. Progress on these and many other continuing
initiatives are described below.

Environmental Justice Action Plans

In April 2002, the Agency's Environmental Justice
Executive Steering Committee (comprised of the
deputy assistant administrators, the deputy regional
administrators, and the director of OEJ) determined
thar all EPA Regions and Headquarters offices
would develop Environmental Justice Action Plans
to strategically integrate environmental justice in all
EPA policies, programs, and activities, with measura-
ble results. OEJ developed the instructions and tem-
plate for completion of the Action Plans, which each
office submitted by the end of September 2002. In
Fiscal Year (FY) 2003, each Regional and

Headquarters office would begin implementing
those strategies identified in the Action Plans. The
key elements of the Action Plans are: management
accountability, internal/external stakeholder involve-
ment, data collection/management, training, environ-
mental justice assessment, and evaluation. Action
Plans not only offer flexibility for each office, but also
provide a consistent and holistic approach to environ-
mental justice integration. OEJ’s role is to provide
direction and feedback to the regional and headquar-
ters offices on their implementation strategies and
results.

IWG Revitalization Projects

The IWG on Environmental Justice is chaired by
OE] and comprised of various federal agencies, The
IWG embarked on the first round of national
demonstration projects in FY 2001. In just 2 years,
these 15 projects have made significant achieve-
ments, as discussed in Chapter 2, As a result of
these projects, a multi-stakeholder collaborative
model is emerging to address environmental justice.
An EPA report on these projects, Environmental
Justice Collaborative Model: A Framework to Ensure
Local Problem-Solving, is now available at:
<www.epa.gov/compliance/environmentaljustice>.
Also, the International City/County Management
Association (ICMA) convened a national forum last
year called Collaborative Models to Achieve
Environmental Justice to examine these projects.

In Fall 2002, the IWG solicited nominations for a
second round of demonstration projects, also
referred to as Environmental Justice Revitalization
Projects. The goal of this second round of projects is
to develop a fully mature, multi-stakeholder collabo-
rative model to address the multiple environmental,
health, economic, and social concerns of communi-



ENVIRONMNTAE JUSTICE

90 percent can pose health-related risks to its resi-
dents from the prior application of lead-based paint.

The Congress of National Black Churches/Paterson,
New Jersey Affiliate and Churches United for
Community Outreach of the Paterson Task Force
conducted a work forum to address the hazards of
lead-based paint in Paterson.

The goals of this initial forum were to: (1) educate
local community leaders; faith-based organizations;
and state, local, and federal government officials
from the environmental,
health and housing sectors of
the hazards; (2) seek and
expand on partnerships
between participants; and (3)
identify resources to address
lead-based paint issues.
Region 2 participated in the
event by providing informa-
tion concerning the Agency's
role in lead abatement and outreach and in environ-
mental justice activities, including grant resources
(e.g., Environmental Justice Small Grants Program).
In addition, Region 2, staff from the New Jersey
DEP, and HUD provided presentations to the audi-
ence. The inaugural meeting was held in August
2001, with subsequent meetings held on either a bi-
monthly or quarterly basis.

Region 3

Lead Awareness in Baltimore

Residents living in areas at high risk for lead-based
paint exposure in Baltimore received more than
5,000 lead dust cleaning kits and appropriate train-
ing to increase awareness of lead poisoning risks.
Two lead education and awareness videos also were
provided to health care agencies in 24 subdivisions.
These videos continue to be used for educational
purposes in the health clinics around the state.

environmen (ue Bignnial Report

Abex Superfund Site, Portsmouth,
Virginia

The Abex Corporation Superfund site is located in
the eastern section of Portsmouth, Virginia, and cen-
ters around a 2-acre property containing a former
brass and bronze foundry. The primary contaminant
of concern is lead; however, other contaminants are
present as well. The site includes the former foundry
as well as adjacent contaminated soils. The largest
residential area impacted is a portion of the
Washington Park Public Housing Project, which was
home to approximately 160 predominately African-
American families.

Under an EPA Consent Order, in August 1986,
Abex excavated and removed contaminated soils
from the Abex property and adjacent properties,
including the Washington Park Housing Project and
other residential areas, In 2001, an agreement was
reached where by all of the residents of Washington
Park would be relocated. Those relocations have now
been completed. The Washington Park housing
Complex is slated for demolition, but demolition of
the units has yet to occur.

The site is one of the more complex sites in Region
3. Concerns about elevated blood lead levels in chil-
dren led Region 3 to bring in both CDC and
ATSDR to provide information, consultation, and
support regarding lead poisoning and other public
health issues. ATSDR and CDC participated with
the EPA in a series of public meetings and informa-
tion sessions for the residents, These agencies
reviewed and assessed blood lead test results, which
were collected and analyzed by the Commonwealth
of Virginia.

EPA also brought HUD into the case, first because
of questions regarding permanent relocation of
Washington Park residents, then due to temporary
housing issues, and finally because of renewed con-
cern for permanent relocation, HUD assumed the
lead on the relocation issue. The Army Corps of

42


a specific geographical or watershed area. Potential
areas of environmental justice concern are given pri-
mary consideration when selecting a study area.

Tn 2001, reconnaissance was conducted in Holyoke
and Chicopee, Massachusetts, between July and early
November. Within the study area, the goals of the
reconnaissance project were to: (1) locate point
sources of pollution along the Connecticut River; (2)
identify compliance, deterrence, and assistance oppor-
tunities; (3) focus Region 1’s limited resources by
working with communities and the state to maximize
ecosystem protection; and (4) establish a relationship
among local communities, the state, and EPA.

In keeping with Region 1’s policy on environmental
justice, the reconnaissance sought to improve com-
munications with local citizens and stakeholders,
and channel resources into a study area that
includes neighborhoods with potential environmen-
tal justice concerns,

Meetings with local and regional government agen-
cies and community-based organizations provided
opportunities for citizens to voice concerns and ask
questions. Issues raised during these meetings ranged
from regional public health concerns related to air
quality to concerns about the impact from specific
facilities. The environmental concerns that were
raised were tempered with concern for the economic
fate of the communities and the potential impact of
increased regulatory involvement.

Region 2

Public Participation in Brownfields
Pilot Programs

Region 2’s innovative Brownfields Assessment
Demonstration Pilot Program provides a wide range
of resources and assistance to the more than 50 com-
munities that have received brownfields pilot fund-
ing as of August 2002. Many of these pilots are

working with environmental justice communities
and neighborhoods to create opportunities from idle
and underutilized sites that undermine local envi-
ronmental, economic, and social well being.

Region 2 incorporates environmental justice into
the program’s grant project activities. Grant recipi-
ents must submit a community involvement plan
that includes environmental justice considerations.
Progress is tracked and evaluation is provided in
quarterly reports, Each pilot has a designated EPA
liaison to provide assistance and facilitate access to
EPA engineering, science, and emergency response
expertise. The EPA liaison also serves as a point of
contact for the community and participates in com-
munity meetings.

To set the stage for ongoing stakeholder participa-
tion, the Northeast Hazardous Substance Research
Center (HSRC), funded by EPA, helps coordinate a
kickoff meeting for each grantee. The meeting
brings together local government offices; county,
state, and federal officials; community stakeholders;
residents; businesses; property owners; and other
concerned parties. The kickoff meeting provides a
forum for learning and sharing local brownfields
issues and strategies. The meeting includes a discus-
sion of the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders,
including the relevance of environmental justice and
the benefits of a participatory process.

To continue to meet information needs, communi-
ties also frequently access the HSRC Technical



eral agencies. Since this training began, more than
500 managers have taken the training.

GIS Demographic Mapper

The user-friendly GIS mapping tool, developed by
Region 3 in 1996, continues to be refined. This Arc
View-based screening tool provides vital demographic
information for any address or area in question and
allows the user to better understand and characterize
areas in proximity to sites of concern. This screening
tool allows the Region to identify and allocate appro-
priate resources, develop informational materials
geared to the needs of a given community, understand
population distribution around sites of concern, iden-
tify special needs (e.g. translation of documents into
another language, targeted educational materials, lead-
based paint), and locate other sites or sources of con-
cern in the immediate area.

Demonstrations of this tool and its applications in
the environmental justice arena have been made for
the states of Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania;
the cities of Philadelphia and Wilmington; EPA

Environmenga EEDA ie Report

Region 7; the Federal Law Enforcement Training
Center; and the Republic of South Africa. Copies of
the application were requested by the U.S.
Department of the Interior (DOI), which has, in
turn, forwarded the application to other federal
agencies for evaluation and comment. Region 3 is
currently reviewing the tool, and is considering

updating this GIS application,

Region 10

Environmental Justice Training for
FWS

In June 2002, representatives from Regions 9 and 10
conducted training on the fundamentals of environ-
mental justice for FWS, The 2-day course provided
participants with the history, theory, application,
and legal aspects of environmental justice, as well as
tools for facilitating the integration of environmental
justice in agency programs. Other attendees included
representatives from U.S. Forest Service (USFS),
Portland Oregon Bureau of Environmental Services,
city of Portland, Tri-Met, Oregon DOT,
Environmental Justice Action Group, and
Willamette River Keepers,

State Training
Region 3

All-States Environmental Justice
Conferences

Beginning in 1999, Region 3 has convened annual
All-States Environmental Justice Conferences with
all of the states in the Region and the District of
Columbia. The purpose of the conference is to cre-
ate a forum for open discussion of environmental
justice guidance, policies, evaluative methodologies,
real-world problems, and potential solutions for
those problems. These conferences also provide a
forum where the experiences and knowledge gained

82



yt S747,
> a *:

Environmental Justice
2002 Biennial Report

‘®
K
Vagenc”

NZ.
hy pRote?

Constructive Engagement and
Collaborative Problem-Solving

Li i



Assessment Methodologies,
Assessment Guidance, and
Community Assessments

ommunities across the country have cited

the need for methodologies, guidance, and

strategies for involving citizens in risk assess-
ments, In addition, many questions arise with
respect to assessing multiple sources of exposure,
multiple stressors, and multiple sensitivities among
populations (i.e., cumulative risk).

Methodologies and guidance also need to be devel-
oped to allow for the application of cumulative risk
assessments. Some communities have taken steps to
characterize these risks in a more comprehensive
manner (including Chester, Pennsylvania, and
south/southwest Philadelphia). In examining recent
attempts at cumulative risk studies, however, it is
apparent that in addition to developing better
methodologies, better data are needed for all aspects
of the assessment (e.g,, chemical toxicity, population
exposure, socioeconomic impacts). Better method-
ologies for assessing that data also are needed, espe-
cially for targeting areas for further assessment and
possible intervention.

Assessment Methodologies

Assessment of Farm Worker Safety
Programs

OPP, in cooperation with OECA, is conducting a
national assessment of the Farm Worker Protection
Program, including a review of Regional office guid-
ance and support to the states. OPP held a series of
workshops designed to engage regulators, trainers,
and agricultural and farm worker advocates in proj-
ects to ensure an effective national program with
consistency among states. As EPA continues to eval-
uate the input received during its national assess-
ment workshops, the Agency will review the worker
protection regulation to assess the need for strength-
ening the program to ensure protection of farm
workers and their families from pesticides exposure.

Tribal LifeLine Risk Assessment
Project

In 2002, OPP began an effort to modify one of its
primary risk assessment tools to capture unique

108



Appendix A

EPA Environmental
Justice Contacts

Headquarters Contacts

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW.

Washington, D.C. 20460

‘Use this address and the Mail Code (MC) for each Office.

Office of Administration and Resources Management (OARM) - MC-3012A

Carolyn Levine 202 564-1859 F: 202 564-1887
Office of Air and Radiation (OAR) - MC-6103A

Wil Wilson 202 564-1954 F: 202 564-1549
American Indian Environmental Office (AIEO) - MC-4104M

Jose Aguto 202 564-0289 F: 202 564-0298
Office of Civil Rights (OCR) - MC-1201A

Mike Mattheisen 202 564-7291 F: 202 501-1836
Office of Public Affairs (OPA) - MC-1702A

Doretta Reaves 202 564-7829 F; 202 501-1773
Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) - MC-2201A
Shirley Pate 202 564-2607 F: 202 501-0284
Office of Environmental Information (OEI) - MC-2812T

Michael Spring 202 566-2102 F: 202 566-0977
Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ) - MC-2201A

Mustafa Ali 202 564-2606 F; 202 501-0740
Office of General Counsel (OGC) - MC-2322A

Jeff Keohane 202 564-5548 F: 202 564-5541
Office of International Affairs (OIA) - MC-2610R

Wendy Graham 202 564-6602 F; 202 565-2408
Office of Policy, Economics & Innovation (OPEI) - MC-1807T
Katherine Dawes 202 566-2189 F: 202 566-2211
Daria Willis 202 566-2217 F: 202 566-2200

Office of Prevention, Pesticides & Toxic Substances (OPPTS) - MC-7101M
Elaine Lyon 202 564-0547 F: 202 564-0550

131


i
» Ne
INumONAH IAT Tusttet

‘bs

environmenga (iu) Bighnial Report

Executive Summary

PA’s mission is to protect the environment
E and human health. Through the leadership of

the Office of Environmental Justice, EPA is
working to ensure all communities enjoy the same
degree of protection from environmental risks and
health hazards and have equal access to the decision-
making processes. Environmental justice is about
real people facing real problems, and designing, with
other stakeholders, practical solutions to address
challenging environmental, public health, and
quality-of-life issues.

Over the last several years, EPA has promoted the
development of partnerships among and between the
stakeholders to address a range of environmental jus-
tice issues facing communities. For this reason, the
theme of this report is “Constructive Engagement
and Collaborative Problem-Solving.” The partner-
ships described in this document are meant to
enable all stakeholders to learn from each other and
identify ways and means that environmental justice
can be secured.

This report is organized into seven chapters: (1)
Office of Environmental Justice Initiatives; (2)
Environmental Justice Integration at the Federal
Level; (3) Addressing Environmental Justice
Problems; (4) Public Participation and Training
Initiatives; (5) Outreach Initiatives; (6) Assessment
Methodologies, Assessment Guidance, and
Community Assessments; and (7) Targeting,

Environmental Health, and Exposure Studies. In
each of these chapters, projects and activities that
were conducted collaboratively and in partnership
with our stakeholders are highlighted. To help read-
ers find particular areas of interest to them, a Table
of Contents is provided, which identifies the key
subject areas discussed within each chapter. Within
each subject area, the projects and activities with a
national focus are described first, followed by those
conducted at the regional level.

Tt has been said that poverty will not be stopped
solely by people who are not poor. If poverty is
stopped, it will be stopped by poor people and oth-
ers working in collaboration. It also is clear that
environmental justieg cannot,be-achieved without
collaboration an erships among all stakehold-
ers, This report can be used to increase public aware-
ness of the significant environmental justice
activities under way across the nation and to identify
opportunities for all interested parties to work
together to effectively address environmental justice
issues. As we move further into this new millenni-
um, EPA will continue to seek opportunities to
build partnerships with stakeholdets tind wotk con-

/ structively to.address the extraordinary environmen-
tal justice challenges that exist, challenges that we

are determined to confront and overcome.

Barry E. Hill
Director
Office of Environmental Justice



Justice

exposure risks that can accompany the practice of
traditional tribal cultures and ways of life. In its first
year, OPP plans to focus the tribal LifeLine pilot
project on modifying existing LifeLine software to
enable it to model risks to tribal communities in two
biogeographical areas (BGAs), one in Alaska and the
other in the contiguous 48 states. During the course
of the pilot, risk assessment experts from EPA and
the LifeLine Group will work closely with tribal
community members in the chosen BGAs to ensure
that tribal lifeways are accurately captured and mod-
eled. At the conclusion of the pilot, EPA and tribal
risk assessors, as well as other interested parties, will
have access to the new cumulative and aggregate
tribal risk assessment software tool. The Lake
Tliamna and Clark Lake region of Alaska, home to
tribes in the Nilavena Consortium, has been identi-
fied as the initial geographic focus for the Alaska
LifeLine project. OPP is working with tribes in the
lower 48 states to appropriately locate a second focal
site for the project.

Dietary Exposure Assessment Model
OPP is collaborating with USDA on the develop-
ment of the Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by
Individuals and Pesticide Data Program, which sup-
ply critical information used in dietary exposure
assessments. These dietary risk assessments evaluate
risks to vulnerable subpopulations, (for example,
Hispanic children), as well as the general public.

Navajo Nation Uranium Contamination
Assessment

ORIA is working closely with the Navajo Nation to
develop a strategy to identify homes with elevated
levels of contamination from radioactive building
materials, Some homes may have been built using
uranium mill tailings in the mortar, uranium-
bearing rocks, or building materials from abandoned
mines. Once complete, this plan will be distributed
for promotion and adoption by other tribal nations
with similar issues.

Environmen «)

6 Arnia Report

LandScan USA

ORD is collaborating with DOE's Oak Ridge
National Laboratory (ORNL) to develop LandScan
USA, a high-resolution population distribution data-
base for the continental United States. Scientists will
develop a prototype of LandScan USA, and a user-
friendly computer population counting tool (PCT) to
estimate the number of people living near pollution
point sources and/or within specified areas. LandScan
USA will provide more spatially precise population
and demographic information for exposure modeling,
environmental justice studies, and other types of risk
assessments conducted by EPA. The tool will allow
users to conduct proximity analyses around point
sources of air pollution to determine if certain
sociodemographic subgroups (based on race/ethnicity,
age, etc.) live closer to point sources of air pollution
and in areas with higher concentrations of air toxics
from these sources.

ORNL already has developed a similar innovative,
global database, LandScan 1998 (updated in 2000
and 2001), that is the first of its kind to use satellite
imagery in population distribution modeling to pro-
duce population distribution data at a much finer
resolution than previously available.

As part of the overall study, ORD will use the
LandScan USA data and the PCT to conduct an
environmental justice demonstration study in the
Texas prototype study area. ORD will provide point
source locations and associated modeled air concen-
trations of air toxics emitted by the sources in this
study area. ORD will conduct proximity analyses
around these point sources to determine how demo-
graphic characteristics (e.g., race/ethnicity, socioeco-
nomic status) of subpopulations change as residential
distance from point sources changes. ORD also will
use the air concentration values to determine if the
population subgroups living closer to the point
sources also are potentially exposed to higher levels of
air pollutants associated with these facilities.

109


4
Bt Ce,
INVIKONMERIAD ESOL

the Kelly redevelopment agency, contract personnel,
elected officials, and residents. Southwest Public
Workers Union, a community-based organization, is
sponsoring a series of three community roundtables,
the first of which was held in October 2002.

Region 8

Pueblo Chemical Depot

The Pueblo Chemical Depot located east of Pueblo,
Colorado, is an Army storage depot for chemical
weapons that is currently being decommissioned
under Base Realignment and Closure. Multiple solid
waste management units are located on the site with
some off-site migration of explosives in ground
water impacting the drinking water supply for near-
by Avondale. The destruction of 780,000 rounds of
chemical munitions is planned for the site.

The community is predominantly Hispanic and low-
income. The nearby community of Boone is con-
cerned about the integrity of its drinking water
supply well, the potential air contamination issues
presented by the proposed chemical demilitarization,
and the potential economic impacts on farming
from disposal of hazardous wastes from the chemical
demilitarization process.

Region 8 has been working closely with both groups
to facilitate a dialogue wherein common ground
might be established. As a result of EPA's activity,
meetings have been convened between the Army and
various community stakeholder groups. These meet-
ings have led to the initial plans to incorporate com-
munity needs into the cleanup and demilitarization
processes. An example of such work is the planning
for a sampling and monitoring plan responsive to
agricultural community needs.

Rocky Mountain Arsenal, Colorado

A review of the effectiveness of a Superfund cleanup
is conducted every 5 years after implementation of
the cleanup if there is some type of ongoing man-

Environmenga Gu) iP niat Report

agement of wastes on site. For the arsenal’s 5-year
review, Region 8 requested an analysis of the impact
of the remedy on low-income and minority commu-
nities adjacent to the arsenal. This is a significant
step for the integration of environmental justice into
Superfund activities, since it was the first time in
Region 8 that an environmental justice analysis was
included in a 5-year review. The review was complet-
ed in July 2002. It concluded that the remedy has
contributed to an overall reduced risk to human
health, biota, and the environment.

Fish Contamination
Problems and Solutions

National Risk Communication
Conference

The first national conference on risk communication
to address the risks of consuming chemically con-
taminated fish was held in Chicago, Illinois, in May
2001. The conference was convened by EPA's Fish
and Wildlife Contamination Program in OW and
the Minnesota Department of Health (DOH). The
conference provided risk communication informa-
tion and recommendations that will enable EPA to
promote environmental justice for populations that
are particularly susceptible to health risks caused by
contaminants in fish.

Conference participants from across the United
States were invited to share information on risk

30



The conference featured many sessions on how smart
growth can empower disadvantaged communities.
These included hands-on and implementation-
focused sessions covering topics such as making policy
change at local levels, building partnerships and coali-
tions, implementing strategies in rural communities,
creating affordable and mixed income housing, and
improving water quality. Efforts were made to
enhance the opportunity for economically disadvan-
taged communities to attend the conference. The
Local Government Commission provided need-based
scholarships and organization-sponsored scholarships
to youth leaders around the country.

A variety of organizations supported the conference,
including EPA, FHWA, Pennsylvania State University,
California Department of Transportation, Robert
‘Wood Johnson Foundation, National Association of
Realtors, NOAA, American Society of Landscape
Architects, and others.

Community-Based Environmental
Protection (CBEP) Projects

CBEP seeks to address the combined causes and syn-
ergistic effects of environmental problems. CBEP
supplements and complements traditional environ-
mental protection approaches (regulatory actions,
voluntary approaches, market-based incentives, etc.)
by focusing on holistic approaches within a commu-
nity to address all of its environmental issues and
provide the economic and quality-of-life benefits of
a healthy environment to all citizens,

The six key CBEP principles of the community-
based approach are: (1) focusing on integrated
approaches within a geographic area; (2) working
collaboratively with all stakeholders; (3) protecting
and restoring the quality of air, water, land, and liv-
ing resources in a place as a whole to address envi-
ronmental risks to human health and ecosystems; (4)
assisting communities in the integration of environ-
mental, economic, and quality-of-life planning and
goals; (5) taking collaborative action using the most

appropriate tools; and (6) using adaptive manage-
ment principles to make efforts more effective.

EPA’s 10 Regional offices provide direct assistance
through partnerships with communities, states, and
tribes. EPA Headquarters’ program offices provide
resources for environmental and community assess-
ments, and OPEI serves a national policy and public
communications coordinating role. More than 150
regional projects are described on the Agency's Web
site ac <www.epa.gov/ecocommunity>. Several of
these are addressing environmental justice issues,
including projects in Charleston, South Carolina; St.
Louis, Missouri; Omaha, Nebraska; southeastern
Florida; and several places in California.

Innovating for Better Environmental
Results

EPA’s Project XL Program published Innovating for
Better Environmental Results: A Strategy to Guide the
Next Generation in October 2001. The guide pro-
poses a framework with four interrelated elements:
(1) strengthening EPA’s innovation partnerships with
states and tribes; (2) focusing on priority environ-
mental problems; (3) diversifying our environmental
protection tools and approaches; and (4) fostering a
more innovative culture and organizational systems
within the Agency.

Believing in the need for a focused agenda to achieve
results, EPA identified specific environmental chal-
lenges where innovative approaches will be essential

389



Tribal Training

Tribal Water Quality and Pesticide
Management Workshops

In July 2002, OPP renewed a 3-year cooperative
agreement with Native Ecology Initiative (NEI) to
support workshops that assist tribes with technical,
legal, and policy issues pertaining to the impacts of
pesticides on ground and surface waters. In 2002,
four workshops (three intermediate and one

advanced) were held in various parts of Indian coun-
try, with 67 representatives from 44 different tribes
attending. Additional workshops are planned. Since
OPP began supporting these workshops in FY 1998,
they have drawn a total of 531 participants from
285 federally recognized tribes and tribal consortia.

Region 2

Training/Grant Opportunities for Tribal
Nations

Region 2 held training workshops for tribes on air
programs, wetlands, solid waste, quality assurance,
and emergency response. Many of these workshops
were hosted by the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe and
attended by several other tribes. Also, the Region has
had conference calls and meetings with the tribal
contacts to discuss specific programs (e.g., water
quality standards, drinking water, and enforcement
capacity building).

84



Environmen

the project would achieve its purpose. The addition-
al information was particularly important due to
concerns about impacts on surrounding minority
and low-income populations.

EPA recommended including a comparison between
impacted neighborhoods and the general population
in the environmental justice analysis. The Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) agreed to be more
specific in explaining the impact of this project to
the affected community.

Region 3

King William Reservoir, King William
County, Virginia

The Regional Raw Water Study Group (RRWSG), a
consortium of local governments on Virginia's Lower
Peninsula, are proposing the construction of a dam,
fresh water reservoir, and pumping station in rural
King William County, Virginia. The proposed proj-
ect could impact the social structure and sense of
community of the Mattaponi, Upper Mattaponi,
and Pamunkey Indian cribes. The reservoir would be
located between the tribes’ reservations.

Construction of the reservoir and its potential sec-
ondary impacts (such as residential development)
raise issues related to the preservation of the cultural,
spiritual, and archaeological integrity of the tribes.
The tribes are contending that if the reservoir is
allowed to be built, they will lose a vital part of their
cultural heritage. The Mattaponi maintain that the
seservoir will threaten its historical use of the river
and the land within the Cohoke watershed. Both
tribes rely heavily on the land and water as a source
of food, economic benefit, and spiritual identity.

Region 3 submitted comments to the Army Corps
of Engineers encouraging the Corps to consider the
environmental justice impacts of the project. In a
memorandum dated July 2, 2001, to the Corps’

}Bignnial Report

North Atlantic Division, the colonel for the Norfolk
District Army Corps of Engineers recommended
denial of the Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 404
permit for the King William Reservoir. The colonel
based his recommendation to deny the permit on
two key factors: (1) the absence of a demonstrated
need for projected additional water supply, and (2)
the combined adverse environmental impacts to wet-
lands, wildlife habitat, and water quality, as well as
disproportionately high impacts to Native Americans
in the area.

Region 7

Omaha Tribe of Nebraska—
Concentrated Animal Feeding
Operations (CAFOs) Assistance

Region 7’s Environmental Justice Program continues
to provide support to the National Pollution
Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and NEPA
programs in addressing the concerns raised by the
Omaha Tribe of Nebraska regarding the need for EPA
assistance in regulating CAFOs, In April 2002, mem-
bers of the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska raised environ-
mental justice concerns related to the unregulated
operation of several CAFOs being operated on Indian
land by non-Indians. Under EPA’s trust responsibility,
Regional staff are working to permit each of the facili-
ties. EPA staff are developing an Environmental
Assessment (EA) in order to consider the broader
implications of establishing permit conditions. The
staff conducted informational meetings and availabili-
ty sessions with the impacted populations, as well as

CAFOs near Omaha Tribe, Macy, Nebraska.

12



Environmen

Region 10

For Healthy Kids

For Healthy Kids focuses on preventing children’s
exposure to pesticides by educating agricultural
workers on preventing “the take home pathway” for
pesticide residues.

A baseline survey encompassing more than 570
households in the Yakima Valley was conducted in
1999, An agricultural field worker and a child under
the age of 6 lived in each household. The study ana-
lyzed the presence of pesticide residues in household
dust and human urine.

‘Twelve communities in the Yakima Valley will
receive “intervention” programs of media messages,
community-wide health fairs, and individual out-
reach. An additional 12 neighboring communities
will serve as control groups and will not receive tar-
geted education programs. Following 2 years of inter-
vention, a final survey will be conducted, and urine
samples will be collected from field workers and their
children to examine changes in exposure with educa-
tional intervention. EPA partners include Fred
Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, University of
Washington Center for Child Environmental Health
Risks Research, and the National Institute for
Environmental Health Sciences.

WPS Enforcement Strategy

In 2001, EPA Region 10 implemented its WPS
Enforcement Strategy in conjunction with the
Oregon Department of Agriculture, Oregon
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA), and U.S. Attorney's Office. Community
representatives also were consulted to address the spe-
cific issues identified by farm worker advocacy groups
and to meet the following objectives: (1) conduct
comprehensive WPS inspections in the state of
Oregon, (2) increase field presence on farms, (3)
improve monitoring/oversight of WPS implementa-

nial Report

tion, (4) reach agreement on what constitutes a seri-
ous violation and the appropriate penalties, (5) sup-
port current Oregon OSHA WPS enforcement
actions, and (6) fully assess the WPS program.

This project resulted in the development of a
detailed targeting strategy and inspection blitz in
Oregon consisting of 60 unannounced, comprehen-
sive WPS inspections, including farm worker inter-
views and 50 sanitation inspections with WPS
components (central location, training, decontami-
nation).

Farm Worker Training

Region 10 supported a Washington State Department
of Agriculture (WSDA) Hispanic farm worker educa-
tion program during 2001 and 2002 through EPA's
cooperative agreement discretionary funds. WSDA
has found that the majority of Hispanic farm workers
responsible for handling pesticides are inadequately
trained. They have limited knowledge about the toxi-
city of the pesticides they are using.

EPA, in partnership with WSDA, continues to
address this issue by supporting Spanish-language
farm worker training programs. The programs pro-
vide farm workers with WPS worker and handler
training. Hands-on training with the equipment
that handlers use on the job to protect themselves
from pesticide exposure and residues also is con-
ducted. Farm equipment dealers provide the necess-
sary equipment.

WSDA also has partnered with a farm worker advi-
sory group to help direct the training program.
Advisory group members consist of farm workers,
service organizations, community colleges, growers,
agricultural processors, and the state cooperative
extension service staff. Several members of the advi-
sory group have served as trainers during the hands-
on training sessions, which have several small group
training stations,

54


Environmenga QED rie Report

Region 2

EPA Administrator Christine Whitman
Visits the South Bronx

In August 2002, EPA Administrator Christine
Whitman visited the Hunt's Point area (South
Bronx, New York) to attend a clean air energy event.
On hand were officials from the New York State
DEC, NESCAUM, Consolidated Edison, and the
NYPA. The Clean Air Communities, a non-profit
organization working to bring clean air technology
to urban communities, hosted the event. During her
visit, the administrator met separately with represen-
tatives from several community organizations based
in New York City to discuss environmental justice
issues impacting their communities.

New Jersey Utilities Association 87th
Annual Conference

In June 2002, the New Jersey Utilities Association
conducted its 87th annual conference in Absecon,
New Jersey. About 250 top executives from telecom-
munications, electric, natural gas, and water compa-
nies attended, as well as several representatives from
state government. The conference theme was
Economic Progress and Environmental Equity: A
Candid Conversation. In addition to a presentation
given by a New Jersey DEP official on its

Environmental Equity program, a panel, comprised
of representatives from Region 2, Orange &
Rockland (New York state) Utilities, the Nature
Conservancy of New Jersey, and the New Jersey State
Planning Commis-sion, provided viewpoints on envi-
ronmental equity, economic growth, and sustainable
development.

Brownfields and Waterfront
Development in New York City

To address commitments made at a 1999 CEQ
Federal Interagency Task Force on Environmental
Justice in New York City, Region 2 worked with fed-
eral, state, city, and community organization part-
ners to hold two interactive educational forums
designed to: (1) enhance stakeholder ability to
engage in waterfront land use planning and develop-
ment, (2) enhance stakeholder ability to promote
open space, and (3) enhance stakeholder ability to
revitalize brownfields in New York City, These work-
shops provided a forum for participants to share
information, experience, and perspectives in order to
proactively set the stage for increased partnerships
and community involvement in decisions affecting
the environment.

A variety of resources were leveraged for the work-
shop. The NY/NJ Port Authority provided funding to
a non-profit for meeting materials and compiled a
technical resource book. NOAA supported the travel
of two of the case study speakers, and EPA coordinat-
ed the exhibic hall, which included hands-on demon-
strations of available GIS tools and applications.

New York City Brownfields Workshop
Region 2 and HUD worked with a planning sub-
group and convened a brownfields workshop for
New York City community organizations and com-
munity development corporations in August 2000.
The purpose of the workshop was to provide infor-
mation on the brownfields program to community
development corporations and community-based
organizations that participated in the CEQ’s



communities. Due to the integrated nature of the
pilot, Region 5 and other EPA offices are providing
technical support.

The decision-making body for the pilot is a working
group comprised of local residents, neighborhood
organizations, businesses, industry representatives,
representatives from local colleges and universities,
and environmental advocacy groups. The Ohio
Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) and the
Cleveland Bureau of Air Pollution Control also are
part of the working group. This group, which has
met monthly since its formation in June 2001,
formed four subcommittees (Schools, Transport-
ation, Business, and Homes) to address the integrat-
ed air toxics issues.

The subcommittees developed project proposals to
reduce air toxics focusing on simple cost/benefit
considerations, potential achievable air toxics reduc-
tions, expected emission reductions, expected proj-
ect length, and difficulty of implementation.
Projects were proposed to the full working group,
and in June 2002, the working group approved the
final list of funded projects through group consen-
sus. Descriptions of the 16 approved projects can
be viewed at <www.epa.gov/cleveland>, under “List
of Projects,”

Subcommittees for each approved project are current-

ly developing implementation plans and implement-
ing projects. The working group also is developing
outreach strategies to continue the sustainability of
the pilot, and it adopted Cleveland Clean Air
Century Campaign as the official pilot title.

St. Clair-Superior Neighborhood
Development Association (SCSNDA)
Region 5, OEPA, and the Cleveland Bureau of Air
Pollution Control have been meeting monthly since
March 2001 with the St. Clair-Superior Neighbor-
hood Development Association (SCSNDA) to dis-
cuss environmental concerns for the neighborhood.

These monthly meetings arose in response to a
request that SCSNDA presented to OEPA’s director
requesting action on eight items of concern.

OEPA, in turn, requested Region 5’s participation
in this partnership.

Items discussed at the monthly meetings have
included authorities, responsibilities, laws, and
regulations of each agency represented at the meet-
ings; environmental justice; the Title V permitting
process as it relates to current/pending permits for
facilities in the neighborhoods; NPDES and other
monitoring reports for selected facilities; and previ-
ous and current inspections of several facilities with-

in the neighborhood.

SCSNDA maintains a strong interest in environ-
mental justice and its implications for the neighbor-
hood. Through the monthly meetings, Region 5 and
OEPA are working toward establishing stronger
partnerships among themselves, local agencies, and
the neighborhoods they serve. The meeting group
strives to develop a streamlined process where the
neighborhoods can work with the agencies to affect
real environmental results.

One recent success for the group is that OEPA is
reviewing the possibility of conducting hazardous
waste inspections and air inspections at neighbor-
hood facilities of concern as identified by SCSNDA.
Another success includes changes in the Title V pre-
liminary proposed permit (PPP) for a local company.
These changes came about as a result of the monthly

discussions, which enabled SCSNDA and its part-

75



are based upon beneficial uses, which across the
basin include the provision of healthy conditions
(e.g., adequate available cool or cold water) for the
spawning, rearing, and migration of salmon and tesi-
dent fish. EPA is working with the states through its
review and approval of TMDLs, which are alloca-
tions of allowable pollutant discharges, for the tribu-
taries. In addition, EPA is working more closely with
the states and tribes on the actual development of
these allocations for temperature and dissolved gas
for the mainstem Columbia and Snake Rivers. Once
developed, the TMDLs provide the foundation for
defining actions to achieve the water quality
improvements necessary to provide healthy condi-
tions for fish and other aquatic species.

Broad fish recovery and water quality protection
efforts have specific implications for anyone who
relies upon the fish of the region for sustenance
(including subsistence) or income. In addition to the
many issues related to abundance, there are questions
about risks from consuming fish that may accumulate
contaminants over their lifetime.

As Region 10 proceeds with its water quality work,
the Agency will seek to be mindful of the federal gov-
ernment’s treaty obligations and trust responsibilities
to the tribes to better align policies, practices, and reg-
ulatory programs to meaningfully take into account
the impacts on Native Americans and their culture.

International Problems and
Solutions

Technical Assistance to Strengthen
Pesticide Regulatory Programs in
Central America

Under an agreement between EPA and the U.S.
Agency for International Development (USAID) to
provide environmental technical assistance to the
Central America region, EPA’s Office of Pesticide
Programs (OPP) is coordinating activities in the area

environmega (u) Ge Bignnial Report

of pesticide regulation. The objective of this program
is to assist countries of the region to implement inter-
national chemical agreements (e.g., Stockholm
Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants and the
Rotterdam Convention on Prior Informed Consent)
through strengthening regulatory processes.

