Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

Table of Contents

Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii 

• Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

• What is Environmental Justice? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

• EPA’s Role in Environmental Justice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

.

• Why the Small Grants Program was Developed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

• The Grant Selection Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

• Project Descriptions Grouped by EPA Regional Offices

Region 1 - Boston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Region 2 - New York . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Region 3 - Philadelphia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Region 4 - Atlanta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Region 5 - Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Region 6 - Dallas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Region 7 - Kansas City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

Region 8 - Denver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Region 9 - San Francisco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

Region 10 - Seattle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

Appendix A: Index to Projects by State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

Appendix B: Index to Projects by Focus Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

Appendix C: EPA Regional Offices and State Breakdown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

Appendix D: List of Environmental Justice Coordinators at EPA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

i
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

This page intentionally left blank

ii

Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

This page left intentionally blank

iv
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

1

Introduction

This publication is a compilation of information about 71 of the hundreds of grants that have

been awarded through the Environmental Protection Agency Small Grants Program which

reflects some of the support the EPA gives to community-based organizations. EPA has

supported communities through partnerships, research, communication and public participation

to help ensure a more just and fair distribution of environmental benefits as well as

environmental burdens. This document describes community projects representing several focus

areas such as: air quality, children’s health, farmworker safety, hazardous waste disposal, lead

and CO2 education, PCB contamination, perchloroethylene (perc) education, pollution

prevention, radon, water quality and environmental stewardship. Our purpose is to: (1) inform

communities and show them how to link or implement similar projects and programs; (2) reduce

duplication of effort; (3) strengthen the networking of organizations; (4) improve the quality of

future projects; and (5) provide lessons learned from completed projects. Appendix A is a list of

projects by state. 

This biennial publication highlights the accomplishments of the grant recipients under the Small

Grants Program. It covers grants awarded during the three-year period of 1997 through 1999 of

the Small Grants program. In subsequent years a Small Grants Program accomplishments report

will be published biennially and will include those successes from the previous years.

What is Environmental Justice?

Environmental justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless

of race, color, national origin, culture, education, or income with respect to the development,

implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. Fair

treatment means that no one group of people, including racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic groups,

should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from

industrial, municipal, and commercial operations or the execution of federal, state, local, and

tribal environmental programs and policies. Meaningful involvement means that: (1) potentially

affected community residents have an appropriate opportunity to participate in decisions about a

proposed activity that will affect their environment and/or health; (2) the public’s contribution

can influence the regulatory agency’s decision; (3) the concerns of all participants involved will

be considered in the decision-making process; and (4) the decision-makers seek out and facilitate

the participation of those potentially affected.
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

2

EPA’s Role in Environmental Justice

On February 11, l994, the President issued Executive Order 12898, “Federal Actions to

Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations,” which

identified three goals:

• to focus federal agency action on the environment and human health conditions in

minority and low-income communities;

• to promote nondiscriminating in federal programs that substantially affect human

health and the environment; and 

• to provide minority and low-income communities greater access to information

on, and opportunities for public participation in, matters relating to human health

and the environment.

 The President encouraged federal agencies to reinvent the way the nation approaches

environmental justice so that our day-to-day efforts would be more effective in protecting the

public health and environment. The EPA has a leadership role in helping federal agencies

implement this Executive Order. 

Why the Small Grants Program was Developed

The EPA recognized that community involvement was critical to environmental decision

making and made a commitment to invest resources in projects that would financially benefit

affected communities. In Fiscal Year 1994, the Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ)

established the Small Grants Program to provide financial assistance for addressing local

environmental problems to eligible community groups which included community-based

grassroots organizations, churches, other nonprofit organizations, and tribal governments. 

Each year approximately $2 million is made available for the Environmental Justice

Small Grants Program divided equally among the ten EPA regions where the actual grant is

awarded and managed. Awards range from $10,000 to $20,000 each. The amount available in

a given year may vary depending on the availability of funds. 
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

3

The Grant Selection Process

The grant proposals submitted for the Environmental Justice Small Grants Program are

evaluated, within the EPA region where the project is located, through competitive review and

evaluation. Award decisions are made within each region based on established criteria which

include geographic and socioeconomic balance, diversity of project recipients, and sustainability

of benefits of projects after the grant is completed. The review process also gives a higher

priority to proposals that demonstrate strong community involvement at the proposal

development stage. 

Environmental Justice Small Grants Program Summary

Fiscal Year $ Amount Awards

 1994 500,000 71

 1995 3,000,000 175 

 1996 2,800,000 152

 1997 2,700,000 139

 1998 2,500,000 123

 1999 2,000,000 95

2000 899,000 61

2001 1,300,000 88
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

4

This page left intentionally blank
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

5

REGION 1

(CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT)

Action Against Asthma Program 

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ991045 Andrea Mullin $20,000 Air Quality 

Committee for Boston Public Housing (CBPH) FY 1997

Roxbury, MA 02120 

Target Audience:

The 23,817 individuals residing in public housing in

Boston. Ninety percent of these residents are below the

poverty line, and seventy percent are racial, cultural, or

linguistic minorities.

Purpose:

To address poor indoor air quality in Boston’s public

housing developments by educating public housing

residents about the impact of environmental and

housing conditions on health.

Goals:

• To increase recognition of asthma as a highpriority environmental justice issue.

• To build strong alliances between public

housing residents, environmental

organizations, and local health care providers.

• To improve environmental and housing

conditions in public housing developments,

and therefore the health of individual

residents.

• To encourage public housing residents to

become environmental justice activists.

Methods:

• Recruit public housing residents to participate

in six weeks of training to become Asthma

Health Advocates (AHAs).

• AHAs create and conduct health surveys to

gather information about the rate and severity

of asthma in public housing.

• Conduct educational workshops and

community meetings to address asthma in

public housing.

• Collaborate with community-based

organizations to share information and

contribute to programs that address asthma.

Products/Results:

The Committee for Boston Public Housing trained 29

public housing residents to become AHAs. These

residents partnered with city health inspectors to

conduct 25 home assessments for asthma triggers in

four public housing developments. AHAs also

surveyed more than 300 public housing residents to

determine the rate and severity of asthma in public

housing. The Action Against Asthma (AAA) program

also continued to strengthen its Advisory Committee,

consisting of 20 members, including public housing

residents. The Advisory Committee drafted a report

called “Asthma in Public Housing.”

Successes/Strengths:

The AAA program created the Urban Asthma

Coalition, which includes members of the Attorney

General’s Office, medical providers, lawyers,

residents, and environmental professionals. The

coalition’s mission is to examine indoor air quality in

public and private housing and bring government

attention to the asthma problem. The Advisory

Committee met twice with the Administrator of the

Boston Public Housing Authority to discuss the public

health impact of the dilapidated conditions of the

majority of the city’s public housing. AAA also

became involved with the Healthy Kids/Healthy

Homes program, the Northeast Environmental Justice

Network, and with Neighbors Against Urban Pollution. 

AAA’s year-long organizing efforts culminated in the

installation of an air monitoring system near one

housing development and a sewage leak monitoring

system near another development. 
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

6

REGION 1

Boston Neighborhood Recycling Campaign

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ981145 Vivien Watts $17,945 Recycling

Recycling Initiative Campaign FY 1999

Boston, MA 02111 

Target Audience:

Residents of three of the lowest-income neighborhoods

in Boston (Dorchester, East Boston, and the South

End) , many of whom are people of African-American,

Vietnamese, Haitian-Creole, and Latino descent. 

Purpose:

Boston’s recycling rate is only 12 percent, compared to

the statewide average of 34 percent. The Recycling

Initiative Campaign (RIC) aims to boost recycling rates

in Boston by targeting three neighborhoods.

Goals:

• To work with community groups to identify

solid waste problems in their communities and

help design and implement programs to

address them.

• Create three Block Captain Programs of 40

people each and three tenant groups of 10

people each to work on implementing

recycling.

• Hold three meetings and form the basis of a

city-wide coalition to foster information

exchange and partnerships between city

officials, recycling advocates, representatives

from the recycling facility, and representatives

from the company that hauls recyclables.

Methods:

• Establish individual recycling coalitions in

each of the targeted neighborhoods through

grassroots community outreach.

• Recruit and train volunteers to become Block

Captains or tenant leaders. Create and

distribute fact sheets or other documents about

recycling.

• Establish contact with all recycling

stakeholders and create a city-wide coalition

to promote recycling. Organize meetings for

all stakeholders.

Products/Results:

Boston Neighborhood Recycling Coalition (BNRC)

members talked to hundreds of people through block

captaining, attending community events, and handing

out blue recycling bins. The BNRC created various

leaflets with information on common recycling

mistakes and recycling in Boston. During the first year

of the project, Boston city officials launched a 5-year

strategic plan to improve recycling in Boston. BNRC

members were interviewed on several occasions as part

of the strategic planning process. In addition, the

coalition published a report detailing their analysis of

the city’s recycling program and the steps necessary to

achieve 40% recycling in 2005.

Successes/Strengths:

RIC originally targeted three neighborhoods, but

actually helped start recycling coalitions in seven,

including the South End, Dorchester, Allston/Brighton,

Fenway, Jamaica Plain, Roslindale, and West Roxbury. 

Members of the North End and Four Point Channel

neighborhoods have also expressed interest in getting

involved with the recycling campaign. 

###
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

7

REGION 1

Environmental Justice Connections: Incorporating Environmental Justice into

Community Health Nursing Curriculum

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ991017 Anne Reynolds $20,000 Education

Tellus Institution, Inc. FY 1998

Boston, MA 0211

Target Audience:

The College of Nursing community at the University of

Massachusetts (UMASS) in Boston. 

Purpose:

To connect environmental justice and public health

issues by integrating environmental justice concepts

into a community health nursing curriculum.

Goals:

• To create and implement a model

environmental justice course module for

community health nursing students.

Methods:

• Design and implement an environmental

justice course module.

• Assess the permanent inclusion of the module

in the UMASS nursing curriculum.

• Disseminate the module as a model for other

nursing programs.

Products/Results:

Tellus created a year-long environmental justice course

module that included four components: lectures,

reading, a tour, and a community clinical practicum

project. Two three-hour lectures were developed that

addressed the connection between environmental

justice, pollution issues, public health, and community

nursing. A concise required reading packet of recent

literature on environmental justice and environmental

health topics was compiled.Tellus partnered with

Alternatives for Community and Environment to

provide a student tour of Roxbury, where information

on environmental justice issues and activism were

presented. Two tours were given each semester to

accommodate all students. Finally, all students were

required to complete a semester-long clinical

experience at a community-based health or social

service organization and conduct an environmental

group project for the organization.

Successes/Strengths:

Students completed seven semester-long practicum

projects with community-based health and social

service organizations and several environmental justice

projects on topics ranging from tobacco smoke,

recycling, asthma, brownfields, flooding, and cancer. 

At the conclusion of both semesters the faculty of the

College of Nursing at UMASS decided that a lecture on

environmental justice and environmental health would

be permanently included in their curriculum. The

college also plans to continue the clinical practicum

project. In contrast to the first two semesters, students’

groups are not required to focus only on an

environmental justice topic for their project, but

students are required to address environmental health

considerations of the community health issue they

select.

###
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

8

REGION 1

Health Hazards of Contaminated Fish Consumption

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ981148 Madeline Martin $19,700 Water quality

Penobscot Indian Nation FY 1998

Old Town, ME 04468 

Target Audience:

The 2,194 enrolled tribal members of the Penobscot

Indian Nation (Penobscot) in east central Maine. 

Purpose:

Fish consumption advisories are in effect for most

resident fish species in waters fished by Penobscot

tribal members because of contamination from dioxin,

coplanar PCBs, and mercury. The purpose of this

project is to build Penobscot’s capacity to identify and

resolve environmental health problems by expanding

the efforts to relate the extent, prevention, reduction,

and elimination of water contamination in tribal areas. 

Goals:

• Educate staff from the Penobscot Health

Department and the Department of Natural

Resources about health problems from

exposure to dioxin and mercury, and provide

training to detect and assess exposure.

• Educate the tribal community about health

problems from exposure to dioxin and

mercury. Specifically target the most at-risk

tribal members, including children and adults

of childbearing age.

Methods:

• Review literature on dioxin and mercury in

aquatic environments and fish tissue, and any

associated health effects.

• Hold a workshop on the health hazards of

contaminated fish for staff from the Penobscot

Health Department and the Department of

Natural Resources.

• Hold a community forum to foster

understanding of the human health effects of

exposure to mercury and dioxin.

• Distribute culturally sensitive material on fish

consumption advisories affecting tribal water

resources.

Products/Results:

A report entitled “Literature Review of Human Health

Risks From Dioxin & Mercury Exposure in Fish

Tissue” was published after the first stage of

information-gathering. After the report was distributed,

a workshop was held for staff from the Penobscot

Health Department and the Department of Natural

Resources called “Health Hazards of Contaminated

Fish: Education for Providers.” A community forum

called “Understanding Human Health Effects of

Exposure to Mercury and Dioxin” was also held for

interested tribal members. Finally, updated culturally

sensitive fish advisory material was developed and

distributed to tribe members. 

Successes/Strengths:

The collaboration between the Penobscot Nation

Health Department and the Department of Natural

Resources on this project resulted in a strong

partnership between the two groups that will facilitate

Penobscot’s ability to identify and resolve future

environmental problems. The Penobscot Nation also

plans to continue efforts to assess the extent of health

problems from mercury and dioxin by conducting a

surveillance study of a sample of tribal members to

estimate the body burdens of these contaminants. 

###
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

9

REGION 1

Linking Environmental Justice and Economic Development in Low-Income

Communities through Job Training

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ991038 Paula Paris $20,000 Education

Jobs for Youth FY 1997

Boston, MA 02208-2786 

Target Audience:

Adult residents of low-income neighborhoods in

Boston that are either unemployed or underemployed,

with a high school diploma or equivalent, and less

than two years of post secondary education or

training.

Purpose:

To build capacity in the low-income communities by 

educating and preparing the residents with the skills

and knowledge to enter into the environmental

services field.

Goals:

• To provide classroom instruction and

certification that will allow participants to

compete for jobs in the environmental

services field.

• To contribute to building a base of

indigenous professional expertise within

communities that are disproportionately

affected by environmental hazards.

• To empower community residents through

education and job training to become aware

of environmental problems and become

environmental advocates.

Methods:

• Recruit participants through employment and

welfare offices, community-based organizations

and programs, and through newspaper

advertisements.

• Assess applicants for reading and math ability,

which must be at a minimum ninth grade level.

• Conduct two, 17 to 20-week, training cycles

that include classroom instruction in

environmental science and applied math, and

OSHA certification.

• Assist participant with job placement in entrylevel positions as environmental technicians or

environmental services specialists.

Products/Results:

Thirty-three racially diverse students from urban

neighborhoods in Boston enrolled in the Environmental

Technology program, and 29 completed the training. 

Twenty-five program graduates were placed into jobs

with 17 different employers. Twenty-two of these jobs

were in the environmental industry. The average starting

salary of the graduates was $22,770, which represented

an average wage gain of $7,000.

Successes/Strengths:

Jobs for Youth partnered with Suffolk University,

Franklin Institute, Roxbury Community College,

University of Massachusetts-Lowell, and University of

Massachusetts-Boston to provide the highest quality

education possible. The program also benefits from an

advisory board made up of local businesses and

environmental organization. Through these and other

strong partnerships, Jobs for Youth has been able to

place its graduates into competitive environmental

services positions. In addition, Jobs for Youth was

successful at meeting additional demands of its student

body, by providing remedial literacy training, academic

tutoring, and counseling as needed.
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

10

REGION 1

Merrimack County Air Quality Awareness Project

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ981143 Anne Campbell $15,000 Air Quality

New Hampshire Citizens Alliance FY 1999

Concord, NH 03301 

Target Audience:

The 11,500 residents of Pembroke and Allenstown,

NH, two towns that are situated downwind from a coal

burning power plant in Bow, NH .

Purpose:

To build community awareness of the potential health

problems associated with living downwind from an

antiquated coal burning power plant by developing

community leaders who will foster community

outreach and develop community problem solving

skills, and improve residents’ leadership skills. 

Goals:

• To assist residents in learning more about the

potential health impact of living downwind

from a coal burning power plant.

• To train residents to become leaders in their

communities in educating others about air

quality issues and related health impacts.

• To develop a network of organizations and

individuals that can facilitate the sharing of

information and resources.

• To develop a community-based organizing

model to engage residents to investigate the

impact of suspected environmental

contaminants.

Methods:

• Recruited resident community leaders to

participate in the project through outreach to

community groups and referrals.

• Participants collected information about air

quality problems associated with coal burning

power plants and created informational

brochures.

