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Environmental Justice
A brief overview of the concept,movement and resulting laws.
Intro. to Environmental Health
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Originally
No one wants industrial or waste disposal facilities in their
backyard.
The risk from environmental matters may be real or perceived.
In many cases the real issues may be aesthetics, decreased
property values, or quality of life issues that are difficult to
quantify or regulate.
NIMBY Not in my backyard
LULU Locally unwanted land use. These include
contaminated sites, landfills, sewerage treatment plants,other waste treatment and disposal facilities.
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Environmental Justice Movement
Grass-roots movement in early 1980s Warren County PCB Landfill
Residents felt landfill placed in county due to low SESand predominantly black population.
Drew national attention to the issue large protests,citizens blocked roadways etc., 500 arrests
Toxic Waste and Race in the United States (United Churchof Christ, 1987)
Race found to be the most potent variable in predictinglocation commercial hazardous waste sites as well asuncontrolled hazardous waste sites.
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Environmental Injustice
Perceived or actual uneven distribution of
environmental hazards due to inequalities of socio-
economic and political power.
Postulated causes of environmental injustice include:
institutionalized racism
Treating the environment as a commodity
Unresponsive & unaccountable government
Lack of resources and power in impacted communities
Several studies note that those who live in close proximity
to contaminated sites, landfills etc. are disproportionately
people of color or low income.
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Environmental Racism
Refers to intentional or unintentional
racial discrimination in the enforcement ofenvironmental rules and regulations
the intentional or unintentional targeting ofminority communities for the siting of pollutingindustries
the exclusion of minority groups from public
and private boards, commissions, andregulatory bodies
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Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority
Populations and Low-Income Populations (EO 12898)
Executive Order 12898, issued by PresidentClinton on 2/11/94 directing all Federal agenciesto implement environmental justice into its
programs as follows:
To the greatest extent practicable andpermitted by law each Federal agency shallmake achieving environmental justice part ofits mission by identifying and addressing, asappropriate, disproportionately high and
adverse human health or environmental effectsof its programs, policies, and activities onminority populations and low-incomepopulations in the United States
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Executive Order 12898; Goals
Promote enforcement of all health and environmentalstatutes in areas with minority populations and low-incomepopulations
Ensure greater public participation
Improve research and data collection relating to the healthof and environment of minority populations and low-incomepopulations
Identify differential patterns of consumption of naturalresources among minority populations and low-income
populations. Subsistence Consumption Of Fish And Wildlife
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EPA Action and Inactions
EPA issued EJ Strategy in April 1995 and defined EJ asfollows:
Environmental justice is the fair treatment andmeaningful involvement of all people regardless of
race, ethnicity, income or education level inenvironmental decision-making.
EPA Administrators issued a memorandum reaffirming theAgencys commitment to environmental justice in 2001 and2005.
In 2006, the Office of the Inspector General found that EPANeeds to Conduct Environmental Justice Reviews of ItsPrograms, Policies, and Activitiesand issued a report by thesame name.
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More recently
Whitehouse Forum on EnvironmentalJustice December 2010
EPA Issued Plan EJ 2014 which is astrategyto help integrate environmental
justice into EPA's day to day activities. Itis not a rule or regulation.
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March 1, 2011 Draft Implementation Plans Address
Incorporating Environmental Justice into Rulemaking
Considering Environmental Justice in Permitting
To enable disproportionately burdened communities to havefull and meaningful access to the permitting process and to
develop permits that address environmental justice issuesto the greatest extent practicable under existingenvironmental laws.
Advancing Environmental Justice through Compliance andEnforcement
Supporting Community Based Action Programs
In essence: Implement a systematic process whereby EJ isconsidered in all critical actions as a matter of routine.
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Administrators Statement
We want to put an end to the dayswhen public health and economicpotential are harmed by disproportionate
exposure to pollution... Our continuedsuccess relies on close collaboration withour federal partners and strong inputfrom the groups and individuals engaged
at the community level.
EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson
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Risk Management
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Risk Management
Selection of an appropriate courseof action using
Risk assessment
Statutory and legal requirements
Economic effects
Social considerations
Informed judgments
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Driving Forces in Risk Management
PoliticsPress
Public PerceptionBureaucratic ImperativesLaw
EconomicsScienceEthics
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Risk Communication
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Seven Cardinal Rules of Risk Communication
1. Accept and involve the public as a partner.
Your goal is to produce an informed public, not to defuse publicconcerns or replace actions.
2. Plan carefully and evaluate your efforts.
Different goals, audiences, and media require different actions.
3. Listen to the public's specific concerns.
People often care more about trust, credibility, competence, fairness,and empathy than about statistics and details.
4. Be honest, frank, and open.
Trust and credibility are difficult to obtain; once lost, they are almostimpossible to regain.
(Covello and Allen 1988)
Adapted from: Health Risk Communication Primer (ATSDR)
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Seven Cardinal Rules of Risk Communication - 2
5. Work with other credible sources.
Conflicts and disagreements among organizations makecommunication with the public much more difficult.
6. Meet the needs of the media.
The media are usually more interested in politics than risk,simplicity than complexity, danger than safety.
7. Speak clearly and with compassion.
Never let your efforts prevent your acknowledging the tragedy of
an illness, injury, or death. People can understand riskinformation, but they may still not agree with you; some peoplewill not be satisfied.