In 2002, staff from OPP participated in workshops
with the Central America Commission for
Environment and Development and pesticide regu-
latory officials from the region to review the status
of each country in meeting the treaty obligations
and to identify priority technical assistance needs.
Currently, EPA and its partners in the region are
designing training programs to assist regulatory offi-
cials in accessing and exchanging scientific and
technical information on chemicals and in evaluat-
ing the risks and benefits of pesticides utilizing
information from EPA and other international
organizations. These outreach and training efforts
will strengthen cooperation between EPA and the
Central American countries and will promote the
sound management of chemical risks throughout
the region.

Chemical Information Exchange
Network (CIEN)

In a partnership with the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP), EPA is provid-
ing Internet access and training to chemical man-
agement officials in Africa and Central America.
OPP contributes to this program by providing staff
and expertise for training courses in both regions.

Africa and Central America are regions with low
Internet connectivity and a high need for training
in using the Internet to access regulatory informa-
tion. Internet capability will assist countries in
implementing international chemical conventions,
obtaining access to technical information on best
practices and alternative pest control approaches,
and identifying funding opportunities for support-
ing strong chemical management programs. The

36



Pesticide Problems and
Solutions

Urban Pesticide Initiative

The wide misuse of the highly toxic agricultural pesti-
cide, methyl parathion, in low-income communities
around the country has resulted in significant public
health risks to residents, especially children and other
sensitive populations. Emergency response and
enforcement actions to deal with this crisis have been
an enormous resource cost.

Investigators are finding residues of methyl parathion
sprayed indoors at levels more than 10-fold the action
level set for evacuation of residents
from their homes. Possible defi-
ciencies in regulatory, enforce-
ment, and outreach programs,
including Certification and
Training programs, inadequate attention to urban and
rural communities; vulnerability of residents to misap-
plications, and how agricultural pesticides are sold and
distributed, may have contributed to this situation.

While the Agency and industry have taken significant
measures to prevent further misuse of methyl
parathion, remaining deficiencies must be identified
and corrected to prevent future misdirection and use
of this pesticide and other highly toxic agricultural
pesticides/toxic substances in communities.

There is an immediate need to focus on risks from
pesticide use in and around homes. Of the 95 million
households in the United States, approximately 75
percent have used, stored, and applied pesticides in
their homes and workplaces. There are approximately
35,000 to 40,000 pest control firms and 344,000
commercial certified applicators in the United States
In 1995, approximately 74 million to 100 million
pounds of pesticides were used in and around homes.
Nationwide there are hundreds of millions of applica-
tions per year,

environmega (uC) Bigmnial Report

As reported to the Poison Control Center, approxi-
mately 16,000 poisonings per year are associated
with non-occupational use of pesticides. Reports also
indicate that children account for about 50 percent
of emergency room visits due to pesticide poison-
ings. In 1995 alone, 100,000 children were involved
in common household pesticide-related (including
chlorine bleach) poisonings or exposures.

To minimize the future misuse of pesticides in and
around homes, EPA and state lead agencies are tar-
geting all types of communities (urban, suburban,
and rural), with a focus on sensitive populations
such as children and others in low-income and
minority communities, contributing to the Agency's
commitment to provide environmental justice and
EPA’s goal that communities, homes, workplaces and
ecosystems will be safe from pollution. The goal is to
empower citizens to make informed decisions about
the use of pesticides and toxic substances in order to
protect their own and their children’s health. Broad
partnerships are forming to accomplish this mission,
including EPA, other federal agencies, state and local
agencies, and the private sector.

EPA has drafted a national program addressing pesti-
cide misuse in general, in response to the emerging
pattern of incidents involving the application of
restricted use agricultural products for structural pest
control indoors, EPA's draft enforcement program,
to be implemented primatily by state pesticide
enforcement grantees, has three goals: (1) detection
of any diversion of restricted use pesticides from the
agricultural sector into communities for illegal use
indoors; (2) identification of any ongoing structural
application of restricted use agricultural pesticides in
urban and other communities, and pursuit of appro-
priate enforcement actions to deter such actions; and
(3) prevention of future diversion and structural
application through compliance assistance and edu-
cation, particularly in areas with vulnerable popula-
tions, especially children. To achieve these goals, the

48


ronmental hazards associated with the plant’s opera-
tions. The report suggested that emissions from the
plant posed a potentially significant risk to the
neighboring communities.

In response to the findings, Region 8 conducted a
series of meetings with the communities and stake-
holders, partnered with the Colorado Department
of Public Health and Environment, encouraged
more active outreach into the community, encour-
aged the company to create a Community Relations
Plan, obtained a grant from EPA to establish an air
monitoring station to assess off-site emissions,
received a grant to provide technical assistance to
the community, worked with the community and
the company to understand the supplemental envi-
ronmental projects process, assisted with the recruit-
ment of proposed projects, and created, with
community input, a Citizen's Guide to Using
Online Environmental Databases.

As a result of these activities, the Pueblo communi-
ties around the plant have established lines of com-
munication with the mill’s staff and management.
More importantly, these neighbors now believe
that they can have a positive impact on their sur-
rounding environment.

117

Department Coitreates stay

News Releases ‘Many derurvery on tis «to.
: eae “ate POF fle ire ite.
- . ‘Match. 2000: Stato Heal Debanenant taitnmats aise toh ae :

GIS Site-Specific Assessments

During the past 2 years, Region 8 has produced as
many as 200 maps for external and internal cus-
tomers. These GIS environmental justice maps
reflect the continuing reliance people have on graph-
ics as a tool to help identify potential environmental
justice areas of concern. A report that lists regulated
facilities within the area and demographic informa-
tion accompanies the maps.


their diets, for making traditional basketry, for
medicinal purposes, and in ceremonial activities.
OPP worked closely with Region 9 staff to deter-
mine effective protection of Native Americans from
exposure to hexazinone.

Region 9 is working with the California Department
of Pesticide Regulation (DPR), the U.S. Forest
Service (USES), and Native American tribes in
California to determine their potential exposure to
forestry herbicides (including hexazinone,
glyphosate, and triclopyr) that may be occurring
through their use of forest plant materials. In
response to the health concerns raised by the Native
American communities, Region 9 and DPR
launched a risk assessment effort in 1997. This effort
includes five steps: (1) measuring plant residue and
surface water levels following herbicide application;
(2) assessing the total exposures and risks involved
using, where appropriate, the monitoring data collect-
ed; (3) informing tribal physicians of state regulations
requiring pesticide illness reporting; (4) participating
in mediated meetings with Native American commu-
nities to determine the key issues surrounding herbi-
cide use; and (5) developing a video production about
inadvertent exposure to herbicides.

In addition, USES is working with local Indian tribes,
and have established “no spray” zones where plant
materials may be gathered free of pesticide residues.
They are also working to reduce pesticide usage, pre-
vent runoff, and minimize exposure by posting appli-
cation sites and providing bulletins alerting the public
where applications have or will occur.

Regional Initiative Grant for

Korean Farmers

The Regional Initiative Grants Program supports
pollution prevention projects that are important to
and complement ongoing efforts in EPA's regional
offices. One of the grants supports a project that
provides pest management and pesticide training for
at-risk Korean farmers in Hawaii.

,

Chapt

Hawaii is home to many Asian farmers with limited
English and literacy skills, who cannot read pesticide
labels properly or benefit from pesticide training

programs offered in English. A program has been
developed on the island of Oahu to teach basic pes-
ticide safety and pest management to some of these
farming communities. There is a strong need to
expand this program to neighboring islands.

Farm Worker Safety Initiative

Farm worker health and safety remains a priority
issue in Region 9 and throughout the nation.
Beginning in 1998, with Region 9 Environmental
Justice Small Grant Program seed funding, the
Environmental Center of San Luis Obispo
(ECOSLO) initiated the Farm Worker Safety
Initiative to conduct a survey of farm worker health.
Since then, the project has grown into a broad-based
and unique collaboration among non-traditional
partners, including representatives from local, state,
and federal government; university representatives;
environmental and labor advocacy representatives;
and the local agricultural industry. EPA pesticides
staff have been overseeing the technical portion of
the grant, which was leveraged to garner additional
funding from a variety of other sources (County of
San Luis Obispo, the California Department of
Pesticide Regulation, the California Endowment).

The survey indicated that farm workers are concerned
about the adequacy of pesticide safety training. This
finding is consistent with other surveys taken
throughout the nation and has contributed to nation-
al policy discussions on pesticide safety training.

53

er3



PREOB — Puerto Rico Environmental Quality
Board

QAPP — Quality Assurance Project Plan

RCRA — Resource Conservation and Recovery
Act

RMSM — Rocky Mountain Steel Mill
RNAO — Regional Native American Office
ROD — Record of Decision

RRWSG — Regional Raw Water Study Group
RTA — Regional Transit Authority

SAA — Society for Applied Anthropology
SBHA — South Bend Housing Authority

SCSNDA -— S:. Clair Superior Neighborhood

Development Association
SDWA — Safe Drinking Water Act

SENSOR — Sentinel Event Notification System
for Occupational Risk

SEPs — Supplemental Environmental Projects
SGI — Smart Growth INDEX

SHOW-ME — Safe Handling of Waste -
Managed Environmentally

SHPO — State Historic Preservation Officer
SOC — Statement of Cooperation

SVOC — Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds
SWDA — Safe Water Drinking Act

TAB — Technical Assistance for Brownfields

Environmengad CEPA xia Report

TCEQ — Texas Commission on Environmental
Quality

TDF — tire-derived fuel

TMDLs — Total Maximum Daily Loads
TMP — Tribal Medicine Project

TOP — Transit-Oriented Development

TOSC — Technical Outreach Service for

Communities

TPPC — Tribal Pesticide Program Council
TRI — Toxic Release Inventory

TSU — Texas Southern University

UEI — Urban Environmental Initiative
UFW —United Farm Workers

UN — United Nations

UNEP — United Nations Environment

Programme

USAID — USS. Agency for International

Development

USDA — United States Department of
Agriculture

USFS — United States Forest Service
USGS — United Stated Geological Survey
VC — vinyl chloride

VCPs — Voluntary Cleanup Programs
VOCs — volatile organic compounds

WDOH — Washington State Department of
Health

138


Agency is finalizing a national enforcement program
in cooperation with state lead agencies, public health
agencies, and other organizations, consisting of both
proactive and reactive approaches,

Tribal Medicine Project

The Tribal Medicine Project (TMP), a cooperative
agreement between EPA and George Washington
University, was initiated in FY 2001 and renewed by
OPP in FY 2002. This project funds a team of experts
on pesticide exposure risks and symptoms to foster
greater tribal awareness of pesticide health hazards in
Indian country. The effort provides important train-
ing to tribal environmental program managers and
health care providers on the prevention, recognition,
and treatment of human toxic exposures.

In 2001, five pesticide and health training sessions
were held that provided continuing medical educa-
tion credits through George Washington University.
In total, about 125 attendees attended the sessions,
including representatives from 12 tribes, states,
regions, agricultural extension services, growers, and
farm worker organizations. The training was so well
received in the Southwest that the InterTribal
Council of Arizona now is including similar work-
shops as part of its pesticide curriculum. During the
second phase of the project, which is just beginning,
OPP plans to provide similar training opportunities
to tribes in other parts of the country.

National Pesticide Medical Monitoring
Program (NPMMP)

The NPMMP is a cooperative agreement between
Oregon State University and EPA that provides infor-
mation and assistance to the public in cases of sus-
pected human pesticide exposure. The investigators
have extensive experience in clinical toxicology, public
health, and regulatory issues, and they are capable of
translating complicated scientific and technical infor-
mation to the layperson as well as professionals.

-—

Chapter 3

i

Wee

Low-income and minority com-
munities are at higher risk of
workplace and residential expo-
sure to pesticides. NPMMP inves-
tigators play an important role in
identifying and reporting cases in
these communities where inade-
quate education, training, or
other unique circumstances lead

ge
a

to an unnecessary exposure,

In addition to identifying and
reporting such cases, the investi- br ,
gators provide additional assistance by directing
individuals to appropriate health care and enforce-
ment resources, and by serving as an ongoing source
of information to others who may become involved
in the inquiry. NPMMP investigators can also pro-
vide laboratory assistance in the clinical and environ-
mental investigation of pesticide-related inquiries in
cases where other resources cannot provide them.
This is a very valuable service to individuals who
otherwise would not be able to afford costs associat-
ed with laboratory testing.

In addition to providing a service to the public,
NPMMP investigators are also active members of and
consultants to professional organizations dedicated to
improving occupational and environmental health of
high-risk communities, Through involvement and
participation on the Migrant Health Task Force, the
NPMMP recently assisted the American College of
Occupational and Environmental Medicine in its
efforts to provide EPA with comments relating to pro-
posed pesticide regulations that would impact agricul-
tural workers. NPMMP investigators also are actively
involved in EPA's National Strategies for Health Care
Providers: Pesticides Initiative, an effort to improve
the recognition, diagnosis, and management of pesti-
cide- related health conditions.

49


Environmen

e)

Cg Arnica Report

Region 2

Fourth Biennial Symposium on
Potable Water Issues in Puerto Rico
Region 2 participated at the Fourth Biennial
Symposium on Potable Water Issues in Puerto Rico,
hosted by the Center for
Environmental Education,
Conservation and
Interpretation, Inter-American
University of Puerto Rico. The
event, which occurred in
February 2001, convened
more than 250 people from
local and federal agencies, uni-
versity faculties, students,
water surveyors, users/owners
of potable water systems, and
Non-Governmental
Organizations (NGOs).
Puerto Rican government offi-
cials also were in attendance. The conference was
free of charge for the participants.

During the regulatory portion of the 2-day seminar,
Region 2 provided two presentations on environ-
mental justice (one as a general overview of the envi-
ronmental justice movement in the country; the
other to highlight the integration of environmental
justice on a specific wastewater treatment project).
In addition to Region 2, EPA's Office of Ground
Water and Drinking Water (OGWDW)provided a
series of regulatory, programmatic, and technical
information to the audience.

Environmental Justice Training in
Puerto Rico

Tn June 2002, Region 2 conducted a pilot training
course in Puerto Rico using selected modules of the
Agency’s environmental justice fundamentals train-
ing curriculum. The course was held at the Inter-
American University’s School of Law. Attendees

included grassroots organizations, local government
offices, other federal agencies, academia, and indus-
try. The course, conducted at times in both English
and Spanish, was well received as participants
expressed gratitude to the trainers for incorporating
the lingual aspects of their culture.

Based upon feedback from the participants, the
Region is certain to provide future environmental
justice training sessions to stakeholders in Puerto
Rico. This is a significantly positive step for Region
2. It is expected that this training will facilitate col-
laborative working relationships becween EPA and
organizations in Puerto Rico.

Environmental Impact Assessment
Training

In March 2001, Region 2 hosted a 3-day training
course, titled Environmental Impact Assessment.
The course, which focused on NEPA topics (particu-
larly its process and corresponding segments for con-
ducting environmental impact analyses), included a
section and discussion on environmental justice.
Eighty participants attended the course, which was
aimed at training New York City government offi-
cials. In addition to Region 2, a FHWA representa-
tive provided a presentation on that agency's
environmental streamlining approach.

Dominicanos 2000

Dominicanos 2000 is a community-based organiza-
tion established to implement projects addressing
the advancement of Dominicans and the progress of
Latinos and others in the United States.
Dominicanos 2002 hosted its Second Annual
Conference in March 2001 at the City College, City
University of New York. A panel discussion,
Affecting Change in Environmental Justice Areas,
included representatives from Sustainable South
Bronx, New York City Environmental Justice
Alliance, Goldman & Goldman, and Region 2.

78



» yp) Environmenga '@)

(cq BPrniai Report

This campaign was launched in August 2002, and
implementation is under way. Extension service staff
we are working at the clinics

B co hand out documents on
pesticide safety and IPM

“ tips for cockroach control,
answer questions from the
public, and conduct short
training sessions. People
who sign up for the train-
ing sessions receive a give-
# away bag containing roach
baits, sticky traps, trash bags, caulk, dish soap, and
information about the safe use of pesticides.

A video tape produced by ALA; entitled Controlling
Cockroaches in Your Home: Health Tips for Those
with Asthma, also will run continuously in clinic
waiting rooms, Clinic directors and their staff will
receive copies of the Community Action Kits for
Pesticide Safety, recently developed under a
Consumer Labeling Initiative grant to the National
Safety Council.

Washington Metro Area Transit
Authority Outreach Campaign

OPP recently launched a local transit campaign with
the Washington Metro Area Transit Authority, fea-
turing posters encouraging the safe use of pesticides.
The campaign began in August 2002 and ran for 1
month. OPP’s posters were featured on 550 Metro
buses and at 10 Metrorail subway stations in the
Washington Metropolitan area, mainly in low-
income, minority communities. This campaign was
modeled after the EPA truck ad campaign and simi-
lar efforts in New York and Atlanta. In other efforts,
a New York City transit system campaign in 2001
focused on illegal use of insecticidal chalk and “Tres
Pasitos.” In May 2002, a campaign in Atlanta ush-
ered in “Pesticide Awareness Week,” sponsored by
the Mayor, and featured transit ads and educational
activities aimed at high-risk communities.

Read the Label First

The New Mexico Family, Career, and Community
Leaders of America and the New Mexico Association
of Family and Consumer Sciences have been using
“Read the Label First!” information and, with a new
grant from OPP, will develop ready-to-use, age-
appropriate, teacher-friendly learning plans and sug-
gested classroom projects incorporating information
on labels and pesticide safety. A pilot using the new
materials took place in the Fall 2002 school season.
Ultimately, the goal is to have the Read the Label
First! message incorporated into family and con-
sumer life sciences classes taught at the secondary
school level throughout the United States.

Pesticide Listserve

OPP has developed an electronic listserve for people
and groups who want to stay abreast of pesticide
issues and decisions, With the help of the People of
Color Environmental Groups Directory, more than
300 ethnically diverse groups are on this listserve,
providing up-to-date information about pesticides.

Annual Partners for Smart Growth
Conference

Each year, EPA partners with the Smart Growth
Network and other organizations to organize a confer-
ence that brings national smart growth leaders togeth-
er to discuss current trends, tools, and information in
the field. This successful annual conference has con-
sistently drawn around 1,000 participants. In January
2002, the New Partners for Smart Growth: Building
Safe, Healthy, and Livable Communities conference
built upon past successes by combining the annual
Smart Growth Network conference with the Local
Government Commission's Redefining Community
conference, The conference focused on the use of
smart growth techniques to benefit public health,
public safety, community economic vitality, water
quality, and other environmental concerns, as well as
provide mobility for seniors, children, and economi-

cally disadvantaged individuals.

88



Engineers assisted EPA with the temporary reloca-
tion of residents during the remedial cleanup of the
site, including finding lodging for the residents dur-
ing their temporary relocation. The Department of
Justice (DOJ) provided significant legal assistance
during the hearing process. The complex nature of
this site makes it clear that the engagement and
involvement of all the appropriate federal partners is
vital in addressing the range of environmental justice
issues that can be associated with a site.

Lead in Logan Community,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The Logan section of Philadelphia is a predominately
African-American community. For years, many of the
homes were sinking due to construction on top of a
filled-in streambed. Eventually these homes were con-
demned and the residents relocated. The city of
Philadelphia tore down many of these homes in a 17-
block area. Sampling by Region 3 found soil in the
now vacant lots to have unacceptable concentrations
of lead. Region 3 and the city entered into a
Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) in October
2000, whereby the city would perform the necessary
soil removal and other activities, with Region 3 per-
forming an oversight role. The community has been
very active in pursuing a remedy for the lead problem.

The city has removed and disposed of the top 12
inches of soil from the six designated areas character-
ized as having elevated lead levels. These areas were
then backfilled with 11 inches of clean fill and 1
inch of topsoil. Excavation was completed in less
than a month in December 2000. The arrival of
clean fill began on January 3, 2001, and the last load
of topsoil arrived on January 11, 2001. The city of
Philadelphia continues to control the site.

Lead Initiative—Chester,
Pennsylvania

As part of Region 3’s Chester Initiative, supported
by community organizations, work was conducted
on the Chester Lead Poisoning Prevention Project

os

Chapter 3

funded by a SEP. The SEP attempted to complete a
children’s blood lead level survey, educate citizens
about the dangers of lead poisoning, and reduce the
levels of lead to which children could be exposed in
homes participating in the study. The SEP also
included the removal of lead contamination from
homes. This project has now come to an end,

Region 5

Lead Poisoning Awareness Campaign
The incidence of childhood lead poisoning is partic-
ularly high in Detroit due to the high concentration
of older housing stock and disproportionately low
socioeconomic status, In 1999, almost 5,000 chil-
dren were identified with elevated blood lead levels
even though only 22 percent of children considered
at high risk were screened for lead poisoning.

Health department estimates show that at least
18,000 children in the city of Detroit have some level
of lead poisoning. In order to increase awareness of
the social, economic and medical aspects of lead poi-
soning and increase preventative and abatement meas-
ures in the effected community, 12 productions of the
play Jimmy’ Getting Better will be showcased to vari-
ous community audiences. This project is expected to
increase awareness of the social, economic, and med-
ical aspects of lead poisoning and increase preventa-
tive and abatement measures in the affected
community, Partners supporting this effort include
the city of Detroit, Detroit Children’s Hospital,
Detroit Public Schools, HUD, Region 5, Wayne
County, and Wayne State University.

Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Lead
Poisoning Prevention Advertising
Campaign

Region 5 conducted an 8-month transit ad cam-
paign from July 1999 through February 2000.
During this period, some 1,300 lead awareness
posters were displayed on four separate bus routes

43


Affordable Housing and Smart
Growth: Making the Connection

The National Neighborhood Coalition, with sup-
port from EPA, completed Affordable Housing and
Smart Growth (September 2001). This report high-
lights the critical impact of development choices on
low-income households. It explores the relationship
between the choices that communities are forced to
make with regards to affordable housing, smart
growth, and proposed policies and approaches
through which both can be achieved.

The policies and approaches featured include land
use and planning strategies (such as zoning changes,
building code modifications, reuse and renovation
of vacant properties and land); tax-based strategies
(tax incentives for housing, low-income housing tax
credits); community strategies (design innovations,
energy consumption reduction); and subsidies for
affordable housing (HOPE VI, block grants). The
report provides tools for community leaders to help
them create affordable housing and ensure sustain-
able growth in a manner that places the housing
needs of the poor on equal footing with other
development priorities. In so doing, it helps achieve
a better balance in the environmental justice con-
cerns of low-income communities whose critical
housing needs previously had been underserved.

The partners supporting this report include the
Smart Growth Network members ICMA, ELI,
American Planning Association, Fannie Mae,
National Neighborhood Coalition, Northeast/Mid-
west Institute, Urban Land Institute, and other
organizations such as the National Low Income
Housing Coalition, the Enterprise Foundation, the
Housing Assistance Council, and the National
Housing Institute.

Chapter 7

Region 4

Air Toxics Study—West Louisville,
Kentucky

A 1-year air toxics study was conducted in 12 com-
munities in West Jefferson County, Kentucky, to
determine if residents were being exposed to airborne
concentrations of pollutants that could pose unac-
ceptable risks to health, The sites were monitored for
VOCs, semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs),
metals, and carbonyl samples. Six of the 12 studies
were in at-risk communities. The study was conduct-
ed jointly by Region 4, Air Pollution Control District
of Jefferson County, Commonwealth of Kentucky,
University of Louisville, and West Jefferson County
Community Task Force.

Region 4 provided training and outreach to stake-
holders and technical assistance to the community,
state, and local agencies. Region 4 and stakeholders
hold routine risk assessment and risk management
meetings to discuss project progress. Additionally,
a QAPP, risk assessment workplan, and risk man-
agement plan to respond to identified risks are
being developed.

Region 10

Seattle Air Toxics Monitoring Pilot
Project

The Washington Department of Ecology and the
Oregon DEQ have been monitoring air toxics
impacting a number of at-risk communities. The
Beacon Hill site is an area of high population densi-
ty that reflects conditions in a “typical” urban resi-
dential neighborhood impacted by a mix of urban
source categories. The Georgetown site and the
northeast Portland site are located within each city’s
river-based industrial sanctuary. Both are surrounded
by industrial, commercial, and mobile sources,
Sampling includes 24-hour integrated samples of

129



accessible, SGI enables communities to make more
informed decisions about where and how they will
develop and redevelop residences, workplaces, trans-
portation systems, parks, and other features. SGI is
currently in pilot testing and has been deployed in
20 communities across the United States,

Three features of the SGI software and application
settings help to address environmental justice con-
siderations. First, SGI is intended to be used in a
community involvement setting. Community mem-
bers can understand existing conditions and hypoth-
esize alternative development patterns, then see how
and where those developments affect the natural
environment and other indicators of community
health. Second, SGI is intended to be applied with
limited resources. The level of technical facility
required to turn community-developed plans into
environmental and other information is well within
the capabilities of most local planning or communi-
ty organizations. Third, SGI has been specifically
designed to analyze redevelopment of abandoned or
brownfield properties in urban and first-ring subur-
ban communities. Redevelopment of such sites into
parks, residences, and other environmentally positive
uses can correct some of the disparate impacts that
previously burdened communities, Several of the
pilot sites are looking at specific redevelopment pro-
posals, using information from SGI to attract devel-

Chapt

opers and streamline local approval processes.

EPA Regional Offices 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 are cur-
rently active in this project. At least one planning or
community organization participates at each site,
More than 30 organizations are involved overall,
including metropolitan planning organizations,
NGOs, universities, and city departments of plan-
ning. For additional information, visit:
<www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/index/sgi- home.html>.

St. John’s Bayou and New Madrid
Floodway Project

EPA had concerns about a proposed flood protec-
tion project near East Prairie, Missouri, and held
meetings with representatives from a small minority
community to help ensure that flood control and
environmental needs were appropriately balanced.
The proposed project would impact approximately
13,000 acres of wetlands, including bottomland
hardwood forested wetlands, and require adequate
compensatory mitigation.

The New Madrid Floodway portion of the project, as
proposed, would provide flood protection to not only
agricultural lands in the area, but also for the commu-
nity of Pinhook. Pinhook is a small community of
approximately 50 minority residents. The proposed
flood protection for Pinhook would both protect the
community and agricultural lands owned by commu-
nity members, as well as protect important infrastruc-
ture that connects Pinhook to nearby communities.
Although the environmental criteria used to review
projects involving impacts to wetlands and other
aquatic resources do not specifically include environ-
mental justice considerations, EPA felt that the needs
and concerns of Pinhook were an important part of
project evaluation. During the review process, EPA
representatives met with representatives of Pinhook to
understand their perspectives.

113



Environmen nial Report

we
UNVIRONMMINIAL HISTICF

Some initial results for high-exposure events and
effects to the eyes already have been published. A
detailed listing of these studies and a number of
publications already reporting the results of the
Agricultural Health Study can be found at:
<wwwaaghealth.org>.

Environmental Risk and Impact in
Communities

Research has shown that minority, low-income,
and/or educationally disadvantaged communities are
at a greater risk of impact from environmental haz-
ards. Studies have used surrogate measures of exposure
because of the lack of data on actual exposures in
these communities, Community-specific data is need-
ed to address any linkages between environmental
exposures and health outcomes.

Resources were awarded to the North Carolina
Central University (NCCU) under a cooperative
agreement to assess environmental exposures in a
community impacted by environmental hazards,
EPA anticipates that, through collaboration with
NCCU, the Agency will gain expertise in local com-
munity exposure concerns, exposure scenarios, sub-
population activities, and environmental
characteristics that EPA otherwise might not be able
to access in an at-risk community. This cooperative
agreement will provide NCCU with the opportuni-
ty to develop exposure expertise and faculty. The
specific community to be studied under this project

will be determined based on recommendations from
project advisory board members.

El Paso Children’s Respiratory Health
Study

ORD is collaborating with the El Paso Independent
School District, TCEQ, University of Texas Houston
School of Public Health, Research Triangle Institute,
and E] Paso Border Office to determine if exposure to
particulate matter and gaseous co-pollutants are asso-
ciated with increased prevalence of respiratory symp-
toms or illness with lung function decrements in
children. Each year, more than 18 million vehicles
cross the international border between El Paso, Texas,
and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Highway and border traf-
fic congestion, in combination with atmospheric tem-
perature inversions in the winter, provide the
opportunity to investigate the health effects of partic-
ulate matter and co-pollutants in children.

In this study, the parents of 4th and 5th grade stu-
dents at 53 El Paso area elementary schools (approx-
imately 9,100 students) will receive a respiratory
health questionnaire (in English and Spanish), along
with a request for written permission for their child
to participate in pulmonary function testing, At a
subset of 23 schools, children with parental consent
will be asked to perform a routine pulmonary func-
tion test to measure expitatory air flow rates and
lung volume. Supplemental measures of ambient air
pollutants will be collected at the time of pulmonary
function testing. Schools were selected for lung
function testing based on enrollment numbers in the
4th and 5th grades, school location with respect to
major roadways and border crossings, and prior par-
ticipation in air pollution monitoring studies,

The analysis will focus on evaluating the measure of
association between air quality parameters and the
prevalence of respiratory symptoms, illness, or lung
function decrements. The questionnaire health data
will be compared to routinely collected air quality
measurements, with supplemental measurements col-

122



In addition to these national analyses, the project
also includes a community-specific study in the
Greenpoint/ Williamsburg area of Brooklyn, New
York. Residents of this community are potentially
subject to exposure, through multiple pathways, to a
large number of toxic pollutants released by a wide
variety of sources. This study assesses exposure to
more than 100 pollutants across multiple exposure
pathways, using data from the three national studies,
as well as data collected in the community through
other environmental assessment efforts.

North American Free Trade
Agreement (NAFTA) Border Study
Some of the residents of U.S./Mexico border commu-
nities in Arizona believe they have increased environ-
mental exposures due to their proximity to pollution
sources in Mexico. This field study is collecting expo-
sure data for the border population that will be com-
pared with data from a probabilistic exposure study of
residents in the entire state of Arizona. The study is
being conducted under a cooperative agreement with
the University of Arizona.

The study participants in the border area were
selected using the same probabilistic method used
for the state-wide study. The same questionnaires
were used, and the same analyses and media were
sampled. Additional pollutants suspected to be sig-
nificant in the border area also were included.

Researchers collected questionnaire data about home
environments and activities, In a subset of these
homes, environmental samples (yard soil, house
dust, drinking water, food) and biological samples
(blood, urine) were collected and analyzed for met-
als, VOCs, and pesticides. An exposure data set
should be available on the Web in 2003.

Border Health Effects in Young
Children

Research is being conducted to develop and imple-
ment an approach to examine the cumulative risks

Chay}

and potential health effects in children from repeat-
ed exposure to pesticides from multiple sources and
pathways. The study is being conducted in the
U.S./Mexico border states of Arizona, California,
New Mexico, and Texas, as part of the Environmen-
tal Health Workgroup, which was developed with
the passage of NAFTA.

A three-phase approach is being undertaken to
address the project’s objectives. Phase I will review
existing environmental pesticides exposure and
health data and identify/review techniques to meas-
ure exposure biomarkers in biological fluids. GIS
will be used to link exposure and pesticides data to
aid in the study design. A workshop on health
effects assessment related to pesticides in young chil-
dren was held to recommend health endpoints to be
used in the survey.

Phase II will survey and screen the pediatric (infants
and children less than 7 years old) population for evi-
dence and distribution of pesticide exposures. Phase
IIa will employ a more complete monitoring of chil-
dren classified as “high-end exposures” and include
detailed measurements of their environmental expo-
sures and biological monitoring of their metabolite
levels. A study will then be designed to evaluate the
relationship between pesticides exposures and selected
health outcomes and to define specific hypotheses to
be tested. An epidemiological study (Phase IITb) will
then be performed to examine the defined hypotheses
about the impact of pesticides exposure on health sta-
tus/outcome of children.

Ingestion of Pesticides by Children in
Agricultural Communities

Through the assistance of a grant from ORD, the
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey,
and the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, sci-
entists are developing a model to describe pesticides
exposure in children (ages ranging from 6 months to
4 years) living in a rural agricultural setting. The
model will identify the age-related differences in

127

r7



State Training 66... cece cern eet eee e ete eee e tenets 82

Tribal Training 6.0.06. eect nt ee eet e ete tee ene e teen eee eens 84
Chapter 5: Outreach Initiatives ........... dee eee eee eee 85
Regional Environmental Justice Listening Sessions 0... 6.6.06 eee cs eect e eee te eee ene eee 85
Outreach 66. een reenter etn eee teen e tees 86
Tribal Consultation ©6000... 6c c cee ect nett ete ete e nent nets 105
International Outreach 22... cece nee een ner e een eben eeee 106

Chapter 6: Assessment Methodologies, Assessment Guidance, and Community
Assessments . 2... eee 108

Assessment Methodologies ..........-

Community/Site Specific Assessments

Chapter 7: Targeting, Environmental Health, and Exposure Studies ....... 118
Targeting Studies 66... eee cece ener erent tenn eee eee ee een

Environmental Health Studies

Exposure Studies. . .

Appendix A: EPA Environmental Justice Contacts ...............000005 131

Appendix B: List of Acronyms ............6 0. ee ees 134



nial Report

ie Environmenga ¢)

American Program through its Regional Native
American Office (RNAO). Independent of the
RNAO, the ombudsman is responsible for investi-
gating tribal complaints and helping to identify solu-
tions. In addition, this individual
has the authority to independent-
ly investigate citizens’ concerns
and facilitate communication that
can lead to a solution. The
ombudsman may make findings
and recommendations for correc-
tive action, if appropriate.
However, he has no enforcement
authority to carry out recommen-
dations, nor to compel an agency
to take any corrective action. The
ombudsman i is employed by EPA Region 6 but
maintains neutrality, independence, and nonparti-
sanship. Complaints he may pursue can include

administrative injustice or poor administration.

Tribal Elevation Process

Asa part of RNAO’s collaborative relationship with
tribes, an “elevation process” was developed in part-
nership with tribal stakeholders, and is currently
being implemented. The elevation process is designed
to seek cooperative issue resolution with tribal part-
ners. The overall intent of this process is to effectively
raise concerns through the Region 6 management
chain to achieve mutually beneficial solutions based
on common goals. This process will strengthen EPA’s
partnership with tribes by providing a mechanism to
reach a mutually acceptable solution to issues that
may potentially impact grant funding.

Region 8

Missouri River

Region 8 continues to work extensively with tribal
stakeholders impacted by the management of the
Missouri River by the Army Corps of Engineers, EPA
attended a meeting hosted by the Lower Brule Sioux

Tribe that focused on cultural resource protection in
the Basin. The discussion informed the development
of an EIS focusing on managment of the river. The
meeting was attended by tribal elders, citizens, and
cultural resource coordinators of five tribes within the
Basin. Region 8 encouraged a representative of the
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation to partici-
pate in EPA’s Missouri River team; worked with Mni
Sose Intertribal Water Rights Coalition as a project
officer; and reviewed and provided extensive com-
ments on preliminary chapters of the revised draft EIS
to the Corps project staff.

International Outreach
Region 1

Boston/Haifa Exchange Dialogue

In March 2002, a group of 10 environmental justice
activists from Haifa, Israel, visited Boston to explore
a multitude of quality of life issues that low-income
and minority residents face. The Boston/Haifa
Exchange on Sustainable Communities kicked off its
packed schedule of meetings, networking, and infor-
mation-gathering with a trip to Region 1 where a
stimulating exchange took place among the Israeli
activists and EPA staff and managers from a range of
Regional programs, including the environmental jus-
tice, urban environmental, and ADR programs.

The Boston/Haifa program is sponsored by the
Combined Jewish Philanthropies, Nature
Preservation, and the Council for Preservation of
Building and Sites, and is supported by Region 1.
The Boston/Haifa program intentionally builds on
the values and knowledge of the residents of both
these urban neighborhoods to improve their lives.
Specifically, the group strives to understand city pol-
icy and planning procedures and learn about people
working on similar projects in Israel and abroad in
order to propose projects that will improve their
largely low-income Hadar neighborhood.

106



i,
it er 4
Ne

Environmenga )G)Arvia Report

(NTAA), a tribal air quality organization dedicated
to insuring that tribes set priorities and determine
mechanisms for interacting with other governments
on ait issues, The mission of NTAA is to collectively
advance air quality management policies and pro-
grams, consistent with the needs, interests, and
unique legal status of American Indian Tribes,
Alaskan Natives, and Native Hawaiians,

Additionally, OAR is working cooperatively with the
Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals
(ITEP) of Northern Arizona University. ITEP is
developing and implementing outreach and educa-
tional efforts to improve community knowledge
about radiation science, the hazards of exposure to
radiation, and the potential risks associated with
abandoned uranium mines.