• Participants conducted an anecdotal health

survey that enabled them to collect

information about air quality in the towns, and

to begin discussions with other residents to

engage them in addressing air quality

concerns. .

Products/Results:

Participants created an educational brochure that they

used to educate other residents about air quality and to

engage them in addressing the potential health

problems associated with the nearby power plant. 

Project participants also conducted more than 300

anecdotal surveys, which proved to be a valuable

information tool and served to open up more dialogue

about air quality in the communities. Finally, the

project participants organized a press conference and a

community forum to discuss the results of their survey.

Successes/Strengths:

All the events coordinated through the project were

incredibly well-received in the community and well

attended by many people including town selectmen,

state representatives and the media. In addition,

participants reported that over time they developed a

sense of ownership of the project. The effort can be

considered a model for community organizing. 

###
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

11

REGION 1

Neighborhoods Against Urban Pollution: Developing a Greater Boston

Environmental Justice Network

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ981075 Penn Loh $20,000 Environmental 

Alternatives for Community FY 1998 Stewardship

 and Environment

Roxbury, MA 02119 

Target Audience:

Residents of low-income and minority neighborhoods

in the greater Boston area. 

Purpose:

To build a network of resident-driven environmental

justice groups from across low-income and minority

neighborhoods in Boston, Chelsea, and Sommerville. 

The network will enable groups to share resources,

learn from one another, and address regional problems

more effectively.

Goals:

• Plan and create a greater Boston network of

organizations that deal with environmental

justice.

Methods:

• Conduct outreach and meet with

representatives from community-based

organizations that address environmental

justice to gather input for proposed network.

• Recruit organizational members for the

network and elect a steering committee.

• Establish and hold regular meetings.

• Use meetings to identify environmental justice

initiatives for the network, and follow through

with a plan of action for each initiative.

Products/Results:

More than 50 representatives from groups in Roxbury,

Dorchester, Mattapan, Jamaica Plain, South End, South

Boston, East Boston, Chinatown, Chelsea, and

Roslindale participated in three planning meetings for

the creation of a greater Boston Environmental Justice

Network (GBEJN). 

The Greater Boston Environmental Justice Network

(GBEJN) was officially launched in April, 1999, with

25 organizational members. A steering committee of

11 members was elected that met every other month to

determine the agenda for full membership meetings. 

Three quarterly full membership meetings were held

and the GBEJN participated in several local and statewide environmental justice initiatives.

Successes/Strengths:

The GBEJN was instrumental in the passage of new 

Boston Public Health Commission regulations

governing dumpster storage lots, junkyards, and

recycling facilities. The regulations explicitly require

the consideration of the cumulative effects of siting.

The regulation requires public hearings for proposed

facilities and requires public hearings if a facility

receives three citations. The GBEJN has been working

to support a new Environmental Justice Designation

bill that would designate areas of critical environmental

concern to protect communities overburdened by

environmental degradation. Other initiatives the

GBEJN has concentrated on include opposing the

Logan Airport runway expansion and addressing the

environmental justice concerns of other new

development in Boston.

###
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

12

REGION 1

Waverly Street: Implementing an Urban Environmental Model

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ981141 Laura Archambault $15,000 Environmental

Keep Providence Beautiful, Inc. FY 1999 Stewardship

Providence, RI 02903 
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

13

REGION 1

Waverly Street: Implementing an Urban Environmental Model

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ981141 Laura Archambault $15,000 Environmental

Keep Providence Beautiful, Inc. FY 1999 Stewardship

Providence, RI 02903 

Target Audience:

The predominantly low-income and minority

residents of Waverly Street in the West End of

Providence.

Purpose:

To replicate a neighborhood revitalization project

from Bellevue Avenue in Providence on nearby

Waverly Street, with a focus on adding greenery and

improving solid waste containment.

Goals:

• Strengthen the Waverly Street Association

and hold monthly meetings to develop

agendas that address residents’ concerns.

• Develop a new and improved vision of the

street.

• Educate residents about proper solid waste

disposal.

Methods:

• Hire a community organizer and a street

captain to plan meeting and events, thereby

strengthening the Street Association.

• Hire a landscape architect to draw plans for

the new vision of the street.

• Distribute information on solid waste

disposal and recycling to residents.

Products/Results:

Waverly Street residents noticed the aesthetic

improvement in its neighboring Bellevue Avenue Street

Association had organized with direction from Keep

Providence Beautiful (KPB) and wanted to get involved

with a similar project. As many as 30 Waverly Street

residents attended meetings and planned the new vision

of their street. The residents also learned about proper

solid waste disposal, composting, and the hazards of

lead. Residents conducted two street cleanups and

planted trees. 

Successes/Strengths:

KPB used its previous success in revitalizing Bellevue

Avenue as a model for improving Waverly Street. 

Rather than simply duplicating its past effort, however,

KPB encouraged Waverly Street residents to set their

own agenda. As a result, the Waverly Street Association

grew, and KPB proved that the revitalization model

could be replicated in other neighborhoods. 

###
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

14

REGION 1

Urban Community Gardening Project

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ981016 Lauren Brown $20,000 Environmental

New Haven Land Trust FY 1997 Stewardship

New Haven, CT 06513

Target Audience:

Residents of low-income neighborhoods throughout

New Haven.

Purpose:

New Haven has one of the highest rates of

unoccupied buildings in the Connecticut area, with

700 units currently considered blighted by the

government. As the city systematically demolishes

these buildings, many vacant lots are left behind. The

purpose of the Urban Community Gardening Project

is to convert vacant lots into community gardens in

neighborhoods that otherwise lack parks and other

green space. While creating community gardens,

program participants will become more aware of a

variety of environmental issues and will develop a

sense of ownership of their gardens. 

Goals:

• To work with residents and community

groups to identify vacant lots for community

gardens and convert them.

• To educate participants on various aspects of

organic gardening and environmental issues

related to vacant lots.

• To work towards making the community

gardens sustainable.

Methods:

• Identify vacant lots for conversion and

conduct labor-intensive cleanup and site

preparation for gardens.

• Present workshops on organic gardening at

annual Urban Gardening Conference.

• Present other workshops and provide

technical assistance as needed to community

gardeners.

• Hold two Leadership Development

Conferences for garden coordinators on

collaborations, networking, grassroots fundraising, publicity, and organizing a

community garden.

Products/Results:

New Haven Land Trust (NHLT)worked with 66

community gardens in low-income neighborhoods

through this project, 50 of those were created in

previous years and 16 were created this year. 

Gardeners learned about proper trash and toxic

disposal through labor-intensive vacant lot clean-ups

and site preparations. More than 110 people attended

NHLT’s annual Urban Gardening Conference where

nine workshops were presented on various aspects of

organic gardening. Many of these workshops were

led by community gardeners themselves. NHLT also

coordinated other hands-on workshops on topics like

raspberry growing, blueberry harvesting, organic pest

control, composting, water conservation, hazardous

waste disposal, and recycling. 

Successes/Strengths:

The project created six more community gardens than

originally anticipated. The two Leadership

Development conferences that were held put the

community gardens on the path to sustainability by

providing gardeners with the means to continue the

gardens when the project is over. 

###
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

15

REGION 2

(NY, NJ, PR, VI)

Council on the Environment

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ982020 Cathy Shea $14,000 Training Student Organizers

Council on the Environment, Inc. FY 1997

New York, NY 10007 

Target Audience:

African-American, Latino, and Polish high school

and intermediate students who live in the

Greenpoint-Williamsburg section of Brooklyn,

New York. Several industries, including waste

transfer stations, sewage treatment , radioactive

waste transfer facilities are located in this

community.

Purpose:

To increase awareness of environmental issues

and develop the capacity of young people to take

action to resolve environmental problems.

Goals:

• To increase the dialogue between

industry, government and non-profit

technical assistance providers.

• To build community capacity by

motivating students to take action to

reduce industrial toxics.

Methods: 

• Students will monitor air toxics and

organize action projects to improve the

air quality in the schools or community.

• Students will survey and evaluate the use

of industrial toxics, and the potential for

replacing toxics (and polluting processes)

with more environmentally benign

alternatives. 

• Students will start dialogues with two

major local polluters and attempt to assist

them in reducing pollution.

Products/Results:

• Students were trained to conduct research

and investigations relating to the causes,

effects, prevention and control of air

pollution. 

• The pamphlet, “What is in the Air?”,

explains how to investigate industrial air

pollution in the neighborhood. The

pamphlet was produced and distributed to

more than 200 students and teachers staff

and more than 100 local residents. 

• Students developed a one page flyer

informing the public about the New York

City Department of Environmental

Protection’s DEP-HELP hotline for air

quality complaints.

• Ten local industries attended a Pollution

Prevention evening at the local school. They

discussed pollution control systems that

were implemented in their businesses while

still maintaining profitability. 

 

Successes/Strengths:

The community toxic project addressed

improvements in communication and coordination by

beginning the first successful large-scale dialogue

between industry, residents and pollution prevention

technical advisors.

###
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

16

REGION 2

Long Island Sound Issues Project

Save the Sound

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ992841 John Atkin $19,988 Environmental 

Save the Sound, Inc. FY 1998 Stewardship

Stamford, CT 06902

Target Audience:

Community leaders and educators from the

Soundview and Hunts Point communities of the South

Bronx, NY.

Purpose:

To help overcome existing inequities related to costal

management, water quality, and sludge treatment in

two coastal South Bronx neighborhoods. 

Goals:

• To build a partnership between a regional

environmental organization (Save the Sound,

Inc.), a Bronx-wide environmental

organization, and community based

organizations in the targeted areas of Hunts

Point and Soundview. 

• To plan, implement, publicize, and evaluate

project activities designed to increase

awareness of community leaders and

residents from Hunts Point and Soundview

areas of the South Bronx about issues related

to the communities’ shorelines including its

solid waste treatment and recycling facilities

and the water quality in the East River and

Long Island Sound. 

Methods:

• Conducted workshops on topics related to

the East River, Long Island Sound, and solid

waste disposal for the targeted communities.

• Trained elementary school teachers in the

two target communities to incorporate handson Long Island Sound education into their

curriculum through 8-hour training

workshops.

• Held community-based forums on East

River, Long Island Sound, and solid waste

disposal issues and how they related to

community leaders.

• Partnered with community groups for handson, on-site workshop/action projects.

Products/Results:

• About 75 residents and community leaders

attended workshops on water quality,

nitrogen reduction from sewage plants, the

local sludge recycling plant, habitat

preservation and restoration, open space and

access to waterfront 

• Approximately 10 local elementary school

teachers and 250 students participated in

hands-on programs about Long Island

Sound’s ecology and environmental issues

facing it.

• A workshop on how to initiate a habitat

restoration project, actual habitat restoration,

storm drain stenciling and shoreline clean-up

was attended by 25 community leaders plus

other volunteers for a total audience of more

than 50.

Successes/Strengths:

Dredging along the waterfront in the Bronx emerged

as an issue for Harding Park, while waterfront open

space and development was a prime issue in Hunts

Point. 

###
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

17

REGION 2

Neighborhood Environmental Leadership Institute 

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ992638 Michael E. Clark $19,974 Environmental Education/ 

Citizens Committee FY 1997 Stewardship

for New York City

New York, NY 10001

Target Audience:

Leaders of block, tenant, neighborhood, youth and

other volunteer groups in low-income communities

in the Bronx, NY.

Purpose:

To train grassroots neighborhood leaders from lowincome communities to organize effectively to

address environmental injustices on a local level.

Goals:

• To train 200 grassroots leaders from lowincome communities in the Bronx to effect

positive environmental change in their

neighborhoods through interactive training

in environmental issues, leadership skills

and organizational development.

Methods:

• Conduct a series of workshops organized

into three distinct tracks of training, the

Environmental Track, the Basic Organizing

Track and the Advanced Organizing track.

• Offer problem-solving clinics to provide an

opportunity for program participants to

network and problem solve together.

Products/Results:

More than 270 Bronx leaders participated in the

Neighborhood Environmental Leadership Institute.

By attending workshops focused on organizational

development and leadership skills, combined with

advanced training on difficult environmental issues,

these neighborhood leaders acquired the knowledgebased skills needed to build community capacity to

identify and address environmental justice issues in

the Bronx. 

Workshops offered included the following topic

areas: lead poisoning; pollutants in your home and

community; leadership training; public speaking;

navigating city government; incorporation and taxexemption; and program planning for community

organizers.

Three problem-solving clinics were offered. Through

one-on-one meetings, telephone consultations, and

distribution of tip sheets and other self-help materials

produced by the Citizens Committee, workshop

participants received assistance in solving the tough

problems they faced in their organizing efforts.

A special grant makers forum was conducted to

provide neighborhood leaders an opportunity to meet

representatives from key foundations and

organizations. Each panelist gave a detailed

description of their grant program, and offered

guidance on developing successful programs, filling

out grant applications and writing proposals.

Successes/Strengths:

A detailed survey was developed and mailed to a

random sample of participants. Survey respondents

indicated that the workshops held through the

Neighborhood Environmental Leadership Institute

had a positive impact on individuals and

neighborhood organizations through out the city. In

all, 87 percent of respondents indicated that

participating in Institute workshops led to positive

changes and improvements in their organizing efforts.

###
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

18

This page left intentionally blank
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

19

REGION 3

(DC, DE, MD, PA, VA, WV)

Community Environmental Awareness 

and Career Education Project

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus 

EQ993931010 Gregory Herbert, Director $18,450 Environmental

Montgomery County Health Department FY 1999 Stewardship

Division of Environmental Health Sciences

1430 DeKalb Street, P.O. Box 311

Norristown, PA 19404 

Target Audience:

Norristown, Pennsylvania area residents, with an

emphasis on teen and pre-teen youths.

Purpose:

To promote a high level of environmental awareness

and understanding among all age groups in the

community of Norristown.

Goals:

• To enhance the lives of the target audience

through programs, sponsored by the

Norristown Carver Center, by having a

positive effect on self-esteem and life-skill

development.

Methods:

• Operated a summer day camp, where

participants were introduced to various

environmental issues.

• Conducted educational programs, from the

Montgomery County Health Department, on

clean air, water, and improved solid waste

management for program participants and

local community volunteers

Products/Results:

The Norristown Carver Center directed a summer day

camp for approximately forty neighborhood youths. 

Through the aid of the Montgomery County Health

Department staff, project participants gained

knowledge on environmental issues, the daily

functions and tasks of an Environmental Health

Specialist, and the health services provided by the

agency.

Successes/Strengths:

Because of the success of its summer program

presentations, the Montgomery County Health

Department has now established a connection with the

Norristown community. An avenue of communication

is secured that permits the department to actively meet

with the community and promote the services that it

offers. Additionally, a partnership is planned with the

Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education and

environmental clubs in the Norristown school district,

in order to expand the environmental education

program that currently exists at the Carver Center.

####
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

20

 After

REGION 3

Anacostia River Cleanup Project/Environmental Youth Corp

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ99345401 Henry B. Taylor, President $20,000 Water quality/

Holding On to Memorable Events FY 1997 River Cleanup

(H.O.M.E) P.O. Box 60347

 Washington, D.C. 20039

Befor e

REGION 3
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

21

Anacostia River Cleanup Project/Environmental Youth Corp

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ99345401 Henry B. Taylor, President $20,000 Water quality/

Holding On to Memorable Events FY 1997 River Cleanup

(H.O.M.E) P.O. Box 60347

 Washington, D.C. 20039

Target Audience:

Communities in proximity to Anacostia River and the

selected tributaries: Watts Branch, Hickey Run and

James Creek. 

Purpose:

To engage selected communities, university students,

service companies, government and non-government

organizations (NGOs) in clearing excessive amounts

of debris from the Anacostia River and selected

tributaries.

Goals:

• To increase community awareness about the

impacts of dumping in local waterways.

• To clear waterway blockages and increase

flow through a collaborative removal

program.

Methods:

• Organized teams of instructors from Morgan

State University to teach removal and

monitoring methods.

• Assembled more than 80 community

members to serve as participants.

• Formed associations with D.C. FRESH,

National Park Service, U.S. EPA, African

American Environmentalist Association,

Catholic University, D.C. Public Schools,

D.C. Dept. of Recreation, The La Val

Corporation, Handon Diving, The Boy

Scouts of America-Sea Explorers-Ship 547,

and Sojourner Douglas College to assist in

the implementation of the program plan.

• Collaborated with all parties to effect

cleanup of river and tributaries known to be

blocked by excessive amounts of debris.

Products/Results:

The Anacostia River Cleanup Project/ Environmental

Youth Corp. was able to successfully remove

approximately 95% of the debris from its targeted

waterways. This served to significantly increase the

water flow and provide aesthetic improvements to the

affected areas. 

