National Parks Conservation Association’s Post

The first of many important steps to address environmental and climate justice challenges we face in this country and around the globe.

O’Melveny’s John Rousakis, Eric Rothenberg, and Chris Bowman take a look at some significant developments in federal and state initiatives relating to environmental justice, including several new federal policies under the Biden administration and developments in New Jersey and Louisiana. More here: https://bit.ly/3KzoUUm #OMMenvironmental #EnvironmentalJustice

The Louisiana Wetlands Supreme Court decision highlights the critical need for environmental justice and the protection of our wetlands. Louisiana's wetlands act as a natural buffer against storms and the recent Supreme Court decision minimizes the importance of preserving this vital ecosystem. https://lnkd.in/gG3AHTnc #EnvironmentalJustice #Wetlands #Louisiana #SupremeCourt

COURT DOCS: Four lawsuits filed, challenging the Delta Conveyance Project Final EIR Deadline for filing CEQA litigation ends on Monday, January 22 Press release from the Center for Biological Diversity Environmental groups sued the California Department of Water Resources today for approving the Delta Conveyance Project without considering ecological and wildlife harms. #Delta #DeltaConveyanceProject #DepartmentofWaterResources(DWR) #Lawsuitsandlegalrulings

February 16, 2024 - BY: THOMAS FRANK - E&E News, "Massachusetts #EJ plan could ‘reverse decades’ of harm State officials say the new Environmental Justice Strategy will influence departmental actions and decisions on grants and permitting. ----- CLIMATEWIRE | Massachusetts officials released an aggressive environmental justice strategy Thursday that aims to influence a variety of state actions such as awarding grants, evaluating new polluting projects and reducing environmental harms. The #Massachusetts Environmental Justice Strategy (https://lnkd.in/e-yKreXv) marks the latest state effort to repair the disproportionate environmental damage found in communities with large numbers of low-income or minority residents. “It is a historic moment because we are addressing the harms and trying to reverse decades and generations of environmental injustice in the most vulnerable populations,” María Belén Power, the Massachusetts undersecretary of environmental justice and equity, said at a briefing Thursday. The strategy aims “to really embed #environmentaljustice into everything we do,” added Power, a longtime activist and member of the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council. The 182-page strategy describes how major departments, divisions and offices will incorporate environmental justice. The Department of Environmental Protection says it will “target inspections and other compliance assurance activities” at facilities that could affect an “environmental justice population.” Those populations are described as census areas that Massachusetts has designated for special environmental treatment because a significant number of residents are minorities, have low incomes or speak limited English. The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources says it will incorporate environmental justice “into all MDAR grants to increase opportunities for #EJcommunities” relating to food production and land access. Rebecca Tepper, secretary of the state Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, says in an introduction that the strategy is aimed at “ensuring our most vulnerable residents are prioritized, protected, and no longer left behind.” The office will focus on including environmental justice populations in state environmental hearings and decisions so their interests are heard. The strategy aims to “ensure that these meetings and the feedback they receive is incorporated into the outcome,” Power said. The energy and environment office, which wrote the strategy, oversees six departments including environmental protection, energy and conservation and several divisions and offices. Fourteen states including Massachusetts have environmental justice commissions, task forces or councils, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Most are in Democratic-leaning states in the Northeast and on the West Coast..." Continue reading

The DOJ's inaugural environmental justice report highlights the agency's activities incorporating EJ principles into enforcement efforts. Francis X. Lyons and J. Michael Showalter discuss recent cases and the DOJ's response. #DOJ #EnvironmentalJustice

EPA's #EnvironmentalJustice Toolkit for Lead Paint Enforcement Programs is here. The toolkit provides federal, state, Tribal, and local government enforcement with strategies, examples, and information to use during all stages of environmental enforcement and compliance monitoring activities designed to eliminate harmful exposures to lead paint in housing. This resource supports commitments made in EPA’s Lead Strategy, which seeks to reduce lead exposures locally with a focus on underserved communities and promote environmental justice through a whole of government approach. Read more: https://lnkd.in/ejdCzGxd

Impacts of Federal Environmental Justice Initiatives on Tribal Communities When February 15, 2024 12:00 pm — 1:30 pm Where Webinar Only RSVP This event is free and open to the public but you must register. Note: there is no in-person availability for this event. Please REGISTER by FEBRUARY 14. Webinar information will be emailed upon registration. If you are unsure if you can access the webinar via the Zoom platform, please check your system requirements. If you are unable to participate via the Zoom platform, you may join in listen-only mode using a telephone. All times noted are EASTERN Time. The webinar will begin at 12:00 noon Eastern, 11:00 AM Central, 10:00 AM Mountain, and 9:00 AM Pacific. There is no CLE for this course. There have been many federal environmental justice developments, as the Biden Administration has utilized a whole-of-government approach to advance its Justice40 initiatives. A few major ones include the recent establishment of the White House Office of Environmental Justice within the Council on Environmental Quality, the proposal of Phase 2 NEPA regulations that would require consideration of environmental justice concerns and the impacts on Tribal Nations in the review process, the announcement of $2 billion in funding through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Community Change Grants, and more. This year, it is expected that federal agencies will continue to prioritize environmental justice, particularly through funding and enforcement. Learn More: https://lnkd.in/eZtGwwME

Learn of the #ChevronDoctrine. Please read to determine your response as this looming #USSupremeCourt action will have long term impacts on #EPA authority to manage environmental impact enforcement decisions. https://loom.ly/CwUSyLA

There is no safe level of exposure to lead at any age but particularly for children. There are still a lot of older homes in the US that have lead-based paint but many of these are low-income housing. EPA is committed to step up their investigation of complaints about lead-based paint and enforce violations. Since the US has known that lead-based paint is a problem for at least 50 years now, I'm not sure what is different with this program and those in the past-- it could be a rebranding for the sake of EJ but whatever it is, it needs to be done. Click link in the article to go to the toolkit. #EJ