Tribal Pesticide Program Council
(TPPC)

OPP provides sole funding support to TPPC, a tribal
technical resource and policy development group that
held its inaugural meeting in January 2000. Since
then, TPPC has grown steadily in membership and
influence, providing tribes across the country with a
recognized forum that focuses national attention on
tribal pesticide issues and concerns. TPPC assists
tribes in developing their own pesticide programs;
provides tribal pesticide education, training, and
research; deals with a broad range of tribal pesticide-
related issues; and facilitates communi-
cation among tribes, EPA, and other
federal and state agencies. TPPC,
which has now grown to 43 author-
ized members, works in close partner-
ship with OPP to ensure that federal
laws governing pesticide management
and use continue to be enforced in
Indian country. Ongoing efforts by
members of several TPPC workgroups
are expected to continue to influence a
long-term strategic direction for OPP that is respon-
sive to tribal needs and concerns.

Highlighting Tribal Wetland
Protection Efforts

OW worked with 11 tribes to develop case studies
highlighting tribal experiences in protecting water
resources. The result, Tribal Wetland Program
Highlights (EPA 843-R-99-002), is a milestone publi-
cation in OW’s ongoing effort to support the devel-
opment of comprehensive tribal wetland programs.
The report's 11 case studies focus on experiences of
tribal organizations, featuring program components,
tools, and strategies currently employed to protect
and restore wetlands and watersheds.

Supporting Culturally Appropriate
Strategies for Tribal Wetland
Management Efforts

EPA provided technical assistance to a tribal com-
munity through the OW’s cooperative agreement
with the Society for Applied Anthropology (SAA).
This project focused on specific cultural challenges
with regard to tribal wetland restoration efforts with
the following core objectives: (1) clarifying the
components of culturally appropriate strategies for
natural resource management, and exploring how
they inform ongoing resource management practices
in relation to wetlands, and (2) identifying factors
that facilitate and constrain efforts to implement
culturally and ecologically sensible approaches to
wetlands protection.

Region 1

Aroostook Band of Micmacs

Region 1 awarded a $290,000 grant to the Micmac
Tribe for an air monitoring and public education
project in northern Maine. The project will monitor
air quality in real-time and make the data immediate-
ly available to the public on a Web site and through
local media, The project will also use the data to gen-
erate alerts on poor air quality days, warning suscepti-
ble populations to limit outdoor activities.

66



OnE OF

Region 9

Pesticide Regulatory Programs

Region 9 provided technical assistance and more
than $4 million in grant support to states and tribes
for the development and enforcement of pesticide
regulations. As in years past, a particular focus is to
support tribes in building the infrastructure they
need to maintain credible pesticide regulatory pro-
grams. In addition to this work, the pesticide
enforcement team will maintain a federal field
enforcement presence and take appropriate federal
enforcement actions.

In supporting these efforts, Region 9 obtains: (1) a
better understanding of tribal needs for pesticide
programs based on additional information about
tribal agriculture and pesticide use, and stronger
tribal pesticide regulatory programs; (2) enforcement
cases strategically targeted to address national priori-
ties related to anti-microbial products and unregis-
tered pesticides; and (3) inspections focused on
regional priorities that are likely to include oversight
of experimental use permits for biotech products and
dealers who are distributing products that could be
potential terrorist targets.

Sustainable Agriculture
Working in partnership with USDA and the state of
California, growers, commodity groups, and other

Environmengad OQD 2 Report

agriculture stakeholders, Region 9 delivered techni-
cal assistance and more than $600,000 in grant
funding to support projects on IPM and biological-
ly-based farming methods in cotton, stone fruits,
gtapes, strawberries, prunes, walnuts, and citrus.
Region 9 is continuing to support pest management
strategic planning activities for an additional 10
minor crops. This work is being accomplished
through a major grant program sponsored by the
University of California and through small grants
that are coordinated with the USDA's Pest
Management Center and other partners in the agri-
cultural sector.

These efforts will yield measurable reductions in the
use of organophosphates and other toxic pesticides,
decreases in or prevention of pollution of water bod-
ies, and adoption of integrated pest and soil manage-
ment methods. These projects also contribute to the
protection of public health and sustainability of
farming systems.

California Indian Basket Weavers

The Yurok Tribe in Del Norte and Humboldt coun-
ties used Region 9 grant funds to conduct a study to
influence growers in its community. As a result of
the publicity and awareness generated by the study,
which showed impacts on potential drinking water
supplies, growers have not conducted aerial spraying
for the last two seasons.

In the past, aerial spraying impacted up to 5,000
acres of land and the drinking water of 1,100 tribal
members. The growers now voluntarily share their
ground-level spraying schedule with the community,
which provides notification that was previously

not available.

Risks to Tribes from Forestry Uses
Hexazinone is an herbicide primarily used on
forestry sites for woody plant and weed control. In
some forested areas where hexazinone is applied,
Native Americans gather plant materials for use in

52


“How to Apply” session. The event began with an
Expo featuring past environmental justice grant
projects and internal EPA grant funding programs
such as environmental education, brownfields, and
pollution prevention. With every state in Region 7
represented, stakeholders were able to actively
engage EPA staff, as well as network with other com-
munity organizations,

Civil Rights and Race Relations
Summits

During the summer of 2001, Region 7 participated
in two events within the Kansas City metro area: the
Mayor's Summit on Race Relations and the Latino
Civil Rights Summit. Both events targeted issues
related to the community concerns facing minority
populations, Region 7 staff served on a panel to dis-
cuss environmental justice issues and concerns facing
low-income and minority populations. The panel dis-
cussions included speakers from the state health
department, a local hospital, and an environmental
engineer who focused on the relationship between
health and the environment and the disproportionate
burden on low-income and minority populations.

Kansas Public Health Association—
Environmental Justice Session

In September 2002, Region 7 gave a presentation to
the Kansas Public Health Association on environ-
mental justice and the link between health and the
environment. The audience included representatives
from state and local government, health care
providers, and academia. Afterwards, the partici-
pants expressed a strong interest in future opportu-
nities for partnerships.

2001 & 2002 Fiesta Hispana

Fiesta Hispafia is an event sponsored by the Greater
Kansas City Hispanic Heritage Committee to pro-
mote wide recognition of the important role of
Hispanics in the development of the United States,
to honor and perpetuate the Hispanic heritage and
culture, and to advance the level of education for

‘*
at <=
2001 Fiesta Hisparia featuring Region 7’s Charlie
the Chipmunk.

Hispanic youth. Region 7 supported the focus on
Protect Your Family, Protect the Earth (Proteja a Su
Familia, Proteja el Mundo), and participated in
presentations on lead, pesticides, and environmen-
tal justice.

Region 8

Tribal Sacred Lands Protection

In October 2001, Region 8 partnered with the
Natural Resources Law Center at the University of
Colorado in Boulder, the Native American Law
Students Association, the Advisory Council on
Historic Preservation, the American Indian Program
Council, the Seventh Generation Fund, and the
Sacred Land Film Project to hold a 2-day Native
American Sacred Lands Forum in Boulder and
Denver. The purpose of the forum was to develop rec-
ommendations for a strategy to improve the protec-
tion of sacred lands. Attendees of the forum included
tribes, federal and state agencies, academia, grassroots
organizations, and the media, The partnership and
forum were spurred by the release of the film, Jn the
Light of Reverence, which debuted nationally in August
2002, on the PBS Series, Point of View. The film tells
the stories of three tribes and the places they care for:
the Lakota at Devils Tower in Wyoming, the Hopi in
the Four Corners area of the Southwest, and the
Wintu at Mt. Shasta in California. The forum fea-
tured two public screenings of the film.

101



residents with resources to improve their environ-
ment, health, and quality of life. In 2002, Regional
Administrator Robert W. Varney made the pilot a
permanent program, with primary objectives to: (1)
restore and revitalize the environment or urban
neighborhoods, and improve public health, (2) build
local capacity to assess, address, and resolve environ-
mental problems, and (3) promote sustainable eco-
nomic development that does not compromise
environmental quality and public health.

The UEI team coordinates with hundreds of part-
ners from community groups; non-profit organiza-
tions; corporations; colleges and universities; and
federal, state, and local government entities, UEI
team members attribute much of their success to the
community development model they created, which
uses a bottom-up approach to produce results and
build sustainable infrastructure to ensure community
involvement and sustained progress. For details, visit
<www.epa.gov/ne/eco/uei>.

Region 8

Northeast Denver Environmental
Initiative (NDEI)

The citizens of northeast Denver live in a highly
industrialized area fragmented by three major trans-
portation corridors. According to EPA's databases,
nearly 500 regulated facilities are located in the area,
including over 200 facilities permitted under the
Clean Air Act. Local trucking companies house nearly
5,000 diesel trucks in the area. One active and two
previous Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) sites
also lie within this area. As such, northeast Denver res-
idents constitute the first line of contact with the pol-
lutants that derive from industrial facilities,
commercial land uses, old housing stock, and traffic.

Citizens representing the six northeast Denver com-
munities have voiced numerous environmental con-
cerns, such as air pollution, odor, noise pollution,

Environmenga EJEVDA niet Report

and exposure to toxic substances. Citizens also
described concerns about negative health effects,
such as asthma, breathing difficulties, thyroid prob-
lems, elevated blood lead levels, cancer, and skin irri-
tations, which they believe to be the result of the
prevalence of industrial, mobile sources, and other
pollution-generating activities in the area.
Additionally, 16 percent of children tested in the
area show elevated blood lead levels.

Region 8 has begun a process of working with these
neighborhoods and developing partnerships with
communities and governmental entities to find new
ways to address the concerns of the communities
and the environmental issues. The NDEI project
envisions the development and demonstration of a
model of government that better meets the needs of
environmental justice communities. This project
seeks to improve coordination among government
agencies, community organizations, and industry to
reduce existing and prevent future health risks in
northeast Denver.

The parties are working on issues collaboratively and
have the ability to redirect the focus of the project as
new issues or concerns arise. Region 8 has coordinat-
ed successfully with community groups to develop a
list of supplemental environmental projects (SEPs) for
a large enforcement settlement. Region 8 also organ-
ized and hosted two regional environmental justice
listening sessions and community meetings. As a
result of the focus on children’s blood lead issues, the
Region developed a lead resources handbook.

Pueblo County, Colorado

Pueblo County is a largely rural area in southern
Colorado, with ranches and farms surrounding the
relatively small city of Pueblo. The County's popula-
tion is 38 percent Hispanic or Latino, and the medi-
an household income is just over $29,000. More
than 25 percent of the children in the county live
below the poverty level.

26



ENVIRONAINIAL JUSHICT

Children’s Health Problems
and Solutions

Region 1

Children First

One of the main goals of the Children’s Health
Initiative is to reduce the environmental factors that
cause asthma in children. Region 1 launched a coor-
dinated campaign called Children First to reduce
asthma, lead poisoning, and other dis-
eases that are prevalent among children
and have an environmental basis. This
campaign focuses on creating healthier
environments in the three places chil-
dren spend most of their time: at
home, in schools, and outdoors,

The campaign was launched in
September 2000 with a Safe Schools
initiative to create healthier and safer
classrooms, science labs, and play-
grounds. It continues with the Healthy
Homes agenda, designed to limit chil-
dren's exposure to lead-based paint and second-hand
smoke, as well as indoor air pollution that aggravates
asthma. Finally, the campaign is dedicated to a
cleaner outdoors, achieved by reducing the pollu-
tants that contaminate the air children breathe, the
ground they play on, and the water they drink.

To accomplish these goals, EPA is working with
ARC, a multi-stakeholder, federal, state, and private
partnership that addresses the environmental factors
that affect asthma in children; the Massachusetts
DPH; and the Northeast States for Coordinated Air
Use Management (NESCAUM).

environmen (QE) DAric Report

Region 5

Chicago Lead Poisoning Prevention
Partnership Activities

The city of Chicago has very high childhood lead
poisoning rates, and low screening rates prevail
despite Chicago DPH’s guidance that healthcare
providers practice universal screening. In addition,
serious disparities in lead poisoning exist in Chicago.
The percentage of children screened for elevated lead
poisoning is 7 percent for Whites, 14 percent for
Hispanics, and 30 percent for non-Hispanic Blacks.
In some poor community areas, more than 50 per-
cent of the children are lead poisoned.

Region 5 has worked in partnership with Chicago
DPH for several years to identify community areas
where lead poisoning rates are high and/or screening
rates are low, using a GIS mapping approach. In
addition, Region 5 awarded a grant to Loyola Child
Law Center, Loyola University, to facilitate the
development of a strategic working plan to reduce
elevated blood lead levels in Chicago.

The Loyola team has held a city-wide meeting with
stakeholders to initiate the project, and has subse-
quently facilitated a series of meetings in three
Chicago neighborhoods. Each of these high-minori-
ty population, low-income neighborhoods has exhib-
ited extremely elevated blood lead levels and low
screening rates. Each neighborhood grouping is
presently in the process of strategic planning to
develop and implement culturally and geographically
appropriate strategies aimed at reducing the burden
of childhood lead poisoning in their communities.
Through the efforts of these partnerships, each com-
munity area will identify primary and secondary
strategies that will work to eradicate childhood lead
poisoning, and will identify funds necessary to
implement these strategies.

22



some assistance from King County, met with
Hispanic, Cambodian, Filipino, Samoan, Tongan,
Vietnamese, and Hmong/Laotian community groups.
The DOH continues to meet with these groups to
provide assessment results and translate its fact sheets
about the results into Cambodian, Hmong, Laotian,
Vietnamese, Spanish and Russian. Region 10 and the
Department of Ecology are considering other ways to
involve AAPI’s affected by the site.

South Seattle “Toxic Tour”

Region 10 participated in a tour of Seattle’s South
Park neighborhood, sponsored by the Community
Coalition for Environmental Justice. The tour helped
representatives from EPA, the Department of Ecology,
and the King County Health Department to under-
stand, from a field perspective, the current and past
impacts of hazardous and toxic waste on the South
Park community. This includes the recently listed
Lower Duwamish Waterway Superfund Site.

South Park is comprised of low-income and minori-
ty residents. Many hazardous and toxic facilities exist
in this community, closely intermingled with resi-
dential developments, The history of approving this
type of land use, and the need now to address the
environmental and human health consequences, rais-
es a number of highly contentious public policy
issues that need to be addressed. Region 10 and the
Department of Ecology are in the early stages of
developing and implementing proposals for a
cleanup of the Lower Duwamish Waterway. High-
quality public involvement will continue to be essen-
tial to the success of this cleanup effort.

Outreach to Farm Worker
Organizations

Region 10 launched a major effort to build coalitions
with local communities by working closely with farm
worker organizations in Oregon in 2001. This effort
was initiated in response to recommendations made
by farm worker advocates in major reports and in
response to new grant guidance from EPA. Region 10

and the Oregon OSHA are maintaining or establish-
ing relationships with more than 20 organizations
(i.e., Ad Hoc Task Force on Migrant and Seasonal
Farm-Worker Issues, Salud Medical Center, Oregon
Human Development Corporation (AmeriCorps),
and Centro Latino Americano).

Region 10 has met with advocates to inform them of
the federal and state governments’ roles in addressing
farm worker issues. Some of the groups were either
unaware or did not understand the roles of Oregon
OSHA or EPA. EPA, Oregon Department of
Agriculture, and Oregon OSHA have agreed to work
closer with community-based training providers,
such as the Association of Farm Worker
Opportunity Programs (AFOP)/AmeriCorps to gain
knowledge of what farm workers say is happening in
the fields. This information will be used to continue
to improve how the Region will design and target
outreach and enforcement initiatives.

Lead Forum in Seattle

In February 2002, Region 10 collaborated with City
Year in Seattle, Washington, and other key stakehold-
ers in sponsoring a forum on lead issues. The goal was
to discuss lead and its impact on low-income and
minority communities. Another goal was to help City
Year educate its administration about the potential
impact of the lead policy on low-income and minori-
ty communities.

Tribal Consultation
Region 6

Region 6 Tribal Ombudsman

Region 6 recently established a Tribal Ombudsman.
position to assist with issues that arise in implemen-
tation of the Region’s Indian Program. The ombuds-
man is housed in the Office of External Affairs
(OEA), and reports to the director. OEA also has
responsibility for implementing the Regional Native

105



cleanup plan. EPA also reaffirmed its commitment
to a full public process that encourages meaningful
discourse on critical issues that could impact
Hudson River communities, The final cleanup plan
calls for dredging 2.65 million cubic yards of con-
taminated sediment from a 40-mile stretch of the
upper Hudson to remove an estimated 150,000
pounds of PCBs.

Before dredging can begin, EPA must prepare a
design for the project. This design phase, which will
include the development of performance standards
and the siting of dewatering facilities in consultation
with a broad range of stakeholders, is expected to take
about 3 years. Affected stakeholders are helping to
develop the community involvement framework. In
May 2002, an independent evaluation of best prac-
tices for involving stakeholders in remedial design and
remedial action activities at the Hudson River PCBs
site was released and in July, regional stakeholders
were consulted to identify the best approach for pub-
lic participation, including communication, input,
and information sharing methods.

Region 3

Baltimore Harbor Fish Consumption
Study

Region 3 provided financial assistance to the MDE
to conduct a comprehensive fish consumption sur-
vey of subsistence fishers in Baltimore Harbor.

The survey data, collected by MDE through the
cooperative efforts of Sojourner Douglass College
and the University of Maryland at Baltimore's
Environmental Justice Project, are being used to
develop education and out-
reach strategies for the area
regarding subsistence fish-
ing and fish consumption,
as well as to provide valid
fish consumption data for
risk estimates.

Environmenga EJEVD ric Report

Region 6

Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana

There were four major swimming beaches in Lake
Pontchartrain near New Orleans only 30 years ago.
These beaches were closed in the 1960s due to the
presence of fecal coliform bacteria from effluent dis-
charges. Since then, significant increases in develop-
ment and industrialization have further contributed
to water quality problems in the New Orleans area.

Over the past 10 - 15 years, Region 6, in partnership
with the Louisiana DEQ has initiated enforcement
actions against the major cities responsible for the con-
tamination, These actions have required spending near-
ly a billion dollars for new sewage treatment facilities
and improved sewage collection and treatment. The
elimination of shell dredging by Louisiana DEQ has
also had a significant beneficial impact. Some of these
actions are ongoing and will continue through 2015.

The infrastructure improvements, in conjunction
with extensive inspections by Louisiana DEQ, and
compliance assistance (funded by the Lake
Pontchartrain Basin Foundation) are now beginning
to have significant impacts on improving water qual-
ity in Lake Pontchartrain. The 2001 monitoring
data show that one beach had no violations, and
monitoring for all others (except the north shore
beaches) has shown compliance with the standard
for most of the year.

In addition, in the consent decree for Baton Rouge,
the $1.125 million SEP requires elimination of
poorly operated, privately owned sewage treatment
plants in five subdivisions, In the New Orleans con-
sent decree, the $2 million SEP requires the city to
create wetland areas adjacent to Lincoln Beach that
will enhance the area's fishery and serve to filter
storm water runoff. Lincoln Beach is a beach that
was historically used by the African American com-
munity in the New Orleans area. Ongoing water

34



of cancer and other adverse health problems.
Residents believe that the environmental conditions
in their community are responsible for various
health problems, Consequently, the community
requested testing of the potable drinking water, sur-
face water, and ground water in Perry County.

The Phase I investigation focused on sample collec-
tions from the nearby American Wood Treatment
Plant's discharge and surrounding monitoring wells.
The sampling included three municipal drinking
water wells, nine private wells, one wastewater treat-
ment plant, two ditches, and one open field. The
Phase II investigation was conducted to follow up
on the recommendations made in Phase I.

The communities’ concerns are being addressed via a
collaborative effort that includes federal, state, and
local government agencies; academic institutions;
and other organizations. Primary agencies include
EPA, the Mississippi DEQ, ATSDR, the Mississippi
DOH, and Jackson State University.

Environmental Investigation—Holly
Hill, South Carolina

The Boyer community in Holly Hill, South
Carolina, raised concerns to EPA in November
2000, alleging excessive amounts of environmental
exposure from four industrial facilities. EPA collabo-
rated with the South Carolina Department of
Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), local
officials, academic institutions, and citizens to
address concerns raised by the community. In addi-
tion, DHEC was instrumental in assisting the resi-
dents of the Boyer community in incorporating its
organization, Community Advocates for Rights
and/or Privileges (CORE), and applying for an
Environmental Justice Small Grant. DHEC placed
air and chemical monitors in the community and
tested its drinking water for bacteria and chemical
contamination. EPA has researched the possibility of
conducting a cumulative risk assessment in the area.
EPA and DHEC continue to respond to questions

Chapt

from CORE tegarding the facilities’ permit modifi-
cations and issuances, and have reviewed and com-
mented on proposed permits at CORE’s request.
Efforts are under way to interface the community's
health concerns with ongoing community planning
and implementation activities.

Region 6

Calcasieu Parish Ambient Air Quality
Investigation

An ambient air sampling program has been imple-
mented in the Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, area

by EPA, Louisiana DEQ, and a coalition of 23 local
industries called the Lake Area Industry Alliance.
The purpose of the sampling effort is to better
ascertain ambient air quality in the area. The com-
munity in Calcasieu Parish is impacted by environ-
mental justice issues and has been an integral part
of the air monitoring project.

Citizen concerns, state air sampling efforts, TRI data,
and results from an ATSDR blood study all indicated
that the ambient air quality was potentially impacting
residents of Calcasieu Parish. This collaborative proj-

ect introduces an innovative approach to achieving

improved environmental quality without traditional
enforcement tactics. Results indicate that dioxin con-
centrations in Calcasieu Parish have been consistently
lower than predicted concentrations for industrialized
urban areas, as referenced in the dioxin reassessment.

115


hazmat — hazardous materials
HCFCs — hydrochlorofluorocarbons

HETL — Health Environmental Testing
Laboratory

HHS — U.S. Department of Health and Human

Services
HSRC — Hazardous Substance Research Center

HUD — USS. Department of Housing and Urban
Development

I1CMA — International City/County

Management Association

IHS — Indian Health Services

IPM — Integrated Pest Management
IPOP — Informing People on Pesticides
ITEC — Inter-Tribal Environmental Council

ITEP — Institute for Tribal Environmental
Professionals

IWG — Interagency Working Group

LDEO — Louisiana Department of
Environmental Quality

LDHH — Louisiana Department of Health and
Hospitals

MA OTA — Massachusetts Office of Technical

Assistance
MBTA — Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority
MDE — Maryland Department of Environment

MHETL — Maine Health Environmental
Testing Laboratory

Environmenga ere Bigmnial Report

MMS — Mineral Management Service
MOA — Memorandum of Agreement

NAAQS -~ National Ambient Air Quality
Standards

NACO — National Association of Counties

NAFTA — North American Free Trade
Agreement

NAPA — National Academy of Public
Administration

NAWS — National Agricultural Workers Survey
NCCU — North Carolina Central University
NCHS — National Center for Health Statistics

NDEI — Northeast Denver Environmental
Initiative

NDEP — Nevada Department of Environmental
Protection

NEI — Native Ecology Initiative

NEJAC — National Environmental Justice
Advisory Council

NEPA — National Environmental Policy Act

NESCAUM — Northeast States for
Coordinated Air Use Management

NFIPME — National Foundation for Integrated
Pest Management Education

NGO — non-governmental organization

NHANES-III — Third National Health and
Nutrition Examination Survey

136


The property is now home to an 11-acre industrial
park located in the U.S. Route 1 Commerce Center,
which opened the first of its buildings in early 1998
and is now home to six prominent manufacturing
companies. More business is planned, and additional
manufacturing space is under construction. The
Commerce Center redevelopment has stimulated
investment in adjacent parcels. The redevelopment
has brought innumerable benefits to the surrounding
mixed-use area, which includes other industrial prop-
erties as well as public institutions, commercial facili-
ties, and residences.

Through the efforts of the city, the state of New
Jersey, the community, L8cF Urban Renewal
Properties (a private developer), and others, this site is
now a bustling center of industrial and retail activity.

Region 4

PCB Landfill—Warrenton, North
Carolina

Region 4 awarded a job training grant in 2001 to
the Warren Family Institute in Warrenton, North
Carolina entitled Environmental Jobs Training. The
Institute is working jointly with numerous stake-
holders to develop a curriculum of courses on haz-
ardous materials handling and safety, construction
safety, and innovative treatment technologies that
will lead to enhanced employability of participants
in the environmental remediation field. Course
graduates will be listed in a database that will be
available to employers statewide. The graduates will
receive continuing education credits.

Environmenga QOD Report

This project is a collaborative effort among the
Warren Family Institute, Vance-Granville Community
College, Warren County Community Advisory
Board, North Carolina Employment Security
Commission, Kittrell Jobs Corps Center, Warren
County Board of Commissioners, North Carolina
Department of Environment and Natural Resources,
Warren County Department of Social Services, Kerr-
Tar Council of Governments, and IT Corporation.

This area is well known for its watershed event in
the environmental justice movement in the 1980s,
whereby hundreds of residents and civil rights lead-
ers protested the siting of the PCB landfill. Since
early 2001, North Carolina has committed $13.4
million to detoxify this landfill.

Teachers Environmental Institute
Region 4 has awarded grants to 14 regional colleges
and universities during 1999-2002 to sponsor
Teachers Environmental Institutes for middle or
high school teachers whose schools are located near
waste management sites, The Institutes are designed
to inform, promote, facilitate, and expand middle
and high school teachers’ knowledge in environmen-
tal areas, to promote the exchange of information
and ideas, and to develop strategies for integrating
environmental perspectives into curricula, research,
and community outreach. The grants were awarded
under RCRA and the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act (CERCLA).

These Institutes offer teachers an opportunity to
learn about environmental research data collection
by federal and state agencies, as well as practical
suggestions for involving students and other com-
munity members in using this information for pol-
lution prevention and environmental protection.
During the 2001-2002 school year, three Institutes
were held by the following colleges and universities:
Spelman College, Georgia, 2001; North Carolina
State University, 2001; and Mississippi Valley State


f
G
ot ey

aE
ENVIRONMINTAL OSHC

Environmengad ere BifMnial Report

Z mental justice considerations were added as permit

% requirements: (1) a plan to ensure that PCBs are not
swept out of the facility; (2) monitoring for worker
exposure; (3) a plan to ensure that sediments do not
enter dry wells; (4) monitoring outdoor air, and (5)

snstalli . '
The first symposium, held in 2002, was predomi- installing sprinklers
nately an informational meeting. Topics of discus-

sion for future symposia will include population Region 1 Oo

vulnerability, chemical interactions, human health . oo.
indicators, public health intervention, citizen assess- Remote Sensing Applications for
ment, and public health information use in a regula. Environmental Analysis in

tory context. Transportation Planning
In transportation project design and development,
. ; . A
Reg ion 7 environmental studies often occur late in the plan-

ning process, Appropriate use of environmental data
can enhance the NEPA process by providing visual
aids in public discussions, consistent information
from planning through environmental documenta-
tion and permitting, sound analysis and modeling,
and opportunities for meaningful public participa-
tion. Interstate 405 is the second most-traveled cor-
ridor in Washington State and one of the three
FHWA NEPA Reinvention Pilot Project areas in the
region. The primary study area extends 1 to 3 miles
on either side of Interstate 405, between Seattle and
Lynwood. The project will use remote sensing tech-
nology to enhance preliminary biological review,
prepare the EIS, and expedite subsequent project-
level environmental reviews and permits.

Environmental Justice Interim
Guidance and Policy

Region 7 has begun work on developing the
Regional Interim Environmental Justice Policy and
Guidance. The goal of the document is to help
Regional staff understand, recognize, and address
potential environmental justice issues. The Region is
making every effort to involve as many people as
possible in the development of the document. In
addition to hosting three focus group sessions with
EPA staff, the Region hosted a community stake-
holders meeting in November 2001 to receive public
comment on the draft version of the document.
Several stakeholders attended the meeting and pro-

vided valuable insight on the document and how it Community/Site-Specific

could be used to effectively understand, recognize,
and address environmental justice issues. Assessments

Smart Growth INDEX Pilot Program:
A Sketch Tool for Community
Planning

Smart Growth INDEX (SGI) is a software applica-
tion for analyzing and mapping community land use
information. The way in which the built environ-
ment is developed has great impact on the natural
environment and human health. By making infor-
mation about impacts more easily available and

Region 9

PCB Permitting Assessment Tool
Region 9 prepared one of the first environmental
justice assessments for a permitting action in Region
9, requested by Lighting Resources and Earth
Protection Services, Inc. As a result of this assess-
ment and public comment, the following environ-

112



vie é 2
» Ce Environmen EDP riei Report

ners (Sierra Club and Earth Day Coalition) to bring
the long-time inactivity of some emission sources to
the attention of OEPA and the Cleveland Bureau of
Air Pollution Control. The inactivity of these units
meant that the permit needed to be changed to
require that the units comply with all applicable fed-
eral and OEPA NSR requirements and federal New
Source Performance Standards (NSPS) requirements
before the company would be granted authorization
to operate the units again.

Smart Growth in Metropolitan
Transportation Planning Processes
EPA is working with the Association of Metropoli-
tan Planning Organizations to enhance planning and
technical processes to be more sensitive to environ-
mental implications, As a demonstration project,
EPA has partnered with the Northwest Indiana
Regional Planning Commission (NIRPC) to engage
a large group of stakeholders to update their
long-range transportation plan to ensure the
broadest public participation possible. This
project will bring together environmental jus-
tice groups from the Gary/Hammond area,
county planners from the region, transit pro-
fessionals, civic groups, and environmental
organizations to develop a transportation plan
with substantial public involvement.
Ultimately, the plan should reflect the stake-
holders’ multiple goals for the region's transportation
system. In August 2001, OPEI and Region 5 helped
NIRPC organize the first stakeholder kickoff meet-
ing for the project.

Region 7

Charlton Pollard Community/Industry
Panel

A community/industry panel formed several years
ago at the suggestion of the then-Mobil Refinery
(presently Exxon-Mobil Refinery) continues to func-
tion and affect positive results in the community.

Panel participants include representatives from
industry and the community, elected officials, and
local and state governments,

Industry has established education partnerships with
community residents and schools, providing college
scholarships, summer employment, and permanent
employment opportunities to program participants.
In addition, environmental results are routinely
shared at panel meetings.

Environmental improvements include additional air
monitoring and improved communication with the
community in regard to safety concerns. The panel
also has been instrumental in securing commitments
for a new regional emergency response/community
alert system.

The group also supports aesthetic improvement proj-
ects in the community, including revitalization of exist-
ing residences, new construction, crime prevention,
further development of a green belt between communi-
ty and industry, and construction of a community
resource center. Exxon-Mobil continues to serve as a
leader among the industry partners of this group.

Region 8

Public Participation Initiatives VB/I-70
Elevated levels of lead and arsenic have been found
in the soils of some residential homes within the
Vasquez Boulevard/Interstate 70 (VB/1-70) NPL site
in Denver, Colorado. The heavy metals are likely
residuals from several former smelting sites, pre-
1970 lawn care products, and lead-based paint.

Early in the cleanup process, EPA formed a working
group with community leaders and government agen-
cies to discuss the site and its remediation, including
the process of study, the method of decision, and the
proposed plan. The working group consists of com-
mitted individuals from community and government,
including residents of all impacted communities; rep-

76



taged communities. Twenty-four states have provid-
ed subsidies in form of principal forgiveness and/or
extended loan terms. Sixteen states have provided
subsidies of $93.2 million in principal forgiveness.

Region 6

Myrtle Grove Trailer Park

Myrtle Grove is a small residential mobile home
community of about 58 homes. Routine sampling
by Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals
(LDHH) of the small private drinking water system
servicing this community in February 2001 revealed
the presence of vinyl chloride (VC) at 11.2 parts
per billion (ppb). Subsequent samples taken in
March 2001 showed VC levels at 10.4 and 13.8
ppb respectively, The maximum allowable concen-
tration level for VC is 2.0 ppb.

In March 2001, the community was tied into the
nearby Plaquemine public water system, and con-
taminated wells were taken off-line. VC manufactur-
ing facilities exist near the facility, including Dow
Chemical, Diamond Plastics, and Shintech.
Subsequent investigation revealed that VC was
detected in the drinking water supply as early as
1997 at 4.9 and 6.3 ppb; however, no action was
initiated to address the violation.

environmergal Gu} Ed Bigmnial Report

After the 2001 sampling, and upon much public
outcry over the inaction by the LDHH up to that
point, LDHH conducted several community meet-
ings, issued an apology and made a verbal commit-
ment to provide medical screening and treatment
for the trailer park residents for VC-related illnesses.
LDHH also gave citizens an opportunity to see a
contracted LDHH environmental physician.

Residents were concerned that the response did not
address all of their concerns. Subsequently, in
response to a citizens’ petition, ATSDR completed a
Health Consultation. In addition, ATSDR conduct-
ed a local physician education symposium and stress
symposium for citizens,

Region 6, in partnership with the Louisiana DEQ,
LDHH, and ATSDR, as well as industrial and com-
munity-based stakeholders, will utilize all appropri-
ate oversight, technical, and enforcement authority
available to ensure that the system breakdown that
led to this situation is prevented in the future and
to ensure that the human health and environmental
effects of the VC contamination are mitigated.

Region 7

Haywood City Drinking Water
Compliance Assistance

In an effort to assist the small rural agricultural com-
munity of Haywood City, located in the Bootheel
region of Missouri, Region 7 and Missouri's DNR
have been working collaboratively to address drink-
ing water compliance and water system integrity and
safety issues. Due to the community's lack of suffi-
cient infrastructure and reporting capabilities, the
city failed to comply with drinking water regulations
required by EPA. Region 7 and Missouri DNR are
providing compliance assistance, and will assist the
community in conducting water quality sampling to
ensure the drinking water is safe.

28



UNVIEONSTENIAT TUS

wet

Wp

We on a
agencies, Representatives from more than a dozen
partner organizations serve as activity leaders and
cover topics such as lead poisoning prevention, asth-
ma, recycling, smoking prevention, urban wildlife,
and hazardous waste collection, Many events are held
in elementary schools or urban neighborhoods and
teach more than 300 students or residents in a day.

Environmental Justice Youth Summit
Tn July 2002, Alternatives for Community and
Environment (ACE) hosted its 7th Annual Citywide
Environmental Justice Youth Summit at
Northeastern University. Participants in the Roxbury
Environmental Empowerment Project, which helps
develop environmental justice leadership among
youth in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston, led
the program.

Interns and staff from Region 1 presented a work-
shop on controversies and issues surrounding envi-
ronmental justice. Approximately 14 youth leaders
attended the EPA workshop, which ran concurrently
with other youth-led workshops at the Summit. The
material presented is part of the environmental jus-
tice training that is presently being rolled out to all
Region 1 employees, and was developed from the
EJTC. The workshop also provided EPA an oppor-
tunity to share with the public details of other envi-
ronmental justice activities in the Region.

nial Report

Outreach to Chinatown Residents
During the summer of 2002, the Chinese Progressive
Association's Campaign to Protect Chinatown (CPC)
began disseminating copies of fact sheets in English
and Cantonese about a variety of environmental jus-
tice issues affecting the Chinatown neighborhood of
Boston. The fact sheets and associated environmental
justice curriculum modules were funded through a
$15,000 Environmental Justice Small Grant and a
$25,000 Urban Environmental Community Grant
from Region 1.

Chinatown’s 6,400 residents are primarily immi-
grants, half of whom have not completed high
school and 28 percent of whom live below the feder-
al poverty level. The majority of the residents do not
speak English. The topics covered by the fact sheets
include the role of government agencies, environ-
mental justice, asthma and air pollution, construc-
tion waste and dust, motor vehicle exhaust, noise
pollution from traffic and construction, air pollution
in the home, lead poisoning, and IPM. CPC also is
distributing a flyer of important phone numbers,
including EPA contacts who speak Cantonese or
Toisanese, and have volunteered to follow up on any
of the residents’ inquiries.