Successes/Strengths:

H.O.M.E. has provided a model that successfully

integrates the efforts of local institutions and

community residents to perform river quality

improvements. The project attracted twice the

number of community participants projected. The

unexpected level of interest, and the participation of

industry and non-industry groups fostered a

constructive dialogue around the cleanup program

and other local environmental justice issues. By

localizing the area of concern, H.O.M.E. has created

a network of stakeholders whose future interests will

now include the health of resident waterbodies, such

as the need for the waterbodies to remain free flowing

and the presence of community environmental justice 

issues. 

###
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

22

REGION 3

Environmental Justice Technology Center (EJTC)

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus: 

EQ99360201 Dr. Babafemi A. Adesanya, $20,000 Education/Assessment 

Executive Director FY 1998 and Support

Hampton University

27 W. Queen’s Way, Suite 102

Hampton, VA 23669 

Target Audience:

Southeast End residents of Newport News, VA

Purpose:

To assemble detailed environmental and health data

for dissemination to the public and relevant state

agencies to encourage development of targeted

government programs that can deal with community

environmental justice issues.

Goals:

• Assist the community in investigating and

characterizing the environmental health of

the community.

• Assist communities in obtaining

environmental information.

• Develop a methodology for the community’s

continuing involvement in local

environmental policy decision-making

processes.

• Help to design and implement training

programs that build capacity among

community members to promote pollution

prevention and neighborhood liaison

activities/initiatives.

Methods:

• Developed a cooperative arrangement with

the Department of Environmental Quality to

conduct environmental toxic release audits

using their files .

• Trained team members on the process of

conducting environmental audits using air,

water and waste files from the DEQ.

• Developed a methodology for conducting

the investigation which included lists of:

proximate companies, toxic sites, industry

outflows, permits, reported violations,

zoning classifications, age of homes, health

and environmental indices and water soil,

and lead tests.

• Held “Train-the-Trainer” workshops for the

community on environmental information,

GIS and pollution prevention.

• Used volunteers to do a community waste

audit. The primary goal was to develop

community profiles, which included

regionally available data and locally

gathered data. Supporting data included

information from the EPA and ATSDR

(Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease

Registry).

• Conducted four environmental education

workshops in the community covering;

general environmental education, sources of

information on pollution and health effects

and indoor pollution prevention. 

• Evaluated workshops using pre and post

tests to determine level of participant

understanding and effectiveness of the

programs. Used verbal and written feedback

to ascertain project’s worth.

Products/Results:

The project was able to develop a detailed profile of

the Southeast End community’s potential pollutants,

and its abandoned sites. It also collected information

on indoor air quality. The data was combined with

state and federal figures to present an integrated

environmental assessment of the community.

Successes/Strengths:

The community assessment successfully drew

together different data sources to formulate a baseline

profile of the Southeast End area. By educating the

residents and communicating the data to them, the

level of discourse on the regional environmental

issues was elevated. State and local governments

were included in the information sharing, in hopes of

impelling programmatic changes that would benefit

the Southeast Environmental community. Educating

the community was key. It empowered the residents

to engage in a more scientific evaluation of their

residential plight and enabled them to ask the

appropriate questions of officials who will determine

the fate of town’s environmental future.

###
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

23

REGION 3

Get the Lead Out Environmental Justice

Empowerment Project

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus: 

EQ993932010 Ruth Ann Norton, Executive Director $20,000 Lead Hazards 

Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning FY 1999 and Poisoning

2714 Hudson Street

Baltimore, MD 21224 

Target Audience:

High risk communities for lead hazards and lead

poisoning in Baltimore City, Maryland, specifically

the communities of Sandtown-Winchester, Middle

East, and Park Heights.

Purpose:

To empower communities to utilize lead prevention

resources such as; tenant’s legal and housing rights,

housing relocation resources, grants, loans, HEPAvacuums, free lead dust cleaning kits and educational

resources to promote lead poisoning prevention

efforts.

Goals:

• To increase awareness of the risks of lead

poisoning through environmental education

and legal rights training.

• To increase access to resources and

prevention information in the communities

at highest risk for lead poisoning.

Methods:

• Established Community Lead Poising

Prevention Resource Centers, accessible on

a walk-in basis, in areas of significant need.

• Expanded upon a current HEPA-vacuum

loan program, which provides low-income

home owners with free access to otherwise

expensive HEPA-vacuums that capture

minute lead particles and dust.

• Facilitated an all-day Parent Lead Forum,

where community residents were trained in

the causes and effects of lead poisoning and

the prevention resources available to them.

• Distributed lead-specific cleaning kits to

members of the target audience.

Products/Results:

“Get the Lead Out!” established three Community

Lead Poisoning Resource Centers, serving as “onestop-shops” for parents, property owners, service

providers, and community residents to learn about

lead poisoning, testing, risk awareness and prevention

resources and tools. These centers provide

information about the HEPA-vacuum loan program,

whose inventory was increased during FY 1999

through the purchase of three HEPA-vacuums and the

filters and bags needed to run the vacuums for one

year. A total of 58 community residents and 24

community organizations representatives attended the

“Get the Lead Out!” Parent Lead Forum where 146

lead-specific cleaning kits were distributed to lowincome families.

Successes/Strengths:

Thanks in part to the “Get the Lead Out!” program,

the City of Baltimore, Maryland has taken a proactive

stance on the issue of lead poisoning eradication. Via

its outreach and empowerment successes, the project

laid the groundwork for an ongoing blood lead testing

education campaign and the adoption of a universal

blood lead testing law in Baltimore City for all one

and two year old children. Most important, however,

is the program amplified the voice of community

advocacy on lead and provided greater access to the

use of legal and housing rights related to lead hazards

to the target audience.

###
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

24

REGION 3

KidsGrow: An Empowerment Stewardship Program

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus: 

EQ993927010 Jacqueline M. Carrera, $20,000 Environmental 

Executive Director FY 1999 Stewardship

Parks & People Foundation

1901 Eagle Drive

Baltimore, MD 21207 

Target Audience:

Baltimore City, Maryland youth, families, and

communities.

Purpose:

To equip urban youth with the knowledge and

practical skills needed, in order to become

environmental activists in their own neighborhoods.

Goals:

• Assist the target audience to: understand

ecological concepts; gain awareness of

environmental issues and values; participate

in outdoor activities that they would not

otherwise experience; become proficient in

scientific investigation and critical thinking;

acquire the skills needed for effective action

and to enjoy undertaking community

projects.

Methods:

• Developed year-round classroom and

outdoor instruction for Baltimore City

elementary and middle school students,

which emphasized hands-on environmental

programs and reading skills enhancement.

• Produced newsletters for the parents of

project participants and community

members, in order to inform them of the

students’ activities, as well as increase their

general level of environmental awareness.

Products/Results:

KidsGrow delivered 15 hours of program instruction

each week during the 1998-1999 school year for 40-

60 students. The project also provided 210 hours of

instruction for 40 students during a 1999 summer

camp program. Nutritious snack and/or lunches were

prepared and distributed every day, via a staff student

ration of 1:10. Local environmental problems were

identified and solutions to these problems were

designed. Educational newsletters were published,

which displayed highlights of KidsGrow program

activities.

Successes/Strengths:

The FY 1999 KidsGrow curriculum focused on the

issue of lead poisoning. Aided by materials prepared

by the Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning,

project participants discovered an area in their

community in which residents were living in houses

designated as “lead paint hazards.” Both shocked and

inspired by this situation, the students decided to

create a model of how these houses could be

detoxified of lead and rehabilitated. Further

development of this project will be pursued in the

future.

###
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

25

REGION 3

Mattaponi Heritage Foundation

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus: 

EQ99359801 Carl Custalow, Director $20,000 Water Quality Monitoring

Mattaponi Heritage Foundation FY 1998

1467 Mattaponi Reservation Circle

West Point, VA 23181 

Target Audience:

Mattaponi Indian Reservation

Purpose:

To protect against threats to the tribe’s livelihood by

assessing and monitoring river and groundwater

testing.

Goals:

• To use water quality testing as a means of

determining the effects of surrounding

development on the Reservation’s water

source.

Methods:

• Created partnerships with the Virginia

Institute of Marine Science and the Alliance

for the Chesapeake Bay as consulting and

training resources.

• Residents received testing process training.

and equipment.

• Tested water parameters every week for one

year and logged results into the Reservation

computer database for annual comparison

with future testing, following the 

procedures for proper river water testing,

groundwater testing, and quality control. 

• Created a multimedia presentation to

describe and to document testing activities.

Products/Results:

The project resulted in a consistent data set

quantifying the following water parameters:

temperature, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, salinity and

pH. 

Additionally, at the time samples were taken, the

following ambient environmental conditions were

also logged; speed and direction of the wind, cloud

cover, tidal stage, air temperature and any anomalous

conditions.

Successes/Strengths:

The Mattaponi have taken a proactive scientific

approach to quantify the effects of encroaching

development on their land. Training and eventual

testing will give them a baseline account of their

watershed’s health and allow them ample time to

respond to any potentially destructive influences

emanating from outside their reservation. They have

increased local knowledge of scientific processes and

parameters while securing partnerships with local

institutions to aid in their fight to maintain a pristine

environment and to control the assets guaranteed by

treaty.

###
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

26

REGION 3

Palmer Park Neighborhood Action (PPNAP) Program

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus: 

EQ99344501 Sylvester Vaughns, President $20,000 Watershed education/

Palmer Park Neighborhood FY 1997 restoration

Action Partnership, Inc. 

 7617 Greenleaf Rd.

 Palmer Park, MD 20785 

Target Audience:

Palmer Park community residents

Purpose:

To improve local watershed conditions through

resident education, site remediation and damage

prevention using the efforts of community members.

Goals:

• Restoration of the health and beauty of the

community’s creek.

• Improvement of water-related infrastructure

• Education of residents on watershed issues

and impacts to community.

Methods:

• Held instructional sessions covering a wide

range of topics including: polluters of the

Potomac river, habitat assessment,

watershed concepts, benthic organism

identification, tidal wetlands, aquatic

farming, river histories, bird and plant

identification, stream surveys, Native

American artifacts, tidal marshes, forest

buffers, wetlands, and impacts of humans

and land use on water quality.

• Utilized a variety of teaching methods

including: nature hikes, presentations, canoe

rides, meetings and slide shows.

• Employed the services of foundations,

nature guides, project groups, nongovernment organizations (NGOs) and

others to aid in the distribution of

information to program participants. The

different groups accommodated the program

by tailoring their presentations to fit the

goals of PPNAP’s project.

• Held remediation sessions for volunteers to

remove debris from streams, record amounts

of trash present in streams, plant trees and

mark storm drains.

Products/Results:

PPNAP effectively educated more than 310 people,

held 20 project, presentation, training and field trip

sessions, and stenciled all the community storm

drains (121) with the message, “DON’T DUMP -

ANACOSTIA RIVER DRAINAGE”. They removed

approximately 1.5 tons of trash from the local stream

and planted 100 trees. 

Successes/Strengths:

PPNAP organized a diverse set of activities to

facilitate the education of its residents, cleanup of its

streams, prevention of further harmful activities and

communication of its local organizations. The plan

succeeded by choosing educational sessions and trips

that were most helpful to the watershed and to the

residents. It prompted the State Department of

Natural Resources Forestry Division and the Prince

George’s County Department of Natural Resources to

commit to continuing the expansion of the forest

buffer along the stream by planting more trees. 

Additionally, the Maryland-National Capital Park and

Planning Commission began to study methods for

providing landscape quality street trees to the main

streets in Palmer Park.

###
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

27

REGION 3

Participatory Urban Assessment (PUA) Handbook

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ99344701 Paul Jahnige $20,000 Environmental Stewardship

Community Resources FY 1997

5131 Wetheredsville Rd.

Baltimore, MD 21207 

Target Audience:

Urban community residents and professionals around

the country.

Purpose:

To create a handbook useful for assessing

environmental and social information that is typically

used to describe communities.

Goals:

• To develop a simple, field-appropriate

participatory urban appraisal method that

will allow community residents to gather

high quality information about their

community’s environmental and social

conditions.

• To select an interdisciplinary team of about

twenty residents, academic environmental

professionals and community development

professionals to develop the manual.

• Field test the method with residents and

local professionals in two inner-city

communities.

• Develop a PUA Handbook that can be used

as a model by community residents and

professionals in cities around the country.

Methods: 

• Engaged in a literary search on the topics of

urban planning, visioning, environmental

assessment, rapid rural appraisal, and

technical data collection methods and

models. 

• Held two workshops to form definitions and

procedural strategies.

• Drafted a PUA methodology to be used by

urban community leaders and environmental

professionals and had it reviewed and

revised by members of the PUA team.

• Field tested the manual in three separate

urban communities. Worked with ten youth

and adult residents in each community over

a period of eight weeks.

• Assessed testing outcomes.

Products/Results:

Community Resources’ efforts culminated in a

handbook that will give its users a simple

methodology for conducting field assessments of

their communities.

Successes/Strengths:

This project is unique in that it provides a model

structure so that urban minority and disadvantaged

communities around the country will be able to

collect, interpret and control environmental and social

data about their own regions. The project employed

an interdisciplinary, multicultural team to bring

together community residents and local professionals

on an equal footing in creating an information

retrieval method. It will motivate the general public

to be more conscious of their local EJ issues and

involve community residents in the assimilation and

understanding of data concerning their living areas.

###
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

28

This page left intentionally blank
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

29

REGION 4

(AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN)

Appalachia-Science in the Public Interest

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ 984785 Dr. Albert Fritsch, Director $10,000 Environmental

50 Lair Street FY 1999 Stewardship

Mt. Vernon, KY 40456

Target Audience:

Low-income Appalachians in some of the poorest

counties in America (five of the poorest are within 50

miles of Appalachia-Science in the Public Interest

(ASPI) in eastern Kentucky.

Purpose:

ASPI seeks to make science and technology

responsive to the needs of the lower-income people of 

Appalachia through environmental education and

publicity. This project will address the problems of

waste management caused by illegal solid waste

dumping and straight pipes which go directly from

bathroom commodes to nearby streams.

Goals:

• Identify waste mismanagement cases which

could be solved by better technical

information and policy changes. 

• Teach alternatives to utilizing straight pipe

which attribute to the seriously polluted

creek. 

Methods:

• Survey and educate the target community

on solid waste management practices in the

area.

• Conduct workshops on building dry compost

toilets and terraced artificial wetlands in

areas unsuited for septic systems, and where

people of low economic means have the

building skills to construct these devices.

Products/Results: 

Developed a publicity program through on-site visits

to each of the targeted counties. Heightened

awareness of pollution prevention measures in

Kentucky at a very critical period in its water and

solid waste management campaigns. Organized and

performed dry composting toilet/artificial wetland

workshops in Harlan, Laurel and Rockcastle

Counties. Developed and distributed a brochure,

“Ten Reasons for Installing Dry Composting

Toilets,” to 4,500 persons.

Success/Strengths: 

State officials are now attentive and a wide range of

people are talking about these viable alternatives for

solid waste disposal at conferences, in personal

conversations and in the media. The workshops were

successful with 200 attendees over the six days of the

two workshop series. 

###
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

30

REGION 4

Association of Filipino-Americans

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ984593 Bernadette Hudnell FY 1998 Pollution Prevention

 517 Center Avenue $20,000

 Philadelphia, MS 39350

REGION 4
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

31

Association of Filipino-Americans

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ984593 Bernadette Hudnell FY 1998 Pollution Prevention

 517 Center Avenue $20,000

 Philadelphia, MS 39350

Target Audience:

Low income and disadvantaged families in Kemper

County, MS; especially school students at Kemper

County School District whose student population is

approximately 95% African-American.

Purpose:

To promote hands-on training, and public education

programs related to Pollution Prevention among 

low-income and disadvantaged families in Kemper

County, MS.

Goals

• Promote recycling project at local school.

• To organize a “Pollution Prevention

Team” consisting of representatives from

various groups to address local

environmental justice problems, enhance

critical thinking, problem-solving and

ensure active participation of members of

disadvantaged groups in Kemper County.

Methods

• Initiate a recycling project at the Kemper

County Elementary School. The students

also, developed and distributed a brochure

explaining the importance of proper

disposal of solid waste, outlining the

advantage of recycling. 

• Conducted a “train-the-trainer” workshop

with teachers, students and community

members. Experts in the field assisted in

conducting the workshop, training

participants and providing outreach

workers with pollution prevention

techniques.

• Three other workshops were held to

educate the community about toxic

substances, primarily lead poisoning

prevention among children.

