South Central Oklahoma represents a unique mix of opportunity and need for resources to pursue environmental justice. The most effective way to insure that there is no discriminatory decline in the environmental condition of local Native American Indian tribes or others in the area who may be socioeconomically disadvantaged is to assess the level of environmental justice associated with any activity that may result in an adverse impact on that environment. An essential prerequisite to assessment is that the resources necessary to assessment be made easily and widely available to those whose interests are most at risk. That is the purpose of this resource center. The purpose of this Web site is to make at least some of these services and information available to all people, but especially to stakeholders, across the United States and throughout the world.
Environmental justice begins locally, but it spreads globally.
The establishment of this center, and support for its resources and activities, is provided in part through a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Environmental Justice Small Grants Program. At least five terminals with access to these resources are available during the Center's operating hours. The Center is jointly supervised by Political Science and Cartography Departments at East Central University. A staff member is available to help individuals conduct research necessary to pursue environmental justice. In addition to providing local citizens, stakeholders and students research access to computer, environmental database, and GIS resources, the Center offers periodic environmental justice training workshops and seminars.