Industry Compliance Assistance

An assistance outreach package was mailed out dur-
ing August 2002 to more than 40 auto body shops
in Lawrence, Massachusetts, a working-class com-
munity where nearly 60 percent of residents identify
themselves as Hispanic or Latino, Region 1 created a
package that included English- and Spanish-lan-
guage versions of the Massachusetts Office of
Technical Assistance (OTA) Crash Course for
Compliance and Pollution Prevention. This course
helps shops achieve and go beyond compliance and
includes a video created by EPA Region 9 entitled
Profit Through Prevention: Best Environmental
Practices for Auto Repair. The coutse is centered
around a comprehensive, plain-language guidebook
produced by OTA in 1998, in partnership with

94



Region 8

Migrant Farm Worker Drinking Water
Project

This demonstration project strives to bring together
farm workers, environmental and community
groups, and government agencies to work collabora-
tively to assess the safety of drinking water sources
for migrant farm worker communities in Colorado.

Migrant farm workers in the United States need to
cope with a number of health problems related to
their working environments. One area of particular
concern is the safety of drinking water in migrant
farm worker communities. A variety of contaminants
can affect drinking water sources in these communi-
ties, including organophosphates and other pesticides
from agricultural runoff, chemicals from nearby
industrial facilities, and lead and biological contami-
nants resulting from structural sources such as defec-
tive plumbing and sewer lines. Drinking water sources
for migrant farm worker camps often are unregulated
and untested because they are not known to state and
federal regulators, or because of their small size. In
addition, since the labor force tends to be transient,
contractors and growers who maintain the camps are
generally reluctant to participate in Safe Drinking
Water Act (SDWA) regulatory requirements.

Testing water at migrant farm worker camp.

Che

Region 8 and the Colorado Department of Public
Health and Environment conducted a voluntary
study of drinking water in selected camps housing
migrant farm workers in Colorado. This offer was
extended to any owner, operator, or lessee no matter
how large the camp. If the study indicated that the
drinking water could cause a risk to the health of the
people who use the water, EPA worked with the
grower to find a way to correct the problem. Then,
ata later date, the water was retested to confirm that
it was safe. EPA provided information on the human
health effects of the contaminants tested to those
who requested the information.

Region 9

Barrio Logan Task Force—San Diego,
California

This pilot was selected to demonstrate community-led
efforts on environmental justice that encourage collab-
orative problem-solving. A multi-stakeholder task force
comprised of 20 community, business, academic, and
governmental organizations formed a partnership to
identify and address primary community concerns.
The efforts are focused on community planning, pol-
lution prevention, and diesel emissions reduction.
Stakeholders include the local Air Pollution Control
District, American Lung Association (ALA), Nascco
Shipbuilders, and Environmental Health Coalition.

The task force is leveraging funds for community
planning and pollution prevention, including a com-
munity workshop targeted at the auto repair shop sec-
tor, local grants for diesel retrofitting activities, and a
sampling program to determine the type and extent
of contamination in the neighborhood. As the efforts
of the task force shift from strategic planning to
implementation, and the national pilot winds down,
Region 9 and the Barrio Logan task force are jointly
developing a transition strategy that will empower the
task force to assume the lead role, which is currently

held by EPA.


resentatives from federal, state, county, and city gov-
ernments; and local and national elected officials.

The working group succeeded in bringing about
participation early in the process; however, it was
conflicted over appropriate levels of cleanup. Public
comment sessions on the proposed plan were heated
and contentious, despite the working group's efforts
to develop effective communication.

Region 8 actively participated in the working group
to help both the community and government better
understand each other’s concerns. Region 8 conduct-
ed two listening sessions in Colorado in June 2002.
The first occurred in Commerce City, and the sec-
ond in northeast Denver. The listening sessions were
held in conjunction with a public outreach effort
relating to the availability of funds for community-
based environmental projects. This funding process
involved EPA, Colorado air enforcement groups,
and Conoco, Inc., which owns a refinery in the area.

The listening sessions began by addressing issues
relating to the source and purpose of the funds and
the specific needs of the community as they relate to
those funds. The listening sessions provided a
unique opportunity for Region 8 to work with the
state and a major corporation to improve communi-
cation with communities. Local community groups
aided in the distribution of flyers about the event
and provided valuable insight during the sessions.

Environmental Justice
Training Activities

Region 1

Environmental Justice Training for
EPA Employees

In March 2002, Region 1 began offering environ-
mental justice training to all employees who are
required to take the course as part of their core

taining curriculum. This thorough environmental
justice training effort is a key component to Region
I's strategy to institutionalize environmental justice
activities and ensure that environmental justice is
factored into everyday work.

The course focuses on increasing staff knowledge
and understanding of environmental justice, provid-
ing tools to identify potential areas of concern, and
enabling staff to factor environmental justice into
their everyday work, Skills and learning are rein-
forced through case studies and opportunities to
meet with people addressing environmental justice
on a day-to-day basis.

Highlights of the workshop include site visits con-
ducted by community-based organizations and. guest
speakers, which afford participants opportunities to
explore real communities, cases, or projects dealing
with environmental justice.

Region 1 also has used the mandatory environmen-
tal justice training sessions as an opportunity to
highlight EPA's draft Public Involvement Policy and
to share examples from informal office assessments
about what Region 1 is doing well with public
involvement and what can be improved.

Annual Tribal Training for EPA
Employees

Region 1 continues to conduct annual training for
EPA employees to educate staff about the historical
relationship between the federal government and the
sovereign tribal nations in Region 1, so that staff can
better serve the needs of the tribal community. This
2-day training is designed to introduce Native
American history and federal Indian law, with 1 full
day focused on tribal cultural orientation.



by group members as they address issues of environ-
mental justice concern are shared. The 2001 confer-
ence was held in Richmond, Virginia, and the 2002
conference was held in Dover, Delaware. Due to the
success of these conferences, the states have request-
ed that they be held twice a year.

The states also requested that Region 3 hold regularly
scheduled monthly conference calls to continue the
dialogue, share experiences, and continue to identify
potential solutions to real environmental justice issues.

Region 4

States Environmental Justice
Coordinators Workshop

Region 4, in collaboration with the Tennessee
Department of Environment and Conservation, host-
ed an EPA/States Environmental Justice Coordinators
Workshop in August 2002, in Memphis, Tennessee.
The purpose of the workshop was to strengthen EPA
and the states’ relationships in addressing environ-
mental justice matters. In conjunction with the work-
shop, an environmental justice site tour was
conducted with the Tennessee Department of
Environment and Conservation, the Sierra Club, and
the Concerned Citizens Memphis Depot.

The workshop provided state envitonmental justice
coordinators an opportunity to: (1) share their expe-
riences and approaches to addressing environmental
justice issues and concerns; (2) interact with others
who are addressing environmental justice on a daily
basis; (3) learn about analytical tools that will assist
in understanding environmental justice issues; (4)
gain insight into the different laws used to address
environmental justice; (5) discuss the basic concepts
and tools of GIS; and (6) reinforce employees’ skills
and learning through case studies. The workshop
also provided an opportunity for strategic planning
and the development of a joint Region 4/state envi-
ronmental justice strategic plan.

Region 8
State Training

In July 2001, more than 50 people attended training
at the Region 8 EPA Conference Center to learn
about environmental justice in relation to NEPA
and permitting activities under RCRA and CAA at
the Pueblo Chemical Depot. They came to hear how

to incorporate environmental justice principles into
their decision-making and day-to-day activities.

The workshop brought together an unusual group of
state and federal personnel to address the destruction
of chemical weapons and the associated environmen-
tal permitting in the context of environmental jus-
tice, It included not only the state and depot
managers and staff involved in day-to-day regulatory
and cleanup activities, but also specialized technical
staff and policy makers from DoD.

The organizers pulled together to significantly
improve the sharing of information about environ-
mental justice and regulatory programs with outside
groups. This was the first workshop ever presented
by personnel involved with the destruction of chem-
ical weapons.

83



The program has grown from a $500,000 budget
and a $10,000 limit per award, to a $1.3 million
program in FY 2002, with awards of $20,000 each.
To date, the program has awarded approximately
$16.4 million to 973 grant recipients.

Small Grants projects continue to address an array of
environmental and human health issues, such as
childhood asthma, farm worker pesticide protection,
fish consumption, indoor air quality, drinking water
contamination, and lead prevention. The types of
projects include research, education, and outreach,
and the program has added focus on fish consump-
tion, water quality, and innovative technologies for
pollution prevention. The 2003 Small Grants appli-
cation period closed December 18, 2002. Grants
will be awarded in Summer 2003. For additional
information, Emerging Tools for Local Problem
Solving, 1st and 2nd editions, highlight more than
100 successful and creative grants addressing solutions
to local environmental problems.

Environmental Careers Organization
(ECO) Internships

ECO has been working with EPA to foster environ-
mental opportunities ever since OE] opened its doors
in 1992. Students receive practical experience working
in fields such as science, engineering, law, computer
science, and political analysis. To date, more than $36
million has been invested in this program, called
“Furthering Environmental Careers,” which has given
more than 2,200 students opportunities for on-the-
job training and community involvement. By nurtur-
ing these students, OEJ also hopes to ingrain the
concept of environmental justice in the next genera-
tion of environmental professionals. This program is
now ubiquitous in EPA; nearly every office has had an
ECO intern. OEJ further maintains its commitment
by hiring at least two interns for the immediate office
and provides additional funds for three interns to
work in each of EPA’s 10 Regional offices. The success
of the EPA/ECO partnership has spawned another
program with a direct benefit to communities. Since

chafiter 1

OEJ launched its Community Intern Program in

2000, more than 60 students have gained working
experience at the grassroots level. This program has
allowed students to assist community organizations

on environmental issues. To learn more about the
program, visit <www.eco.org>.

10th Anniversary of OEJ

On November 20, 2002, EPA celebrated the 10th
anniversary of the creation of OEJ. Ten years ago,
OE] (then the Office of Environmental Equity) was
established to promote environmental protection for
all people, including those in minority and/or low-
income communities. EPA marked this occasion
with a special program that highlighted the Agency's
progress toward integrating environmental justice in
all policies, programs, and activities, as affirmed by
EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman in her
memorandum dated August 9, 2001.

Speakers included Eileen McGinnis, EPA chief of staff
(on behalf of Administrator Whitman); J.P. Suarez,
assistant administrator for EPA's Office of
Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA);
Robert Varney, regional administrator for EPA Region
1; Stan Meiburg, deputy regional administrator for
EPA Region 4; Mike Shapiro, deputy assistant admin-
istrator for EPA’s Office of Water (OW); and Barry E.
Hill, director of OEJ. The speakers echoed their con-
tinuing commitment to implementing their environ-
mental justice strategies in years ahead.



tants. In addition, the communities suffer from a lack
of open and green space.

Community activists working for the Neighborhood
of Affordable Housing and the Chelsea Greenspace
and Recreation Committee have worked for many
years to improve the quality of life for residents.
Working together as the Chelsea Creek Action
Group (CCAG), the organizations undertook the
Chelsea Creek Community-Based Comparative Risk
Assessment (CRA) in order to involve and inform
residents about environmental issues, identify and
gather data on the various environmental impacts,
and determine priorities to be addressed both by the
community and by related state and federal agencies.

The CRA based its prioritization on community
input. Residents were surveyed to determine which
environmental, public health, and quality-of-life
issues were most important to them. Residents also

Chapt

which were conducted to further prioritize concerns.
The primary issues that were selected for research
included water quality, traffic, air quality, asthma
and other respiratory diseases, noise, and open/green
space. Once these issues were identified, the project
team began to collect available data.

The goal of this project was to provide tools for
community residents to assist in their work for
improved environmental conditions. The data col-
lected help to support and document complaints
regarding disproportionate environmental burdens.
Project partners created an interactive Web site,
<www.tufts.edu/tie/mwe/ChelseaCreek>, which can
be continually updated to store a variety of local
environmental data. The project also identified a
significant lack of environmental data at the local
level, which demonstrates the need for agencies to
invest in high-risk urban communities to better
understand and quantify environmental justice
issues. The next step for the community is to decide
how best to use this information as they move for-
ward toward improving their local environment,
health, and quality-of-life.

Region 3

Cumulative Risk Assessment
Symposia

In 2001, Region 3 began discussions with a number
of interested parties to develop a cumulative risk
assessment strategy. This lead to the formation of a
planning committee for cumulative risk symposia.

The purposes of the symposia are to provide the
opportunity for the exchange of ideas and to lay the
groundwork for innovative methods to address
cumulative risk to effectively protect human health.
The symposia also are intended to encourage proac-
tive, collaborative working relationships among
stakeholders working to address cumulative risk.

111


these issues, and (3) determine future steps to incor-
porate environmental justice into programs, activi-
ties, and operations.

In addition to hosting several training sessions,
Region 7 partnered with the Missouri DNR and
Haskell Indian Nations University to effectively and
efficiently provide environmental justice training to
a wide variety of stakeholders.

Region 8

CDOT Environmental Justice Training
Region 8 staff lead a small group of DOT and
FHWA staff in designing 2 1/2 days of environmen-
tal justice training. The first 1/2 day of the training
consisted of environmental justice fundamentals.
The remaining 2 days focused on environmental
justice in the NEPA process, and included 1 day of
project-specific environmental justice/NEPA consul-
tations. A FHWA contact at the national level deliv-
eted a significant portion of the training.

Approximately 40 Colorado DOT staff, including
planners and engineers of four project teams, made
up the primary audience. Each of these teams is in the
early stages of developing transportation projects that
will likely encounter environmental justice issues. In
addition, the participants included a small number of
staff from FHWA, Federal Transit Administration,
and Regional Transportation District.

Environmental Justice Brownbag
Series

The Region 8 environmental justice program hosts
presentations yearly as part of its Environmental
Justice Brownbag Series. Each year a different theme
is chosen. In 2001 the following Brownbags were
held: (1) Tribal Environmental Health Issues, (2)
Health Disparities, and (3) Wind Power in Indian
Country. In 2002, the following Brownbags were
held: (1) On-Line Environmental Justice Education
Seminar, (2) Historical Review of Land Use

Beginning in 1872 to the Present, (3) Tribal
Environmental Justice: Preserving Cultural Resources
in the Missouri River Basin, and (4) Pueblo
Environmental Activism: Pueblo Chemical Depot.

Region 9

National Environmental Justice
Training Collaborative

Region 9 continues to provide leadership in collabora-
tion with other regions for all phases of development
of 19 training modules and the development of a
team of trainers. The Region has fulfilled the initial
goals and objectives of the EJTC (i.e., completed the
3-day Fundamentals of Environmental Justice work-
shop curriculum, field tested the training in six ven-
ues nationally, and trained 34 multi-stakeholders).

Interagency Environmental
Justice Training

Region 3

Interagency Environmental Justice
Training

Region 3 conducted a series of environmental justice
training sessions at Office of Policy and
Management's (OPM) interagency Eastern and
Western Training Centers through its Environmental
Policy Institute. The sessions were part of the
Environmental Issues Seminars.

Region 3 case studies and experiences were used as a
backdrop for discussions of the origins and history of
the environmental justice movement in the United
States, perspectives and philosophical approaches to
environmental justice issues, and policy and guidance
issues related to Regional program activities. The par-
ticipants were able to discuss cases with the instruc-
tors who actually worked on them. The audience for
these sessions were mid-level managers from most fed-

31



Region 3

Principles of Solid Waste
Management Planning

Region 3’s South Africa Team has actively participat-
ed in the Agency's work in the Republic of South
Africa since 1997. Region 3 has most recently pro-
vided support and consultation on risk assessment,
remediation, and exposure issues related to the Thor
Chemical facility at Cato Ridge near Durban, and
through facilitation of the Principles of Solid Waste
Management Planning Training Course in
Thohoyandou and Kimberly, South Africa. During
recent trips to Thohoyandou and Kimberly, Region
3 facilitators provided training to South African
course participants from a diverse array of stakehold-
er groups. In August and September 2001, a team
member made followup visits to both Thohoyandou
and Kimberly to help develop their respective solid
waste management plans, and provided information
on various environmental justice concern. In 2002,
the team provided risk-related comments on plans
for the remediation of the Thor Chemical facility.

Region 9

EPA and Vietnam Research
Agreement

The United States and Vietnamese governments
entered into a Dioxin Research Agreement in July
2001 to advance study of environmental conditions
and technology transfer in Vietnam. The focus of
the work is to evaluate bioassay techniques applica-
ble to testing of dioxin-contaminated soils and sedi-
ments. These new techniques show promise as more
cost-effective and rapid than traditional approaches,
The project also seeks to build scientific capacity in
order to expeditiously assess areas of high dioxin
contamination and to apply effective remediation
technologies and public health risk management
strategies. Along with comprehensive hands-on

training, which has been provided to Vietnamese sci-
entists, a demonstration project is underway to eval-
uate a new technology for sampling and analyzing
dioxins. Region 9 is equipping and setting up a
dioxin laboratory in the Vietnam National Center
for Natural Sciences and Technology, and setting up
a field laboratory in the Danang Air Base for rapid

area characterization,

Region 10

Cooperation on the Georgia Basin and
Puget Sound Ecosystems—Engaging
First Nations and Tribes

The joint Statement of Cooperation (SOC) on the
Georgia Basin and Puget Sound Ecosystem provided
a mechanism for Environment Canada and Region
10 to work together at the federal level on trans-
boundary issues. The SOC is a non-legally binding,
international federal-to-federal cooperative agree-
ment that builds upon existing partnership initia-
tives, Three areas of focus include: (1) air quality (to
achieve a greater understanding of transboundary air
quality management in the Puget Sound/Georgia
Basis Ecosystem); (2) sustain-
ability (to provide residents
and decisionmakers in the
Puget Sound/George Basin
region with information on
smart growth by developing
and/or identifying forums to
share information); and (3)
engaging first nations and

tribes (to facilitate the partici-
pation of Canadian first
nations and U.S. tribes in set-
ting future priorities for action
in the Puget Sound/Georgia
Basin Area).

107


Building the Community From the Inside Out.
Both lectures examined how smart growth can
address the needs of under-represented or under-
served populations.

In February 2001, the executive director of the
National Neighborhood Coalition and the executive
director of Atlanta's Historic District Development
Corporation lectured at the National Building
Museum in Washington, D.C. They discussed the
report Smart Growth, Better Neighborhoods:
Communities Leading the Way. The report details
how community-based organizations are successfully
linking neighborhood redevelopment to smart
growth, as well as combining historic preservation,
affordable housing, and anti-displacement protec-
tions to help revitalize inner city neighborhoods.

In November 2001, a former U.S. Congressman,
author, and senior pastor of Allen AME Church,
discussed the roles of churches (and other faith-
based institutions) in community development. His
presentation shared how faith-based development
corporations can fill in the gaps that are left unat-
tended by business and government to spur econom-
ic development within neighborhoods and improve
community character. He shared how the commer-
cial and residential development projects of Allen
AME'’s development corporation have transformed
southeast Queens, New York, and helped to achieve
smarter growth.

The Smart Growth Speaker Series is co-sponsored by
EPA, ICMA, the National Building Museum, and
the Smart Growth Network, The lectures are held
monthly at the National Building Museum.

Sixth National Tribal Conference on
Environmental Management
(NTCEM)

EPA's sixth NTCEM was hosted by the Pyramid
Lake Paiute Tribe, in Sparks, Nevada, in June 2002.
Traditionally, this biennial conference serves as EPA's

Environmengad QOD Report

premier tribal event, providing an opportunity for
tribal leaders, tribal environmental program man-
agers, tribal organizations, NGOs, consultants, fed-
eral agencies, and other interested entities to share
information about the wide range of environmental
topics and issues of vital interest to tribes. With
approximately 700 people in attendance, the sixth
NTCEM received an unprecedented level of finan-
cial assistance/coordination support across multiple
media programs.

Conference highlights included the EPA Senior
Managers/Tribal Panel discussion and EPA
Administrator Christine Whitman's keynote speech,
which included the presentation of a $1.2 million
grant to the Swinomish tribal community, the largest
award that EPA has ever made to a tribe for environ-

mental research (exposure through subsistence con-
sumption of shellfish in traditional harvesting areas).
The conference also included an abundant and
diverse spread of water quality and watershed protec-
tion sessions and activities, including the National
Tribal Watershed Listening Session and a Washoe
wetland restoration site visit,

Whitman with Washoe and Paiute Chairmen

92



EXCIRANMHNTAL JUSTICE

set by the CDC. This reduction in the number of chil-
dren with elevated blood lead levels is attributed to the
residential yard cleanups and extensive educational
efforts by federal, state, tribal, and county entities.

Region 8

Centennial Park Brownfields
Partnership

The citizens of Englewood, Colorado, proposed an
extension of Centennial Park in place of the city’s
plans to build a waste transfer station across the street
from an existing transfer station. The community
approached the city with its idea, and the city agreed.
Asa result, Englewood acquired the
property (an old landfill) and utilized
its brownfields assessment grant,
awarded by Region 8, to do the envi-
ronmental assessment.

Project Beginning . .
_ Having determined that methane gas

generated at the site and ground-
water contamination from proposed
lawn watering were problems, the city
approached the Colorado Brownfields
Revolving Loan Fund Program for
cleanup funding. Englewood bor-
rowed $705,000 to cap the site and
install a methane collection system as required by its
VCP plan. The Colorado Rockies professional baseball
team gave the city $70,000 for the creation of a “Field
of Dreams” little league field. Today, the landfill has
been successfully remediated and is being enjoyed by
the community as a park.

Finished Project

Region 9

New Landfill for Saipan

A new landfill will help to address historical water
quality issues on the island of Saipan, in the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Currently, the drinking water on Saipan is unreliable.

environmen Gu) Gs Bigmnial Report

During most hours of the day, no water comes out of
the tap. When it does, it is not drinkable because of
the salt content. As a member of the Drinking Water
Task Force, a partnership including various govern-
ment entities in the Northern Mariana Islands, Region
9 will participate in the development of a strategic
plan to fix these problems.

Groundbreaking for the new Marpi Landfill in
Saipan began in February 2002 along with construc-
tion of a new transfer and recycling center. This
landfill will be the first fully compliant non-military
landfill in the Pacific. The landfill is scheduled for
completion in January 2003. At that time, the exist-
ing dump, which currently leaks leachate directly
into the sea, will be closed.

Region 10

Brownfields Project—Junction City,
Washington

Aberdeen, Washington, received a brownfields grant
for work to be conducted in Junction City,
Washington, a low-income community in unincor-
porated Grays Harbor County. The Grant involved
cooperative work among the city of Aberdeen, Grays
County Harbor, Washington State Department of
Ecology, Junction City residents, and Region 10 to
assess and remediate environmental impacts from
two former landfill sites. The work included assess-
ing the areas, determining the extent of contamina-
tion, and remediating the sites,

Supplemental
Environmental Projects
(SEPs)

Region 1

Chelsea Creek

As part of the proposed consent decree between
Region 1 and Waste Management of Massachusetts,

60


Woonasquatucket River Greenway
Riverside Mills is a brownfields site located on 6
acres of land in the Olneyville neighborhood of
Providence, which is one of the poorest communities
in the United States. The city of Providence is work-
ing to clean up the Riverside Mills site so that it can
be used as part of the Woonasquatucket River
Greenway Project. Riverside Mills is a complex of
four buildings that were abandoned in 1989 follow-
ing a fire that consumed three of the four buildings.

After years of abandonment, the lots lay strewn with
debris and contaminants of concern.
Plans are underway to return the
complex to beneficial use, revitalize
distressed areas along the rivet,
restore green space, and stimulate
economic investment in the area.

i Fucure uses of the site were deter-
mined through a community plan-
ning process, and include a bicycle path and
recreational opportunities.

Since the site will be reused for outdoor purposes,
both the city and the state have decided to clean
the site to the highest residential standard. Partial
remediation was completed where there were
underground storage tanks, and debris on the
ground has been removed. The project is a collabo-
rative effort among the Providence Plan
Woonasquatucket River Greenway Project, the city
of Providence Department of Planning and
Development, the Rhode Island Department of
Environmental Management, the Rhode Island
DOH, and Region 1.

New Bedford Brownfields
Environmental Job Training Program
Since 1998, the city of New Bedford, in partnership
with New Directions and Bristol Community
College, has offered a Brownfields Environmental
Job Training Program funded, in part, with a
$200,000 EPA Brownfields Job Training Grant. The

environmen (QE) Dria Report

program offers a 17-week Environmental Tech Aide
training program twice.each year to provide under-
employed area residents with the tools necessary to
work in the assessment, remediation, and redevelop-
ment of brownfields and hazardous waste sites, and
to provide a local labor force that can be employed
in assessing and remediating such sites.

The training program includes the study of sam-
pling, analysis, and site remediation through the use
of innovative technologies. The program provides an
education in technical expertise, as well as profes-
sional and life skills development, to residents living
in communities impacted by brownfields.

Prior to entering the program, many of the students
were unemployed, underemployed, welfare-to-work,
or otherwise disadvantaged. Many of the graduates
are now employed fulltime and earning living wages
with full benefits. Many graduates will have oppor-
tunities through their employers for further educa-
tion. Some graduates reported the desire and means
to earn an Associates or Bachelors degree based on
the skills and confidence gained through their expe-
rience in the program. Due to project's success, EPA
awarded the New Bedford Job Training Pilot an
additional $75,000 to continue the program.

Region 2

Puerto Rico Brownfields Program
Brownfields issues are a significant issue throughout
Region 2 and pose particular challenges in Puerto
Rico. Region 2’s Brownfields Program works closely
with agencies in Puerto Rico to address brownfields
and provide coordinated assistance to communities.
Partnership activities include participation in regular
meetings and assistance workshops with communi-
ties. In addition to active partnerships, EPA assis-
tance for state brownfield programs includes funding
for program development.

56


Region 3

Improving Indoor Air in City Public
Schools
‘Training was provided to heating, ventilating, and
air conditioning workers in the Baltimore’s public

2 x schools that helped to
improve indoor air qual-
# ity in the schools by
improving the efficiency
and operation of school
heating and cooling sys-
tems. This training was
followed by a pilot study
in several area schools. After the pilot, the program
was expanded across the city, and is currently being
implemented throughout the public schoo! system.

Ozone Pollution Program

Funding provided by Region 3 allowed the
Maryland Department of Environment (MDE) to
develop an Ozone Pollution Program for citizens
that utilize an ozone pollution map broadcasted by
TV-13 in Baltimore and TV-4 in Washington, D.C.
The weather forecasts now provide at-risk citizens
with information that will allow them to take appro-
priate action during days when ozone levels are high.

Region 5

Cleveland Air Toxics Pilot Project
Region 5 and the City of Cleveland, Ohio, are
working together on a new approach to air toxics
control that will serve as a model for communities
nationwide. EPA targeted the Broadway-Slavic
Village and St. Clair-Superior neighborhoods in
Cleveland, which have a mix of industry and low-
income and minority populations. A central compo-
nent of the pilot project was the development of a
committee comprised of representatives from inter-
ested neighborhoods, organizations, businesses, and
federal, state, and local government agencies, The

Environmengd @)

(c<) SPrniai Report

committee will guide the project, evaluate the overall
process to help improve the ongoing project as it
moves forward, and capture key lessons and findings
to ensure the success of future projects in other
cities, The planning began in 2000, with three goals:
(1) reduce air toxics in Cleveland within a year; (2)
ensure the project is sustainable over time within the
community; and (3) ensure the approach can be
replicated in other cities across the United States.
The project will address pollutants from many
sources, both indoors and outdoors.

Region 5 originally funded the project at $600,000,
but in June 2002, an additional $133,000 was added
in order for more projects to be performed.

Diesel trucks, buses, and construction equipment
became the main focus of the program. Therefore,
the committee set aside $248,000 for projects that
will promote cleaner-burning fuels, retrofit vehicles
so they emit less pollution, and support an anti-
idling campaign. The committee created the
Cleveland Clean Air Century Campaign and set
aside $147,000 to open a one-person office. ALA
was awarded a grant and signed a cooperative agree-
ment with Region 5 to oversee the project for the
next 2 years and disburse the money.

For projects aimed at businesses and homes,
$36,000 has been set aside to help electroplaters and
auto body shops find ways to cut their emissions.
Another $150,000 will go to an in-depth study of
the county’s air so specific pollutants can be identi-
fied and cleaned up.

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority
(RTA) has received $25,000 for the purchase of an
ultra-low-sulfur, clean-burning diesel fuel for com-
munity circulators in the Broadway-Slavic Village
and St. Clair-Superior neighborhoods. These circula-
tors are smaller than the regular buses, and they gen-
erally operate in dense residential areas. By using
ultra-low-sulfur in community circulators, emissions

18



Region 3 learned through discussions with stake-
holders in Bartram Gardens that the community had
concerns relating to a waiver of the 300-yard setback
requirement for the Philadelphia Waste Services
facility permit. These concerns included truck traf-
fic, stress to community infrastructure (truck traffic
on local streets and bridges), impacts on area busi-
nesses, public safety concerns, access to public parks,
mobile source air emissions, and various quality-of-
life issues.

The facility would have brought as many as 375
additional trucks per day into a community that
already had a trash transfer station and other con-
struction debris recovery facilities. In addition,
streets, bridges, and other infrastructures were
already under considerable stress, and would be even
more seriously stressed by additional truck traffic.

The community suggested the possibility of filing a
Title VI complaint if the waiver was granted. It felt
that the granting the waiver would allow a land use to
occur that would not be possible without the waiver.

EPA met with citizens, Pennsylvania DEP, the city,
and representatives of the company regarding the vari-
ous issues, and conducted tours of the area so that the
stakeholders would have the opportunity to gain
insight. Ultimately, the city of Philadelphia denied the
waiver, and the state then denied the permit.

Region 4

City of Atlanta Combined Sewer
Overflow (CSO)

In 2001, a coalition of more than 20 local environ-
mental justice and environmental groups, led by the
Southern Organization Committee, held four listen-
ing sessions with EPA, Georgia state officials, and
city of Atlanta officials to discuss Atlanta's
Combined Sewer Overflow Remedial Measures
Report. Concerns were raised about the affordability

Chapter 3

analysis prepared by the city, and the impact of the
additional cost on low-income residents of the city.
The coalition called for the city to consider total
separation of the city’s sewage and storm water sys-
tems. The coalition also raised a number of concerns
with technical issues related to the city’s proposed
remedial actions.

Asa result of the concerns raised by the environ-
mental justice coalition, EPA issued conditional
approval to the city, which required additional
measures to be undertaken. The city also agreed to
move one of its proposed locations out of a poten-
tial environmental justice area. These collaborative
efforts gave community stakeholders an opportunity
to discuss environmental justice and technical con-
cerns as they pertained to the city’s remedial meas-
ures report and demonstrated that citizens’
involvement can contribute to the protection of
public health and the environment.

Federal Inspections of Facilities

During 2001, nine facilities in Anniston, Alabama,
received multimedia inspections from Region 4 and
the state of Alabama. These inspections reviewed the
air, waste, and hazardous waste management opera-
tional procedures of the facilities to determine
whether the facilities were operating in compliance
with their permits. As a result of these inspections,
many issues were resolved, such as storm water runoff,
air releases, and hazardous waste management.

47


tion pockets that exist within EPA Region 7. This
research will enhance the Agency's ability to identify
areas where migratory populations exist and where
assistance can be targeted.

In addition to ongoing research, Region 7 has part-
nered with Harvest America Corporation (HAC) to
educate migrant and seasonal farm workers in south-
western Kansas on pesticide safety and pesticide
exposure risks. HAC received a grant of $30,000 for
the IPOP project over a 1-year period.

The nature of farm work in Kansas has evolved over
the years, and it continues to evolve as agricultural
practices change. The types of farm work where pes-
ticides are used and where exposure to these chemi-
cals is a risk for the workers reflects the changes of
agricultural practices, In the western and central
areas targeted by HAC, pesticides may be used in
feedlots for insect control. Workers in these opera-
tions will also be targeted. Farm workers are engaged
in all levels of vegetable production and greenhouse
operations which also rely on the use of chemicals
for a variety of pest controls.

Region 8

Worker Protection Standards (WPS)
Compliance

During Summer 2001, EPA conducted inspections
at approximately 18 facilities (vegetable farms, sod
farms, and others) to determine each facility's com-
pliance with the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and
Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), and, specifically, with the
WPS. One area of interest involved proper training
requirements for the use and application of pesti-
cides by employees of these facilities, as well as
whether the employer provided their workers with
adequate personal protective equipment, adequate
areas for washing with soap and water (decontami-
nation), and adequate access to emergency care, if
needed. A second area of interest involved a similar

|

Chapter 3

set of requirements for workers in the field conduct-
ing tilling, preparation, and harvesting of crops.

Many of these field staff are migrant farm workers
who do not speak English. Facility owners have an
obligation to provide these workers with the same
information in their native tongue.

Visits to these facilities involved an evaluation of the
practices as they related to the WPS requirements,
such as appropriate record keeping of training infor-
mation; availability of information to all workers on
type of pesticide used; pesticide safety information;
emergency (hospital) contact information; and other
appropriate information. EPA also conducted field
surveys to determine the appropriateness and condi-
tion of field decontamination units. During the field
surveys, workers were interviewed to determine the
owner’s compliance with WPS requirements. EPA
provided special accommodations for the farm work-
ers by employing fully bilingual staff to conduct
these interviews.

At the end of each visit, EPA provided the facility
owner with feedback on areas of concern, guidance
on correcting these areas, and, if necessary, materials
to assist them meet their obligations to the workers
under WPS. As a result of these inspections and
compliance assistance activities, approximately 1,200
workers should be protected appropriately.

51


fh Ge) Environmenga ()G) Aria Report

subjects. While the workshop focuses on basic skills,
its modular format allows easy modification to
include program-specific content.

Staff from Regions 5, 7, and 9, and EPA
Headquarters presented the workshop. Region 5 will
continue to provide this training to EPA Regional
employees, as well as to state and local governments,
industry, tribes, community groups, and academia.

Fundamentals of Environmental
Justice Train-the-Trainer Course
Regions 5 and 6 co-hosted a 5-day environmental
justice train-the-trainer course in September 2002.
The course teaches the delivery skills necessary to
teach the Fundamentals of Environmental Justice
workshop and provides coaching on presentation
and facilitation techniques. Representatives from
EPA Headquarters, Regions 5 and 6, states of
Indiana and Missouri, community groups, and non-
profit organizations participated in this course.

Region 6

Fundamentals of Environmental
Justice Training

The Region 6 Environmental Justice Training Team
has presented a number of environmental justice
training sessions covering the newly developed
Fundamentals of Environmental Justice curriculum.
In addition to two pilot training sessions held in
2001, four other 2-day sessions, a 1-day session,
and three management/staff overview/introductory
sessions were held. The course has been very well
received by participants.

Environmental Justice Permitting
Training

Region 6 is participating in a national work group
established through EPA Headquarters to develop an
environmental justice permitting training module,
which will address the various permitting programs.’
The Region is focused on the water permits and

incorporating various tools from the environmental
justice handbook into the water permitting process.

Region 7

Environmental Justice Training

Region 7 has played an active role in helping to
develop and implement EJTC’s goals and objectives
both on a regional and national level. Region 7 has
hosted and assisted several training sessions, includ-
ing the Fundamentals of Environmental Justice
training, the Introduction of Environmental Justice:
Training to EPA Region 7 New Hires and Summer
Interns, and Region 5’s Fundamentals of Environ-
mental Justice training. The goals of environmental
justice training are to enhance the capacity of indi-
viduals, institutions, and communities to: (1)
become aware of and identify environmental justice
issues, (2) engage in productive dialogue around

Top Left: Brenda Brandon, EJTC training representative
from Haskell Indian Nations University; Top Right: Tribal
Tree timeline explaining history and connections to nature;
Bottom: Waiter Pierson, EJTC training representative from
the Missouri DNR, speaking at the train-the-trainer forum,

380



ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

(>
dy GEE?) aa

Vy

Environmen

DEO — Department of Environmental Quality

DHEC — South Carolina Department of Health
and Environmental Control

DOC — Department of Conservation
DoD — US. Department of Defense
DOE — US. Department of Energy
DOH — US. Department of Health

DOI — U.S. Department of the Interior
DOJ — U.S. Department of Justice

DOL — US. Department of Labor

DOT — US. Department of Transportation
DNR — Department of Natural Resources
DPH — Department of Public Health
DPR — US. Department of Pesticide Regulation

DTSC — Chicago Department of Toxic

Substances Control

DWSREF — Drinking Waster State Revolving
Fund

EA — Environmental Assessment

EBPI — environmental business performance
indicator

ECO — Environmental Careers Organization

ECOSLO — Environmental Center of San Luis
Obispo

EIS — Environmental Impact Statement

EJSC — Maryland Commission on

Environmental Justice and Sustainable Communities

,Bi

EJTC — Environmental Justice Training
Collaborative

ELI — Environmental Law Institute

EMPACT — Environmental Monitoring for
Public Access and Community Tracking

EMS — Environmental Management Systems

EOEA — Massachusetts Executive Office of
Environmental Affairs

EPA — US. Environmental Protection Agency
ERRI — Episodic Release Reduction Initiative
FAA — Federal Aviation Administration

FEMA — Federal Emergency Management
Agency

FHWA — Federal Highway Administration

FIFRA — Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and
Rodenticide Act

FWS — US. Fish and Wildlife Services
FY — Fiscal Year

GAO — General Accounting Office
GAP — General Assistance Program
GIS — Geographic Information Systems
GM — General Motors

GMPALP — Greater Manchester Partners
Against Lead Poisoning

HAC — Harvest America Corporation

HACU — Hispanic American College and
University

135

nial Report


the CAFO owner/operators. EPA is working to ensure restrictions, which are significantly more protective
that permits are issued, environmental controls are of the marine environment, have now been incorpo-
enforced, and that the concerns regarding environ- rated into the Coral Reef Ecosystem Fisheries
mental burden and health-related issues are addressed. | Management Plan.