Products/Results:

The target audience is aware and knowledgeable

about solid waste reduction and recycling. They are

aware of toxic chemicals/materials and how improper

use and disposal of these chemicals can lead to

environmental pollution. They are better able to

recognize pollution sources in their environment,

change practices in their daily lives, improve the

quality of the environment in which they live, thus

protecting the environment and promoting public

health.

Successes/Strengths:

As a result of the education and training, the citizens

of Kemper County, MS are able to make informed

decisions about how pollution problems can be

resolved. The implementation of a paper recycling

project at the Kemper County Elementary School and

development of a recycling brochure has empowered

the students to become better stewards of the

environment.

####
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

32

REGION 4

Coalition United to Restore the Environment

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ984587 Carrie Mitchell FY 1998 Wellhead Protection Studies

 P.O. Box 423 $20,000

 Atalla, AL 35954

Target Audience:

The Town of Ridgeville, Alabama, a disadvantaged,

low income, minority community.

Purpose:

To conduct wellhead protection studies to determine

the geologic and hydrogeologic setting of the aquifer,

identify potential contaminant sources, and prepare a

management plan in an effort to prevent the aquifer

from being impacted.

Goals

• To increase public awareness of

environmental justice issues in addition to

satisfying Alabama Department of

Environmental Management (ADEM)

wellhead protection requirements.

• Dissemination of complex geological and 

environmental data in a manner that is

understandable to the general public.

Methods

• Hold public meetings to present the

Management Plan concept and findings from

the wellhead protection study.

• Distribution of mailers and flyers to all

households located within the delineated

wellhead protection boundaries and door-todoor canvassing to explain the importance of

wellhead protection.

• Advertisement in local newspapers

presenting the concept.

• Invitation to representatives of ADEM,

Alabama Rural Water Association, and other

agencies and organizations to become

involved in the Management Plan process.

• Research the types of wastes disposed of in

the landfill and the relationship between the

aquifer beneath the landfill to the aquifer in

which the municipal well is installed.

Products/Results:

A progress report from a geological consultant

trained to conduct the technical portions of the

project. A project journal which includes information

from all public meetings, project goals and

milestones, discussion of responsibilities, and

progress of the project. A final Management Plan to

ADEM for approval within 12 months of

implementation.

Successes/Strengths:

The benefits of this program include increased public

awareness of environmental justice issues in addition

to satisfying ADEM wellhead protection

requirements. The major challenge involved

disseminating complex geological and environmental

data in a manner that is understandable to the general

public.

###
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

33

REGION 4

Community Against Pollution

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ 984782 David Baker, President $20,000 PCB Contamination

1012 West 16th Street FY 1999

Anniston, AL 36201

Target Audience:

Residents of West Anniston. West Anniston is home

to approximately 8,000 people, of which 80% are

African-American. This is a working class and lowincome area.

Purpose:

The community is faced with an industry that

produced various chemicals and products for more

than 40 years which resulted in extensive

polychlorinated bipenyls (PCBs) contamination in the

area. The project will research the effect of PCBs in

the West Anniston community. 

Goals:

• Research the current health status of

residents of West Anniston, and inform the

residents of the various environmental

results.

• Involve the residents of West Anniston in

the development of strategies to address and

stop the various environmental assaults that

are present.

Methods:

• Conducted house-to-house surveys and

collect relative data on sources of

contamination.

• Held community forums and public

information activities such as interviews on 

radio and cable television programs

regarding the health affects of PCBs.

Products/Results:

Completed approximately 1,000 health surveys while

directing residents to local hospitals for testing and

treatment. Participated with government agencies in

assessment, remedial design and cleanup of PCB

contamination. Conducted community awareness

meetings to inform residents of the processes used

when solid waste is incinerated, placed in landfills,

and when it is recycled. There are actual and

potential threats of air and ground water

contamination by all three methods.

Participated in several large, citywide meetings with

EPA/ATSDR to bring the community up-to-date on

cleanup, enforcement and other pertinent information.

Success/Strengths: 

The Community Against Pollution brought national

attention to the problem of PCB contamination. 

There were meetings with Governor Don Seigelman

and Congressman Bob Riley regarding the issue. The

project demonstrated the problems in Anniston to the

National Environmental Justice Advisory Council by

organizing a tour during the national meeting in June

2000. During the research of this project it was

discovered that the West Anniston community also

has a problem with lead contamination.
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

34

REGION 4

Environmental & Community Health Organization, Inc.

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ 984787 Susan Patton $25,000 Water Quality

4956 Pritchard Lane FY 1999

Independence, KY 41051

Target Audience:

The Yellow Creek Community in Kentucky. The

area is rural and low-income.

Purpose:

This project is to research the relationship between

environmental hazards and the health of the

community in Yellow Creek. The results will be

analyzed and made available to the community

residents and decision-makers. The community’s

water supply and their environmental surroundings

were contaminated by several identified toxic

chemicals.

Goals: 

• Identify and involve all stakeholders,

including existing communitybased/grassroots organizational and local,

state, and federal environmental programs. 

• Hold community health education

workshops to identify health effects, plan for

future health care, and develop plans for the

health assessments.

• Interview participants for the health

assessments and produce reports.

• Develop an educational brochure around the

historical environmental exposure and the

health assessment.

Methods:

• Develop a community leadership committee

to coordinate the local logistics and to be the

contact during the health assessment

process.

• Hold two community awareness workshops

to discuss the health assessment project

approach of community involvement and

historical environmental exposure.

• Conduct community health assessments.

• Report results to the community and

distribute brochures.

Products/Results:

Conducted 104 health assessments of participants that

lived within the watershed of Yellow Creek.

The interviews included 43 males and 61 females. 

Ages raged from newborn to more than 90 years.

Developed a brochure called “Community Health

Assessment Project in Yellow Creek, Kentucky.” This

publication is the result of the preliminary

assessments.

Success/Strengths:

The most important aspect of this work is that the

community, through its heavy involvement in all

aspects of the project, trusts the outcome. One

benefit is that the project has now developed a

prototype for community-based health assessment

research.

####
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

35

REGION 4

Farmworker Association of Florida (FWAF)

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus: 

EQ 984783-99-0 Sister Gail Grimes $15,000 Farmworker Safety

Administrator FY 1999 Standards

815 S. Park Avenue

Apopka, FL 32707

Target Audience:

The multi ethnic, farmworker communities of Central

and South Florida, composed mostly of Hispanic,

Haitian and African-American agricultural workers.

Purpose:

To address the disproportionately high exposure to

pesticides and other workplace health and safety

hazards among farmworkers in Central and Southern

Florida.

Goals:

• Involve farmworkers in identifying health

problems which they experience in the

workplace, and report cases of pesticide

illnesses.

• Conduct training for pesticide handlers who

have not received training.

Methods:

• Document chemicals used on crops and

develop new crop sheets in collaboration

with the state Bureau of Pesticides.

• Conduct monthly workplace diagnostics

and/or EPA certified pesticide training with

50 farmworkers.

• Educate farmworkers on EPA Worker

Protection Standards, Field Sanitation, the

Florida Right-to-Know law, and other

workplace safety laws.

• Maintain EPA-certified trainers on

pesticides, field sanitation, mapping,

pesticide handlers and other workplace

hazards for farmworkers.

• Collaborate with state office to revise

standards for pesticide poisoning reporting.

Products/Results:

Conducted thirty-three pesticide training session,

instructing 451 farmworkers in Central and Southern

Florida. Those trained have been able to identify

violations and complete diagnostics and surveys on

companies where violations were identified.

Success/Strengths:

Farmworkers, who have received the pesticide and

field sanitation training through FWAF have become

more aware of violations and of symptoms of

pesticide poisoning. Evaluation of the program has

been positive based on the participation of the

famworkers at meetings and in training. The

additional training has resulted in more inspections of

companies with violations.

####
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

36

REGION 4

Justice Resource Center

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: Funding: Focus:

EQ984589 Rev. Louis Coleman FY 1998 Environmental Stewardship

 3810 Garland Avenue $20,000

 Louisville, KY 40211 

Target Audience:

The West End of Louisville which is 80% African

American and low-income.

Purpose:

To support leadership development in the West End

of Louisville to identify, prioritize and respond to

environmental risks.

Goals

• Inform and share information with local

activists, community organization board

members, Sunday School teachers and 

ultimately the community about

environmental contamination, risks, threats,

and effects.

• Study the relationship between

environmental exposure and environmental

disease. 

• Use the Geographic Information System

(GIS) to map sources of environmental

pollution exposure and public environmental

health information.

Methods

• Conduct bi-weekly training sessions to

inform and share information with residents

of the West End of Louisville.

• Train workshop participants in the proper

methods of obtaining soil samples and how

to use and obtain information from the

Access Environmental Monitoring System.

• Survey community on the negative health

hazards in the area.

• Conduct two public information meetings,

one will address air pollution and health and

the other will address hazardous waste sites

and birth defects, developmental disabilities,

mental retardation and cancer.

Products/Results:

Disseminated information to approximately 300

proactive participants. These individuals developed

an active interest in the environment, volunteering in

demonstrations to reduce the pollution and emissions

that were coming from various industries and

factories in Rubbertown. Surveys were developed

and information gathered that will assist in planning

the objectives to reduce negative health hazards in the

area.

Successes/Strengths:

The project enabled the community to have fence line

monitors placed in various locations throughout the

Rubbertown area. The project was successful in

getting an oil refinery to demolish and clean up an

unused facility in the area thereby reducing the

hazards to the water supply. This project enabled the

West End community residents to develop systematic

approaches to addressing their own

environmental problems without relying exclusively

on governmental agencies.

####
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

37

REGION 4

Neighborhood Services, Inc.

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ 984781-99-0 Rayanthnee U. Patterson $14,000 Lead Poisoning

700 8th Avenue, West FY 1999

Birmingham (Jefferson), AL 35204

Target Audience:

The parents and care givers of young children located

in a geographic area of the city of Birmingham,

Alabama. The community is African American and

low-income.

Purpose:

To address the lingering problem of lead poisoning in

African American children in low income families,

with an emphasis on exposure in the home or child

care setting.

Goals:

• Study the health effects of lead in household

products (i.e., lead based paint) and the

health effect of airborne lead emissions on

all children in the community.

• Develop and implement a multi media lead

information campaign. This will include

radio and television public service

announcements, print media, and an

information pamphlet geared to the

Birmingham audience.

Methods: 

• Conduct community Lead Awareness

Seminars.

• Work with the Jefferson County Health

Department to conduct site-visits and

screen/test children under the age of six for

elevated blood lead levels.

• Assisted community members with cleaning

and repairing of the homes where lead

hazards were found.

• Conduct Lead Safe Practices Seminar with

community residents.

Products/Results:

Implemented a Lead Community Awareness Seminar

in the Woodlawn Neighborhood. Parents were

trained in the proper techniques for cleaning the home

and assisting with the elimination of lead hazards. 

Forty children were tested for elevated blood lead

levels. Culturally friendly pamphlets and other

materials on lead safety were created.

Eighteen, two-day, Lead Safety Seminars were

presented to the community residents. One of the

seminars was a “train the trainer” seminar designed to

train and equip residents with the knowledge to train

others in Lead Safe Practices. A total of 108

residents has been trained. An information packet

for pediatric doctors and nurses was developed and

distributed and meetings were scheduled with each

for follow-up. 

Success/Strengths:

Worked with Birmingham News, CNN and others, on

several news articles and a documentary on lead

poisoning and its prevention. Established a lead

hotline. Birmingham has been chosen as a pilot

under the Alliance to End Childhood Lead Poisonings

“The Promise of Environmental Sampling and RighTo-Know for Communities at Risk” Program.

####
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

38

REGION 4

Tennessee Valley RC&D, Co.

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: Funding: Focus:

EQ984588 R. Michael Roden FY 1998 Radon

4511 US Hwy. 31, South $20,000

Decatur, AL 35603

Target Audience:

Minorities in an eight-county region of north

Alabama; specifically, Hispanic immigrants, African

Americans, and Native Americans.

Purpose:

To educate the residents of North Alabama who are at

risk from radon and other occupational related

environmental hazards.

Goals

• Provide educational information and training

on the health problems associated radon.

• Focus on reducing the risks associated with

environmental hazards and how and where

to access assistance for those with health

problems.

Methods:

• Utilization of the Indian American

Education (IAE) group, and other existing

minority associations and groups to provide

the forums for the delivery of this

educational effort

• Utilization of a web site provided by IAE to

participate in their distance learning effort 

to reach ten states and seven countries.

• Communications in both English and

Spanish, focusing on reducing the risks

associated with environmental hazards and

how/where to access assistance for those

with health problems.

Products/Results:

Conducted educational programs in communities

located in an eight-county region of north Alabama. 

Developed, printed and distributed environmental and 

health brochures. Increased environmental and health

awareness in minority populations. Increased the

minority population’s awareness of where and how to

access help.

Successes/Strengths:

Environmental concepts and norms, that have

previously been low priority in this segment of north

Alabama’s population, will be institutionalized. 

Awareness of environmental health is increased .

Developed a brochure called “Water Quality: How it

Works” in both English and Spanish. Developed a

child’s workbook on environmental awareness called

“Squinty Flinty” in both English and Spanish. 

Tennessee Valley Resource Conservation and

Development (RC&D) won 1st Place for their

outstanding educational display at The U.S. EPA TriRegional Meeting (September 1999). 

###
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

39

REGION 5

(IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI)

Carver Community Organization

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ97512101 Mr. David Wagner $15,000 Environmental Education

400 S.E. 8th Street FY 1999

Evansville, IN 47713

Target Audience:

The primarily low-income, African-American

neighborhoods of Bellemeade-Bayard Park, Canal

and Ballard, Evansville, Indiana. This area contains

some of the oldest housing stock in the State of

Indiana.

Purpose: To establish an Environmental Justice

Resource center which would provide a centralized

clearinghouse for education, research and

environmental information. The Center will have a

readily accessible body of information to enhance the

community’s understanding of environmental

indicators and data, children’s health information and

would include an ozone/water quality database

exchange program which identifies stationary sources

of pollution utilizing an interactive database program.

Goals:

• To establish an Environmental Justice

Resource Center (EJRC)in the community.

• To train local community members to utilize

available data sources.

• To identify areas of environmental justice

concern by integrating demographic and

environmental information and

disseminating it in plain English.

Methods

• Established an Environmental Justice

Resource Center (EJRC) with CD programs

which include linkages to EJ resource

centers and databases throughout the State

of Indiana and the U.S. 

• Environmental education, outreach and

public participation: Forward Leadership

and Enhanced Assistance Program (LEAP)

Workshop

• An outdoor laboratory field study was

conducted in partnership with the University

of Southern Indiana (USI). 

Products/Results:

The EJRC provides ongoing assistance to residents

including formalized structured training formats in

plain language. The Carver’s After School Program

hosts over 200 children regularly at the EJRC. 

Sixteen representatives of six different Community

Based Organizations (CBOs) and neighborhood

associations attended the Forward Leadership and

Enhanced Assistance Program (LEAP) Workshop. 

The classroom training and field trips involved over

90 middle and grade school student participants. 

Monthly meetings of 12 CBOs were conducted.

Seventeen minority middle school students along

with 20 USI volunteer biology and toxicology

students participated. The college students served as

mentors to the youth.

Success/Strenths:

As a result of the project, residents understand the

negative impact of many environmental problems. 

Ongoing assistance, training and education empower

the community. Access has been provided to

environmental information in plain English to both

adult and youth. Developed a “Children’s

Environmental Health Resource Guide” with input

from the Indiana Department of Environmental

Management, Vanderburgh County Public Health

Department, Evansville Community Health

Organization (ECHO) Community Health Clinic,

Community Action Program (CAP) of Evansville,

Vanderburgh Minority Health Coalition and

Environkinetics, which teaches parents how to protect

their children’s environment.

###
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

40

REGION 5

Earth Day Coalition

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ97512301 Ms. Anjali Mathur $15,000 Environmental Education

3606 Bridge Avenue FY 2000

Cleveland, OH 44113 

Target Audience:

Low-income and minority neighborhoods of Lee

Seville Miles, Lee Harvard, St. Clair Superior and

Glenview in Cleveland, Ohio.

Purpose:

To deliver a set of environmental problem solving

training modules designed to create a critical thinking

framework in community residents and leaders in

four target neighborhoods. These training modules

focus on environmental justice and sustainability,

environmental problem solving and risk assessment,

environmental regulations and information access,

and the use of the internet as an information resource.

Goals:

• To provide training to local residents via

environmental workshops.

• To implement outreach activities for the

Sustainable Cleveland Environmental Health

Action Guide among neighborhood

organizations media communication.