Environmental justice concerns will be taken into
consideration through the NEPA process.

Region 8

Weatherman Draw NEPA Review
Region 8 staff reviewed an EA on a proposed explo-
ration well for oil and gas development on public
land managed by the Bureau of Land Management
(BLM) in south-central Montana. In conjunction
with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation,
EPA expressed concerns about the significance of the ~
roposed project’s impacts to a unique complex of .
Native American rock atin the area EPAvoiced «© RREQTON 10
these concerns in a letter to BLM. This, in turn, led
to the transfer of the oil and gas exploration project Liberty Development and Production

to another location. Plan
EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers participated
Reg i on 9 in an effort led by the Mineral Management Service

(MMS) to develop the Liberty Development and
Production Plan, Other agencies involved in the EIS
development were the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(FWS), the National Marine Fisheries Service, the
Alaska State Pipeline Coordinator's Office, and the
Alaska Division of the Governmental Coordination.
Environmental justice issues centered around subsis-
tence consumption of birds, fish, and marine and
terrestrial mammals, including Bowhead whales, by

Coral Reef Ecosystem Fisheries
Management Plan

In collaboration with the National Marine Fisheries
Service, Region 9 participated in the development of
the final EIS for the fisheries management of coral
reef ecosystems in the western Pacific region. The
goal was to develop a plan for the western Pacific
region consistent with management measures in the
newly designated Northwestern Hawaiian Islands
Ecosystem Reserve and several national wildlife
refuges. The final EIS considers the protection need-
ed in fishing areas off coral reef resources. The final
EIS on the fishery management plan excludes the
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Ecosystem Reserve
areas from the geographic boundaries of the fishery
plan and makes the plan compatible with the regula-
tions for national wildlife refuges. As such, fishery

the native communities in the vicinity of the pro-
posed project on the north slope of Alaska. In par-
ticular, the EIS assessed potential impacts that
construction and production would have on subsis-
tence activities, as well as impacts from oil spills.
Consultation with the native communities resulted
in proposed mitigation measures that would offset
the impacts on subsistence activities.

13



NIOSH — National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health

NIRPC — Northwest Indiana Regional Planning

Commission

NOAA — National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

NPDES — National Pollution Discharge

Elimination System
NPIC — National Pesticide Information Center
NPL — National Priorities List

NPMMP — National Pesticide Medical
Monitoring Program.

NTAA — National Tribal Air Association

NTCEM — National Tribal Conference on

Environmental Management

NSPS — New Source Performance Standards
NSR — New Source Review

NWS — National Weather Service

NYPA — New York Power Authority

OAR — Office of Air and Radiation

OEA — Office of External Affairs

OECA — Office of Enforcement and

Compliance Assurance
OEI — Office of Environmental Information
OEJ — Office of Environmental Justice

OEPA — Ohio Environmental Protection
Agency

OGWDW -— Office of Ground Water and
Drinking Water

OPE! — Office of Policy Economics and

Innovation

OPHS — Oregon Public Health Services
OPM — Office of Policy and Management
OPP — Office of Pesticide Programs

OPPTS — Office of Prevention, Pesticides and

Toxic Substances

ORD — Office of Research and Development
ORIA — Office of Radiation and Indoor Air
ORNL — Oak Ridge National Laboratory

OSHA — U.S. Occupational Safety and Health

Administration
OST — Office of Science and Technology

OSWER — Office of Solid Waste and
Emergency Response

OTA — Massachusetts Office of Technical

Assistance
OW — Office of Water

OWOW — Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and
Watersheds

PCBs — polychlorinated biphenyls

PCT — population counting tool

PIRO — Pesticide Incident Response Officer
ppb — parts per billion

PPP — Preliminary Proposed Permit

137


—

Chapter 3

Solid and Hazardous Waste
Sites/Brownfield Cleanup
Problems and Solutions

RCRA Brownfields Initiative

In April 2001, EPA announced the selection of five
pilot projects to showcase the combined use of
RCRA cleanup reforms and brownfields tools to
encourage cleanup and reuse. The selected pilots
proposed the field testing of innovative approaches
such as leveraging state funds for demolition, using
multiple legal authorities to deal with a bankrupt
site, and ensuring community involvement in future
land use decisionmaking. The RCRA Brownfields
Prevention Initiative responds to concerns raised by
cities, industries, and communities who have
recently begun emphasizing the importance of look-
ing beyond Superfund to address issues at brown-
fields sites in a more comprehensive manner.

Under this new initiative, EPA’s goal is to help state
and local governments and site owners adopt inte-
grative approaches to cleanups and sustain future
reuse of properties subjected to cleanup obligations
under RCRA. EPA has internally allocated addition-
al resources that pursue holistic approaches to expe-
dited cleanups that protect public health and the
environment. The second round of pilots includes a
facility in Region 2, Union Carbide Caribe Inc., in
Guayanilla, Puerto Rico.

Region 1

Cleanup and Cultural Resource
Protection at Superfund Site

Between 1999 and 2001, Region 1 coordinated the
cleanup of the Eastern Surplus Company Superfund
site, an abandoned junk yard in Maine that was filled
with hazardous materials. Throughout the cleanup,
EPA employees carefully mitigated any impacts to
cultural resources, including Native American artifacts

over 9,000 years old, by working collaboratively with
the Passamaquoddy Indian Tribe, Maine DEP, and
the Maine Office of Historic Preservation.

As part of the cultural resource protection, EPA
hired professional archaeologists to excavate a por-
tion of the site to document the cultural resources,
funded a cultural study of the artifacts by the
Passamaquoddy tribe, provided internships for sev-
eral members of the Passamaquoddy tribe to partici-
pate in the archaeological investigations and studies,
and agreed to develop outreach exhibits to educate
the local community and the Passamaquoddy about
the environmental cleanup and cultural resources at
the site.

The project resulted in the discovery and documen-
tation of an important cultural site for the
Passamaquoddy, and also led to the creation of a
preservation agreement for the site. The project also
provided employment opportunities for several
members of the Passamaquoddy tribe. Tribal mem-
bers were taught archaeological investigation and
interpretive techniques, and some members were
employed in the cultural study. EPA also trained sev-
eral members of the Passamaquoddy tribe in ground-
water and soil sampling techniques.

The project resulted in collaborative efforts among
EPA, some state agencies, the Passamaquoddy tribe,
and the local residents regarding future site use and
educational outreach activities. The major lesson
learned was to involve the Native American commu-
nity at the earliest possible time in the cleanup
process to allow them to be fully involved in all
phases of the cleanup.

55


ties disproportionately and adversely affected by
environmental pollution. The selected revitalization
projects will be announced in Spring 2003.

Regional Listening Sessions

In 2002, EPA’s Regional offices agreed to conduct
listening sessions to engage participants in active dis-
course on topics ranging from general to specific
ateas of common concern, and to work effectively
toward mutually beneficial solutions. OEJ developed
basic guidelines for the Regions to ensure interactive,
solution-oriented dialogues with the community,
and in partnership with federal, state, tribal, local,
and municipal government representatives. Each
Regional office should plan and conduct its listening
sessions in a way that best advances the strategic
goals of the environmental justice program, in par-
ticular, and the Region, in general. These dialogues
are intended to demonstrate EPA’s responsiveness in
addressing environmental, health, and quality-of-life
concerns, Specific details on listening sessions that
have occurred in 2002 are discussed in Chapter Five,

Environmental Justice Training

The Fundamentals of Environmental Justice
Workshop explores the origins of the environmental
justice movement, perceptions and definitions of

Environmengad OG Bigmnial Report

environmental justice, and environmental laws per-
taining to environmental justice. It provides an
overview of Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
and other analytical tools to help understand,
address, and integrate environmental justice issues.

The workshop’s goals are to identify and address
environmental justice issues, and participants learn
to effectively engage in productive dialogue around
environmental justice issues and promote construc-
tive and collaborative problem-solving techniques.
Equally important is the goal to integrate aspects of
environmental justice into the participants’ work on
a daily basis. These training sessions are a means to
consistently integrate environmental justice into
environmental programs,

The workshop is a product of the Environmental
Justice Training Collaborative (EJTC) and is led by
OEJ. The EJTC began in 1998, when EPA's western
Regions responded to the growing need for a better
understanding of environmental justice. In the early
stages, members developed a basic curticulum and
worked with other partners to identify training
needs and plan train-the-trainer events, More than
100 partners, including federal, state, academia,
tribal, industry, and community groups, have
formed an electronic listserver to stay connected

on training matters.

Over the past 2 years, more than 1,500 people
across the country have been trained, including par-
ticipants ftom federal, state, and local governments;
grassroots organizations; business; and academia.
The EJTC received an EPA bronze medal in 2002
for its outstanding work to help integrate environ-
mental justice into the daily operations at EPA and
across the country. OE] is preparing additional
training modules for permit writers and inspectors.
Information on specific training activities through-
out EPA is featured in Chapter Four.



involvement in EPA decisions in July 2001. More
than 1,100 individuals participated in the dialogue
and provided their ideas on how EPA can better
involve the public. Although the dialogue’s messages
were not considered formal comments, they were
used to inform the implementation
plan for the policy. For 10 days, the
online dialogue participants dis-
cussed specific topics drawn from
EPA's draft Public Involvement
Policy. A revolving panel of experts,
including several representing envi-
ronmental justice organizations and
Native American tribes, focused the
conversation on the main aspects of

the draft policy.

EPA plans to create informative
training brochures on different
aspects of public involvement based
on the information provided from
the online dialogue and from the
public comments on the policy. The
brochures will feature issues such as
involving the public in permits and rules, and creat-
ing effective collaborative decision-making processes,
The draft policy can be found at:
<www.epa.gov/stakeholders/policy>.

Reference Guide to Public
Involvement in Environmental

Permits

Better public involvement across all program areas
continues to be an EPA priority. The Office of Solid
Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER), with the
co-sponsorship of OPEI, led the production of
Public Involvement in Environmental Permits: A
Reference Guide. The purpose of the reference guide
is to provide a resource for state and tribal program
staff to enhance their own public participation
efforts. In addition, the public can use this resource
to learn more about permits and about opportunities
to engage in the permitting process, Drafting the

Environmenga OOD» Report

reference guide was part of the Agency-wide Action
Plan for Achieving the Next Generation in
Environmental Permitting (February 1999).

Users outside of the Agency have highly praised the
guide, and demand for it has been strong, The guide
describes both the formal, legally required steps
involved in permitting and the additional steps that
can be taken to make public involvement more
meaningful and effective, While not specifically
focused on environmental justice issues, it can be a
valuable tool in situations where environmental jus-
tice concerns could arise.

The guide summarizes the major permitting programs
under the CWA, SDWA, CAA, and RCRA. It also
gives an overview of the core requirements for public
involvement activities in these permitting programs.
The reference guide also provides best practices and a
model plan for implementing effective public partici-
pation activities under these programs and provides a
compendium of additional resources and contacts for
use in implementation.

The guide was developed in consultation with key
partners, including NEJAC and the Environmental
Council of the States, Environmental groups; indus-
try; citizens’ groups; state and national associations;
and state and regional regulators also provided com-
ments at two stakeholder meetings in the District of
Columbia and Houston, Texas. Additional informa-
tion can be found at: <www.epa.gov/permits/pub-
licguide.htm>.

Region 1

Reconnaissance for Environmental
Justice Concerns

For the past several years, Region 1 has conducted
reconnaissance in communities throughout the area.
Reconnaissance is a non-traditional approach of iden-
tifying and addressing environmental concerns within

72



Region 8 is currently working with this community
to address two environmental challenges: the Pucblo
Chemical Depot and the Rocky Mountain Steel
Mill. The Pueblo Chemical Depot, east of Pueblo, is
home to stockpiles of chemical weapons that the fed-
eral government must, by international treaty, decom-
mission, These “assembled chemical weapons” contain
both chemical agents (like mustard gas or sarin) and
explosives, and their destruction has the potential to
threaten the air, water, and soil quality in Pueblo
County. Pueblo County has also been threatened by
emissions of hazardous and criteria air pollutants from
the Rocky Mountain Steel Mill, which has operated
in south Pueblo for more than a century. Region 8
recently fined the Mill for non-compliance with the
Clean Air Act (CAA) and required it to commit funds
to the community for SEPs.

As part of its effort to address these environmental
justice issues in Pueblo County, Region 8 collaborat-
ed with a variety of groups to ensure that communi-
ty and environmental needs are met. With regard to
the Pueblo Chemical Depot, Region 8 worked with
community groups, the Colorado Department of
Public Health and Environment, and the
Department of Defense (DoD) to find a mechanism
for decommissioning the weapons and monitoring
the decommissioning process that minimizes the
threat that decommissioning poses to the people,
environment, and livelihoods in Pueblo.

Region 8 has also worked with community groups,
the Colorado Department of Public Health and
Environment, and the Rocky Mountain Steel Mill to
see that surrounding communities and the environ-
ment benefit from the SEPs, such as studies on lead
hazards in Pueblo homes, asthma education pro-
grams, habitat improvements along the Arkansas
River, and beautification of neighborhoods around
the mill. Collaborative efforts like these among com-
munity groups, government agencies, industry, and
Region 8 have fostered environmental protection,

|

Chapter 3

community involvement, and an appreciation for
the advantages of cooperative negotiation that will
leave a lasting impact in Pueblo County.

Region 9

Transportation Planning and Land
Use

Region 9 is working to improve urban air quality
through reductions in motor vehicle use and sprawl,
and promotion of mixed-use development that sup-
ports and enhances the quality of life in the Region’s
communities. Region 9 is developing
partnership/collaborative efforts with multiple pro-
gtams/divisions within EPA and external stakehold-
ers, environmentalists, and federal, state, and local

government agencies to develop and implement
these strategies to improve urban air.

Drinking Water Problems
and Solutions

Drinking Water State Revolving Fund
(DWSRF)

EPA's OW, in collaboration with states, helps com-
munities finance infrastructure projects needed to
comply with federal drinking water regulations and
protect public health. According to a recent General
Accounting Office (GAO) report, 31 states have
established programs to assist disadvantaged commu-
nities, Of the states with programs, 29 states have
provided $618.9 million of assistance to disadvan-

27



fick

Environmengd QEDriei Report

Region 10

Native Village of Kivalina Granted
Cooperating Agency Status

The Native Village of Kivalina (Kivalina) is an
Inupiat village located near and downstream of Red
Dog Mine, in the Northwest Arctic Borough in
Alaska, Red Dog Mine is the largest zinc mine in the
world, Kivalina residents have long-term concerns
about the health effects of the mine, and have raised.

concerns about water quality, air quality, and toxic
pollutants to EPA and other agencies.

Approximately 3 years ago, the Army Corps of
Engineers and the state of Alaska proposed to
expand the port that services Red Dog Mine.
Kivalina was concerned that a larger and more effi-
cient port would facilitate additional mining at Red
Dog Mine as well as at other mineral reserves in the
area. Kivalina asked the Corps to grant it cooperat-
ing agency status in the development of the EIS to
ensure that its cultural and subsistence concerns
were addressed in the document. The Corps refused.
Kivalina then approached EPA and the Council of
Environmental Quality (CEQ) to advocate for coop-
erating agency status. EPA, a cooperating agency,
advocated that Kivalina also become a cooperating
agency. After the request, the Corps agreed that
Kivalina should be a cooperating agency because of
Kivalina’s extensive knowledge about its culture and
subsistence resources.

70



a

Chapter 3

tion of all EOEA regulations, policies, programs,
enforcement, and decisionmaking regarding the sit-
ing of waste and energy facilities, and the provision
of access to open space. :

Rhode Island

The Rhode Island DEM compiled an Environmen-
tal Equity Progress Report, released in July 2002.
The progress report includes an explanation of the
GIS analysis that has been done.

In August 2001, the Rhode Island DEM developed a
Draft Environ-mental Equity Policy. Although it has
not been finalized, Rhode Island DEM has begun
implementing several strategies, including compiling
environmental and demographic data in GIS to ana-
lyze the distribution of environmental burdens and
benefits throughout the state, Other strategies to be
implemented include: (1) conducting environmental
equity education and training for Rhode Island DEM
staff; (2) committing staff and resources to partner
with other agencies and organizations to further
research environmental equity issues, and (3) expand-
ing public participation and outreach efforts.

Connecticut Department of
Environmental Protection

The Connecticut DEP, in partnership with Hartford
2000 and the Neighborhood Training Institute,
received a $40,000 EPA grant to fund the develop-
ment of a smart growth training program for urban
leaders. Community and business leaders active in
urban environmental justice neighborhoods were
trained in the opportunities and obstacles to smart
growth initiatives in the neighborhoods. A special
emphasis was placed on training and education in the
areas of transportation, zoning, open space, urban
runoff, river pollution, and green/healthy housing.

Training products developed through this program
will serve as a model that can be transferred to other
urban communities, Project partners include Hartford
2000, the Hartford Neighborhood Environmental
Project, and the Neighborhood Training Institute.

Region 2

New York State Policy on
Environmental Justice

The New York State DEC prepared a draft policy for
incorporating environmental justice concerns into its
environmental permit process. The draft policy
amends the New York DEC environmental permit
process by, among other things, identifying minority
or low-income communities; providing information
on environmental justice to applicants with pro-
posed projects in those communities; enhancing
public participation requirements for proposed proj-
ects in those communities; establishing requirements
for projects in minority or low-income communities
with the potential for at least one significant, adverse
environmental impact; and providing ADR opportu-
nities to allow communities and project sponsors to
resolve issues of concern to the community,

The New York DEC established the New York State
Environmental Justice Advisory Group, which is
comprised of representatives from state, local, and
federal government; community groups; environ-

mental groups; and business. The Environmental
Justice Advisory Group is tasked with: (1) develop-
ing recommendations for an environmental justice
permit policy for New York state, (2) recommend-
ing elements that should be included in a compre-
hensive environmental justice plan, and (3)
prioritizing environmental justice issues and recom-

63



impact (through low emissions and green building
design) and investing in substantial ecological
improvements to the southeast side of Chicago. In
addition, Ford has coordinated neighborhood
cleanups the past 2 years,

Region 6

Houston/Galveston Citizen Air
Monitoring Project

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
(TCEQ) and EPA are collaborating with local gov-
ernments and citizens on the Houston/Galveston
Citizen Air Monitoring Project. TCEQ and Region
6 met extensively to establish roles and responsibili-
ties, set ground rules, and define citizen participa-
tion. Meetings were held with the Harris County
Department of Pollution Control and community
members to clarify the project and define roles, A
joint public meeting was also held to elicit support
for the project.

After holding training on the proper use of air sam-
pling equipment, citizens took ambient air samples
that were analyzed by EPA’s Houston lab. Data,
including data interpretation, are being published on
the Internet.

This has been an excellent example of how TCEQ
and EPA can work with citizens on a mutually benefi-
cial project. Citizens and government are full partners
in this effort, with all entities having a voice in the
decisionmaking regarding monitoring, sampling, ana-
lyzing the samples, publishing results, holding public
meetings, and generally making the project work.

Episodic Release Reduction Initiative
(ERRI)

ERRI is an innovative voluntary effort among
Region 6, the Louisiana Department of
Environmental Quality (DEQ), TCEQ, and 13
members of the petroleum/chemical industry to

environmen ere Bigmnial Report

evaluate the causes of unpermitted emissions.
Facilities were identified using the Emergency
Response Network System database and input from
the states, ERRI was organized in response to con-
cerns about the number of episodic releases and
their impact on the surrounding communities.

ERRI partners committed to work together to iden-
tify ways to reduce the number of releases and quan-
tity of chemicals released. The workgroup developed
a four-phase process to reduce emissions; (1) analyze
trends, (2) identify current practices and programs,
(3) analyze the effectiveness of programs and prac-
tices, and (4) prepare the report.

Within 15 months, a total reduction of 28 percent
in the number of reported releases and a 48 percent
reduction in the quantity released was achieved. The
process is ongoing and is expected to result in fur-
ther reductions.

Air Monitoring Near Rocky Mountain
Steel Mill, Colorado

Homes in the neighborhoods surrounding the Rocky
Mountain Steel Mill in Pueblo County, Colorado,
are exposed to continuing emissions from the mill's
arc furnaces and associated operations, Preliminary
Region 8 air modeling results suggest that the mill’s
operations may present a threat to the health and
safety of the nearby residents.

20



CIEN will also promote regional cooperation for
the exchange of information and chemical expertise.

National Foundation for Integrated
Pest Management Education (NFIPME)
Grants

Under a cooperative agreement with OPP, NFIPME
distributes grants to support the overall goal of
reducing risks to the environment and human health
from the use of pesticides in agricultural and non-
agricultural setrings in the United States. A grant
was awarded to the Rainforest Alliance to develop
IPM Education in the Tropics: Dissemination of
Best Practices. The Rainforest Alliance was funded
in 2001 and 2002 to widely disseminate IPM guide-
lines and manuals to small farmers throughout the
Tropics. The project will distribute, via training
workshops and the Rainforest Alliance’s award-win-
ning Web site, tools for helping small farmers in the
Tropics achieve sustainability through IPM. IPM
guidelines and manuals will be shared throughout
the Sustainable Agriculture Network with farming
communities and non-government organizations in
Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Honduras,
Guatemala, Mexico, Belize, and El Salvador. The
initiative is designed to make IPM work with small
producers more efficient, lasting, and replicable.

Region 6

U.S./Mexico Border Contingency
Planning Activities— United Response
2000 Exercise

In November 2001, the McAllen, Texas, Fire
Department, along with the Proteccién Civil and
Heréico Cuerpo de Bomberos of Reynosa, Mexico,
held a binational emergency response exercise, called
United Response 2000, The purpose of the exercise
was to test the sister cities’ emergency response plan.

The exercise took place during a five-state confer-
ence and involved local emergency planning com-

|

Chapter 3

mittee members from Texas, New Mexico,
Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana. The emergency
exercise consisted of three simulated events. During
the exercise, nearly 10,000 persons were evacuated
from their residences and work sites. This was the
largest mass-scale evacuation practice in Mexico out-
side of Mexico City, and the largest recorded land
crossing of U.S, firefighters. Planning and prepara-
tion for this exercise required the coordination and
cooperation of multiple agencies from both sides of
the U.S./Mexico border.

United Response 2000 allowed McAllen and
Reynosa to test their cross-border contingency plan.
Issues were raised related to medical access in the
border region, and the exercise helped assess com-
munication vulnerabilities among geographically dif-
fuse and governmentally diverse sites in Mexico City,
Ciudad Victoria, and Reynosa in Mexico, and
Washington, D.C.,
Dallas, and McAllen in
the United States, United
Response 2000 also
demonstrated how a
response governed by an
incident-management
system called United
Command would oper-
ate. The primary focus of
United Command is to
combine and coordinate
the efforts of local response and support agencies in
safeguarding human life, property, the environment,
and the area's economic infrastructure.

The exercise confirmed the need for additional and
ongoing cross-border coordination, training, and
local resource management, with a special emphasis
‘on environmental protection and transboundary
issues. The exercise also stimulated interest in
Reynosa regarding the incorporation of maquila
(assembly plants in Mexico that are primarily owned

37



More than 40 states have developed Voluntary
Cleanup Programs (VCPs) to facilitate brownfields
cleanup. Community stakeholders, as well as munic-
ipalities, developers, investors, and property owners
in Puerto Rico, have expressed the need for a clear,
predictable, and efficient hazardous waste site volun-
tary cleanup program with liability relief.

Supported by EPA brownfields funding, the Puerto
Rico Environmental Quality Board (PREQB) is cre-
ating a VCP to stimulate the remediation and reuse
of brownfields sites with low to moderate levels of
contamination, such as former industrial properties
and adjacent sites. EPA funds are being used to
research VCPs and create the framework for a pro-
gtam through a participatory process.

The PREQB has developed an outline for the VCP.
The actual VCP program structure, which includes
regulations, financial incentives, and liability relief
measures, is being developed in collaboration with
legislators, state agencies, and the regulated commu-
nity. Community organizations will be fully involved
in the decisionmaking process. The goal is to pro-
vide private parties and others with a streamlined
hazardous waste site cleanup process in Puerto Rico.

Currently, PREQB is forming an interagency com-
mittee to draft regulations and develop technical
guidelines. The goal is to coordinate the activities of
all appropriate offices and to ensure that there are no
conflicts with other regulations. PREQB is gathering
public input by conducting structured interviews
with municipalities, banks, insurance companies,
private owners, and environmental groups through-
out the island. The results of this study will be pre-
sented at several broad stakeholder meetings. The
first meeting for key stakeholders and legislators was
held in Fall 2002.

—

Chapter 3

Crane Brownfields Site—Trenton,
New Jersey

The Crane site is one of four sites targeted by the
EPA-funded Brownfields Assessment Demonstration
Pilot in Trenton, New Jersey. Region 2 previously
conducted a removal action to address hazardous
materials left on site. EPA funded the community
involvement activities and loaned a hazardous waste
site remediation expert to the city who works from
the city offices.

The 11 acres of industrial property, formerly the site
of Crane Pottery, is located in a primarily low-
income and minority residential community. The
site was abandoned in the late 1960s, and was
vacant for 30 years. The largest brownfield site in
Trenton’s inventory, the city acquired the property
and demolished the buildings in 1972. For decades,
this large site was a blight in the neighborhood,
attracting dumpers and other criminals, and drain-
ing the city’s funds.

The city partnered with Isles, a local community
development corporation, to help organize the com-
munity surrounding the site; build consensus around
reuse issues; provide a conduit for information
regarding the site’s development; and serve as a liai-
son among residents, business owners, and develop-
ers, all of whom participated in community
meetings. In partnership with the community, which
includes several churches and community centers,
the city and developer were able to design a site plan
and business recruitment strategy that has directly
benefitted the community.

57


Gateway/Metro East Lead
Collaborative Partnership

The St. Clair County region of Illinois is an area lit-
tered with idled smelters, junkyards, and defunct
industry. It has numerous abandoned, contaminated
lots that serve as play areas for the communities’
youth and as illegal dumping grounds. Many com-
munities in the Metro East area have high percent-
ages of minorities and low-income residents who
often bear a disproportionate impact from these
environmental conditions. Community groups; local
hospitals; and federal, state, and local agencies in St.
Clair County are collaborating to implement a com-
prehensive strategy to improve children’s health by
reducing lead poisoning caused by these problems.
The project addresses both lead-based paint hazards
and uncontrolled lead releases to surface soil.

Funding for this project has come from a variety of
sources. By leveraging funds through this successful
partnership, and because of the remediation that will
be occurring, there will be a healthier environment
for the 145,000 children and 400,000 adults who
live in the three-county area. In addition, the area
will experience economic gains because of the train-
ing and other capacity-building activities.

Region 6

Children’s Health Program—SunWise
Computer Game

Region 6 staff developed an animated, interactive
computer game to educate children in grades 4 to 8
about sun safety. The game, available on CD-ROM,
challenges children to learn facts about the sun (to
earn 1,000,000 points). The game has both Spanish
and English language versions.

Children’s Health Program—Play and
Learn Technology Project

Fourteen surplus government computers loaded with
interactive environmental educational games were

—.

Chapter 3

donated to schools for use at “in-school clinics” and
parent resource centers. Children can play computer
games while they wait to see their doctor, nurse, or
principal. The games promote the use of technology
and educate children about the environment and
increase knowledge of environmental hazards.

Children’s Health Program—
Environmental Resources for Schools
Symposium

Region 6 conducted several cross-media educational
symposia for school administrators and facilities staff
in north Texas and Louisiana. These symposia inte-
grated diverse regional programs (ENERGY STAR®,
Tools for Schools, water quality, asbestos, lead,
mold, mercury, indoor air quality, and Integrated
Pest Management (IPM) into a day-long program to
increase the knowledge and understanding of vary-
ing environmental concerns in schools, The sym-
posia meet school administrators’ needs by providing
the tools to identify and remove environmental haz-~
ards in schools attended by low-income populations.
Symposium attendance and participant satisfaction
exceeded expectations. The program is in demand in
other locations including Arkansas, and other major
‘Texas and Louisiana cities. .

Cesar Chavez High School (CCHS)
During the construction phase of CCHS, concerns
were raised that the east Houston school was being
built within 1/4 mile of four grandfathered chemical
manufacturing facilities : j
and within 1 1/4 miles
of the Geneva Industries
Superfund Site. The site
is in close proximity to
the Highway 225 indus-
trial complex (Lyondell
Chemical, Goodyear,
Texas Petrochemical, and Exxon Mobil Chemical).
Toxic release inventory (TRI) data indicated that
over 5 million pounds of TRI pollutants are released
from these grandfathered facilities each year.

23



for further progress, These challenges—greenhouse
gases, smog, water quality, and water infrastructure—
will be targeted for particular resource and creative
investments. This is not an exclusive list, however,
and will not limit innovative pursuits in any way. The
draft strategy is the result of extensive discussions
within EPA reflecting on the Agency's innovation
experience of the past several years, careful considera-
tion of a number of recent reports by outside groups,
and preliminary discussions of these ideas with co-
regulators, EPA has actively engaged a variety of
stakeholders, including environmental justice repre-
sentatives, in commenting on the document.

Project XL is a national pilot program that allows
state and local governments, businesses, and federal
facilities to use EPA's innovative strategies to test bet-
ter or more cost-effective ways of achieving environ-
mental and public health protection. EPA will, after
careful evaluation, replace or modify regulatory
requirements, policies, or procedures if the proposed
XL project will produce superior environmental bene-
fits and promote accountability to the public. To
ensure these new approaches truly meet local needs
and protect the environment, people from the com-
munity, environmental groups, and businesses are
included in evaluating each Project XL proposal. The
goal of Project XL stakeholder involvement is a col-
laborative working relationship between sponsors (the
organizations proposing new ways of doing things)
and stakeholders (people who believe they or their
community could be affected by an XL project).

@ SPrniai Report

Several innovative pilots incorporate environmental
justice issues into the overall purpose of the proj-
ect. In particular, XL projects relevant to urban
environmental justice challenges are under way,
including brownfields redevelopment and smart
growth (Atlantic Steel Project), regional air quality
(Metropolitan Chicago Regional Air Quality and
Economic Development Strategy), and lead-based
paint removal (Lead Safe Boston), The Web site
for the draft strategy is: <www.epa.gov/
innovations/strategy>.

Improving EPA's Spanish-Language
Web Site on Wetlands

EPA's Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds
(OWOW) places particular importance on reaching a
wide spectrum of the public to inform them of wet-
land ecology, functions and values of wetlands, and
federal regulatory and non-regulatory efforts to pro-
tect wetlands. To further this goal, EPA developed a
Web site with extensive wetlands information. To
address the needs of the Spanish-speaking community,
during this past summer, the Wetlands Division
employed a Hispanic American College and
University (HACU) intern to translate information
ftom the EPA Wetlands page into Spanish, The
Spanish-language Web site has been frequently visited.

American Wetlands Month: Outreach
and Education Activities for Urban
Youth

May is American Wetlands Month. EPA’s Wetlands
Division and regional offices work with various
urban youth organizations each year as part of the
annual celebration. EPA sponsors a number of activ-
ities to raise awareness of the importance of wetlands
in urban watersheds, to educate urban youth on
activities they can engage in to protect and restore
wetlands, and to improve urban watershed health
through wetland restoration activities. In the
Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, more than
500 children were educated about urban wetlands
and the importance of wetlands in the Chesapeake

90



and four separate subway (train) routes. Bus and
subway routes selected were those that service a high
proportion of minority and low-income families.
The ads urged readers to call the National Lead
Information Hotline where they would be referred,
if appropriate, for information on childhood lead
screenings in the Chicago area. Anecdotal informa-
tion from this campaign indicated that it led to
increased lead screening in these communities.

A similar campaign was repeated in 2002, leveraging
funds from Region 5 and Chicago DPH, and in-
kind services from CTA. This advertising campaign
increased awareness of the hazards of lead to young
children in high-risk communities, especially high-
minority and low-income communities. A local tele-
phone hotline number will be utilized rather than
the national hotline number. Use of a local tele-
phone hotline will facilitate a better evaluation of
the effectiveness of the project.

Chicago EPA/HUD Lead Enforcement
Activities

Late in 1998, an enforcement team comprised of
Region 5, DOJ, and HUD began a project to identify
large property management companies with histories
of lead-poisoned children within the city of Chicago
to monitor these companies’ compliance. Chicago
DPH provided names of entities that had been issued
multiple lead-based paint abatement orders.

Using these data, the enforcement team focused on
four large property management companies with the
greatest number of abatement notices and therefore
the greatest number of chil-
dren with elevated blood lead
levels. Over several years,
more than 300 abatement
notices were issued to these
four entities with multiple
abatement notices often
issued, over time, to different
apartments within the same

Environmenga QQDriai Report

building and sometimes to the same apartment.
Based on the recurring abatement notices and the
fact that buildings would likely have the same paint
history, it was apparent that these buildings had
widespread lead-based paint contamination prob-
lems and represented a significant health risk to
young children.

Region 5; DOJ; HUD; and Illinois, Chicago, and
Cook County health officials have entered consent
decrees with three of these property management
companies who failed to warn their tenants that
their homes may contain lead-based paint hazards as
required by the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard
Reduction Act of 1992. The fourth property man-
agement company declined to participate in a con-
sent decree and has been issued a civil administrative
complaint alleging 2,600 counts of violations of fed-
eral regulations on lead-based paint and its hazards.

Under the terms of the consent decrees, the property
management companies will test for and conduct
cleanup activities to make these units lead-safe fol-
lowing HUD guidelines in their nearly 10,000
apartments in Chicago. The testing and cleanup
activities will be conducted over 6 years and are esti-
mated to cost several hundreds of thousands of dol-
lars. The three companies will also pay a total of
$90,000 in penalties.

In addition, one of the companies agreed to pay
$100,000 to fund a children’s health improvement
project, which will entail abatement activities such as
window replacement and elimination of other Jead-
based paint hazards in low-income housing not
owned or managed by this firm. Another of the
three companies will give $77,000 to a community-
based health center to provide free blood lead testing
for children in Chicago and south Chicago.

Northwest Indiana Lead Outreach
In Spring 2001, Region 5 conducted a targeted lead
outreach project in partnership with the Northwest

44


Outreach Initiatives

new development over these past 2 years
A: been the establishment of Regional

Environmental Justice Listening Sessions.
The Agency is holding these sessions as a way to
proactively engage stakeholders working to identify
and address the environmental justice issues facing
communities. This chapter describes some of the lis-
tening sessions held over this past year, along with
other outreach initiatives.

Regional Environmental
Justice Listening Sessions

Region 3

In July 2001, during the Third Annual Region 3 All-
States Environmental Justice Meeting, the assembled
group discussed holding regional listening sessions.
MDE held the first of these meetings in December
2001, in Annapolis, Maryland. Region 3 participat-
ed in this meeting along with MDE, members of the
Maryland Commission on Environmental Justice
and Sustainable Communities (EJSC), state legisla-
tors, private citizens, NGOs, and community-based
organizations from around the state. Topics included

rubble fill landfills, facility siting, the Johns Hopkins
Lead Study Project, and permitting issues. Follow-up
activities are ongoing.

OEJ, Region 3, and MDE are planning a joint lis-
tening session in Baltimore in the near future, and
three more around the state in 2003. Discussions

and planning for additional regional listening ses-
sions are ongoing.

Region 6

In November 2002, Region 6 and Texas Southern
University (TSU) co-sponsored the first regional lis-
tening session in Houston, Texas. TSU (particularly,
the Thurgood Marshall Law School Environmental
Justice Clinic) worked with Region 6 to coordinate
logistics in the Houston area and other planning-
related tasks. The purpose of the session was to have
interactive, solution-oriented dialogues with the
community, and enhance partnerships among the
federal, state, tribal, local, and municipal govern-
ment representatives, Early in the planning process,
Region 6 sought the participation and input of a
variety of stakeholders who served as the planning
committee for the session. The planning committee

85



Conoco SEP Meeting.

Conoco Oil Refinery

In 1999, EPA began a nationwide focus on oil
refineries and their compliance with the CAA. In
2000, EPA contacted Conoco to obtain information
about its refineries, discuss potential violations, and
determine appropriate changes that could be imple-
mented to better meet the requirements of the law.
Conoco agreed to work with EPA and the states to
develop a fair and equitable resolution that would
benefit both the environment and the company.

In 2001, a team of people from
Conoco, EPA, and the states in
which Conoco had facilities,
reached an agreement. Conoco
would implement certain changes
to reduce air pollution and pay
penalties relating to the alleged
violations of the CAA. However,
for the Colorado refinery, Conoco,
the state of Colorado, and EPA
agreed to spend more than $2 mil-
lion in supplemental environmen-
tal improvements. A significant
portion of that amount (approxi-
mately $500,000) was set aside to
go directly into community-based projects, while the
rest would be used to further reduce Conoco’s impact
on the environment.

To collect public input on appropriate and needed
environmental projects, Region 8 organized two
public meetings. It identified and solicited the
participation of community organizations, leaders,
and citizens to help publicize the meetings and pro-
vide feedback on the types of projects most useful
to the communities.

As a result of the meetings, Conoco received dozens
of requests for funding for specific projects estimated
at over $1 million. The proposals ranged from sim-
ple efforts by local schools to learn about the envi-
ronment to studies of air pollutants in the area,

Environmenga Ore Bignhnial Report

Conoco and EPA are currently evaluating the project
requests in light of the feedback received at the pub-
lic meetings.

State Efforts to Address
Problems and Find
Solutions

Region 1

Massachusetts

In June 2001, the final amendments to the
Massachusetts DEP Site Assignment Regulations
were issued, The amendments address concerns
about the cumulative impacts of solid waste manage-
ment facilities and other potential sources of pollu-
tion on public health. Specifically, a criterion was
added to allow the Massachusetts DEP and Boards
of Health to consider the impacts of a proposed
facility in relation to the impacts of other existing
sources of contamination or pollution within the
area, The Massachusetts DEP published Interim Risk
Evaluation Guidance Document for Solid Waste
Facility Site Assignment and Permitting, which
explains how to implement this new provision. This
criterion has profound implications for environmen-
tal justice since it allows the state agencies to exam-
ine cumulative risks,

In January 2001, the Massachusetts Senate over-
whelmingly passed an a bill to establish an environ-
mental justice designation program. The bill directs
the Massachusetts Executive Office of
Environmental Affairs (EOEA) to develop statewide
policies that recognize and protect areas of critical
environmental justice. The bill is expected to be
reintroduced into the Massachusetts House of
Representatives. In the meantime, the state is work-
ing on finalizing its Environmental Justice Policy.
The policy emphasizes that environmental justice is
to be an integral consideration in the implementa-

62



members represented community-based groups,
industry, academia, state government, EPA, and
other federal agencies. The planning process includ-
ed identifying major issues of concern. Subsequently,
issue-specific subcommittees were formed to identify
a laundry list of concerns for each topic. The list was
then prioritized, and selected issues under each were
identified for discussion at the session. Stakeholders
from all five Region 6 states were invited to partici-
pate. EPA senior managers, the deputy regional
administrator, and division directors, along with
programmatic subject matter experts, participated in
the sessions, which were led by certified facilitators.
Extensive followup activities are being planned.

Region 9

Region 9’s Pacific Southwest Office has participated
in regional listening sessions in collaboration with
Cal/EPA. For the past 2 years, Region 9 has been
working closely with Cal/EPA to develop California's
environmental justice program. Based on the passage
of recent environmental justice legislation, Cal/EPA
was tasked to provide public forums for communi-
ties and other stakeholders to participate in the
development of the state’s environmental justice
strategy. In Spring 2002, Cal/EPA held a kick-off
meeting to initiate the public participation process
for its environmental justice strategy development.
This meeting was followed by community-specific
meetings in San Diego, Los Angeles, Fresno, and

3

Environmengal @)

nial Report

West Oakland. Region 9 partnered with Cal/EPA
during California's preliminary listening sessions in
Sacramento, San Diego, and West Oakland, which
are Region 9 focus areas. These sessions provided the
public the opportunity to hear about and comment
on the state’s draft environmental justice strategy.
These listening sessions have provided Region 9 with
valuable information about community needs and
concerns existing in the Region's areas of emphasis,
such as West Oakland, the U.S./Mexico border, San
Diego, and the Central Valley. Additional communi-
ty-based listening sessions will be held to unveil the
state’s final version of the environmental justice
strategy. Region 9 will support and participate in
those sessions as well.

Outreach

Industry-Based Performance
Improvement Partnerships

EPA works with industry leaders in specific sectors
to set performance objectives, create appropriate
tools and incentives for better performance, and
remove barriers that adversely affect performance.
State and local governments and other constituent
groups also participate in these programs. The cur-
rent industry sector programs do not have projects
that focus solely on environmental justice issues;
however, opportunities do exist for any and all pub-
lic constituencies, including environmental justice
representatives, to participate in these programs.

The public can provide information and perspectives
during the analytical phase of these processes (i.¢.,
helping to identify the primary performance objec-
tives and barriers for a given industry). Because pro-
gram implementation takes place at the state and local
levels, community groups can participate in these
activities. There also are a growing number of tools
and information sites for environmental justice repre-
sentatives to learn more about the programs and how
to get involved, The Center for Industry Sector

386



Environmental Health
Studies

Multi-Agency Workers’ Compensation
and Health Care

Task Force

EPA and the National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health (NIOSH) have renewed their inter-
agency agreement to work together on data collection
and reporting issues for another 5 years. During the
past 5 years, EPA has spent a total of $1,174,400
assisting NIOSH with its data collection and report-
ing capabilities, As a result of these efforts, a report
highlighting the recent accomplishments of the
Sentinel Event Notification System for Occupational
Risk (SENSOR) program has been produced.

EPA also is working to improve pesticide data collec-
tion, CDC, ORD, and OPP each provided
$100,000 for a 2-year pilot study with the Texas
Health Department. This study, now midway
through its second year, will help the agencies moni-
tor pesticide illness and injury from non-occupation-
al exposures.

EPA is participating in a number of activities to
better assess the health of agricultural workers and
their families to evaluate the environmental and
occupational risk factors from pesticide exposure.
For example, EPA and NIOSH are currently
providing funding for the National Agricultural
Workers Survey (NAWS), an ongoing effort by
DOL. NAWS is the only national information
source on the working and living conditions of
USS. farm workers. Analysis of NAWS data will
help EPA address issues of pesticide exposures to
farm workers and their families. Additional informa-
tion on the NAWS survey is on the Web at:
<www.dol.gov/asp/programs/agworker/naws .htm>

The National Cancer Institute, EPA, and NIOSH
are conducting a long-term epidemiology study of

90,000 certified pesticide applicators and their fam-
ilies in North Carolina and Iowa. The study is look-
ing at both cancer and non-cancer endpoints using
periodic surveys of the population. Pesticide-use
practices and health outcomes are being examined
in detail.

The study has been under way for 7 years, and
2,112 cancers already have been reported in this
cohort, impacting 57,000 pesticide applicators and
32,000 spouses. For the more common cancers
(prostate and breast cancer), enough cases have been
diagnosed to associate their occurrence with expo-
sure to pesticides and several other known or sus-
pected risk factors. Reports on the findings for
prostate and breast cancer are expected in the com-
ing year, colon and lung cancer in 2 years, and non-
Hodgkin's lymphoma in 3 years.

A variety of other studies are being performed on
this cohort to learn about exposure and the inci-
dence of disease. Based on responses from farmers
in Towa, 6 out of every 1,000 farmers per year
reported high exposure events, which include pesti-
cide poisonings. Other studies are looking at birth
defects, Parkinson's disease, asthma, and other dis-
ease endpoints thought to be related to pesticide
exposure. As part of the Agricultural Health Study,
field work in Iowa is being conducted, and over the
next 3 years detailed exposure analyses on a sub-
sample of families using various agricultural pesti-
cides will be completed.

121


Region 3

Baltimore Urban Environmental
Initiative

The Baltimore Urban Environmental Initiative is a
major project being conducted in cooperation with
Region 3, MDE, Baltimore City Health
Department, and Baltimore City Planning
Department. This project is being conducted to
identify and rank areas in the city of disproportion-
ate risk in order to implement risk reduction, pollu-
tion prevention, public awareness, and other
activities to minimize these risks. A two-track
approach was taken to achieve these goals—an
action-oriented short-term track and a long-term
track that incorporates risk screening and the devel-
opment of focus groups to achieve project goals. In
the short-term track, grants awarded to the city of
Baltimore and MDE have led to a number of proj-
ects designed to address environmental concerns in
the areas of lead, hazardous materials incidents,
indoor air quality, fish consumption/toxins in the

harbor, ground-level ozone pollution, and air toxins.

Chester, Pennsylvania, Environmental
Risk Study

Chester, Pennsylvania, is located approximately 15
miles south of Philadelphia along the Delaware
River, Chester has the highest concentration of

Environmenga QEQDriei Report

industrial facilities in Pennsylvania, including two oil
refineries, a large medical waste facility, and other
medical waste type facilities. The city also is the
home of the Delaware County wastewater treatment
plant and a large trash-to-steam facility. With a
minority population of approximately 70 percent,
Chester has the highest infant mortality rate, cou-
pled with the lowest birth rate, in the state. Chester
also is the poorest community in Delaware County.

Residents of Chester have long been concerned
about the health effects of living and working
among toxic substances. During 1995, EPA Region
3 completed the Chester Risk Assessment Project as
part of an initiative with the commonwealth of
Pennsylvania to study environmental risks, health,
and regulatory issues in Chester. While the intent of
the risk assessment was to provide a complete
“cumulative risk study” utilizing exposure data for all
environmental media and exposure pathways, the
actual report is more of an aggregated risk study due
to the largely unknown nature of the interrelated
exposures. However, the findings of the report were
alarming. Blood lead levels in Chester children are
unacceptably high, with 60 percent of the children’s
blood levels above CDC’s recommended maximum
level, Both cancer and non-cancer risks from the
pollution sources at locations in Chester exceed what
EPA believes are acceptable. The report found that
air emissions from facilities in and around Chester
provide a large component of the cancer and non-
cancer risk to the citizens of Chester.

In response to these findings, EPA recommended
implementing aggressive lead-based paint abatement
programs in Chester. Areas of the city with unac-
ceptably high risk levels should be targeted for com-
pliance inspections and any necessary enforcement
actions, Also, a voluntary emission reduction pro-
gram is recommended to obtain additional emissions
reductions from facilities that emit the most pollu-
tants in the areas of highest risk.

124


communication methods
that are effective for popula-
" tions exposed to chemical
contaminants in fish, espe-
cially those who may have

’ difficulty receiving, under-
standing, or accepting risk
information. Conference
participants developed rec-
ommendations on risk com-
munication techniques that
effectively reach specific audiences and inform them
of the risks associated with eating contaminated fish.

The conference was organized around six primary
steps of risk communication: (1) identify and get to
know audiences, (2) determine what audiences need
and want to know, (3) choose and develop message
content, (4) choose the medium for the message, (5)
implement the communication program, and (6)
evaluate the risk communication program, These
components of risk communication were explored
and discussed through a variety of session formats at
the conference.

The conference sessions provided recommendations
for identifying and reaching audiences that may not
speak English or have only a limited command of the
language, may be geographically isolated, or may be
suspicious of agencies delivering advisory information.
Focusing on needs according to the audience, some
sessions focused on women’s health issues, gender
issues, culture, geographic isolation, native languages,
subsistence on fish (urban and rural poor), and sport
angling activity. Sessions also suggested that messages
be specific to the cultural and socioeconomic charac-
teristics of target audiences, and that a range of com-
munication channels be used to reach target audiences
of different ages, genders, races/ethnicities, and
incomes. Recommendations also were provided on
methods for targeting diverse audiences through activ-
ities such as classroom training workshops, meetings,

Chapter 3

storytelling, field trips, visits to laboratories, produc-
tion of translated materials, radio announcements,
and videos.

Development of Internet-Based Fish
Consumption Risk Communication
Guidance

EPAs Office of Science and Technology (OST) has
begun developing dynamic, Internet-based guidance
for communicating the health risks associated with
consuming chemically contaminated fish. This guid-
ance will provide Internet users with quick access to
the most appropriate information for effective com-
munication of risk to specific subpopulations.

The Internet-based system will incorporate recom-
mendations from an EPA-sponsored national confer-
ence on risk communication, as well as links to
available information and risk communication tools.
Using this system, a risk communication strategy
can be developed to meet the specific needs of vari-
ous user groups. The system will quickly guide users
through a case-specific assessment of risk communi-
cation needs, The system will then provide case-spe-
cific examples of risk communication approaches
and methods for evaluating the effectiveness of com-
munication strategies. Hypertext links will enable
users to jump to sections that are most appropriate
to their needs. The system will also provide users
with access to information on existing Internet Web
sites, such as EPA’s fish advisory Web site.

The guidance will be accessible to a wide range of
fish consumption advisory programs and groups that
issue fish consumption advisories. The guidance will
be audience-specific, not generic, and it will incor-
porate modules of interest to specific subpopula-
tions. The guidance will enable users to develop risk
communication strategies that are issue-oriented
rather than process-oriented. To complete this guid-
ance, EPA is working closely with a group of risk
communication experts representing the views of a
range of stakeholder groups.

31


ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

In Fal! 2002, IWG solicited nominations for a sec-
ond round of demonstration projects, also referred
to as Environmental Justice Revitalization Projects.
The goal of this second round of projects is to devel-
op a more comprehensive, multi-stakeholder, collab-
orative model to address the multiple environmental,
public health, economic, and social concerns of
communities that are disproportionately and
adversely affected by environmental pollution.

Evaluation of the Interagency Federal
Environmental Justice Demonstration
Projects

To better assess the value of the IWG collaborative
model, and to capture lessons learned to benefit future
partnerships, the federal agencies that supported the
demonstration projects committed to the development
of an evaluation methodology and report.

At the request of IWG, EPA's Office of Policy
Economics and Innovation (OPEI) established an
evaluation team to develop six case studies of these
projects. The case studies seek to identify lessons
learned in a number of important areas in order to
gain a better understanding of the effectiveness of
multi-stakeholder collaborative partnerships to
address environmental justice issues; the effectiveness
of the federal interagency approach as a component
of these partnerships; and the key factors contribut-
ing to project successes and challenges. Once com-
plete, all results and case studies will be made
available in a single report,

These efforts are significant in many different ways.
First, the case studies will provide much needed data
to federal agencies on how to improve partnerships
in the future and enhance their role in these partner-
ships. Second, the research will lend insight into the
actions and activities that add value to those projects
selected for review. In addition, the case studies may
even help current project partners fashion solutions
to barriers that may be hindering project success.
Finally, the case studies will produce a template or

-

Nnial Report

evaluation framework that individual projects, as
well as others seeking to apply this collaborative
model, can use to complement their own self-evalua-
tion efforts in the future.

A working paper, Strategy for Evaluating the
Environmental Justice Collaborative Model (July
2001), describes the guiding principles for evalua-
tion, the evaluation framework, and other additional
information related to the evaluation. The strategy
was developed with input from members of EPA's
NEJAC, project participants, agency managers, and
practitioners experienced in program evaluation.
IWG believes that through careful consultation and
involvement of project participants in the evaluation
effort, the results may benefit a wide range of audi-
ences, including projects partners; communities;
industry; and federal, state, tribal, and local govern-
ments. The strategy is a working document and is
periodically updated to reflect changes in the guid-
ing principles and evaluation framework. For addi-
tional information, go to the following Web site:
<www.epa.gov/evaluate>.

Examples of Existing
Demonstration Projects

Region 4

Cleanup and Revitalization through
Collaborative Partnerships, Arkwright
and Forest Park Community
EPA Region 4 is working jointly with regional stake-
holders as the lead federal agency on the IWG
demonstration project in Spartanburg, South
Carolina. This pilot is aimed at bringing the com-
- munity and various local stakeholders together in
the Arkwright and Forest Park area to revitalize
neighborhoods in south Spartanburg County. The
proposed revitalization will include an affordable
housing component, community and job develop-



WHO — World Health Organization
WPS — Worker Protection Standards

WSDA — Washington State Department of

Agriculture

139


@ environmen é)

Anial Report

To understand how lead-based paint poisoning
issues were addressed in the area, Region 8 conduct-
ed a series of interviews with most of the parties
working on these issues. It compiled the information
and collected and assessed the level of involvement
and cooperation among the parties. ‘The Region dis-
covered that the parties that participated in work-
groups concerning lead issues had a high degree of
cooperation with certain entities, but did not have
complete information about the activities of every-
one involved.

Asa result, Region 8 developed a booklet with infor-
mation about all of the entities working on blood
lead testing and abatement activities for distribution
among the various parties. After the distribution of
the booklet, the parties will evaluate its effectiveness
and determine whether additional coordination will
be necessary.

North Dakota Children’s Blood Lead
GIS Project

Region 8 is developing a project to utilize GIS appli-
cations to identify environmental justice areas of con-
cern using children’s blood lead levels as one factor.
The state of North Dakota and EPA are using health
data on children’s blood lead levels in North Dakota
for this project. The information gathered will be
mapped at the census block group level. The loca-
tions of the children with elevated blood lead levels
will then be analyzed in relationship to their proxim-
ity to environmentally regulated facilities and
Superfund sites. The analysis will provide direction
for targeting inspections and other types of EPA
activities. EPA and the state will also conduct out-
reach/communication activities to educate people
who live in the areas with elevated blood lead levels
on how to reduce or eliminate the hazards.

Region 10

Lead Hazard Reduction Through
Outreach and Enforcement

Region 10’s involvement with county and state-wide
lead-based paint issues has resulted in a significant
increase in inspections and outreach to targeted
communities. Outreach has been enhanced by a
MOA between Region 10 and the Oregon Public
Health Services (OPHS), and Oregon Legal
Services. OPHS is providing information about
Region 10’s lead-based paint enforcement program
to families identified with elevated blood lead levels.
Region 10 also funded the purchase of three
portable blood lead analyzers, two of which are used
by the OPHS and one by the Oregon Child
Development Coalition, a Migrant Head Start
Program in Oregon.

Permit Problems and
Solutions

Region 3

Bartram Gardens

Region 3 engaged in discussions with various repre-
sentatives of the city of Philadelphia government,
citizens groups, organizations in the area surround-
ing Bartram Gardens, local politicians, and the
Pennsylvania DEP regarding the issuance of a set-
back waiver for the Philadelphia Waste Services
Construction Debris Recovery Center in the
Bartram Gardens area.

State permit requirements required a setback of
300 yards from parks and schools for facilities such
as this one. The Philadelphia Waste Services facility
was less than 300 yards from Bartram Gardens (the
oldest formal garden and park in the United
States). As a result, no permit could be granted.
without a waiver.

46


Environmental Justice
Integration at the
Federal Level

ver these past 2 years, federal agencies have
O made significant strides in working collabo-

ratively to address the range of environ-
mental, public health, and economic issues facing
communities, With support from OEJ, [WG was re-
established and soon after developed an Action
Agenda. Progress has been immediate and visible
due to the success of several of IWG’s interagency
demonstration projects.

This chapter will highlight the various efforts of fed-
eral agencies to work in partnership with state, trib-
al, and local governments; other federal agencies;
and various other stakeholders to provide environ-
mental justice for all communities.

Interagency Working Group
(IWG) on Environmental
Justice

In FY 2000, TWG developed 15 model projects on

environmental justice to demonstrate the benefits of
interagency cooperation and collaboration to address
the range of environmental, public health, and eco-
nomic needs of communities. Over the past 2 years,
these extensive projects have resulted in:

@ Partnerships among more than 150 organizations
and 11 federal agencies.

@ Commitments of more than $5 million in public
and private funding to address issues ranging
from children’s health to economic revitalization.

@ Support for brownfields redevelopment to
enhance quality-of-life and economic redevelop-
ment in diverse communities.

@ Utilization of ADR and consensus-building to
address contentious issues.

@ Identification of core elements of successful integrat-
ed and collaborative problem-solving partnerships.

Asa result of these projects, a multi-stakeholder collab-
orative model is emerging to address environmental
justice. An EPA report on these projects, Environmental
Justice Collaborative Model: A Framework to Ensure Local
Problem-Solving, is now available and can be found at:
<www.epa.gov/compliance/environmentaljustice>.

Also, ICMA convened a national forum last year, called
Collaborative Models to Achieve Environmental
Justice, to examine these projects.



» SE Environmengal (JE) EArvica Report

Lead Problems and
Solutions

Region 1

Affordable Lead-Free Housing

In 2000 and 2001, The Way Home, Inc., a non-
profit social service organization that helps low-
income families obtain and keep safe, affordable
housing, received two Environmental Justice Small
Grants totaling $30,000 from Region 1. These
grants are to protect children from health hazards in
their homes.

With a population of 102,000, Manchester, New
Hampshire, is the largest city in the three northern
New England states and is the state’s epicenter for
lead poisoning. A large concentration of pre-1950,
multi-family dwellings with lead-based paint are
located in the city’s center. Much of this older housing
stock is in need of repair and is likely to contain cock-
roaches, dust mites, rodents, and mold, which can
trigger asthma episodes, Designated as a preferred
refugee resettlement area, Manchester has a diverse
and growing minority population (reflected by the
more than 70 languages spoken in its schools). The
city’s center neighborhoods are largely made up of
low-income and minority residents who confront
numerous roadblocks to securing safe housing.

Peer Education as a Model for Environmental Justice
is focused on identifying and reducing lead poisoning
among children in Manchester. Staff from The Way
Home’s Healthy Home Services, the Manchester
Health Department, and the New Hampshire
Minority Health Coalition collaborated to go door-
to-door every Thursday beginning in July 2001 to
identify children most likely to be at risk for lead poi-
soning, Through the project, a licensed lead abate-
ment contractor also worked with landlords and
property management companies throughout
Manchester on low-cost techniques to reduce poten-
tial lead hazards through preventative maintenance.
The Way Home also began building a working rela-
tionship with the Manchester Building and Health
Departments by setting up meetings and looking for
opportunities to help each other.

The Way Home also initiated the creation of the
Greater Manchester Partners Against Lead
Poisoning coalition, which is made up of a pediatri-
cian and nurse case manager from Child Health
Services, a health officer and program staff from the
Manchester Health Department, a representative
from the city’s Building Department, the president
of a local landlord association, and representatives

from The Way Home.

Lastly, The Way Home used GIS to create maps
showing areas of high lead risk in Manchester to
help community and health care providers address
these health concerns. The data for the maps were
collected between 1999 and 2000 through EPA's
Child Health Champion Pilot Project, which funded
$135,000 worth of activities in the Manchester area
by a consortium of organizations.

Emergency Authority for Lead
Cleanup

In September 2001, Region 1 ordered an immediate
cleanup of lead contamination at a commercial
property in Fall River, Massachusetts, that houses
several businesses, including a dance studio for

40


e,/ @ Environmenga QED iat Report

formed a focused inspection sweep from March
through June 2001. Sixty hazardous waste compli-
ance inspections were conducted, and 43 enforce-
ment actions were initiated. Most violators achieved
compliance quickly; however, some more significant
violators were fined or had to initiate a site cleanup.
To maintain a visible presence in the community,
Arizona DEQ continued inspection efforts in the
south Phoenix area throughout the remainder of the
calendar year and is initiating a multi-media toxics
pilot study in collaboration with Region 9, under
the newly formed multi-division/program working
group for south Phoenix.

TRI Enforcement

The intent of the Emergency Planning and
Community Right-to-Know Program is to make
information on chemicals and releases publicly avail-
able to communities. In 2002, Region 9 targeted
efforts in environmental justice areas. As a result of
Region 9’s eight enforcement settlements in these
areas, the regulated facilities filed 93 additional TRI
forms, with a total net reporting of 585,361 pounds
of releases of TRI-listed chemicals. The public is
now aware of more than 1 million pounds per year
of chemicals being used in their neighborhoods.
From these enforcement actions, EPA collected
penalties and projects totaling more than $350,000.

Farm Worker Health

Region 9 is partnering with states and tribes to
improve monitoring of WPS compliance. The
Region conducted WPS training for inspectors,
reviewed inspection files, and provided funding for
Nevada and the Quechan Tribe to hire Spanish-
speaking translators, As a result, 2002 was the first
year that all states and tribes in Region 9 included
face-to-face interviews with farm workers or pesti-
cide handlers as part of their WPS inspections. The
focus on improved inspections has increased state
and tribal ability to document violations and
strengthened enforcement actions. In addition,
inspections with Spanish translators revealed prob-
lems with WPS implementation that had not previ-
ously been documented, as well as other serious
violations of federal environmental laws.

AIMCO Lead Settlement

AIMCO, one of the nation’s largest property man-
agement firms, disclosed violations of the lead dis-
closure regulations under EPA's Audit Policy for
facilities that they own nationwide. This disclosure
was triggered by Region 9’s investigation of a com-
plaint that an AIMCO property in Norwalk,
California, failed to comply with the lead disclosure
regulations. In January 2002, AIMCO signed the
largest-ever settlement agreement under the Lead
Program with EPA and HUD. Under the agree-
ment, AIMCO agreed to test and clean up lead-
based paint hazards in more than 130,000
apartments nationwide and pay a penalty of
$129,580. Because AIMCO voluntarily disclosed
violations of the lead disclosure rule, the company
significantly reduced its penalty.

At the same time, EPA and HUD ensured that
AIMCO’s properties will be free of lead-based paint
hazards so young children will not be exposed to the
dangers of lead poisoning. Region 9 currently is
working with AIMCO to address lead-based paint
issues on the property in Norwalk.

120



will be reduced by 3.45 tons annually in these neigh-
borhoods. This grant will pay for a 1-year project.
During 2002 and 2003, greater Cleveland RTA will
receive a total of 225 new buses to use the ultra-low-
sulfur diesel fuel, if the project is successful.

In addition, the Cleveland schools will get $150,000
to clean up diesel-fueled buses so they emit less pollu-
tion. The Cleveland Municipal School District is will-
ing to work with the committee to put together a
high-level administrative team. It is interested in using
Tools for Schools, instituting anti-idling measures,
developing pamphlets about the buses, and addressing
asthma and other environmental and health concerns.

The Village of Cheshire and American
Electric Power's (AEP) Gavin Plant

The Village of Cheshire is located in the southeast
part of Ohio, along the Ohio River in Gallia County.
It has 220 residences, with 67 percent of the residents
falling into the low-to-moderate income range. The
center of Cheshire is less than a half-mile from AEP’s
Gavin Power Plant.

In August 2000, EPA conducted the first of several
inspections to investigate complaints made by resi-
dents of Cheshire. EPA issued AEP a Notice of
Violation for Gavin's violations of opacity, particulate
emissions, and nuisance rules. Shortly after, Region 5
and Ohio EPA's air enforcement and air monitoring
team installed an air monitor network system to
measure heavy metals and particulates. The team also
installed a sulfur dioxide monitor in the village town.
hall to record levels instantaneously.

In February of 2002, ATSDR issued a final Health
Consultation that concluded that some pollutant lev-
els were of concern. In January 2002, AEP held a
press release announcing steps to address the sulfur
trioxide and sulfuric acid problems. In May 2002,
Region 5, Ohio EPA, and AEP signed a cooperative
agreement to control sulfuric acid emissions and other
air pollutants from AEP’s Gavin Plant.

-—..

er 3

Chapt

Asthma Activities at South Bend
Housing Authority (SBHA)

Region 5 is working in partnership with the
Chicago Health Corps to implement the Grand
Boulevard Federation Asthma Peer Education
Model at SBHA, in South Bend, Indiana. SBHA is
located in a low-income, high-minority community
in northwest Indiana. The first collaborative meet-
ing was held in May 2002. This resulted from a
Chicago Asthma Prevention Initiative between
HHS and Region 5. Through this partnership, it is
anticipated that the project will recreate the success-
es of the Grand Boulevard Federation Asthma Peer
Education Project carried out in Chicago.

Ford Good Neighbors Group

At the request of a community environmental justice
group and others, dialogue has been ongoing among
Ford Motor Company, Region 5, the Illinois EPA,
and a number of community and environmental
groups. The purpose of the Ford Good Neighbors
Group dialogue is to present environmental concerns
resulting from the operation of Ford’s assembly plant
on the southeast side of Chicago, and to encourage
Ford to go beyond the pollution control measures
needed to minimally comply with environmental
regulations. Ford is also
encouraged to imple-
ment pollution preven-
tion where feasible.
Ford’s auto assembly
plant is a large emitter
of volatile organic com-
pounds (VOCs) and
hazardous air pollutants.
Ford has agreed to
reduce VOC emissions
from its solvent clean-up
operations and has also :
reduced VOC and hazardous air pollutant emissions
from its painting operations. Ford is also developing
a supplier park that will have a small environmental

19



Cross-Base Highway, Pierce County,
Washington

Region 7 commented on the Cross-Base Highway
draft EIS developed by DOT, Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA), Washington State
Department of Transportation, and Pierce County
Public Works and Utilities Department. To comply
with FHWA’ environmental justice guidelines, resi-
dents of American Lake Gardens, who could be
impacted by the project, were effectively informed of
the potential impacts, including residential displace-
ments, fragmentation, noise, air pollution, visual

Environmengad ‘ere Bigmnial Report

impacts, traffic congestion, impacts to schools and
recreation areas, and impaired access to community
services for the disadvantaged. Residents also had
opportunities for their concerns to be heard and
addressed. At a meeting with the project proponents
in April 2002, EPA provided specific suggestions for
information and actions needed for FHWA to meet
its environmental justice responsibilities. Information
gathered from these actions and how this information
is incorporated into decisionmaking should be dis-

closed in the final EIS.

14



Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
Training for Communities.

In September 2002, OEJ sponsored a pilot training
session in El Monte, California. Thirty community
representatives participated in this ADR training to
learn about basic dispute resolution techniques. The
goal is to increase the communities’ awareness of
collaborative problem-solving as an alternative to lit-
igation. The course was developed through a cooper-
ative agreement with the Consensus Building
Institute (CBI), in conjunction with Justice &
Sustainability Associates. EPA Region 9 staff partici-
pated in the session and were instrumental in the
outreach to communities interested in attending the
session in California. CBI also is developing six envi-
ronmental justice dispute resolution case studies as a
supplement to the training. Thanks to the success of
this pilot session, a similar ADR training is being
planned for Region 4 community representatives.
The ADR training is scheduled to take place in
Memphis, Tennessee, in September 2003.

Environmental Law Institute (ELI)
Studies

ELI published Opportunities for Advancing
Environmental Justice: An Analysis of U.S. EPA
Statutory Authorities, an in-depth look at the major
environmental laws governing air and water quality,
waste management, pesticide and chemical regulation,
and public right-to-know. The report also identifies
specific statutory authorities for promoting environ-
mental justice in the full range of EPA program func-
tions: standard setting and permitting, enforcement,
delegation of program authority to states, information
gathering, and financial assistance.

Subsequently, ELI published A Citizen’ Guide to
Using Federal Environmental Laws to Secure
Environmental Justice as a “plain English” resource to
familiarize communities with federal statutes and
find opportunities for meaningful public involve-
ment in environmental decisionmaking. These stud-
ies were made possible through a cooperative

agreement with OEFJ. ELI, in conjunction with the
Southwest Network for Environmental and
Economic Justice and the United Church of Christ,
are developing a video based on the Citizen’s Guide.
The video will be completed by September 2003.
OE] is planning a wide distribution of this video to
all stakeholders.

National Academy of Public
Administration (NAPA) Studies

NAPA issued a trilogy of reports through a coopera-
tive agreement with OEJ. The reports encompass
environmental justice at the federal, state, and
local/municipal government levels. Environmental
Justice in EPA Permitting: Reducing Pollution in High
Risk Communities Is Integral to EPA’s Mission
(December 2001) examines practical areas for integra-
tion into site-specific air, water, and waste permits. In
Models for Change: Efforts by Four States to Address
Environmental Justice (June 2002), NAPA examines
several crosscutting and innovative approaches by four
distinct states as they address environmental justice
concerns, The third report, to be released in Summer
2003, will focus on the role of local land use and zon-
ing practices in creating, addressing, and/or alleviating
environmental justice issues.


“g,' Environmenga QE) Drie Report

Office of Research and Development (ORD) - MC-8104R
Brenda E. Washington 202 564-6781 F: 202 565-2912

Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER) - MC-5101T
Kent Benjamin 202 566-0185 F; 202 566-0202

Office of Water (OW) - MC-4101M
Alice Walker 202 529-7534 F: 202 269-3597

EPA Regional Contacts

Region 1

Kathy Castagna 617 918-1429 F; 617 918-1029
1 Congress Street, 11th Floor

Boston, MA 02114-2023

Region 2

Derval Thomas 212 637-4028 F: 212 637-4943,
290 Broadway

New York, NY 10007-1866

Region 3

Reginald Harris (3EC00) 215 814-2988 F: 215 814-2905
1650 Arch Street

Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029

Region 4

Cynthia Peurifoy 404 562-9649 F; 404 562-9664
61 Forsyth Street, SW.

Atlanta, GA 30303-8960

Region 5

Karla Owens (T-16]) 312 886-5993 F: 312 886-2737
77 West Jackson Boulevard

Chicago, IL. 60604-3507

Region 6
Shirley Augurson (GRA-DJ) 214 665-7401 F; 214 665-6648
Sunita Singhvi (6EN-WT) 214 665-7290 F: 214 665-6648

1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 1200
Dallas, TX 75202-2733

132


(
o \

INUIRONMESIAL IGS CL

Environmenga ere Bigmnial Report

Characterizing Respiratory Effects in
Children

ORD is collaborating with the National Center for
Health Statistics (NCHS) to examine risk factors for
respiratory effects in children, ORD is using respira-
tory effects/function data from the Third National
Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
(NHANES-III). ORD is particularly interested in
examining risk factors associated with ambient air
quality and urbanization, measures of ambient air
pollution, population density, and road density for
the geographic areas visited by NHANES-III. ORD
has linked its environmental risk factor data with the
NHANES-III data and is analyzing the effects of
these risk factors on respiratory health and function
in children. This work is relevant to environmental
justice since ORD is looking at race, ethnicity, age,
sex, and sociodemographics as potential risk factors.

Community Improvement Without
Displacement—Smart Growth

As urban settings are being rediscovered as prime loca-
tions for housing, entertainment facilities, and retail
centers, opportunities exist for curning around com-
munities that have been economically disadvantaged.
While the restoration of abandoned communities is an
important goal, incumbent residents with low or mod-
erate incomes can be displaced as property values rise
and it becomes difficult to keep up with higher prop-

erty taxes, housing prices, and rents.

For this reason, EPA is preparing a report to identi-
fy best practices and examples that demonstrate
how communities are turning themselves around
without displacing incumbent residents (or by keep-
ing displacement levels at a minimum). Revitalizing
communities maximizes and strengthens existing
infrastructure, such as roads, schools, and utilities.
A revitizalized community that retains current resi-
dents and attracts new ones also can relieve some of
the development pressures in edge areas, which
helps maintain regional water quality and air quality
through reduced vehicle miles traveled,

The target audience for this report includes key
decisionmakers, such as community developers,
municipal leaders, and planners. The three long-
term goals for the report are to: (1) enable decision-
makers to consider, during the planning stage, how
neighborhood improvement projects can be
designed to minimize displacement of incumbent
residents; (2) identify a broader set of policies/best
practices that can be applied to minimize the prob-
lem of displacement; and (3) present case studies to
demonstrate that minimizing displacement is an
attainable goal.