Methods: 

• The Earth Day Coalition (EDC) designed

and delivered training sessions on the basics

of environmental justice and communitybased environmental problem-solving.

• Workshops were conducted which included

interactive exercises and internet-based

training. Computer demonstrations included

“The Chemical Scorecard,” Envirofacts,

Enviromapper and the Toxic Release

Inventory (TRI).

• Community outreach was conducted using

an extensive database of schools and

churches. Over 2,700 copies of the “Action

Guide” were distributed to students in local

Catholic schools and area residents.

• Outreach was conducted for 1,000 children

participating at Camp Forbes, a summer

initiative for 9-12 year olds from the City of

Cleveland’s Department of Parks and

Recreation

• Outreach was conducted at a day-long event

for 9-12 year olds through the Interreligious

Committee on the Environment and the

Catholic Diocese of Cleveland. Classroom

presentations were conducted throughout

area schools.

• National outreach was achieved at the

Right-To-Know conference co-sponsored by

National Environmental Health Association

(NEHA) and U.S. EPA. 

• Media outreach for the “Action Guide” was

conducted through print and broadcast

media.

Products/Results:

A discussion on the project and the role of the

“Action Guide” in community empowerment was

featured throughout April 2000 on Cox, Cablevision,

Tri-C and Lorain TV stations. Cleveland’s feminist

newspaper “What She Wants” featured a full-page

article entitled “Women’s Health and the Need for

Environmental Health Access” in their January 2000

issue. An article entitled “Clean Environment,

Healthy Communities: You can Make a Difference”

was published by the Lee Harvard Times and the St.

Clair-Superior News. Five EDC newsletters

advertised the availability of free hard copy versions

of the “Action Guide” and the internet version at

www.earthdaycoalition.org.

Successes/Strengths:

This project is a successful model for other

communities across America. The Sustainable

Washington Alliance based in Washington, D.C. has

replicated the “Action Guide” for the greater

Washington area. Also, in Buffalo, New York an

effort is underway to create a partnership between

stakeholders modeled on the SCP partnership. The

Buffalo group is working closely with the SCP

partners to determine how their mission and vision

was defined, and what is key to the successful

functioning of this partnership. The Council of

Michigan Foundations has also acquired 28 copies of

the “Action Guide.”

###
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

41

REGION 5

Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife (GLIFWC)

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ985966 Mr. Jim Thannum $19,895, Subsistence Fishing and 

P.O. Box 9 FY 1998 Mercury Contamination

Odanah, WI 54861 

Target Audience:

Members of eleven Native American Tribes.

Purpose:

To address the concerns of methyl mercury

contamination of walleye in ceded territory lakes.

Goals:

• To provide information on fish contaminant

levels to the membership of eleven tribal

governments.

• To provide a practical and culturally

sensitive approach to minimizing health

risks and target women of child bearing age

and parents.

Methods: 

• Obtained information from the U.S. Food

and Drug Administration (USDA) 

comparing federal statutes regulating

mercury contamination for fish, beef and

poultry products with fish advisories

published by state, tribal, and federal

agencies for walleye harvested from ceded

territory waters.

• Collected walleye samples for testing eleven

of the twenty eight lakes that have been

identified by member tribes for a walleye

harvest sample. Of these eleven harvested

lakes, four have been tested for mercury. 

• Established a tribal database for (Geographic

Information System) GIS applications that

compiles data on Minnesota lakes to identify

mercury contamination levels to assist in

determining if lakes targeted for harvest by

tribal members require additional sampling.

• Updated the tribal database for GIS

applications that compiles new data on

Wisconsin and Michigan lakes to identify

mercury contamination levels.

• Examined alternative options to illustrate

and communicate mercury contaminant

levels in walleye from waters harvested by

tribal members using GIS mapping

techniques.

• Prepared and distributed GIS maps

illustrating mercury contamination levels in

walleye 

• Provided health information regarding

consumption advice to tribal members

harvesting fish from ceded territory lakes in

Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan.

Products/Results:

Wisconsin and Michigan databases were updated

with all available data. GIS maps depicting mercury

contamination of walleye in lakes harvested by seven

member tribes were created. A supply of these color

coded maps were provided to tribal registration

stations so that tribal members could pick them up

along with a nightly spearing or netting fishing

permit. Included on the reverse side of the maps was

background information about mercury and advice to

consider when eating fish.

To view these maps online go to www. glifwc.org

Successes/Strengths:

Created a baseline assessment of mercury

contamination of walleye in ceded territory lakes. 

Provided easy-access to information on mercury

contaminant levels and health and consumption

advice to tribal members.

###
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

42

REGION 5

Indianapolis Urban League

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

 EQ975124 John Mundell $15,000, Air Quality

850 North Meridian Street FY 1999

Indianapolis, IN 46204

Target Audience:

The low-income and minority communities located in

Marion County, Indiana

Purpose:

To develop a working Geographic Information

System (GIS) Environmental Resource Center

database for air emissions data for Marion County,

Indiana.

Goals:

• To assess where and to what extent lowincome and minority populations are

exposed to a greater proportion of industrial

emissions.

• To develop a preliminary health risk

assessment of specific key sectors of

Indianapolis known to be low-income,

mixed race, and close to industrial and

Superfund sources.

• To provide the GIS database to the Indiana

Department of Environmental Management,

the Marion County Department of Health

and the Indiana State Department of Health,

in order to facilitate their environmental

health-based decision-making processes.

• To make the database available to the public

and present environmental information via a

workshop.

Methods: 

• The Indianapolis Urban League

Environmental Coalition (IULEC)

developed a working GIS Environmental

Resource Center database for air emissions

data for Marion County, Indiana, in

partnership with the Indiana University

School of Public Health and Environmental

Affairs.

• A relational analysis among potential

chemical source types and locations along

with demographic data was performed and

utilized to identify geographic areas of

concern as well as populations at risk for the

local community.

• Community Workshops were conducted

presenting the results of the EJ study

performed as well as providing additional

information on the impacts of air toxics on

human health. The workshops were

attended by local community members,

students of Martin University and filmed by

the local public access television station. 

The program was subsequently shown

multiple times during December 2000

reaching an estimated public audience of

400,000 in central Indiana.

Products/Results:

The results of this analysis were drafted into a

technical publication entitled “Race, Income and

Toxic Air Releases in Indianapolis, Indiana” and

presented at the 21st annual meeting of the Society of

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry in

November 2000. The IULEC completed the

identification of chemicals of concern and their

potential health impacts for a geographic sector of

Marion County where potential impacts to lowincome and minority populations are considered

greatest. The results of this study have been drafted

in the report “Assessment of Risk From Hazardous

Air Pollutants in Southwestern Indianapolis” and are

being reviewed for presentation at an upcoming

nation meeting. These results have drawn attention to

this area as the potential site of future research

including an increase of long-term air monitoring and

an evaluation of actual health data. A GIS data disk

was created and disseminated as well as videotapes of

the news coverage of IULEC’s press conference and

the two educational programs.

Successes/Strengths:

Providing public access to environmental information

and health impacts reaching an estimated audience of

400,000 in central Indiana. Formation of the

(IULEC) which includes members from non-profit,

education, governmental, and private sector

organizations concerned with providing a healthy

environment for citizens of Indiana. 

###
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

43

REGION 5

Project Vida

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ985535-01 Dr. Howard Ehrman $20,000 Education/

2856 South Millard Avenue FY 1997 Environmental

Chicago, IL 60623 Stewardship

www.lvejo.org 

Target Audience:

The Hispanic community known as “Little Village”

located in Chicago, Illinois.

Purposes:

To develop a participatory, interactive Environmental

Justice (EJ) project for Little Village.

Goals:

• To create an EJ youth and family

organization in the community.

• To conduct a community environmental

inventory of toxic sources in and around

Little Village.

• To develop educational materials and hold

community forums around a neighborhood

brownfield site with Superfund status

pending.

Methods: 

• Community outreach and meetings were

conducted on EJ and environmental topics,

resulting in the decision to create an EJ

youth and family organization to be housed

in the local Boys and Girls club. A nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, Little Village

Environmental Justice Organization

(LVEJO) was formed.

• A home toxic and asthma trigger inventory

was conducted and a curriculum developed

that emphasizes pollution prevention and

risk reduction activities.

• A mural program was developed integrating

EJ issues with cultural themes of the

community.

• A community-based environmental

inventory of toxic sources in and around

Little Village was undertaken in partnership

with Citizens For a Better Environment.

Products/Results:

• “Little Village Guide to Toxic Pollution”

was developed and distributed widely.

• A mural was painted by local youth in the

community depicting EJ in the community.

Successes/Strengths:

Community residents were educated on toxic releases

in Little Village and empowered to form their own

community based, non-profit organization to address

environmental justice issues and concerns. 

###
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

44

This page left intentionally blank
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

45

REGION 6

(AR, LA, NM, OK, TX)

Esperanza Peace and Justice Center

Environmental Justice Project

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ 996819-01 Enrique Valdivia, FY 1997 Air Pollution and Solid 

Esperanza Peace and Justice Center $20,000 Waste 

922 San Pedro

San Antonio, TX 78212

Target Audience:

Low-income African-American community in

Eastside San Antonio, Texas, and the Martinez

neighborhood, a racially mixed low-income area.

Purpose:

To address air pollution and solid waste problems

through community education and organizing

grassroots efforts in an area that is home to a high

number of the cities’ dirtiest industries and one of

Bexar County’s largest landfills. 

Goal:

• Provide community education and enhance

empowerment of Eastside and Martinez

residents regarding environmental

conditions in their neighborhoods

• Promote a cleaner means of power

generation and encourage the relocation of

the Deely coal burning power plant, a huge 

producer of contaminations into the Eastside

neighborhood

Methods: 

• Conduct two surveys of households in the

target communities to investigate the health

problems and environmental concerns. 

• Produce two “State of the Neighborhood”

environmental reports containing public

data, survey results and an overview of

toxicology information relevant to

neighborhood exposures. 

• Present the reports at workshops for

neighborhood residents.

Products/Results:

Monthly meetings were held, during which,

information was provided on the environmental and

health effects of coal-fired power plants and the State

complaint process. A Clean Air Summit/Spruce

Power Plan Tour was held and 50 people participated

in the Summit, while 30 went on the tour. A “State of

the Neighborhood Conference” was held near the

surveyed neighborhoods, drawing 50 people and

receiving excellent press coverage. Health surveys

were taken of the two neighborhoods using college

and high school volunteers. In the Eastside

neighborhood, 161 households were surveyed, and in

the Martinez neighborhood, 88 individuals were

surveyed. The two “State of the Neighborhood”

reports were compiled based on information from the

surveys. 

Successes/Strengths:

As a result of the project, residents understand the

negative impacts of many environmental problems. 

The neighborhood groups have formed alliances and

have worked hard to have a voice in decisions

affecting their environment.

###
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

46

REGION 6

Mothers for Clean Air

Houston’s Fifth Ward Cleaner Communities for Better Health 

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ991035-01 Jane Laping FY 1999 Air Pollution and Children’s 

3015 Richmond Ave., Suite 270 $15,000 Health

Houston, TX 77098
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

47

REGION 6

Mothers for Clean Air.

Houston’s Fifth Ward Cleaner Communities for Better Health 

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ991035-01 Jane Laping FY 1999 Air Pollution and Children’s 

3015 Richmond Ave., Suite 270 $15,000 Health

Houston, TX 77098

Target Audience:

Low-income African-Americans in Houston’s Fifth

Ward exposed to harmful effects of air pollutants

(ozone, toxins and particulate matter) from industrial

sources and auto emissions.

Purpose:

To expand the organization’s activities by increasing

community awareness of air and solid waste hazards. 

Involving the community in identifying

environmental justice issues by gathering information

about pollution sources in and near the community

and identifying solutions to these problems 

Goals:

• Enhance community understanding of

environmental and public health information

systems. 

• Improve communication between the

elementary schools and community members

when there are high ozone days.

• Educate the community about the adverse

health effects of ozone and the importance

of keeping the children indoors on days of

high ozone concentrations.

Methods: 

• Hold a workshop to train the community on

accessing the environmental databases and

public health information via the Internet.

• Notify elementary schools when high ozone

days are expected so that the principals will

keep the children indoors. 

• Hold a public Environmental Justice

Workshop and Tour to help residents

understand local environmental justice

problems. 

• Tour hazardous waste sites to enhance

understanding of the issues through firsthand knowledge. 

Products/Results:

Fifteen meetings were held in the community where

the volunteers practiced organizational skills, learned

about the community’s environmental problems and

planned future educational activities. Twenty

community members toured the five Superfund sites

and Ship Channel industries affecting the

environmental quality in the area. Professionals

taught the participants about the health affects

associated with particular pollutants found during the

tour. Ten people attended a three-day Internet

training session so that they may continue their

environmental education. Presentations on ozone

education were made in several local day care

centers.

Successes/Strengths:

A great interest in air pollution has been created. A

children’s photography workshop was held, and

fifteen of the best photos of pollution in the

neighborhood were made into a calendar. Twentyfive neighborhood people attended an Environmental

Justice Workshop. 

###
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

48

REGION 6

 Improving Environmental Health and Justice 

in a Border Community

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ986402-01-0 Victoria Simons FY 1999 Environmental health and 

Border Environmental Health Coalition $14,965 environmental justice 

P.O. Box 134 issues.

Mesilla Park, NM 88047 

Target Audience:

Low-income Hispanics in a colonia in Dona Ana

County, New Mexico.

Purpose:

To develop a prototype program that will assist lowincome minority communities analyze and cope with

environmental health and justice issues. Many health

problems are related to the concentration of dairies in

the county and the fact that many of the residents

have no household water or wastewater infrastructure

Goals:

• To teach the community to identify local

environmental justice problems and involve

the residents in finding solutions to address

these concerns. 

• The community will also be given an

understanding of environmental and public

health information systems and pollution in

the community. 

Methods: 

• Work with La Clinica de Familia and its

promotora (lay health promoters) program to

provide community outreach and

environmental health information.

• Hire a bilingual community resource person

to work directly with the community. 

• Develop a bilingual directory of state and

local agencies providing assistance to the

low-income residents. 

Products/Results:

The community resource person helped the residents

to understand and solve environmental health

problems in their community. She was more

successful in approaching the individual families in

their homes, rather than in community meetings. She

helped raise their awareness and their confidence to

express their ideas and concerns about their

environment

Successes/Strengths:

The bilingual directory has been very valuable to the

community. Lessons have been learned from the

project that will enable the group to develop an

improved program for additional efforts within the

community.

###
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

49

REGION 6

Physicians for Social Responsibility 

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ-996870-01 Beatriz E. Vera FY 1997 Childhood Respiratory

1100 N. Stanton, Suite 805 $20,000 Health

El Paso, TX 79902 

Target Audience:

The poorest residents, primarily Hispanic, living in

the U.S.-Mexico border area who often live in the

most environmentally contaminated neighborhoods.

Purpose:

To research, write, and publish a Parent’s Resource

Guide on Childhood Respiratory Health. 

Goals:

• To increase communications and

cooperation between U.S. and Mexican

physicians and facilitate citizen

understanding of and input into the region’s

environmental health policies.

• Identify treatment and prevention measures

in order to arrive at a binational

understanding of the treatment and

prevention of environmentally-caused illness

and respiratory health. 

Methods:

• Establish a Resource Guide Workgroup

including representatives from the local

community and environmental groups from

both sides of the border to help develop the

Resource Guide.

• Distribute, to 3,000 regional public health

officials, government officials, community

groups and the media, a binational, threeyear Pediatric Asthma Study, the basis for

Resource Guide.

• Structure the bilingual Resource Guide in

ordinary language to give parents the

information they need on their children’s

environmental health issues and public

health information systems. 

• Conduct community outreach to generate

interest in air quality and hazardous

substances.

• Distribute 1,500 Resource Guides to the

public.

Products/Results:

The Pediatric Asthma Study was completed,

translated, and distributed to more than 3,000 public

health officials, community groups, etc. The

Resource Guide was developed partly from the

Pediatric Asthma Study and the data it provided. 

Extensive outreach was conducted on both sides of

the border to interest people in this data and in the

fact that a parent-friendly resource guidebook was to

be produced. After the Resource Guide was finished,

it was translated into Spanish and field-tested among

five community focus groups.

Successes/Strengths:

The Resource Guide has proven to be an invaluable

tool for families. The project provided an excellent

learning experience for health professionals treating

low-income Hispanic families.

###
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

50

REGION 6

Taos Pueblo Environmental Health Project

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ986097-01 Steve Dickens FY 1998 Environmental health and

River Watch Network $20,000 water quality

153 State St.

Montpelier, VT 05602 

Target Audience:

Native Americans primarily in the Taos Pueblo in

Northern New Mexico.