Region 1

Chelsea Creek Community-Based
Comparative Risk Assessment

The residents of east Boston and Chelsea,
Massachusetts, have long felt that they bear an unfair
burden of environmental impacts. The Chelsea River
that joins the two communities is a highly industrial-
ized Designated Port Zone that serves numerous
tankers and trucks, It also is a storage site for much of
the region’s fuel and road salt. Accidental fuel spills
and leaking tanks have contributed to the 21 state-des-
ignated environmental hazardous waste sites in the
neighborhoods. Air traffic from Logan Airport and
heavy road traffic from satellite parking and airport-
related industries generate high volumes of air pollu-

110



Region 6

Creek Nation Waste Tire Cleanup
Project

A waste tire pile consisting of approximately 75,000
scrap tires located on Creek Nation tribal lands in
rural, mideastern Oklahoma was reported by IHS in
1999, The waste tire dump was 25 years old.
During the early part of this year, Region 6, in con-
junction with the Inter-Tribal Environmental
Council (ITEC), provided technical assistance to
facilitate removal of these waste tires. The
Oklahoma DEQ provided a vendor list.

Holnam Cement Kiln removed approximately
40,000 tires, which were used as tire-derived fuel
(TDF). The remaining 35,000 scrap tires were
removed by Frontier Recycling Company and other
individual contractors of Tulsa. The tribe used
funding from BIA to level the site to prevent soil
erosion. It was a highly successful project, demon-
strating a great example of coordination among
tribal, federal, state consortia and the local tire-recy-
cling industry.

Region 9

Tribal Capacity Building

Environmental conditions on reservations in Region
9 require significant financial and technical assis-
tance. Compared with the rest of the United States,
economic and public health conditions in Indian
country are dire. Nearly one-third of reservation
households are at or below the poverty level; the
rate of tuberculosis is 475 percent higher than the
national average; and the rate for pneumonia and
influenza is 61 percent higher. In addition, 6 of
every 10 reservation homes have no telephone, and
1 of every 5 homes has no plumbing, sink, or toilet.
Forty percent of Navajo families have to haul their
drinking water.

69

|

Chapter 3

ae Ae ce

One of EPA's primary goals is to protect human
health and the environment in Indian country and
to provide assistance to tribes seeking to develop
their own programs, Currently, 90 percent of the
tribes in Region 9 have applied for and received
assistance under the General Assistance Program
(GAP), which has resulted in: (1) increased environ-
mental capacity with 130 tribes; (2) 60 tribes with
environmental plans; (3) 45 tribes with environmen-
tal codes and ordinances; (4) 60 projects to clean up
landfills, construct transfer stations, and develop
recycling centers; (5) closure of dumps on 13 reser-
vations; (6) removal of abandoned automobiles on
six reservations; (7) cleanup of over 2,000 used tires
on four reservations; and (8) construction of 25
recycling centers.

Addressing Non-Attainment Areas
Fifty-eight tribes in the Pacific Southwest are in
non-attainment areas for air pollutants. Because
CAA funding is not sufficient to provide funding to
all tribes with need, several tribes used EPA’s GAP
funds for their air programs.

To date, tribes have installed 42 air monitors at 23
sites. For example, the Bishop Paiute Tribe, which is
located near a large particulate source (Dry Owens
Lakebed), used GAP funds to build a monitoring sta-
tion. The Yurok Tribe also used GAP funds and
equipment from EPA's Las Vegas Lab to build a
weather station on its northern California reservation.


A local community group, Unidos Contra Environ-
mental Racism, asked EPA to conduct a risk assess-
ment on the CCHS site. EPA determined that a risk
assessment was not appropriate and recommended an
alternate collaborative process, which would involve
development of a qualitative conceptual model.

EPA conducted a series of meetings with community
stakeholders, including community leaders, business
leaders, school district officials, government repre-
sentatives, and elected officials. During the meet-
ings, all stakeholders cooperatively and qualitatively
identified concerns and issues regarding environ-
mental health and safety of students and staff at
CCHS. The first “scoping” phase is complete, and
the implementation or “empowerment” phase is cur-
rently underway.

Participating stakeholders organized six workgroups
operating under the charge of a steering committee.
These workgroups are developing recommendations
for mitigating risk to students and staff in the follow-
ing general areas: emergency preparedness and
response, ait quality, water discharges, pedestrian
access, and pipeline safety. The city of Houston,
Houston Independent School District, Texas Railroad
Commission, and community environmental activists
have volunteered to chair these workgroups.

Region 7

Children’s Health Presentation to
Migrant Mothers

In August 2002, Region 7 gave a presentation in
Lexington, Missouri, on children’s health issues to a
young mothers’ group affiliated with the Migrant
Farm Workers’ Project, a non-profit organization.
Through assisted Spanish translation, the presenta-
tion offered simple steps to prevent lead poisoning
and pesticides exposure. The group then watched a
short video on pesticides awareness and asked several
questions pertaining to their families’ health risks.

Environmengad ere Bigmnial Report

Many were not aware of the potential pesticide and
lead hazards that they or their children could face.
Almost all of the young mothers were Spanish-speak-
ing immigrants from Mexico who travel to Lexington
in the summer to pick apples. Most of the women
and their families also live in old houses that are
directly across from the orchards, making their fami-
lies more susceptible to possible pesticides exposure.

Region 9

California’s Schools Siting Program
Many proposed school siting locations in California
are on or near former industrial facilities. Many of
the school siting locations are also in environmental
justice communities. In January 2000, two new state
laws became effective that require the California
Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) to
be involved in the environmental review process for
the proposed acquisition and/or construction of
school properties utilizing state funding. These new
laws address concerns raised by parents, teachers,
local communities, and the legislature over school
site properties that are or may be contaminated by
hazardous materials and may pose a health threat to
children and school faculty.

In response to the new laws, the state formed a
Schools Division whose purpose is to ensure that
properties are properly evaluated and remediated
prior to redevelopment as schools. Region 9 worked
with state managers to formulate a strategy to help
develop the new program and provided grant fund-
ing to frame and implement it.

Young mothers’ group learning to prevent lead poisoning
and pesticides exposure.

24



Other Interagency
Cooperative Efforts

Region 7

2001/2002 Federal Partners Meeting
EPA Region 7 hosted its second and third annual
Federal Partners Meetings in October 2001 and July
2002. The purpose of the meetings is to bring togeth-
er federal agencies to identify opportunities for coor-
dination and collaboration to achieve environmental
justice in federal programs and activities. The meet-
ings are a valuable tool for each agency to move for-
ward in understanding and addressing areas of
environmental justice and to better coordinate federal
efforts to meet the needs of regional stakeholders.

South Lawrence Trafficway

Region 7 staff have provided environmental justice
comments on the draft environmental impact study
submitted to EPA by the Army Corps of Engineers
regarding the South Lawrence Trafficway. The com-
ments request a more in-depth environmental justice
assessment and enhanced community involvement
strategy to ensure meaningful involvement of the sig-
nificant Native American population that could be

affected by the proposed project.
Region 9

North Richmond Task Force, Federal
Regional Council

The North Richmond task force of the Federal
Regional Council previously focused on non-environ-
mental issues, such as development of a community-
based transportation plan, road improvements and
streetscaping, financial literacy, housing issues, and
rehabilitation of the Verde School library. The focus
now is being redirected to environmental issues,
beginning with developing contacts with local envi-
ronmental and environmental justice groups. Region

Environmengad ere Bigthnial Report

9 hopes to link revitalization goals with the public
health concerns and environmental justice concerns of
the North Richmond community. Environmental
Justice Training Assessments are being conducted with
the county/city to determine if environmental justice
fundamentals training is needed.

CALFED Bay-Delta Program

CALFED is a consortium among California state and
federal agencies with management and regulatory
responsibility in the Bay-Delta Estuary. The partner-
ship was formalized in June 1994 with the signing of
the framework agreement, whereby the state and fed-
eral agencies pledged to work together in four areas of
Bay-Delta management: (1) water quality standards
formulation, (2) coordination of the State Water
Project and Central Valley Project, (3) operations with
regulatory requirements, and (4) long-term solutions
to problems in the Bay-Delta Estuary.

Recent activities include the formulation of an envi-
ronmental justice subcommittee and the develop-
ment of an environmental justice work plan, Region
9 continues to work with the environmental justice
communities to meet commitments made in an ear-
lier Record of Decision (ROD). These commitments
include identifying and mitigating activities that
may cause disproportionate adverse impacts on
minority and disadvantaged communities, develop-
ing positive environmental justice program goals for
each of the CALFED program elements, and estab-
lishing ways to monitor and respond to environmen-
tal justice issues as CALFED implementation
proceeds. The Environmental Justice Subcommittee
of the California Bay-Delta Advisory Committee
met several times in 2002, and is, among other mat-
ters, addressing integration with CALFED program
elements, such as drinking water quality, watersheds,
and water use efficiency. CALFED also will hire an
environmental justice coordinator in the near future.
Region 9 will continue to assist the CALFED
process with its implementation of a recently adopt-
ed CALFED Environmental Justice Strategy. This

10



Federal Facility Problems
and Solutions

Region 3

Former Nansemond Ordnance
Depot—Suffolk, Virginia

The former Nansemond Ordnance Depot located in
Suffolk, Virginia, encompasses 975 acres and is situ-
ated at the confluence of the James and Nansemond
rivers. The use of the property before 1917 is not
known; however, local historians claim that the
Confederate Army had an artillery battery on the
site during the Civil War. During the next 50 years,
the site was used as an ordnance depot and a Marine
Corps Supply Forwarding Annex. In June 1960, the
Navy split the facility into a number of parcels,
some of which were sold to private parties and desig-
nated for a variety of uses. The site was placed on
the NPL in early 2000.

EPA work at the site had commenced years earlier,
however. In 1995, EPA performed a removal assess-
ment of the site to determine the possible extent of
munitions contamination, including buried ord-
nance. Further EPA investigations uncovered addi-
tional ordnance items and munitions debris
throughout the site. During intrusive work, in 1999,
to remove the buried ordnance and munitions items
from a beachfront disposal area located along the
James River, workers unearthed the remains of what
appeared to be a member of the Nansemond Tribe.

Because of this issue, combined with the historical
significance of the site location, the Virginia State
Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) wrote to
Region 3 in March 2000 requesting that all work at
the site stop until compliance issues with the
National Historic Preservation Act were discussed.
As a result of these events, Region 3 negotiated a
programmatic agreement with the Virginia SHPO,

—

Chapter 3

the Army Corps of Engineers, and other consulting
parties to cover all site activities. The programmatic
agreement was finalized in May 2001. As a result,
the archeological remains have been removed from
the site by the Army Corps of Engineers, and have
been sent to Radford University for evaluation.

Region 6

Kelly USA

Minority residents of Kelly Gardens and other com-
munities adjacent to the former Kelly Air Force
Base (AFB) in San Antonio, Texas complained to
EPA about base-generated contamination that
migrated onto residential properties. Kelly AFB offi-
cially closed on July 13, 2001. However, neighbor-
ing residents believe that Kelly has failed to
adequately clean up contaminated soil and ground
water that resulted from its operational practices.
Region 6 is overseeing corrective actions being con-
ducted under a RCRA permit issued by TCEQ in
June 1998. EPA provides technical assistance to
TCEQ and Kelly AFB as a member of the Base
Realignment and Closure and Base Cleanup Team.

Currently, all perimeter interim ground-water con-
tainment systems are running. The Air Force is con-
tinuing the investigation of soil and ground-water
contamination and developing remediation alterna-
tives, and has greatly increased contact with the local
government and community with an expanded com-
munity outreach program, initiated in February 2000.
ATSDR has completed all but one of the scheduled
public health assessments for the base area. The assess-
ments are currently being translated into Spanish.

Region 6’s OEJ serves as a liaison between the com-
munity, EPA, and other federal and state programs.
Efforts have included meetings between the parties
to clarify issues and concerns and to follow up on
citizen inquiries and requests. Recently, an environ-
mental justice training session involved Kelly USA,

29


Region 4

Mississippi Statewide Environmental
Justice Summit

A mississippi statewide environmental justice sum-
mit was held in August 2001 in Jackson, Mississippi.
The summit, entitled Environmental Planning,
Community Health & Justice Solutions was a col-
laborative effort between Region 4 and its stakehold-
ers. More than 200 stakeholders were in attendance
from community, industry, environmental groups,
academia, and federal and state agencies, The sum-
mit included sessions on brownfields, internal opera-
tions of the Mississippi DEQ, and successful
environmental justice strategies for business and
local governments. A National Library of Congress
mini-training and a community dialogue session also
were conducted. The dialogue session yielded several
constructive recommendations, which have been
acted upon by Mississippi DEQ. Additionally, a tour
was conducted at a brownfield pilot site in
Columbia, Mississippi, to demonstrate how econom-
ic redevelopment and environmental justice can
work to: (1) create jobs; (2) address health concerns;
(3) educate the public; (4) rebuild abandoned and
contaminated properties into reusable and produc-
tive areas; and (5) form collaborative partnerships.

Environmengl OHQEDria Report

The purpose and intent of the summit was to: (1)
build stakeholder partnerships and coalitions, (2)
promote environmental awareness and the develop-
ment of just solutions to environmental issues in
Mississippi, (3) enable communities and other inte-
gral stakeholders to learn, provide input, and proac-
tively participate in understanding the issues, (4)
develop an environmental justice strategy for
Mississippi, (5) advance efforts on working together
with key players in the state and leverage communi-
ty input into the decisionmaking process, (6) focus
on public and private partnerships between environ-
mental and health agencies and the regulated and
impacted communities, and (7) create a model for
stakeholders as they develop and enhance working
platforms to utilize the resources and knowledge
gained from the summit.

Region 5

Southeast Michigan Environmental
Forum

The Southeast Michigan Environmental Forum is an
ongoing activity, which has been the key means of
education/outreach and stakeholder involvement in
southeast Michigan. By providing coordination and
facilitation capability to the local regional planning
authority (Southeast Michigan Council of
Governments) and by working through a steering
committee of a broad range of stakeholders, the
project builds capacity at the local level. It allows
local stakeholders to select emerging and relevant
topics and to determine the most appropriate way to
disseminate information to the appropriate audience
for each topic. It also provides a mechanism for
stakeholders to develop partnerships, collaborate on
issues, and create strategies to address environmental
issues to attain the ultimate goals of clean air, pure
water, and safe land. Partners in this effort include
federal, state, and local governments; Canadian gov-
ernments; industry and business; environmental
consultants; builders, planners, and developers; com-


Vd



Bay Watershed. Numerous partners participated in
these education activities with EPA, including the
District of Columbia Department of Health, the
Anacostia Watershed Society, and the premier voca-
tional program for troubled youth in Alexandria, the
Alexandria Seaport Foundation.

Five Star Restoration Program:
Partnering to Protect Wetlands

EPA established the Five Star Restoration Program
to support community-based wetlands restoration
projects and educate the public about watersheds
actoss the United States. The National Association
of Counties (NACO), the National Fish and
Wildlife Foundation, and the Wildlife Habitat
Council joined together with EPA for this effort.
Funding for the program is provided by OWOW
and the National Marine Fisheries Service's
Community-Based Restoration Program.

The Five Star Challenge Grants Program develops
knowledge and skills in young people through
restoration projects that involve multiple and diverse
partners, including local government agencies, elect-
ed officials, community groups, businesses, schools,
youth organizations, and environmental organiza-
tions. Its objective is to engage five or more partners
in each project to contribute funding, land, techni-
cal assistance, workforce support, or other in-kind
services that match the program's funding assistance.
Consideration for funding is based upon the pro-
ject’s educational and training opportunities for stu-
dents and at-risk youth, the ecological benefits to be
derived, and the project’s social and economic bene-
fits to the community.

EPA’s funding levels are modest, averaging about
$10,000 per project. However, the projects provide
meaningful contributions to communities when this
funding is combined with contributions of other
partners. At the completion of Five Star projects,
each partnership will have experience and confidence
with a demonstrated record of accomplishment, and

will be well positioned to take on similar projects
in the future. Thus far, 250 projects have been
funded from FY 1999 through FY 2002 with
project funding levels ranging from $5,000 to
$20,000. For more information, visit <nfwf.org/
programs/5star-rfp.htm>

Kingman Lake Restoration and
Educational Field Trip

OWOW conducted an educational wetland restora-
tion planting at Kingman Lake on the Anacostia
River near Washington D.C. with a
group of 4th and 5th graders from
PR Harris Educational Center.
Partners in the project included the
Army Corps of Engineers; District
of Columbia Department of
Health, Watershed Protection
Division; Izaak Walton League of
America; NACO; and AmeriCorps.
An award ceremony, led by EPA fj
managers, recognized the contribu-
tions of the students to the
improved health of the Anacostia
River and Chesapeake Bay. The
group toured Kenilworth Marsh
and Aquatic Gardens, where previous marsh restora-
tion work was highlighted. Television news coverage
of the children planting wetlands plants aired on

Channel 8.

Smart Growth Speaker Series

The Smart Growth Speaker Series represents one of
EPA’s public outlets for education and outreach on
smart growth, The Speaker Series has been a forum
for addressing issues such as mass transit, smart
growth at the ballot box, edgeless cities, property
rights and community values, and many others.

In 2001, two lectures from the Speaker Series were
particularly relevant to environmental justice: Smart
Growth Block-by-Block: The Role of Community-
Based Organizations and Faith-Based Development:

91



will involve addressing issues raised in a series of
workshops conducted in 2001, such as improving
water quality, converting farmland to habitat, and
gaining community access to watershed improve-
ment grants and other funds. CALFED will use the
input from these workshops to develop a compre-
hensive Environmental Justice Workplan (which the
agencies will be asked to adopt) across all areas of
the CALFED program.

National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA)
Implementation

Region 1

North Shore Transit Improvements
Project

A project has been proposed to improve transit serv-
ice along the densely populated corridor between
Revere and Salem, Massachusetts. The improve-
ments are intended to help residents gain better
access to primary employment centers along the cor-
ridor, The goals of the project are consistent with
two important environmental goals of EPA: improv-
ing air quality and promoting smart growth. Some
of the alternatives under consideration could have
significant impacts on the environment, including
wetlands, aquatic ecosystems, and other areas of eco-
logical value. In addition, several potential areas of
environmental justice concern are located in por-
tions of the study area, Region 1 encouraged the
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
(MBTA) to conduct a full range of potential envi-
ronmental impacts of project alternatives (both posi-
tive and negative) to support sound decisionmaking
in its Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
Region 1 also prepared maps to identify potential
environmental justice areas of concern, including
Chelsea, Lynn, Revere, and Salem. Because of
potential vulnerabilities in these areas, Region 1

strongly advised the MBTA and Federal Transit
Administration to evaluate the proposed project in
light of these concerns.

Logan Airside Improvements Planning
Project

The Logan Airside Improvements Planning Project is
a proposed unidirectional runway to increase airfield
efficiency, decrease taxiway delays, enhance safety, and
reduce current and future levels of aircraft and passen-
ger delay at Logan International Airport in Boston,
Massachusetts. Delays at Logan Airport generate costs
to airlines, passengers, and residents of surrounding
communities. After a careful review of the environ-
mental implications of the pro-
posed action, including the
impacts to potential environmen-
tal justice areas of concern, a final
EIS was issued.

During the draft EIS and supple-
mental draft EIS phases, Region
1 suggested that additional infor-
mation was needed to assess the
project, including information
about noise impacts on sut-
rounding communities, strategies
for addressing these mitigating
impacts, and the degree to which

11



Environmental Justice Initiative. The Workshop
provided a working knowledge of current New York
State and New York City brownfields policies and
relevant economic development programs.

The goal was to proactively support informed com-
munity participation and engagement in brown-
fields redevelopment. The roundtable’s discussion
and resources should serve to enhance the partici-
pants’ ability to assess local brownfields proposals
and participate in brownfields projects in their
own neighborhoods.

The agenda provided an interactive forum for feder-
al, state, city, and community organization repre-
sentatives to discuss lessons learned, challenges, and
perspectives about brownfields redevelopment.
Participants represented federal, state, and local city
agencies, environmental organizations from
throughout New York City, community develop-
ment organizations, and private sector representa-
tives from real estate development companies and
financial institutions.

Region 3

Maryland Commission on
Environmental Justice and Sustainable
Communities

Over the past 2 years, the Maryland Commission of
Environmental Justice and Sustainable
Communities, made up of a diverse group of stake-
holders from across the state of Maryland, has held
monthly meetings in an effort to develop a state
strategy for addressing environmental justice. Region
3 actively participates in these commission meetings
by making presentations on a variety of issues,
including cumulative risk assessment, public health
indicators, and GIS, Region 3 works with the com-
mission in support of its various activities, and pro-
vides advice and technical support to the group.
Commission members; invited guests; representa-

tives of state, local, and federal agencies; business
and industry; and the public at large all attend com-
mission meetings.

Chesapeake Bay Environmental
Justice Task Force Forum

In support of the Chesapeake 2000 Agreement, the
Chesapeake Bay Environmental Justice Task Force
held an Environmental Justice Forum in Fall 2002.
The forum focused on issues related to the harvest
and consumption of fish and shellfish and on issues
related to sewer and water quality in the Chesapeake
Bay watershed. The forum provided information and
updates on the status of activities related to the top-
ics of discussion, and provided the community with
an opportunity to discuss concerns related to these
focal issues. The Chesapeake Bay Environmental
Justice Task Force is made up of representatives from
Region 3; NOAA; the states of Maryland,
Pennsylvania, and Virginia; the District of
Columbia; the Anacostia River Keeper; citizens’
groups; and business and industry.



aaa
tit! Sy cul

ENVIEONAUNTAL JUSTICE

CEA rniai Report

Momentum from the forum led to the passage of a
resolution calling for a coalition to protect sacred
lands from the National Congress of American
Indians. The forum also led to the DC Sacred Lands
Forum held in Washington, D.C. in March 2002,
which focused federal attention on these important
issues, The film was shown at various federal agencies,
including DOI, which hosted a panel discussion after
the showing, In addition, the tribal representatives
held a meeting with the American Indian and Alaskan
Native Task Force of IWG.

A major accomplishment of the week was a commit-
ment ftom staffers of the Senate Indian Affairs
Committee to hold a series of oversight hearings on
the implementation of cultural resource laws. Several
hearings were held in Summer 2002.

Hispanic Outreach

Several projects were completed in Region 8 that
raised environmental awareness and increased EPA’s
responsiveness to Hispanic environmental and pub-
lic health priorities, The majority of these activities
were carried out by Region 8’s Hispanic
Employment Program in partnership with the
Environmental Justice Program. The following proj-
ects were carried out: (1) development of a Spanish-
language information line; (2) development of
bilingual Spanish information line business cards;

(3) distribution of Spanish/English environmental
educational materials at Migrant Appreciation Day;
(4) sponsorship of a brownbag event highlighting
migrant farm worker issues; and (5) translation serv-
ices on field inspections and brochures.

Grants Workshops

Region 8 conducted three grant writing workshops in
January and February of 2001, providing information
on Environmental Justice Small Grants and
Environmental Justice through Pollution Prevention
Grants. Topics covered in these workshops included:
(1) understanding the two grant programs and the
grant application process; (2) choosing projects suit-
able for the grant programs; (3) writing an effective
proposal; (4) completing an application package; and
(5) understanding the approval process. Non-profit
organizations; community groups; tribal and indige-
nous groups; community development organizations;
tribal, state, and local governments; faith-based organ-
izations; and academic institutions were invited to
attend these free workshops held in Montana,
Colorado, and Utah.

Region 9

Agriculture Initiative

Region 9 conducted a series of meetings with state
regulatory partners and USDA in each of the Region
9 states to discuss issues and opportunities to
strengthen the communication and understanding
between the agricultural sector and environmental
agencies. These initial discussions helped identify
issues of mutual interest and specific high-priority
issues with key external agricultural stakeholders. In
order to promote planning and coordination, EPA's
Agriculture Initiative Team, working with the
Regional Agriculture Team, focuses on regional agri-
culture activities, sponsors educational events for
regional staff, and strengthens the ties between agen-
cies working on diverse agricultural issues. Theses
activities acknowledge the ongoing work of local,

102



Chap

r7

Targeting, Environmental

Health, and
Studies

PA recognizes the importance of compliance

assistance and enforcement in preventing and

reducing unlawful emissions of contaminants
into the environment. EPA has long been involved
in studies to identify contaminants in the environ-
ment and understand their impact on public health,
This chapter discusses some of EPA’s compliance
efforts and specific studies to address environmental
justice concerns.

Targeting Studies
Region 2

Diesel School Bus Initiative

Within Region 2’s jurisdiction, approximately
86,000 diesel school buses transport more than 2.5
million students per year. Diesel exhaust contains
tiny particles and other noxious gases that can affect
the normal growth and development of a child’s res-
piratory, cardiac, metabolic, and immune systems.
Diesel exhaust has been found to exacerbate chronic
conditions such as asthma and bronchitis. Research

Exposure

also shows that minority children are disproportion-
ately affected by asthma and other respiratory condi-
tions and live in high-traffic, industrialized areas,

Region 2 has implemented a Diesel School Bus
Initiative to ensure cleaner air quality, mitigate asth-
ma exacerbators from children’s environments, and
increase awareness in the community about the haz-
ards of diesel exhaust exposure from school buses.
The Region has identified a three-pronged approach
to cutting down on diesel emissions: (1) reduce
engine idling time, (2) use ultra-low-sulfur diesel
fuel, and (3) retrofit diesel engines to reduce harm-
ful emissions.

Based on selected criteria for this project (areas of
non-attainment of air quality standards, high asth-
ma hospitalization rates, and bus fleet characteris-
tics) the Region used GIS to locate target areas for
this program. Through this project, the Region is
working with community-based organizations that
are seeking to improve air quality, reduce asthma
rates, and increase safety among schoolchildren and
the community.

118



agencies, air districts, and certifying agencies) to pro-
vide advice and consultation on environmental justice

for Cal/EPA.

California DTSC

The DTSC is the Governor's designated lead state
agency for implementation of hazardous substance
regulations. With the state’s recent passage of environ-
mental justice legislation, Region 9 and DTSC have
identified opportunities to direct grant funding for
development of DTSC’s environmental justice infra-
structure. The $70,000 in grant funds cover a 2 year
period and will support DTSC efforts to define and
implement its environmental justice program.

During 2002, DTSC: (1) formed an executive com-
mittee to develop an environmental justice policy
and refine its guidance for all DTSC programs, (2)
developed an environmental justice policy, (3) had a
greater community involvement presence at environ-
mental justice sites, (4) hired an environmental justice
coordinator to function as the focal point for environ-
mental justice implementation within DTSC, and to
coordinate with federal, state, and local agency coun-
terparts on environmental justice issues and concerns,
(5) supported participation of all DISC Public
Involvement Program staff for the environmental jus-
tice fundamentals training delivered by Region 9, (6)
developed an environmental justice Web site, and (7)
translated outreach materials.

Region 10

Washington State—Environmental
Justice Act

In March 2002, the Washington State House of
Representatives voted unanimously to pass House Bill
1411, more commonly known as the Environmental
Justice Act. This bill, developed in collaboration with
community groups, holds industry responsible for
releasing harmful substances into the environment.
This bill requires the owners or operators of facilities

65

,

Chapter 3

that have released hazardous substances to inform
members of the surrounding community. Notices
must be placed in visible, publicly accessible areas,
and handbills or leaflets must be issued to all the resi-
dences and businesses in the area. The bill also
includes a clause mandating that notices and hand-
bills be issued in multiple languages.

Washington Board of Health

In 2001, the Washington Board of Health developed
a position paper for prioritizing board resources to
address environmental justice. The paper was the
product of a series of meetings with state and local
agencies and the public to learn about the various
environmental justice issues facing the state of
Washington. Input for the position paper was also
obtained through testimony from the-Department of
Public Health-Seattle/King County, ATSDR,
Washington Department of Health, Washington
Department of Ecology, Region 10, Community
Coalition for Environmental Justice, ALA,
Environmental Coalition of South Seattle, and resi-
dents from Washington communities. The environ-
mental justice recommendations from the position
paper were adopted by the Board of Health and for-
warded to the Governor's Office,

Tribal Efforts to Address
Problems and Find
Solutions

National Tribal Air Association

EPA’s OAR, along with tribes and other stakehold-
ers, has formed the National Tribal Air Association

ae Eh



Public Participation and
Training Initiatives

eaningful public participation in the gov-
NVI ernment’s decision-making processes is a

fundamental principle for providing envi-
ronmental justice for all communities. This chapter
focuses on some of the EPA, state, and tribal public
participation and training initiatives that speak
directly to or enhance efforts to address the range of
environmental justice concerns.

Of particular note is EPA’s initiative to train its
employees by offering the environmental justice fun-
damentals training course. The underlying purpose
of this training program is to help integrate environ-
mental justice into the government's decisionmaking
processes while recognizing that meaningful public
participation is a necessity if full integration is to
occur.

Public Participation
Initiatives

Revision of EPA’s Public Improvement
Policy

EPA released its draft Public Involvement Policy in
December 2000, seeking public comments through

the end of July 2001. EPA plans to finalize the poli-
cy by early 2003, along with a plan to implement
the policy across the Agency. When releasing the
draft policy, EPA particularly requested public com-
ments on how best to involve communities in EPA's
decisions. EPA received more than 200 comments
on the draft policy, and many provided suggestions
on how to better involve communities that may be
disproportionately and adversely affected by environ-
mental pollution.

The draft policy recommends that all programs and
offices utilize the seven basic functions of effective
public involvement, which include: (1) plan and
budget for public involvement activities; (2) identify
the interested and affected public; (3) consider pro-
viding technical or financial assistance to the public
to facilitate involvement; (4) provide information
and outreach to the public; (5) conduct public con-
sultation and involvement activities; (6) review and
use input, and provide feedback to the public; and
(7) evaluate public involvement activities.

To encourage additional input on the Agency’s
public involvement activities from a wider set of
people, EPA convened an online dialogue on public

71



busses, and construction equipment. This pollution
can contribute to asthma and other respiratory ill-
nesses. EPA’s Voluntary Diesel Retrofit Program is a
non-regulatory, incentive-based program designed to
reduce pollution from diesel engines, The program
addresses pollution from diesel construction equip-
ment and heavy-duty vehicles on the road today. It
is designed to pursue reductions in hydrocarbons,
nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and particulate
matter using pollution-reducing technology.

Urban Bus Retrofit/Rebuild Program
The Urban Bus Retrofit/Rebuild Program is a regu-
latory-based program to reduce pollution from
urban buses on the road today. This mandatory pro-
gtam is designed to ensure particulate matter emis-
sions are reduced for
1993 and earlier model
year urban buses at the
time of engine rebuild
or replacement. The
regulations apply to
metropolitan areas with
1980 populations of
750,000 or more. Forty-nine urban areas across the
United States are covered by these regulations. EPA
is also working directly with communities and tribes
to reduce children’s exposure to diesel exhaust from
school buses.

EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation (OAR) and
Region 5 have established a school bus retrofit proj-
ect in Northwest Indiana. Here, advanced emissions
control equipment will be installed to reduce the
pollution from the existing fleet. In addition, EPA is
working in partnership with the Puyallup Tribe in
the state of Washington to retrofit its school buses
with pollution-reducing technology and cleaner
diesel fuel.

idle Reduction Program
To reduce air pollution and conserve fuel from
idling trucks and locomotives, OAR established the

16

Environmengl QHQDria Report

Idle Reduction Program. As part of this program,
regional coalitions of communities, state and local
governments, and trucking and truck stop compa-
nies are organizing to install idle reduction systems
along major interstate corridors, such as I-65 in the
Midwest and I-95 in the Northeast. The criteria for
identifying locations includes areas with low-income
and/or minority populations with a disproportionate
amount of facilities nearby. Two such locations
include a large truck stop in Gary, Indiana, which
received a $125,000 grant for the installation of
truck stop electrification infrastructure, and a loco-
motive switch yard which received a $60,000 grant
for anti-idling devices.

Reducing Air Emissions at Airports
The majority of the nation’s busiest airports are
located in urban areas that struggle to meet air qual-
ity standards. EPA shares concerns about how
airport-related emissions impact surrounding com-
munities and recognizes the challenges that airport
activities pose on state and local efforts to achieve
and maintain healthy air quality. OAR staff are
currently participating as advisors for a federal/city
partnership to enhance the lives of the residents
of Los Angeles.

EPA convened several interagency meetings to dia-
logue with organizations having responsibility,
authority, and technical expertise concerning issues
involving airport operations to develop the frame-
work for a comprehensive study to determine the
contribution of air emissions from the Los Angeles
World Airport to the surrounding communities.
Because airport-related environmental justice issues
are not unique to Los Angeles, this study also pro-
vided the opportunity for federal interagency coop-
eration to develop methodologies and guidance that
could serve as a model for future studies throughout
the country.



munity groups; environmental organizations and
NGOs; and citizens.

Region 6

Environmental Justice Open House
Region 6 hosted its first Environmental Justice
Open House in April 2002. The event was a great
success as well as being informative and fun. The
open house focused attendees’ attention on the
newly developed Region 6 Environmental Justice
Strategic Plan. Each Region 6 program office spon-
sored a booth and display to provide information on
environmental justice activities and initiatives in
their offices.

In addition, attendees had an opportunity to pattici-
pate in a portion of the environmental justice train-
ing and a demonstration of the regional
environmental justice GIS screening methodology.
Several external environmental justice partners
attended, including states, community-based groups,
and industry. Region 6 took advantage of this
opportunity to display its creativity and talents,
including the debut of its original vocal release Make
The World A Safer Place. Region 6 found this event
to be an excellent outreach and educational tool and
will likely sponsor similar events in the future.

Environmental Justice Grant Writing
Workshops

In January 2002, Region 6 conducted two work-
shops to assist grassroots community organizations
in writing grant proposals for the Environmental
Justice Small Grants Program. The first workshop was
held in Houston for the Vietnamese community at
the Vietnamese Culture and Science Association
Center. In addition to EPA's grant writing workshop,
presentations on grant opportunities were made by
HUD and the Department of Education. Forty atten-
dees participated in this workshop. The second work-
shop was held in Albuquerque in the offices of the

Cc

Southwest Network for Economic and Environmental
Justice. Ten representatives of grassroots organizations
took the training.

Team Houston—Asian American and
Pacific Islanders (AAPI) Initiative

Region 6 strongly supports the White House
Initiative on AAPIs. In June 2001, Region 6 formed
Team Houston, which includes 23 federal, state, and
local government entities (such as EPA, HHS,
HUD, DOL, and the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission), and many others work-
ing together to support the goals of Executive Order
13216. Team Houston's goal is to increase opportu-
nities and improve the quality of life of AAPIs. Led
by Region 6, Team Houston has initiated numerous
activities and strategies to address issues and con-
cerns facing AAPI communities, such as job place-
ments, grant workshops, employment rights,
immigration services, outreach, translation networks,
financial investment awareness, assisted-living hous-
ing, and small business opportunities.

In June 2002, OE] assisted EPA’s Office of
Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances(OPPTS)
Lead Program, in cooperation with EPA Region 6,
in translating a brochure entitled Protect Your Family
from Lead in Your Home into Vietnamese. Five thou-
sand copies of this brochure have been distributed
widely to Vietnamese American communities where
some families are living in substandard housing. The

99



Region 8 obtained funds from EPA's Office of
Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) to
monitor this potential air quality threat to the neigh-
borhoods. Working with the Colorado Department
of Public Health and Environment, Region 8 has
installed one air monitor and one meteorological sta-
tion in a neighborhood location suggested by the
prevailing wind patterns. EPA will monitor the air
for 6 months with chemical analysis of filters for
arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, plus
episodic organic sampling to look for dioxin. The
results will be analyzed and integrated into EPA air
models to determine the nature and extent of con-
tamination and potential human exposure.

Rocky Mountain Steel Mill, Pueblo, Colorado.

Alternative Dispute
Resolution (ADR)

Region 1

Hartford Landfill/Title VI Mediation

A community group filed a claim under Title VI of
the Civil Rights Act against the State of Connecticut
regarding the permitting of a waste disposal site and
its adverse impacts on the minority population.
Despite significant progress in the negotiations, sev-
eral key parties were at impasse and settlement was
questionable. Region 1 introduced and funded an
experienced, well-respected environmental mediator.
The mediator assisted with bringing the parties back

-—.

Chapt

to the negotiations and worked with them to devel-
op a resolution.

Asphalt Plant Emissions Facilitation

A series of contentious, unfocused conference calls
relating to emissions testing procedures for asphalt
plants had taken place among a geographically
diverse coalition of concerned citizens, asphalt plant
representatives, EPA staff, and various technical con-
sultants. The integrity and rigor of these procedures
was of particular concern because asphalt plants are
often located in low-income or minority neighbor-
hoods, Region 1 provided a team of in-house facili-
tators to allow for more constructive dialogue. A
series of facilitated conference calls, followed by 3
days of in-person meetings and subsequent mediated
interactions resulted in agreements relating to citizen
involvement protocols to be used by EPA in future
emissions tests.

Region 9

Community Use of ADR

Region 9 conducted a forum that encouraged com-
munities that had filed Title VI complaints to con-
sider using ADR to reach settlement on their
claims. As a result, three complainants agreed to use
the mediated approach. The complaint filed by
Don’t Waste Arizona against Maricopa County has
been successfully settled. It is the second Title VI
complaint nationally, and the first Region 9 com-
plaint to be resolved using ADR. Region 9 may
hold a second community forum to encourage com-
plainants to use ADR.

21

er 3



dune OF

Environmengal @)

Alaskan Natives Dietary Risk from
Lindane

Lindane is a chemical that persists in the environment
and can be transported long distances. As a result,
Lindane is deposited in cold regions, such as the
Arctic, where the compound becomes less volatile.
Since Alaskan Natives rely heavily on game for their
food source, OPP analyzed chronic dietary risks to
Lindane and conducted risk assessment for these
lifestyle diets. For Alaskan Natives, the chronic dietary
risks are generally not of concern. The highest chronic
estimate was based on highly conservative assump-
tions that probably overestimate dietary risk. The
Agency also made a risk management decision on
acute dietary exposure based on limited residue data
that indicate acute dietary risks are not of concern.

Regulatory Protections for Farm
Workers

The reregistration process for older chemicals has
significantly reduced risks posed by agricultural pes-
ticides to migrant and seasonal farm workers.
Examples of risk reduction, achieved through work
with the regulated community, include extending
restricted-entry intervals, reducing maximum appli-
cation rates, and canceling certain uses that pose
very high risks to workers.

Farm-Based Education and Training
OPP, in cooperation with states, is developing a pilot
program for hazard communication to farm workers.
Working with state lead agencies, state cooperative

(cq BPrniei Report

extension services, key workers’ advocacy groups,
and health care provider networks, OPP intends to
develop and deliver a worker training program that
would combine pesticide safety training with pesti-
cide-specific hazard communication/right-to-know
information, workers’ rights information, and chil-
dren's health protection information.

OPP is initiating a pilot train-the-trainer program
for pesticide worker safety trainers in migrant
stream states. This training program will include a
focus on children as a vulnerable population and
will address the serious concerns raised by NEJAC
and other stakeholders.

OPP will continue an aggressive communication
campaign to broadcast pesticide safety information
messages oriented to farm workers, farm working
mothers, and farm workers’ children. The communi-
cations campaign will be aided by OPP’s current
grant relationship with the Hispanic Radio Network.

OPP has expanded its AmeriCorps grant for worker
pesticide safety training to add a focus on pesticide
safety training for farm worker families. Also, OPP
has awarded a grant to the Young Farm Workers
Academy in Texas to teach children of farm workers
how to protect themselves and their families from
the risks of pesticides,

Region 7

Informing People on Pesticides (IPOP)
Special Initiative Project

Region 7’s Environmental Justice Program, in collabo-
ration with other EPA programs, is researching the
migrant and seasonal farm worker population using
baseline population data from 1990. This information
will be used in addition to current available data (e.g.
demographics, ctops grown, and pesticides used). This
information will be mapped using GIS in an effort to
visually capture the migratory patterns and/or popula-


Region 1, the Massachusetts DEP, the Massachusetts
Auto Body Association, and a number of other agen-
cies and organizations, The course is designed to
help members of the Massachusetts collision repair
industry understand and comply with the basic envi-
ronmental, health, and safety regulations that apply
to them. The program promotes the use of pollution
prevention measures as a primary means for achiev-
ing compliance. The package also was sent to more
than 400 Massachusetts health agents and health
officers so that they have tools and resources at their
disposal to assist them in conducting their code
inspections and assistance outreach in auto body
shops throughout the state.

Outreach on Title V

In order to promote environmental justice, Region 1
increased public awareness of the Title V operating
permits program by hosting a 2-day public work-
shop on how to review a Title V permit. Invitations
were sent out to dozens of community groups,
including those on the Region's environmental jus-
tice mailing list. More than 30 people participated
in this informative workshop. Speakers from Region
1 and environmental advocacy groups explained the
basics of a Title V permit and the feedback mecha-
nisms available to the public when, for example,
there is disagreement on the permit content.

Between 2001 and 2002, Region 1 also increased its
public education efforts by creating a Title V permit-
ting Web site. The site provides useful information
to the interested public, including names and
addresses of EPA Regional and state Title V con-
tacts, and frequently asked questions and answers.
During the first 6 months of 2001, the Web page
had more than 5,300 requests (averaging more than
660 requests per month).

Annual Tribal Training Conferences
Region 1 tribes host an annual tribal training confer-
ence geared toward developing cultural awareness of
federal employees who are tasked with upholding

c

the federal Indian trust responsibility to the tribal
governments. These annual conferences provide a
forum for tribes to meet with federal agencies to
build partnerships and work together toward a com-
mon goal of protecting the environment.

The Fourth Annual Regional Tribal Conference was
a 3-day meeting hosted by the Passamaquoddy Tribe
of Indian Township in April 2001 in Rockport,
Maine. The conference brought together tribal lead-
ers and officials with federal agency representatives
to discuss natural resource, enforcement, and cul-
tural issues, Tribal cultural training for federal
employees included an elders’ panel, sweat lodges,
drumming, dancing, ceremonial events, and tradi-
tional feasts. The theme for this very successful
conference was For the Ancestors & the 7th
Generation: Protecting Tribal Culture through
Environmental Quality.

The Narragansett Indian Tribe hosted the Fifth
Annual Regional Tribal Training Conference, featur-
ing a theme of Remembering and Restoring the
Relationship Between People and

Mother Earth, in May 2002 in

Westerly, Rhode Island. The tribes

chose five topics to focus on during

this 3-day conference. On each day,

the session commenced with an

elders’ panel that communicated

the tribal cultural perspective. The

topics discussed included fire man-

agement and ecology, water quality

and wetlands, invasive species, fish

consumption and advisories, tribal

fish habitat restoration, the EPA

risk assessment process, and tribal

historic preservation, Cultural presentations were
made throughout the conference to educate the fed-
eral partners on traditional tribal values and tribal
environmental stewardship.



EPA's assistance has been pivotal in all the water
quality control programs with the tribes, including
installation of new laboratories and other infrastruc-
ture to support drinking water programs. The
Agency is also providing support to three tribes that
are implementing best management practices to
reduce pollution from run-off and other non-point
source water pollution. The tribes are testing water
quality and monitoring the wetlands and watersheds
to pinpoint the sources, types, and amount of pollu-
tion to better understand the baseline environmental
conditions of Indian country in Region 1. This
information will enable the tribes to build environ-
mental capacity to properly manage and assess the
impacts from persistent bioaccumulative toxins.

Tribal Fish Consumption Survey

The Wampanoag Tribe and EPA coordinated a train-
ing session in May 2002 for Region 1 tribes on how
to conduct a survey so that is non-biased and defensi-
ble. This was the first in a series of training to be con-
ducted at the reservation level for tribal members who
will be conducting tribal fish consumption surveys.

Region 2

Polychlorinated Biphenyl! (PCB)
Cleanup in the Hudson River

In 1984, a 200-mile portion of the Hudson River
was declared a Superfund site because of widespread
PCB contamination. The PCBs were deposited over
a 30-year period from two General Electric plants in
Fort Edward and Hudson Falls, New York. PCBs
have bioaccumulated in fish and pose a potential
health risk to people who eat them.

EPA has provided funding to expand New York
state’s efforts to educate the public about the state’s
advisories against eating PCB-contaminated fish
from the Hudson River, and to assess the need for
an enhanced education campaign for communities
eating fish from nearby waters.

—

Chapter 3

The New York State DOH and Department of
Environmental Conservation (DEC) have used the
funding to support multilinqual education and out-
reach along the Hudson River from Hudson Falls in
Washington County to Battery City Park in
Manhattan. The outreach has taken into account the
demographics of the impacted communities and fish
consumption patterns. The funds have also been used
to assess the need for additional outreach activities in
New York Harbor and the marine waters of
Westchester and Nassau counties.

In addition, two full-time environmental educators
and six seasonal “Health Rangers” have been hired
with the funding to better inform people who may
be eating Hudson River fish about the state’s health
advisories and to assess the effectiveness of the out-
reach efforts. Health advisory brochures have been
reprinted in English and Spanish, and a Russian
brochure also has been developed.

New York's DOH and DEC work with local com-
munities to identify the most effective ways to edu-
cate targeted audiences about the state’s fish
consumption health advisories. The educational
campaign has reached beyond anglers to include the
diverse cultural/ethnic populations who consume

fish taken from the Hudson River.

The final ROD on a plan to clean up the river was
signed in February 2002, after years of scientific
study and with extensive public input. EPA received
more than 70,000 comments on the proposed

33


Region 7

Althea Moses (RAECO) 913 551-7649
901 North Fifth Street

Kansas City, KS 66101

Region 8

Karen Kellen (Acting) (SENF-EJ) 303 312-6518
999 18th Street, Suite 300

Denver, CO 80202-2466

Region 9

Rachel Loftin (CMD-1) 415 972-3795
57 Hawthorne Street

San Francisco, CA 94105

Region 10
Susanne Salcido 206 553-1687
Victoria Plata 206 553-8580

1200 Sixth Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101

133

F: 913 551-7941

F: 303 312-6409

F; 415 947-3562

F: 206 553-7176
F: 206 553-7176

Appendix A



National Designations and
Implementation Workgroup

OAR formed the National Designations and
Implementation Workgroup to help tribes under-
stand and comment on the implications of the
National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS)
for ozone and particulate matter, OAR is providing
technical training and support to ensure that the
tribes have early and meaningful involvement in
rulemaking and program development efforts.

Region 1

Asthma Regional Coordinating Council
(ARC)

ARC is a partnership of federal, state, and private
agencies that has developed a comprehensive, aggres-
sive plan for reducing the asthma epidemic in New
England. New England asthma rates, as reported by
the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), rank among the highest in the nation.
Members of ARC include Region 1 Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS); HUD; state
environmental, health, housing, and education agen-
cies from Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New
Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont; the
Conservation Law Foundation; Boston Medical
Center; and the Boston Asthma Coalition, The
Asthma Action Plan developed by ARC identifies
four targeted areas for action to address the environ-
mental aspects of asthma: (1) surveillance, (2) out-
reach and education, (3) exposure reduction in
homes and schools, and (4) exposure reduction in
the community.

Mystic Station in Everett,
Massachusetts

The Mystic Station in Everett, Massachusetts, is an
oil-fired power plant owned and operated by Sithe
Energies, Inc. The plant has experienced a long his-
tory of opacity (visible emission) air violations.
Region 1 had received numerous complaints over

—.

Chapter 3

the years about Mystic
Station from residents
living near the plant.
The communities imme-
diately surrounding the
plant, including Chelsea,
Everett, Revere, Lynn, East Boston, the South End,
Roxbury and Dorchester, are largely made up of
low-income and minority residents. EPA decided to
determine the impact of opacity violations and asso-
ciated particulate loading from Mystic Station on
the residents of these communities,

EPA modeled the ground-level impacts of opacity
violations from the plant on local air quality. This
analysis was helpful in indicating a significant
impact on potential environmental justice areas, and
helped convey the importance of an enforcement
action. Following an order issued by EPA and signed
by Sithe in March 2002, Sithe installed new ignition
equipment on three of Mystic Station's older genera-
tors and switched these generators to a lower sulfur
fuel. Sithe also agreed to conduct an extensive opaci-
ty monitoring and testing program for all four gen-
erators at the site, which will help determine if other
compliance measures are needed.

Region 2

Using the Permitting Process to
Reduce Impacts

In 2002, Region 2 worked with the states to resolve
issues where impacts on low-income and minority
communities were identified. For example, a draft
permit was issued to the New York Power Authority
(NYPA) - Poletti plant whereby the permit con-
tained a provision that NYPA could not receive a
final permit until the adverse impacts were resolved.
The adverse impacts were mitigated (mostly by a
neighboring facility, Orion, in conjunction with the
NYPA) and the permits were finalized.

17


Inc., Waste Management has agreed to implement
two SEPs in urban areas totaling $2.6 million and
pay a civil penalty of $775,000. The settlement
stems from violations of the CAA and its provisions.
According to a civil complaint, between 1997 and
1998, Waste Management was illegally crushing
refrigerators and air conditioners in its hydraulic
packer trucks, resulting in the probable release of
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluoro-
carbons (HCFCs), Waste Management is now mak-
ing separate trips to gather the appliances and
dispose of them accordingly,

One of the proposed SEPs will revitalize 4.5 acres of
contaminated waterfront parkland the city along the
East Boston side of the Chelsea Creek bought in
1979. The Chelsea Creek community, predominant-
ly low-income minority families, has been advocat-
ing for this park project since 1975. The opening of
the park, called the Condor Street Wild, in 2003
will provide the first public access point to the creek
and needed green space for the city.

The other SEP is a diesel pollution reduction project
involving the retrofitting of 150 school buses with
pollution control devices, as well as providing low-
sulfur diesel fuel at the Readville bus depot in
Boston. The retrofitted buses will service the inner
city communities of Roxbury, Dorchester, and
Mattapan, where asthma rates are as high as 178
percent above the state average.

Region 6

Using SEPs to Benefit Communities
Region 6 leads the nation in using SEPs to benefit
communities and the environment. In FY 2001,
Region 6 enforcement actions resulted in 41 SEPs,
Examples of past SEPs include lead abatement in
residences; replacement of equipment 8 years earlier
than the expected useful life to reduce pollution; a
fenceline monitoring system installation with data

—

Chapter 3

feedback to nearby residents within 24 hours of a
request; use of recycled wastewater to significantly
reduce the use of an aquifer; and re-establishment of
a fisheries habitat near a historically Aftican-
American recreational beach. A Region 6 SEP

bank has been established to allow citizens to
recommend potential SEPs. The bank can be
accessed via the Internet at:
<www.epa.gov/Arkansas/6en/6en-sep.htm>.

Region 8

Rocky Mountain Steel Mill

Region 8 successfully concluded negotiations with
the Rocky Mountain Steel Mill for violations of the
CAA. Concurrently, the state
of Colorado also reached a
settlement with the mill for
CAA violations. One of the
results of each of these settle-
ments was a requirement that
the company fund projects
designed to provide environ-
mental benefits to the sur-
rounding neighborhoods.

The projects negotiated include asthma education
and screening, lead testing for children, habitat
enhancement, and health screening and education.
Region 8 facilitated the dialogue with the company.
and interested community members to develop
appropriate SEPs proposals.

Region 8 and the state of Colorado are cooperating
closely in the design and implementation of these
projects. The federal and state SEP processes will
proceed sequentially, with Region 8 proceeding first.
As a result of this cooperation, the EPA-approved
projects will serve to meet a certain set of communi-
ty needs. Subsequently, given the differences in fed-
eral and state guidance, the state-approved projects
will serve additional, complementary needs.

61



VOCs, carbonyls, and speciated metals on a | in 6-
day frequency.

Native American Arsenic Exposure in
Washington State

The keys to evaluating the potential effects of long-
term exposure to low levels of arsenic are to identify
sources of exposure and to determine how much
arsenic is obtained from all sources. A previous study
has suggested that locally harvested shellfish, which
are a component of diet for many communities in
the Northwest, contain large amounts of arsenic.
Recent studies have shown that urinary concentra-

130

Environmengad QOQDria Report

tions of inorganic arsenic (and its metabolism to
organic arsenic) are excellent markers of exposure in
individuals chronically exposed to arsenic in their
drinking water. In the epidemiologic and exposure
studies done to date, the role of high-arsenic foods
in individuals chronically exposed has not been eval-
uated due to the lack of adequate methods to ana-
lyze the arsenic level in food. EPA has developed the
ability to analyze food for arsenic. The field study
was designed by Region 10 and carried out by EPA
staff with support from Native Americans.



ENVIRONSHRTE JUS HEH

Region 3

Lower Darby Creek Area Site
Remediation

In June 2001, the Lower Darby Creek Area Site was
added to the NPL. The site is located in Delaware
and Philadelphia Counties, Pennsylvania. The site
follows the flow of Darby Creek and its confluence
with Cobbs Creek and the flow into the John Heinz
National Wildlife Refuge. An EPA site investigation
has found contamination in Darby Creek and at the
three landfills (Clearview, Folcroft, and Folcroft
Annex) that qualify the site for listing on the NPL.
Now that the site has been placed on the NPL,
funds are available for a Remedial Investigation.
The three landfills are the probable sources of the
creek contamination.

This area came into environmental justice focus in
October 1999, after Hurricane Floyd caused massive
flooding in the neighborhood adjacent to Clearview
Landfill, known as Eastwick, an integrated, working-
class neighborhood. Eastwick residents believe that
the flood waters carried contaminants into their
homes that affected their health. Philadelphia did not
ask for, or receive, Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) or EPA support during the
Hurricane Floyd disaster. Delaware County did
request and receive federal emergency assistance.

Environmengal @)

nial Report

Many Eastwick residents believe that the Clearview
Landfill is a major source of the contamination.
EPA addressed this concern by conducting a
focused site investigation of the property contiguous
to the Clearview Landfill and certain public and
residential properties that were believed to have
been contaminated by landfill runoff during the
flood. The Eastwick community was actively
involved in determining the area to be sampled and
was kept informed throughout the investigation.
EPA found contamination, but not at levels high
enough to authorize a cleanup under any available
program. EPA will focus on this area as part of the
NPL remedial action.

As a result of public health concerns in Eastwick,
Region 3 entered into a contract with the University
of Pennsylvania to conduct a limited community-
based public health study of Eastwick. The results of
this study were released during Spring 2002. The
study concluded that EPA's preliminary risk assess-
ment was accurate based upon the available data and
that no immediate health hazard exists based upon
available data.

Region 3 is the lead agency in addressing environ-
mental justice concerns in the area, in coordination
with the city of Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania DEP,
FEMA, Delaware County, DOI, and the Citizens of
Lower Darby Creek Area.

Region 4

Environmental Investigation—Richton,
Mississippi

A Phase I and IT environmental investigation was
conducted in Richton, Mississippi, in 2001 and
2002. The investigation was requested as part of a
response to an environmental justice complaint con-
cerning the McSwain community. The residents of
the McSwain community, located near Richton,
indicated that their community has a high incidence



EPA remains in contact with the citizens of Calcasieu
Parish to convey and explain any and all information
received. The results of the study are available on the
Louisiana DEQ’s Web site and also were presented in
a community open forum meeting.

Region 7

Landfill—Washington County,
Missouri

Beginning in July 2001, Region 7 began working to
address an environmental justice complaint raised by
a member of Safe Handling of Waste Managed
Environmentally (SHOW-ME), regarding the per-
mit and placement of a proposed landfill in
Washington County, Missouri. SHOW-ME cited
the following concerns: (1) inconsistency in the
Missouri DNR decisionmaking process; (2) dispro-
portionate environmental burden; and (3) threat of
contamination of private drinking water supplies
due to unsuitable geology on the proposed landfill
site. Upon investigation, an EPA team, consisting of
a landfill engineer, geologist, legal counsel, public
affairs specialist, and environmental justice coordina-
tor, was formed to review community concerns.

EPA staff have worked to ensure that a meaningful
opportunity for community involvement has been
provided and that the concerns raised, where allow-

able by the regulations, are considered in the deci-
sionmaking process, At the same time, Region 7 has
been sensitive to the role of Missouri DNR, which is
the decisionmaking entity in this situation.

The Region conducted an assessment of the environ-
mental justice concerns and concluded in a report
that: (1) the decisionmaking processes regarding the
proposed landfill were addressed through a settle-
ment agreement negotiated between Missouri DNR.
and Washington County; (2) there is no evidence of
disproportionate environmental burden; (3) the
hydrogeological review indicates no threat to drink-
ing water supplies; and (4) that properly placed
monitoring wells will be able to monitor ground-
water quality. The report also details EPA’s authority
to address environmental justice concerns, the
methodology used to approach the concerns, a
review of actions taken to address them, documenta-
tion of significant information identified through
the research conducted, information on the hydroge-
ologic review, and conclusions.

Region 8

Pueblo, Colorado, Air Monitoring

The Rocky Mountain Steel Mill is located in the
south part of Pueblo, Colorado. The site is sur-
rounded by predominantly Hispanic, low-income
neighborhoods. The mill, an integral part of
Pueblo’s economy, has been in operation for more
than 100 years. One of the nation’s largest manufac-
turers of specialty steel products from scrap metal,
the mill is believed to be a major contributor to
poor air quality in the adjacent neighborhoods. For
the last several years, the relationship between the
community and the company was characterized by
anger, fear, and distrust.

Region 8 met with the community to learn more
about its concerns and initiated an air modeling
project to better understand some the potential envi-

116



Business/Industry Best Practices
Report

OE] commissioned a study to assess industry-based
perspectives on environmental justice. The purpose
of the study was to examine how environmental jus-
tice can be more effectively integrated into the cor-

porate decisionmaking process, A draft report was
released in December 2002. The final version, due
in Spring 2003, will highlight best industry practices
that various businesses have adopted to address envi-
ronmental justice issues when siting and permitting
their facilities,

National Environmental Justice
Advisory Council (NEJAC) Reports on
Fish Consumption and Pollution
Prevention

Three years ago, NEJAC shifted the focus of its
national meetings on broad public policy issues
with the goal of providing effective advice and
cogent recommendations to EPA. Since 1999,
NEJAC has focused on the following issues: the
permitting process, community-based health
research models, federal agency environmental jus-
tice implementation, and fish consumption and
water quality standards. Delivering salient advice
and recommendations to the Agency on any given
public policy issue requires NEJAC’s executive com-
mittee to convene a diverse, multi-stakeholder
workgroup devoted to examining a specific policy
issue and deliberating with NEJAC on that issue.

nial Report

With the assistance of the Fish Consumption
Workgroup, NEJAC published its findings and rec-
ommendations in Fish Consumption and Environmen-
tal Justice in 2002. NEJAC also recently developed a
draft report entitled Advancing Environmental Justice
Through Pollution Prevention, which was released for
public comment. This NEJAC report focuses on sev-
eral approaches (such as source reduction, waste mini-
mization, sustainable development, and other
innovative approaches) to systematically reduce, elimi-
nate, and/or prevent pollution.

GIS Workgroup

The Environmental Justice GIS Workgroup was
established to assist in the development of a nation-
al, GIS-based environmental justice assessment tool.
Once completed, this tool will provide a robust set
of indicators relevant to environmental justice and
will greatly assist EPA in decisionmaking. The
emphasis will be to consider which communities are
disproportionately and adversely impacted by envi-
ronmental risks; understand the social, economic,
health, environmental, and other factors associated
with these risks; and develop approaches to address
the communities’ environmental justice issues. The
Workgroup consists of representatives from both
GIS and environmentat justice staffs from all EPA
Regional offices and several Headquarters program
offices. It is co-chaired by OEJ and the Office of
Environmental Information (OEI).

Environmental Justice Small Grants
Program

Each year, hundreds of applicants eagerly await the
Environmental Justice Small Grants process.
Administered by OE] since 1994, the program pro-
vides financial assistance to community-based/grass-
roots organizations and tribal governments working
on solutions to local environmental problems. Funds
can be used to develop a new activity or substantial-
ly improve the quality of existing programs that have
a direct impact on affected communities. All awards
are made as grants not to exceed 1 year.



Tribal Training for Control of Nonpoint
Source Water Pollution

OWOW has developed workshops to assist tribes in
preparing Nonpoint Source Pollution Control
Management Programs under the CWA and become
eligible for obtaining program grants available to all
federally recognized tribes. Workshops cover require-
ments for tribes in: (1) developing assessments of
nonpoint source pollution impacting reservation
waters; (2) defining priority projects and best man-
agement practices needed to mitigate nonpoint pol-
lution problems; and (3) applying for treatment in a
similar manner as a state. These requirements are
necessary for tribes to be eligible for project grants
authorized by Sections 319(h) and 518 of CWA.
The workshops also include modules on funding
sources and strategies for preparing proposals for
competitive grants, work plans for base grants, and
applications for funding Section 319 projects, The
workshops also cover additional topics on monitor-
ing, source water protection, and requirements of
CWA. Since 1998, a total of 15 tribal workshops
have been held, reaching most tribes in the western
and eastern states. EPA’s Regional offices schedule
the workshops, and OWOW prepares all modules
and workshop materials.

Region 1

EPA Publishes Environmental Justice
News

In October 2001, Region 1 began publishing
Environmental Justice News, a quarterly environmen-
tal justice newsletter that is distributed to a mixed
internal and external audience. The first edition of
the newsletter was released concurrently with
issuance of a revised Region 1 Environmental Justice
Policy and Region 1 Environmental Justice Action
Plan for FY 2001 and 2002. The production of
Environmental Justice News is part of a broader com-
munications strategy outlined in the Action Plan,
which aims to effectively convey information about

environmental justice issues, policies, programs, and
results to the widest audience possible. Electronic
and print versions of the newsletter are both avail-
able in order to reach many of the Region's most
important stakeholders. The newsletter features envi-
ronmental justice-related news items from EPA,
other federal agencies, state and local agencies, com-
munity groups, and academic institutions. Visit
<www.epa.gov/ne/ej/index.html> to read all of the
issues that have been published to date.

Urban Earth Day Events

In 1970, more than 20 million people came together
to celebrate the first Earth Day. That same year,
President Richard Nixon created EPA with a mission
to protect the environment and public health. Each
spring, in celebration of Earth Day, the Urban
Environmental Program in Region 1 sponsors Urban
Earth Day events in targeted communities of envi-
ronmental justice concern.

Urban Earth Day is a high-energy, youth-focused,
fun-filled day of learning about the urban environ-
ment. These events provide an opportunity to foster
awareness of multimedia environmental and public
health risks prevalent in communities and to pro-
mote environmental stewardship among youth.
Events vary each year and can include neighborhood
cleanups, tree plantings, and interactive, environ-
mental education activities. These events are often
held in partnership with public schools, community-
based organizations, and state and local government

93



by U.S. companies) brigades as an environmental
protection resource, At the federal level, United
Response 2000 provided a forum for communica-
tion between EPA’s on scene coordinator in Dallas
and the state director of civil protection in Mexico.
Internationally, it served the purposes of two inter-
national organizations, the United Nations (UN)
and the World Health Organization (WHO). The
exercise demonstrated the United Nations’ Aware-
ness and Preparedness for Emergencies at the Local
Level process, which was developed by the UN to
demonstrate how to effectively handle technological
accidents and emergencies. United Response 2000
was a unique and invaluable experience and demon-
strated the ability of environmental issues to gener-
ate high levels of cooperation among local, region,
state, and federal officials.

Electronic Assistance to the Border
Regulated Community — Border
Compliance Assistance Center

Region 6 is working jointly with OECA and the
National Center for Manufacturing Sciences to devel-
op a Web site designed for businesses to easily find
online information to help understand and comply
with regulatory requirements for handling and trans-
porting hazardous waste/hazardous materials across
the U.S./Mexico border, This initiative was
announced in 2001 at the United States/Mexico
Binational Commission meeting. Other partners
include the U.S. Customs, DOT, four border state
agencies (TCEQ, New Mexico Environmental
Department, Arizona DEQ, and California EPA),
and Mexico's Agency for the Environment and
Natural Resources,

Nationally, 10 compliance assistance centers

are currently operating, addressing the needs for
sector-related small businesses (such as agriculture,
auto repair shops, metal finishers, printers, and local
government) to get comprehensive, easy-to-under-
stand compliance information targeted specifically
to the industry.

Environmenga EJ) Pric Report

Region 8

Devils Lake Outlet, North Dakota

The Army Corps of Engineers is proposing a federal
project to construct an outlet to control flooding
from Devils Lake in North Dakota over lands belong-
ing to the Spirit Lake Nation and private citizens.
EPA is working on a NEPA analysis of the Devils
Lake Emergency Outlet. Issues that are currently
being addressed are water quality modeling, biota
transfer, mitigation, and International Boundary
Waters Treaty compliance.

Issues of concern to the affected communities
involved include the lack of an environmental justice
analysis in the EIS, lack of communication with the
communities, lack of analysis of cultural issues, and
no specific analysis of the human health and tisk
factors relevant to the affected populations identified
in the EIS. Comments and treatment of these envi-
ronmental justice concerns are currently being con-
sidered by the Corps and others on the team.

Region 9

U.S./Mexico Border

Region 9 led the development of the Federal
Regional Council Border Committee for more than
ayear before Executive Order 13122, Interagency
Task Force on the Economic Development of the
Southwest Border, was issued. In this role, the
Region elevated the issues of border communities
and Region 9 as a whole to the agencies that now
comprise the Federal Regional Council.

Once the Executive Order was issued, Region 9
played a key leadership role with the Treasury
Department in establishing the institutional infra-
structure and interaction model to implement the
Executive Order. This work resulted in a community
conference on colonias organized with HUD, setting
up pilots in communities as stated in the Executive

38



The Chester Implementation Workgroup, made up of
representatives from the stakeholder groups in
Chester, has been set up to address issues identified by
the community relating to health, quality-of-life, and
land use. Representatives from 30 different federal,
state, county, or city agencies and departments, as
well as citizens’ groups, participated in the workgroup.
The workgroup identified 50 problem areas and dis-
tilled these into four or five key areas that predomi-
nantly impact children and youth in Chester.

During 2001 and 2002, Region 3 developed a pub-
lic health assessment methodology using the meth-
ods and protocols developed for the Chester risk
study. As a result of an EPA enforcement action
taken in Chester, a SEP was undertaken. The SEP
was administrated by the Chester Residents
Concerned for Quality Living.

South/Southwest Philadelphia
Environmental Health
Characterization

Region 3, in partnership with Johns Hopkins
University, ATSDR, the commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, the city of Philadelphia, academics who
serve on a science advisory board, and local commu-
nities, is working to develop strategies to measure the
level of primary pollutants in the environment.
Citizens living in the study area continue to request
that EPA address their environmental concerns,
specifically the air emissions from the numerous auto
body repair shops located in south Philadelphia.

Di-isocyanates, an air emission from auto repair
shops, is one of the main pollutants of concern to
south Philadelphia residents. Johns Hopkins
University and ATSDR have recommended that fur-
ther study be conducted on the potential impact of
di-isocyanates on the community. The partners asso-
ciated with this effort continue to work together to
address concerns and serve on Philadelphia's Ad Hoc
Air Advisory Committee.

Region 4

Air Toxics Study—Chattanooga,
Tennessee

Region 4 and the Chattanooga/Hamilton County
Air Pollution Control Bureau have jointly completed
a year-long air toxics study in Chattanooga,
Tennessee. The study evaluated the potential impact
of toxic air pollution on the health of Chattanooga-
area residents. In January 2002, the results of the
study were presented to the Bureau's board and fol-
lowed by press releases.

Region 4 and the Bureau have worked with interest-
ed stakeholders throughout the study to estimate
risk and to develop and implement risk management
strategies. Presentations on risk assessment and risk
management were made to individuals from indus-
try, academia, communities, and government
throughout the process. During this study, a risk
assessment workplan and a risk management plan

were developed.

Chattanooga has one of the highest concentrations
of industries of any city in Tennessee. Within the

last few years, several citizens’ groups have expressed
concern that airborne pollutants may be causing
increased instances of cancer and other illnesses in
the area. Region 4 and the Bureau will periodically
monitor the effectiveness of the risk management
plan to determine if further actions to reduce any
unacceptable risks are necessary.

125



translation also is posted on OPPTS’ Web site at
<www.epa.gov/opptintr/lead/leadvn.pdf>. Also,
Region 6 conducted a grant writing workshop in
Houston for the AAPI community. As a result of
this effort, the Asian American Health Coalition and
the Vietnamese Culture and Science Association
each received an ECO internship this year.
Subsequently, one of these interns secured a perma-
nent employment position in Region 6.

Development of Spanish-Language
Environmental Justice Materials

Region 6’s environmental justice brochure was
updated and translated into Spanish. This brochure
provides information about Executive Order 12898,
environmental justice goals, and Region 6’s environ-
mental justice program and contacts. A question-
and-answer fact sheet was developed and written in
Spanish for use with grassroots Hispanic communi-
ties. It provides a simplified description of environ-
mental justice, along with information about the
Region 6 program and bilingual contacts. A one-
page fact sheet on the Environmental Justice Small
Grants Program also was written in a question-and-
answer format and translated into Spanish by

Region 6 staff.
Region 7

Kansas City Faith-Based Initiative
Seminar

In June 2002, Region 7 hosted an informational booth
at the Kansas City Faith-Based Initiative Seminar, The
Seminar was attended by several other federal agencies,
including HUD, DOE, and DOL. EPA's booth target-
ed the metro areas faith-based community, providing
information on grant funding opportunities and chil-
dren's health information. During the seminar, EPA
focused on building collaborations and partnerships
within faith-based and community-based organiza-
tions. While EPA currently does not have any appro-
ptiated funds specifically for faith-based initiatives,

100

“It's Your Environment, Ask Questions“—informational
booth at the Kansas City Faith-Based Initiative Seminar

information on Region 7’s grant opportunities open to
non-profits was presented.

2001 Environmental Justice Small
Grants Workshop and Expo

In 2001, Region 7 sponsored its fourth annual Small
Grants Workshop. In addition to the grants manage-
ment workshop offered to new grant recipients,
efforts were expanded to invite the public to learn
about EPA grant opportunities within Region 7 in a

Top Left; Metropolitan Energy Center; Top Right: EPA
Environmental Education Program; Bottom Left: Unified Gov't
of Wyandotte County; Bottom Right: Bridging the Gap.



approximately 50 children and adults. Between 21.7
and 29.3 percent of Fall River families with children
under 18 years of age live below the poverty level,
and the school attracted some students from low-
income families in the area. The building is a three-
story former mill building that is now rented for a
variety of commercial operations, During renova-
tions, a contractor sandblasted lead-based paint
without taking proper precautions, allowing lead-
contaminated dust to spread throughout the build-
ing. Preliminary results from EPA’s sampling and a
private lab showed high levels of lead in the dust
from the sandblasting.

When contacted by EPA, the property owner agreed
to immediately hire a licensed lead abatement firm
to remove lead dust from the building. During that
time, EPA staff restricted access to the building, so
that children would not be exposed to the lead dust.
EPA formalized the agreement with an administra-
tive order for the cleanup using its emergency pow-
ers under federal hazardous waste laws, and the
property was quickly remediated.

Lead-Free Boston

In November 2001, a summit entitled Let’s End It
Here brought together Region 1 staff; members of
city, state, and federal agencies; citizens; and
activists to create a blueprint to eliminate childhood
lead poisoning in Boston by 2005. In May 2002,
the Lead Action Collaborative’s report, Blueprint to
End Childhood Lead Poisoning in Boston by 2005,

was released.

The blueprint outlined several primary goals: (1)
develop a “Lead-Safe Home” campaign to educate the
public about the dangers of lead poisoning, (2) design
a database of communities at high risk for lead expo-
sure, (3) improve services for lead-poisoned children
and their families to provide better access to health
care and medical insurance, (4) provide outreach pro-
grams to at-risk populations to increase awareness and
screening rates, and (5) advocate for affordable hous-

Chapter 3

ing construction and rehabilitation to provide access
to lead-safe housing for at-risk populations.

Region 1 is fulfilling a crucial role in the development
and execution of the blueprint. To locate high-risk
housing units, EPA staff will design a GIS mapping
tool and database to be used throughout the commu-
nity. As a critical partner, EPA will also collaborate
with local realtors and owners to develop and market
lead-safe approved homes to at-risk families.

Region 2

Lead Program

Region 2’s lead program coordinates with HUD on
lead-based paint hazard response. In 1997, Region 2
initiated enforcement as per the Disclosure Rule of
the Residential Lead Based Paint Hazard Reduction
Act of 1992. An example of interagency coordina-
tion includes the exchange of inspection candidate
information with HUD on.a quarterly basis.

‘The lead program is responsive to all communities
via tips and complaints and via the priority to
address the environments of children under 6 years
of age and when elevated blood lead levels are
reported. By the nature of
the problem, the lead pro-
gram is particularly respon-
sive to environmental
justice populations and
communities as enforce-
ment and response action
is taken to ensure safety in
environments where pre- x
1978 housing stock and low-income neighborhoods
are likely indicators of potential hazard.

Faith-Based Forum to Address
Hazards of Lead-Based Paint

The majority of the housing stock in Patterson, New
Jersey, was built prior to 1950. These units consist
primarily of multi-family dwellings, of which over

41