Purpose:

River water from the Rio Grande watershed is the

primary source of drinking water, water for

ceremonial bathing purposes and for fish (a dietary

staple). The river water flows through heavily

contaminated non-native communities. The safe

water needs of the Pueblo must be addressed. 

Goals:

• Assess the health risk of river and aquatic

life contamination, and assess the health

status and exposure to contamination by

residents in the pueblos.

Methods: 

• Train Taos Pueblo Environmental Office

(TPEO) staff and volunteers to design,

administer, and analyze survey data from

cross-sectional epidemiologic health and

river water use surveys, interpret

epidemiologic data and understand and

prioritize community health risks.

• Develop, conduct, and interpret health

surveys. 

• Coordinate community meetings to

disseminate the survey results and provide

advice on risk reduction strategies.

Products/Results:

Several TPEO staff members were trained to design a

health survey, and three summer interns administered

the survey to 51 respondents in July 1999. The

remaining TPEO staff was trained in entering the data

into statistical software. A new streamlined survey

was then developed and administered to more than 

200 participants. Information gained will have

beneficial impacts on health planning. The survey

showed that 94% of the Pueblo residents drank from

the river. Of these residents, 47% percent said that

the river water was their primary source of drinking

water, and 27% said it was their only source of water. 

Ninety percent of respondents ate fish from the river. 

The survey suggests that there are many problems

related to consumption of river water.

Successes/Strengths:

The surveys have provided invaluable data regarding

subsistence fishing and how health is impacted if

water is contaminated. The TPEO staff and interns

received excellent training during this project, and the

community members achieved a clearer

understanding of the dangers of contaminated water.

###
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

51

REGION 6

University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Environmental House Calls

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ-986205-01-0 Claudia Miller FY 1998 Childhood Asthma

7703 Floyd Curl Drive $15,000 

 San Antonio, TX 78284

Target Audience:

Low income Hispanic families in Laredo, Texas.

Purpose:

To implement a pilot project to: (1) assist the poor

Hispanic population in improving residential

environmental conditions adversely affecting the

health of their children; (2) train physicians and

nurses in environmental medicine and (3) address the

rising prevalence of asthma.

Goals:

• Develop a standardized protocol for

performing environmental house calls to be

used as an educational tool for teaching

medical and nursing students. 

• Evaluate the possible sources of

contaminants causing respiratory problems

in low-income Hispanic households, and

teach the families how to prevent and

eliminate those problems.

Methods:

• Perform at least 45 environmental house

calls to examine homes for sources of air

contaminants associated with respiratory

problems.

• Conduct a second visit to make additional

analyses, such as the presence of carbon

dioxide and allergens in dust, particulate

matter and molds, as well as the presence of

lead, radon and asbestos.

• Conduct a third visit to discuss with the

residents the possible sources of

contamination, to answer questions, and to

suggest ways of improving the

environmental and physical health of the

household.

• Develop a cartoon-style educational

pamphlet in English and Spanish illustrating

environmental problems in the home as a

teaching tool for the families. 

Products/Results:

This project has created a model program for

engaging medical, nursing and public-health students

in visits to the homes of children with asthma. 

Fifteen families of children with asthma participated

in the Environmental House Calls. Three visits were

made to each family and the families gave

information for a health questionnaire. A comic

book-style pamphlet on asthma was developed in

Spanish for use of the participating families and for

health fairs in Laredo. 

Successes/Strengths:

The project delivered targeted assistance to the lowincome families who participated, and provided a

unique learning experience for those studying for

medical professions. Valuable health information

was imparted to the families, and the health

professionals received important information on the

problems of asthma in this community.

###
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

52

This page left intentionally blank
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

53

REGION 7

(IA, KS, MO, NB)

Community-Based Master Planning Project

Nebraska State Recycling Association

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ997482-01 Kay Stevens $19,945 Environmental 

1941 South 42nd Street #512 FY 1997 Stewardship

Omaha, NE 68105

Target Audience:

Neighborhood associations located within the Omaha

Enterprise zone, Omaha, Nebraska.

Purpose:

To make useful environmental and ownership data

regarding soil and water pollution, readily available

to neighborhood leaders of Omaha, Nebraska.

Goals:

• To support neighborhood management of

selected redevelopment projects.

• To support environmental sustainability in

the targeted area.

• To develop a simple data collection system

for "address-based" environmental and

planning data.

• To further develop the long term goal of

implementing "Neighborhood Master Plans"

that identify the unique and available

resources of the targeted areas, pinpoint

environmental and infrastructure factors that

depress property values, and define

corrective action plans.

Methods:

• Develop Data Collection procedures and

design data collection forms for integration

into a GIS- based system.

• Field test procedures and forms.

• Compile a Training Manual for

neighborhood associations.

• Present results at a public meeting at the

conclusion of the project to explain how

inner-city property owners can use the GIS

environmental and planning data to guide

redevelopment projects.

Products / Results:

Creation of a "Neighborhood Profile" documented 61

neighborhoods in the target area, based on telephone

and personal interviews with all organizations. A

population of 148,277 resides within the target area.

Successes / Strengths:

The "Neighborhood Profile" document provides a

foundation for the future establishment of

"Neighborhood Master Plans" and increases

awareness of neighborhood associations and innercity property owners on future planning with regard

to potential environmental issues.

####
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

54

REGION 7

Environmental Justice Tool Kit

Metropolitan Energy Center (MEC)

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ997729-01 Robert Housh $12,465 Pollution Prevention

3808 Paseo FY 1999

Kansas City, MO 64109

Target Audience:

Metropolitan Kansas City area with an emphasis on

minority and/or low income neighborhoods.

Purpose:

To develop a tool kit for other neighborhoods to use

to develop their own environmental justice efforts

through a community-based approach.

Goals:

• Improvement in communication and

coordination among stakeholders regarding a

community-based approach to

environmental justice issues.

• Enhance community understanding of

environmental and public health information

systems through increased community

education and awareness.

Methods:

• Develop a Workbook to provide a process

oriented, step by step aid for communities to

develop their own neighborhood planning

programs dealing with environmental justice

and sustainable community planning.

• Develop and distribute a CD Rom and Video

Tape as a companion to the workbook, to

serve as a marketing tool for participating

communities to develop support and

resources for their own planning efforts.

• Development of an extensive Website with

space reserved for the Environmental Justice

Tool kit giving users access to downloadable

information, links to other relevant web

sites, and a chat room for networking and 

communication with other stakeholders and

participants.

Products / Results:

Follow up activities include various efforts to

measure and evaluate the impact and effectiveness of

this resource. Theses activities include:

- providing the tool kit to 75 different communities;

- getting 2,408 “hits” on the website that relate to

community activity.

- surveying the resources listed in the workbook for

contact by communities receiving tool kit.

- coordinating the tracking of the tool distribution

with EPA distribution and activity.

More kits will be given to local neighborhood

associations in the urban core through a workshop

that links the MEC’s latest grant projectweatherization, or home energy education and

training. 

Successes / Strengths:

Providing an easy-to-use, interesting kit that helps

people learn about environmental justice issues in

their community and helps them to take action as

well. 

The tool kit can help them to begin to build support

networks in other communities with similar issues. 

Another strength is partnering with EPA at their

annual grant workshops to present the tool kit to other

community-based organizations dealing with EJ

issues. 

###
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

55

REGION 7

Haskell Natural Resources Program

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

PJ997233-01 William Welton $45,000 Pollution Prevention

Haskell Indian Nations Univ. FY 1998

155 Indian Avenue

Lawrence, KS 66046

Target Audience:

Students at Haskell Indian Nations University that

represent 140 American Indian communities and

reservations, including local reservations.

Purpose:

To improve the environmental conditions within

American Indian communities and on reservations

through public education, decision-making, problemsolving, training, and partnerships. 

Goals:

• To reduce waste by targeting dormitory and

food service wastes. 

• To conduct an intensive safety inspection

and formulate a conservation safety plan for

the natatorium at the Coffin Complex

targeting chlorine gas, usage and storage.

• To educate students on other environmental

topics. 

Methods:

• Development and enhancement of public

and private partnerships, specifically

between Haskell Indian Nations University

and other colleges, high schools, and private

enterprises.

• Provide on-site workshops and training at

Reservations or urban concentrations for

selected topics including: water

quality/wellhead contamination; Riparian

values/forest harvest/wetlands; bio

remediation techniques and benefits;

Riparian forest buffers/intensive agriculture;

Toxic Waste Abatement and strategies for

prescribed and wildfire management. 

Products/Results: 

An end product of the project were partnerships

between public and private agencies that continue to

work on resolving environmental concerns. Tribes

in the area developed methods of monitoring the

water supply to assure its safety. Standards were

established to handle spills that might damage water

supplies. Tribal communities were educated on how

they can prevent and resolve pollution issues in their

communities.

Successes/Strengths: 

At the completion of this project the Haskell Indian

Nations University, Haskell Natural Resources

Studies group held workshops on the Kickapoo and

Potawatomi reservations.

A summer camp was held for Native American high

students which allowed students to participate in

hands-on measurement and evaluations of water

quality which increased their sensitivity to daily

actions resulting in the prevention of pollution.

A study was started with the Kickapoo and

Potawatomi tribes for emergency response measures

to chemical spills and bioremediation by organizing

water sampling and testing. Pollution prevention

issues were covered to help protect the two tribes’

water sources.

Partnerships were developed with several Indian

tribal leaders and elders from various tribes including

Onodaga, Arikara, Potawatomi and Cherokee. These

leaders gathered on the Haskell Indian Nations

University Campus for four days of traditional

training and sharing of information between students

and interested individuals from the Lawrence

community.

####
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

56

REGION 7

Raising Awareness on Environmental Hazards at Home in Immigrant Communities

in St. Louis

School of Public Health - Saint Louis University

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ997635-01 Fernando Serrano $20,000 Lead and Carbon 

3663 Lindell Blvd. FY 1998 Monoxide Education

St. Louis, MO 63108

Target Audience:

Low income immigrant Hispanic, Vietnamese,

Russian, Bosnian, and Herzegovinian communities of

St. Louis, Missouri.

Purpose:

To raise awareness and educate low income

immigrant communities, not proficient in English,

about environmental hazards at home.

Goals:

• To educate and raise awareness on

environmental hazards for low income

immigrant communities.

• Building community capacity by providing

information and recommendations for

prevention and control of environmental

hazards.

Methods:

• Research, design and review of the

environmental health literature concerning

lead poisoning, indoor air pollution, and

household hazardous products.

• Testing of pilot brochures with small focus

groups comprised of residents of the target

audiences.

• Distribution of brochures and providing

workshops on environmental hazards to the

target audience.

Products/Results:

• The project produced brochures on lead,

indoor air and home products in the

languages of the populations listed. 

• Distribution of these brochures were made

through workshops at health centers. 

• Workshops on environmental hazards at

home and the use of brochures are

conducted in selected health centers.

• The current plan is to review the

publications on lead poisoning, indoor air

pollution, and household hazardous products

to keep information up-to-date. 

Successes/Strengths: 

The Saint Louis University, School of Public Health

has produced a valuable product to be used within the

immigrant community of St. Louis, MO. 

####
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

57

REGION 8

(CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY)

Cache County Spanish Education of Water Quality & Solid Waste Services

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ988075-01 Jill Galloway $5,000 Hazardous Waste

City of Logan FY 1999 Disposal Water Quality

Department of Environmental Health

950 West 600 North

. Logan, UT 84321

Target Audience:

Hispanic residents of Cache County, and neighboring

communities of Tremonton and Brigham City in Utah.

Purpose:

To educate the community’s Hispanic population on

the proper methods of hazardous waste disposal,

water quality issues and benefits of recycling and

composting.

Goals:

• To establish connections with people

affiliated with Hispanic groups within the

community.

• To participate in organized community

events as a potential avenue for

communicating with members of the

Hispanic community.

• To enhance the Hispanic community’s

overall understanding of key environmental

and public health issues

• To improve communication and facilitate the

flow of information among community

groups.

Methods:

• Create pamphlets written in Spanish and

establish connections with Hispanic groups

in the community who distributed the

pamphlets to the community.

• Participate in organized community events to

increase awareness of hazardous waste

disposal, water quality issues and benefits of

recycling and composting.

• Oversee the success of the program through

monitoring the number of pamphlets

distributed, keeping track of inquiries and

informational polls.

Products/Results:

Four different pamphlets were created and written in

Spanish. The pamphlets focused on the separate issues

of recycling, green waste (composting), water quality,

and household hazardous waste disposal. There were 

10,000 copies made of each pamphlet. The pamphlets

were distributed at a number of schools, grocery

stores, restaurants, Hispanic businesses and

employers, and neighboring cities.

A 24-hour Spanish hotline was set-up to assist

Hispanics with environmental questions.

Successes/Strengths:

The Hispanic leaders were excited to see the

government’s support and participation in their wellbeing. The community is very hopeful that the

relations formed through this program will strengthen

and unify the community.

###
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

58

REGION 8

Environmental Analysis Training for Northern Great Plains 

Native American Nations

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ998669-01 Benjamin Whiting $20,000 Water Quality, Toxic Substances, 

P.O. Box 8 FY 1997 Hazardous Waste 

Mission, SD 57555 .
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

59

REGION 8

Environmental Analysis Training for Northern Great Plains 

Native American Nations

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ998669-01 Benjamin Whiting $20,000 Water Quality, Toxic Substances, 

P.O. Box 8 FY 1997 Hazardous Waste 

Mission, SD 57555 .

Target Audience:

Members of the tribes of the Northern Great Plains

(Rosebud, Oglala, Cheyenne River, Standing Rock,

Yankton, Ft. Thompson, Lower Brule, Lake Traverse

Sioux, Santee Sioux, Winnebago, Omaha and Tribes

in Wyoming, Montana and North Dakota), tribal

faculty and students, tribal and state water quality

technicians.

Purpose:

To train personnel from Native American tribes,

located in the Northern Great Plains Region, in the

collection and analysis of environmental data. 

Goals:

• To provide ways of gathering and

exchanging information on environmental

techniques while encouraging participants to

network and establish new partnerships.

• To advance technical skills and improve

communication and information networks

between resource professionals, tribal and

state technicians and students.

• Teach participants to use environmental data

to make decisions relating to pollution

prevention and sound environmental

management.

Methods:

• Train Native populations in the skills of

collection, interpretation, and analysis of

environmental data through workshops.

• Workshops to introduce the participants to

the collection and interpretation of

environmental data with a focus on

advanced methods of collection and data

analysis. Each workshop was held twice.

• A workbook was created for trainers to use

while instructing classes.

Products/Results:

Presented four “hands-on” workshops to the Northern

Great Plains tribal members about the collection and

interpretation of environmental data. The workshops

combined classroom lectures, hands on laboratory

and field sampling, and Quality Assurance/Quality

Control concepts. Created two separate workbooks

to use in each workshop. One workbook entitled,

“Integrating Quality Assurance into Tribal Water

Programs,” was developed for trainers to use while

instructing classes on water quality data collection.

Successes/Strengths:

The workshops, which were held at both Pablo,

Montana at Salish-Kootenai College and Mission,

South Dakota at Sinte Gleska University Campus had

20 and 25 participants, respectively. Most

participants were students with environmental science

backgrounds or technicians employed by a tribal or

federal environmental management agency. Tribes

came from North Dakota, South Dakota and

Montana. After the workshop, participants were

asked to evaluate the workshops. They rated the

workshop from very good to excellent.

###
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

60

REGION 8 

Costilla County Committee for Environmental Soundness

Culebra Basin Mining Contamination Response Plan

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ988070-01 Rachel Conn $15,000 Water Quality

PO Box 37 FY 1999

San Luis, CO 81152 

Target Audience:

Low-income residents of the Culebra Basin, San Luis

Valley in Colorado.

Purpose:

To provide the community with an information source

for possible contamination problems. The response

plan includes providing contact names, numbers and

general information about geology, hydrology and

water sampling events. 

Goals:

• To monitor Battle Mountain Gold Mine’s

impact on water quality in the San Luis area

and design a mining contamination response

plan.

• Help the community develop an emergency

response plan to prepare for the possible

contamination of the community’s principal

drinking water. 

• To provide baseline data for water quality

conditions and assess the present

contamination situation by collecting and

bringing together water quality data on the

Rito Seco Watershed.

• To provide toxicology information on the

contaminants present at the mine site and

research contaminant and treatment

technologies.

• Develop a network of people, organizations

and agencies.

• Create community awareness about the mine

site and associated water quality issues.

Methods: 

• Designed the Culebra Basin Mining

Contamination Response plan, which helps

the community prepare for possible

contamination of the community’s principal

drinking water system. The plan will also be

used as an educational tool to address water

contamination problems.

• Improved coordination and communication

between stakeholders, local and state

government and the Battle Mountain Gold

Mine.

• Increased awareness and enhanced the

community’s understanding of environmental

and public health systems through publication

of newsletters. 

Products/Results:

The response plan is a useful tool, which will be

crucial in the event of contamination of San Luis’

wells. The response plan also defines wells which have

already been contaminated. The newsletter was a

valuable tool in teaching the community about the

contaminants in the community and providing them

with information.

Successes/Strengths:

The water quality data is an important tool to help

analyze the quality of the water in the Culebra Basin.

The response plan established a network of

information for the community to use in case of a

contamination event.

###
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

61

REGION 8

Household Hazardous Waste Education Program 

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ998895-01 Sandy Strum $18,671 Hazardous Waste and

Grand Valley Earth Coalition FY 1998 Water Quality

 PO Box 2303

Grand Junction, CO 81502 

Target Audience:

The community of Grand Junction, Colorado.

Purpose:

To create a comprehensive household hazardous

waste education program and establish a facility

designated for the collection of hazardous waste.

Goals:

• To create a program to target the Grand

Junction area and neighboring communities.

• To create a program that would involve

middle and high school students who would

perform a waste audit at their schools.

• To create working relationships among

teachers, businesses and the community.

• To create a newsletter to be distributed

through a local newspaper. The newsletter

will contain important information

concerning household hazardous waste.

Methods: 

• Develop literature and public service

announcements to enhance the communities’

understanding of household hazardous

waste.

• Design and maintain a website offering the

community information on hazardous waste.

• Create a brochure, listing important 

information and people to contact.

• Create a teacher internship program to

facilitate the communication and

information exchange between teachers and

businesses.

Products/Results:

The program created brochures and a website which

will continue to provide information and contact

names and numbers to the public. The internship

program created an environmental curriculum and

helped develop relationships between teachers and

businesses. The youth auditor program involved four

high schools and two middle schools, and instructed

the students about dealing with hazardous waste. A

30-second video was made for use in public service

announcements on television.

Successes/Strengths:

The program made a concentrated effort to reach the

public. Public service announcements on television,

radio and newspapers reached a large audience. The

internship program and the youth auditor program

facilitated education between students and members

of the community.

###
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

62

REGION 8

Northeast Denver Housing Center

Denver’s Environmental Education Initiative

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ998668-01 Clementine W. Pigford $20,000 Clean Water and Clean Air

1735 Gaylord Street FY 1997

Denver, CO 80206

Target Audience:

African-American and Hispanic inner city lowincome families in Northeast Denver, Colorado.

Purpose:

To develop a program that provides environmental

education for low income, inner city minority

residents and a public forum of recognizing best

practices for sustainable growth.

Goals:

• To educate low-income residents to

understand that indeed they can buy, lease,

and live in housing that adheres to

environmental protection guidelines.

• To demonstrate to inner city residents that

energy efficient homes are possible for

everyone.

Methods: 

• Develop guidelines for an annual program

on “green homes;” advise educators, and

conduct demonstration workshops.

• Develop community awareness through a

public forum, which will recognize and

celebrate environmentally friendly public

policy and private products (such as

recycled building products).

• Develop a community advisory board to

identify, prioritize, and find solutions to

environmental issues.

Products/Results:

Sponsored a play entitled “Garbage Stew”, in which

children participated and learned about the evils of

pouring “garbage” down sewers and storm drains.

Showcased a green home in Parkhill, which featured

keeva foundation, tamko shingles, bamboo flooring

and other environmentally-friendly home

construction methods. Taught the audience the

dangers of exposure to unhealthy air, water and paint

through plays with child actors. Sponsored a

three hour seminar entitled “Lead Based Paint” and

conducted site visits for residents.

Successes/Strengths:

The construction of the “green home” allowed the

residents of this community to look over an

affordable and environmentally-friendly home in their

neighborhood. Also the community in this

neighborhood was informed about the dangers and

alternatives to various environmental problems (such

as taking household hazardous waste to a proper

facility rather than dumping it down the drain).
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

63

REGION 8

Northeast Montana Water Quality Information and Education Project

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ998878-01 Dallas Johannsen $20,000 Water Quality 

Eastern Plains Resource FY 1998

Conservation and Development Area, Inc. 

123 West Main

Sidney, MT 59270 .

Target Audience: 

The people living in the Missouri River Watershed

below Fort Peck Dam in Montana.

Purpose:

To focus on surface water quality issues of the 110

streams that feed into the watershed.

Goals:

• To identify, gather and interpret existing

data from the 110 streams in the watershed.

• To determine the need for additional

sampling points if enough data is not already

available.

• To hold public information meetings to

determine the interest in developing a local

watershed plan. 

Methods:

• Creating an inventory of the data on each

stream and river to determine the number of

streams and rivers which are susceptible to

pollution.

• Additional sampling and analysis to assess

the water quality and identify the

susceptible streams.

• Provide the information to the residents of

the watershed, and discuss the need to

design a watershed plan to address local

concerns.

Products/Results:

An inventory was created of the Lower Missouri

Watershed. The watershed included Daniels,

Dawson, McCone, Prairie, Roosevelt, Richland,

Sheridan, and Valley counties and the Fort Peck

Indian Reservation. The watershed is comprised of

eight sub-basins, 110 streams and rivers and covers 

11,465 square miles of land. The inventory

determined that nearly all the streams were impaired. 

Educational/informational meetings were held with

individuals from each of the eight counties and the

Indian reservation. Pamphlets were also printed with

detailed information on the project.

Educational classes were held at various schools

throughout the area about the surface water quality of

this section of the Missouri River Watershed.

Successes/Strengths:

The program inventoried and determined the quality

of the streams and rivers in this community. The

educational/informational meetings created

community awareness and interest in the Lower

Missouri Watershed area. Discussions are currently

taking place on the development of a watershed plan

for the Red Water, a sub-basin.

###
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

64

This page left intentionally blank
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

65

REGION 9

(AS, AZ, CA, GM, HI, NV)

African American Development Association

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ999681-01-0 Allen Edson $19,000 Hazardous Materials

 1212 Broadway FY 1997

Oakland, CA 94607

Target Audience:

Community of West Oakland in a mixed land use

area.

Purpose:

To provide education and outreach in collaboration

with the city of Oakland, Office of Emergency

Services to residents in West Oakland.

Goals:

• Address the disproportionate risks from

potential accidental chemical releases in

mixed use areas

• Educate community members to increase

their capacity to identify and implement

activities to address environmental justice

problems

Methods:

• Conduct site assessment to identify West

Oakland area “hot spots.” 

• Conduct meetings to present assessment

information to the community.

• Train community leaders to identify and

read placards for transporting hazardous

materials in trucks

Products/Results:

Community leaders in high risk areas of West

Oakland received “train the trainer” emergency

preparedness classes from the City of Oakland Office

of Emergency Services. GIS maps identifying areas

of hazardous materials were created and made

available to the community. A Transportation Hazard

Assessment Report was developed.

Successes/Strengths:

The increased involvement of community based

trainers and community representatives and

environmental authorities is an indication of

successful collaboration. The community members

have become much more informed and can interact

and advise the appropriate regulatory agencies.

###
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

66

REGION 9

Community Environmental Promotion Project

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ989412-01-0 Pao N. Fang $15,000 Educational Outreach

Lao Family Community of Fresno, Inc. FY 1999 

Fresno, CA 993727

Target Audience:

Southeast Asian Community in Fresno, California

including Hmong, Lao, Cambodia, Vietnamese.

Purpose: 

To educate and bring awareness of indoor/outdoor

pollution and toxic substances to a rural Asian

community in the Central Valley of California. A

major key to success for this project is removing

language barriers.

Goals:

• Reach out to communities that government

resources and services may have been

unable to reach.

• Educate the community on areas relating to

air and water pollution, as well as focusing

awareness on dumping toxic chemicals such

as chemical insecticides, household

chemicals and motor oil.

Methods:

• Develop educational brochures exploring

problems and solutions on pollution in the

community.

• Provide environmental workshops to

improve the community’s understanding of

public health and environmental awareness.

• Conduct bilingual (Hmong, Lao, &

Cambodian) radio talk shows to disseminate

and establish a dialogue with the community

on such issues as prevention, compliance of

environmental and health and health

promotions.

Products/Results:

Distributed 7000 copies of the project brochure,

translated into various languages (Cambodian, Lao,

Hmong), to promote and educate about air and water

pollution. Information booths were the outreach

mechanism used during the Refugee Recognition

Week, Hmong New Year celebration,

Lao/Cambodian New Year celebration, the Southeast

Asian Water Festival and the Roosevelt High School

event. Twelve workshops were conducted to help

improve community understanding of environmental

and health issues. Produced 48 radio education spots

and 12 radio talk-shows through KBIF 900 AM. The

educational talk-shows covered a series of water and

air pollution issues and the awareness of dangerous

toxic substances.

Successes/Strengths:

Educational outreach to an untapped community in

the Central Valley of California is the predominate

success for this project. The major strength came in

the form of removing language barriers so that the

community could better understand air and water

pollution issues and disposal practices for

insecticides, household toxins and motor oil.

###
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

67

REGION 9 

Communities for a Better Environment (CBE)

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ-999684-01-0 Carlos Porras $20,000 Student Initiative Project

5610 Pacific Blvd., Suite 203 FY 1997

Huntington Park, CA 90255

Target Audience:

Huntington Park High School Students 

Purpose: 

To provide students with critical skills and hands on

experience in environmental problem solving.

Goals:

• To develop environmental leadership among

youth around site specific environmental

problems in southeast Los Angeles.

• To enhance community understanding of

environmental and public health information

systems on local pollution problems.

Methods:

• Track daily pollutant levels by using air

monitoring equipment.

• Analyze data using a computer for research.

• Conduct workshops, presentations and a city

wide conference to educate the youth.

• Organize other students and community

members.

Products/Results:

Youth from LA CAUSA Youth Initiative Project

built five buckets or air monitoring tools and have

taken air samples in Huntington Park. Youth

members have participated in three toxic tours of

southeast Los Angeles. Youth members were

successful in their campaign against Niklor Chemical

Company’s attempt to continue their pesticide

production in a residential area of Carson. CBE’s

Youth members held its first Youth in Action

Conference to discuss what they can do to address

issues in their communities.

Successes/Strengths:

Youth members developed their presentations and

speaking skills in several of the events. The youth and

the community of Huntington Park developed a higher

level of understanding and awareness of environmental

issues and information.

###
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

68

REGION 9

Los Angeles Educational Partnership

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ-989071-01-1 Liseth Romero-Martinzez $19,970 Education/toxic 

315 West Ninth Street, Suite 1110 FY 1998 dumping

Los Angeles, CA 90015

Target Audience:

Residents of Pacoima 

Purpose: 

To educate residents on how to dispose of waste

properly and general environmental education

outreach.

Goals: 

• To increase the awareness and knowledge of

Pacoima community members about

environmental issues by providing

information and helping to develop the skills

needed to make informed decisions and act

responsibility with regard to the

environment.

• To enhance critical thinking, problemsolving and foster active participation in

environmental issues by community

members.

Methods:

• Train and facilitate inter-generational

environmental teams.

• Disseminate information to residents

regarding illegal dumping.

• Organize cleanups days and provide

information to the local schools regarding

the “greening of schools campuses.”

• Provide environmental education for

elementary school age children and their

parents

Products/Results:

Students , teachers and parents participated in a clean

up campaign on campus. A partnership was formed

with Cal State Northridge University to conduct a

community survey identifying environmental

problems. A sustainable school project was initiated. 

Two clean up days and tree planting days were

organized around the Brads campus. Three thousand

copies of the Pacoima Beautiful newsletter were

distributed each month to children, parents and

community members.

Successes/Strengths:

A substantive relationship has developed between the

Cal State Northridge University and the Pacoima 

Beautiful and Community Inspectors that will

continue. Six Pacoima schools have been introduced

to resource organizations to assist in “greening” their

campus. For example, the Department of Public

Works has made a commitment to provide tools and

other city resources to all clean up days.

###
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

69

REGION 9

People’s CORE 

(Community Organization for Reform and Empowerment)

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ-989057-01-0 Joe Navidad $19,994 Pesticide education

300 West Cesar Chavez Avenue 1998

 Suite E

Los Angeles, CA 90012

Target Audience: 

Several schools in Los Angeles (Temple-Beverly

area) and Carson. Both areas’ schools have large

multi-racial student body.

Purpose:

Address the issue of children’s exposure to toxic

pesticides.

Goals: 

• Build community capacity in identifying the

problem of toxic pesticides in the schools.

• Research and find out the pesticides used in

the schools.

• Assess and evaluate the effects of exposure

in schools.

Methods:

• Review monthly pesticide reports.

• Conduct pesticide use education in target

schools.

• A pilot survey, in the Los Angeles area, on

the community awareness of pesticide was

conducted and information materials from

the survey was presented in community

meetings.

• Set up a Pesticide Action Committee

composed of parents, teachers and

community leaders.

Products/Results:

Conducted five neighborhood meetings. The

research culminated in a Fact Sheet about pesticides

and its effects. Information on pesticide use was

gathered and submitted to the Los Angeles Unified

School District.

Successes/Strengths:

The community concerns and information generated

helped to persuade the Los Angeles Unified School 

District to adopt the Integrated Pesticide Management

Policy (IPM). The Parents Action Committee will be

joined with an environmental justice coalition, a

coalition that does only deals with pesticide issues

but also the overall effects of toxic chemicals in the

greater Los Angeles area.

###
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

70

REGION 9

People United for a Better Oakland (PUEBLO)

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus: 

EQ-989053-01-0 Bonnie Koo $20,000 Environmental

132 East 12th Street FY-98 Stewardship

Oakland, CA 94606

Target Audience: 

East Oakland residents

Purpose:

To build community capacity to identify local

environmental justice problems and to design a

comprehensive and proactive plan for improved

community environmental health by implementing

the SAFE HEALTH (Strategic Action for

Environmental Health) project. 

Goals: 

• Collect data and educate residents on causes,

effects, prevention, and control of air

pollution

• Educate community on the human health

effects and risks of exposure to toxic

substances and hazardous waste.

Methods:

• Create a set of GIS maps of toxic waste and 

hazardous material sites in East Oakland.

• Implemented a community survey to identify

environmental health concerns.

• Provide recommendations to the city on

reforms related to public access, toxic

emissions and site reduction, and health

education/services.

Products/Results:

Stakeholder meetings were convened to discuss GIS

and environmental data maps. The Pueblo and other

groups collaborated to successfully pass the zerodioxin resolution in Oakland. Policy training was

conducted for residents and members. 

Successes/Strengths:

This project help to support a resident-driven

(community-based and grassroots) issue identification

process to allow residents to prioritize their concerns

about the greatest threats to environmental health. 

###
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

71

REGION 9 

Professional Wet Cleaning As a Healthier Cleaning Method

Korean Youth and Community Center(KYCC)

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ989414 Helen Yi $15,000 Perchloroethylene (Perc)

KYCC FY 1999 Educational Outreach

680 S. Wilton Pl 

Los Angeles, CA 90005 

Target Audience:

Korean-American Dry Cleaners in Los Angeles,

California.

Purpose:

To educate and encourage the garment care

community in the greater Los Angeles region to

utilize professional wet cleaning as a healthier

cleaning method compared to the traditional

perchloroethylene-based dry cleaning.

Goals:

• Enhance the understanding of professional

wet cleaning and the issues related to the

regulation of perc dry cleaning.

• Improve communication among stakeholders

concerning professional wet cleaning and

issues related to the regulation of perc dry

cleaning.

Methods:

• Interview dry cleaners about their attitudes

towards professional wet cleaning and

educating regulators about professional wet

cleaning as a viable pollution prevention

alternative.

• Coordinate a series of professional wet

cleaning tours, workshops, and seminars.

• Publicity about professional wet cleaning

was successfully organized through the

regional garment care trade press as well as

through the local Korean daily newspapers.

Products/Results:

Interviews with dry cleaners who attended a

professional wet cleaning tour in 1999 revealed the

cause of why so many were reluctant to switch to this

new method and provided future reference as to what

kind of incentive programs might stimulate a

diffusion. 

The educational outreach process with the South

Coast Air Quality Management District led, in part,

to their decision to fund the Professional Wet

Cleaning Commercialization Project. Within a four

months period, a total of 71 cleaners attended

workshops and seminars that provided overviews of

the professional wet cleaning process. A number of

articles on professional wetcleaning were published

in Western Cleaner and Launderer, trade press, and

also mainstream English and Korean press such as the

Los Angeles Times. During the course of this

project, we provided direct assistance to three

cleaners who made a transition to professional wet

cleaning. In addition, technical assistance was

provided to 65 dry cleaners expressing an interest in

converting to professional wet cleaning.

Successes/Strengths:

Educational outreach to dry cleaners about

professional wet cleaning was enhanced substantially

with the development of the Professional Wet

Cleaning Commercialization Project. The

Commercialization Project, which received initial

funding in 2000 by the South Coast Air Quality

Management District (SCAQMD), is designed to

jumpstart the diffusion of professional wet cleaning

in the southern California region by providing

financial and technical assistance to eight dry

cleaners interested to switching to professional wet

cleaning.
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

72

REGION 9

Sonora Environmental Research Institute

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus: 

EQ-999692-01-0 Anna H. Spitz $19,973 Education/ household

P.O. Box 65782 1997 hazardous materials

Tucson AZ 85728

Target Audience:

Residents (with a special focus on children) of

Nogales, Santa Cruz County, Arizona

Purpose:

To educate Spanish speaking community members on

household hazardous materials.

Goals:

• Empowering the community by providing

education materials.

• Involve schools in disseminating

information.

Methods:

• Developed workbooks in English and

Spanish that were distributed to students

during household hazardous waste

collection events.

• Created a brochure for public information in

English and Spanish

• Conducted workshops to familiarize the

community with the

educational/informational materials.

Products/Results:

The Institute distributed more than 900 workbooks

for school and home use and they provided one

thousand brochures for ongoing distribution in the

county. Schools officials, teachers and end users

received these new tools very favorably. The

program had spillover effects beyond its intended

audience of younger children. So much interest was

generated that high school students participated in

workshops with teachers to learn about the topic. 

The rate of participation during the household

collection events began to increase. Santa Cruz

County went from three participants to 60 in a

subsequent event. Some increased participation

resulted from the educational outreach of this effort. 

Successes/Strengths:

The materials generated have been very well received

in the community, especially the school district. 

Some teachers are using the entire workbook while

some use specific experiments to complement their

general curriculum. Local educators are using the

workbooks in the schools not only to educate about

proper collection and disposal of household

hazardous waste but also about the proper use and

alternatives to such products.

###
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

73

REGION 10

(AK, ID, OR, WA)

American Lung Association of Washington

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ980478-01 Chetana Acharya $14,960 Indoor Air Quality 

2625 3rd Avenue FY 1999

Seattle, WA 98121

Target Audience:

Parents, child care employees, and other caretakers of

children belonging to the Holly Park/New Holly

communities; a racially and ethnically diverse lowincome community in Seattle, WA.

Purpose:

To inform residents about the impacts of indoor air

quality on health by training two bilingual members

of the Holly Park/New Holly communities as Master

Home Environmentalists (MHE). The MHEs will

educate residents about financially feasible ways to

improve the air quality in their homes.

Goals:

• To facilitate communication between

stakeholders in an effort to address and

alleviate concerns about indoor air quality. 

• Enhance active participation of affected

communities and encourage informed

decision making to help bring about

healthier home environments.

Methods:

• Organize an Indoor Air Summit inviting the

Holly Park/New Holly residents interested in

indoor air quality, asthma and allergies.

• Recruit and send two volunteers through the

MHE training program where they will learn

about environmental health issues.

• Indoor Air Quality workshops and/or home

assessments organized and hosted by MHE

volunteers

Products/Results:

Recruitment of a diverse group of volunteers to serve

and represent the Holly Park/New Holly

communities. Completion of MHE training for

volunteers. Completion of the outreach activities

within the Holly Park/New Holly communities,

which reached forty people and thirty-six families.

Indoor air quality summits where community

concerns were addressed.

Successes/Strengths:

Empowering the community by encouraging the

residents to address indoor air quality. Improved

public and environmental health in Holly Park/New

Holly communities. Facilitating access to nonEnglish speaking community members through the

recruitment of bilingual volunteers. MHE volunteers

are more familiar with Holly Park/New Holly

communities due to the recruitment of community

residents.

####
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

74

REGION 10

Environmental Justice Action Group

(EJAG)

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ980497-01 Anna C. Aguar $20,000 Air quality,

P.O. Box 11635 FY 1999 Lead Education

Portland, OR 9721 Brownfield Hazards

Target Audience:

African-Americans, Latino Americans, Asian

Americans, Russians, Asians and Africans exposed to

environmental hazards such as Brownsfield sites, other

contaminated sites, air pollutants from high traffic

volumes, toxic materials and lead poisoning in the

N/NE Portland Area.

Purpose:

To cultivate a core group of community activist who

will gain the technical and environmental knowledge,

networks, and experience to be long-term leaders in

Portland’s environmental justice work, and to build

overall community understanding and involvement in

environmental decision-making.

Goals:

• To increase community awareness and

involvement in environmental justice and

public health issues.

• Identify local environmental justice problems,

and facilitate community-based leadership in

seeking solutions to these problems.

Methods:

• Conduct door to door campaigns and

presentations for local organizations to

distribute EJAG’s information regarding

transportation, air quality, lead poisoning, and

brownfields, including superfund sites.

• The door to door campaigns will prompt

community leaders into a dialogue about the

communities’ concerns and solicit feedback.

• In addition to conducting presentations,

EJAG will participate in informal

neighborhood hearings community meetings

and house parties.

Products:

An air pollution and asthma survey was distributed to

the people in the north/northeast Portland community,

and with the aid of Department of Environmental

Quality and Portland State University an “Air

Pollution 101" training class was developed.

Through EJAG staff and members, more than 700

people were engaged in community outreach efforts

to solicit input on environmental justice concerns

and to build relationships.

Successes/Strengths:

Community awareness of environmental justice and

public health issues in the area was increased.

Partnerships and networks with other grassroots

organizations as well as state/federal agencies were

developed. Increased citizen involvement and

empowerment raised visibility of local

environmental justice concerns, and increased

membership in EJAG. Possible replication of this

project in other communities facing similar

environmental justice concerns. 

###
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

75

REGION 10

My Service Mind of Northwest (MSM)

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA funding: Focus:

EQ980477-01 Mandy Hea Ma $14,957 Toxic substances,

 8627 South Tacoma Way FY 1999 Indoor Air Quality,

 Lakewood, WA 98499 Hazardous Household

Waste Radiation 

Targeted Audience:

Low-income Korean-American seniors and youth

immigrants in Pierce, Kitsap, and King Counties.

Purpose: 

To educate the Korean-American community about

issues of toxic substances and indoor air pollution,

focusing on the proper usage, disposal and dangers

of everyday household products. The seniors and

youth of the Korean-American community will learn

how to access help in case of poisoning and inform

the community about ways to minimize and protect

themselves from exposure to radiation.

Goals: 

• To inform the Korean-American community

about the dangers of toxic household

products, radiation, and secondhand smoke

in order to protect themselves and their

families. 

• Provide information on the proper usage and

disposal of toxic household products.

• Teach the Korean American community 

how to access the public health and

environmental information systems.

Methods:

• Recruit volunteers and conduct the “trainthe-trainer program” by using popular

education techniques. 

• These volunteers will conduct at least fifteen

informal seminars for at least 1,600 KoreanAmericans. 

• Popular communication sources such as the

newspaper and radio information will be

used to educate Korean-American

community. 

• MSM will create a clean up event with local

Korean-American churches and Korean

Seniors Association.

Products:

A team of staff and trained volunteers conducted

twenty-four one hour presentations at senior

apartments, community centers, churches, and

Korean radio stations. Presentations, television

advertisements and a radio handbook were created

and aired on KoAm TV teaching viewers about the

dangers of smoking, toxics, and radiation. 

Success/Strengths:

The twenty-four presentations reached more than

two-thousand people in the Korean community

including children, parents, and the elderly on the

dangers of smoking, hazardous household materials

and radiation. 

####
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

76

REGION 10

Native Village of Mekoryuk

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ980572-01 Larson King $15,000 Water Quality,

P.O. Box 66 FY 1999 Subsistence 

Mekoryuk, AK 99630

Target Audience: 

Native villages and communities relying upon

hunting and subsistence fishing in the Yup’ik coastal

area along the Bering Sea.

Purpose:

To bring Yup’ik coastal communities together to

discuss issues and document observations concerning

changes in the regional environment that affect the

Yup’ik communities’ food sources. This information

would then be used to positively impact federal, state,

and private efforts affecting the Yup’ik communities.

Goals:

• To facilitate communication and information

exchange, and create partnerships among

stakeholders.

• To build community capacity and ability to

identify local environmental justice

problems. 

• To involve the community in the design and

implementation of activities to address these

concerns.

Methods:

• Develop a workshop that will bring all of the

Yup’ik coastal communities together to

unite and discuss observations and any

concerns they may have.

• Collect observations and concerns from the

coastal communities along the Bering Sea to

in order to create a workbook that will

include all of the observations and concerns.

Products/Results: 

A workbook was distributed to the participants of the

workshop to gather information. The results and the

observations from the villages were compiled and

documented. 

Success/Strengths:

The participants facilitating communication and

information exchanges accomplished the program

goals. Furthermore the workbook used to collect

information was put into documentation and will be

used to actively participate in the research that will be

conducted in the Bering Sea in the future.

####
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

77

REGION 10

Oregon Environmental Council (OEC)

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ989094601 Sarah Doll $15,000 Hazardous Waste 

529 SW 6th Avenue, Suite 940 FY 2000 and Air Emissions, 

Portland OR, 97204 Lead Education

Target Audience:

Community-based groups, neighborhood

associations, healthcare providers (local clinics) and

schools in the Albina area, a minority community in

Portland, OR.

Purpose:

To maximize the impact of the resource guide

developed following a year-long study of

environmental issues faced by the Albina community

by:

• Implementing an additional program of

outreach that will engage key community

residents in a more personal and direct way;

• Assisting community residents in adopting a

problem solving approach to meeting the

community’s priority needs;

• Encouraging community members to think

critically about the many environmental

health challenges facing the community, and

identifying ways OEC can be a more

effective community resource and ally.

Goals:

• Show community members how to use the

information in the guide.

• Directly encourage community members to

think critically about the many

environmental challenges facing the

community.

Methods:

• Contact key community groups about the

availability of the resource guide and OEC’s

outreach program.

• Work with community stakeholders to

design an interactive presentation format

that includes use of tools outlined in the

resource guide.

• Conduct five presentations to key audiences

utilizing existing community forums.

• Expand distribution of resource guide by

printing 100 additional copies and increasing

the number of local distribution targets 

Products/Results:

• Completion of at least 5 presentations to

community groups 

• Participation in program by at least 50

community members 

• Distribution of at least 50 copies of Healthy

Albina Resource Guide 

Successes/Strengths: 

Increased community awareness about the existence

and usage of a resource guide. Enhanced community

understanding of environmental and public health

information systems. Community members thinking

critically and actively about issues facing the

communities and resources to address those issues.

####
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

78

REGION 10

Valley Family Health Care, INC. (VFHC)

Grant Number: Project Coordinator: EPA Funding: Focus:

EQ980480-01 Hugh W. Phillips $15,000 Pesticide Education 

1441 NE 10th Avenue FY 1999 Water Quality, 

Paynette, ID 83661 Hazardous

Targeted Audience:

Hispanic seasonal and migrant farm workers and their

families, living in communities surrounding the five

VFHC community health centers.

Purpose:

To increase awareness among the Hispanic migrant

and seasonal agriculture workers and their families

about the identification of pesticides and the health

risks of exposure as well as exposure to other

hazardous substances.

Goals:

• To bring awareness of chemical dangers and

risks to rural families. 

• Instruct community members about how to

keep drinking water and households safe and

free from contaminants.

• Instruct the participants about proper

chemical disposal.

• Help participants identify possible methods

of exposure and ways to address exposure.

Methods:

• Conduct sessions on pesticides education,

safe drinking water and proper disposal of

chemicals and motor oil.

• Conduct chemical risk education sessions

about chemical containers and the proper use

of household chemicals. 

• Conduct door-to-door outreach in their local

farm labor camps.

Products/Results:

A booklet called “Protect Yourself from Pesticides,”

and another pocket sized booklet was developed that

included descriptions of various farm chemicals.

Successes/Strengths:

Migrant farm workers were advised on the dangers at

work and at home so they would be able to protect

their children, family and friends. Easy accessibility

to program information, for example, the pocketsized booklet was well received by project

participants because it could be easily carried to the

field and was also informative and easy to share with

co-workers. Similarly, the programs were conducted

at sites familiar and convenient to participants.

###
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

79

Appendix A

Index to Projects by State Location

Project location Page number

Alabama . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32,33,37,38

Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

Arizona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

California . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65-71

Colorado . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60-62

Connecticut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14,16

District of Columbia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20,21

Florida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Idaho . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

Illinois . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Indiana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39,42

Kansas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Kentucky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29,34,36

Maine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Maryland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23,24,26,27

Massachusetts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7,9,11

Mississippi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30,31

Missouri . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54,56

Montana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

Nebraska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

New Hampshire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

New Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48,50

New York . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,17

Ohio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Oregon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74,77

Pennsylvania . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Rhode Island ...................... 12,13

South Dakota . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58,59

Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45-47,49,51

Utah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Virginia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22,25

Washington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73,75

Wisconsin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

80

Appendix B

Index to Projects by Focus Area

FOCUS AREA STATE PAGE

Air Quality Colorado

Indiana

Massachusetts

New Hampshire

Oregon

Texas

Washington

62

42

5

10

74

45,46,47

73,75

Children’s Health California

Texas

69

49,51

Environmental Education

and Stewardship

California

Connecticut

Illinois

Indiana

Kentucky

Maryland

Massachusetts

Nebraska

New Mexico

New York

Ohio

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

Virginia

66-68,70

14,16

43

39

29,36

24,27

7,9,11

53

48,50

15,17

40

77

19

12,13

22

Farmworker Safety Florida

Idaho

35

78

Hazardous Waste

Disposal

Arizona

California

Colorado

Utah

Washington

72

65

61

57

75

Lead Education Alabama

Maryland

37

23

Lead and CO2 Education Missouri 56

PCB Contamination Alabama 33

Perchloroethylene (Perc)

Education outreach

California 71

Pollution Prevention Missouri

Mississippi

Kansas

54

30,31

55

Radon Alabama 38

Recycling Massachusetts 6
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

FOCUS AREA STATE PAGE

81

Water Quality Alabama

Alaska

Colorado

District of Columbia

Kentucky

Maine

Maryland

Montana

South Dakota

Utah

Virginia

Wisconsin

32

76

60

20,21

34

8

26

63

58,59

57

25

41
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

82

EPA Regional Offices and State Breakdown
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Emerging Tools for Local Problem-Solving 2nd Edition

83

Appendix D

Environmental Justice Grant Contacts

 

Region l Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont

Ronnie Harrington, (617) 918-1703

USEPA Region 1 (SAA)

One Congress Street - 11th Floor

Boston, MA 02114-2023

Region 2 New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands

Natalie Loney (212) 637-3639

USEPA Region 2 

290 Broadway, 26th Floor

New York, NY 10007

Region 3 Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia

Reginald Harris (215) 814-2988

USEPA Region 3 (MC-3ECOO)

1650 Arch Street 

Philadelphia, PA 19103

Region 4 Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, 

South Carolina, Tennessee

Gloria Love (404) 562-9672

USEPA Region 4

 61 Forsyth Street, SW

Atlanta, GA 30303-8960

Region 5 Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin

Margaret Millard (312) 353-1440

USEPA Region 5 (T-16J))

77 West Jackson Boulevard

Chicago, IL 60604-3507

Region 6 Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas

Nelda Perez(214) 665-2209

USEPA Region 6 (RA-D)

1445 Ross Avenue, 12th Floor

Dallas, Texas 75202-2733

Region 7 Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska

Althea Moses (913) 551-7649 or 1-800-223-0425

USEPA Region 7 

726 Minnesota Avenue

Kansas City, KS 66101

Region 8 Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming

Nancy Reish (303) 312-6040

USEPA Region 8 (8ENF-EJ)

999 18th Street, Suite 500

Denver, CO 80202-2466

Region 9 Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, American Samoa, Guam

Willard Chin (415) 972-3797

USEPA Region 9 (A-2-2)

75 Hawthorne Street

San Francisco, CA 94105

Region 10 Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington

Cecilia Contreras (206) 553-2899

USEPA Region 10(CEJ-163)

1200 Sixth Avenue

Seattle, WA 98101

National Program Manager Sheila L. Lewis (202) 564-0152

USEPA Headquarters

 Ariel Rios Building

1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW 2201A

Washington, DC 20460