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- 1. Environmental Justice and Ethics Source: http://www.scag.ca.gov/programs/Pages/EnvironmentJustice.aspx
- 2. Social Ecological Model Source: https://www.acha.org/HealthyCampus/Implement/Ecological_Model/HealthyCampus/Ecological_Model.aspx?hkey=f5defc87-662e-4373-8402- baf78d569c78
- 3. Environmental Justice (EJ) • Fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. • A combination of the Green and Civil Rights Movements. • Movement championed by African-Americans, Latinos, Asians and Pacific Islanders, and Native Americans.
- 4. Fair Treatment & Meaningful Involvement • Fair Treatment: • No group of people should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences from industrial, government, and commercial operations or policies. • Meaningful involvement: • People have an opportunity to participate in decisions about activities that may affect their environment and/or health • The public’s contribution can influence the regulatory agency’s decision • Community concerns will be considered in the decision making process • Decision makers will seek out and facilitate the involvement of those potentially affected
- 5. Vulnerable ‘EJ’ Communities • Classic EJ Community 1. Primarily minority or low income communities 2. Excluded from the policy or decision making process 3. Subject to disparate implementation of environmental regulations, oversight, protections, requirements, practices, and activities 4. Subject to disproportionate impact from one or more environmental hazards
- 6. Louisiana Ranks Last in Social Justice • Loyola’s Jesuit Social Research Institute • 1st Just South Index (Mar 2016) • Evaluates levels of social justice in every state & Washington D.C. • Measures poverty, racial disparity and immigrant exclusion • Results: • Rank 51 (Last): Louisiana • 50: Mississippi • 49: Texas • 48: Alabama • Some Louisiana findings: • 9 /10 households within lowest income quartile spend ≥30% of incomes on rent • Highest gap in annual earnings between white and minority workers of similar age Source: http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/03/louisiana_poverty_social_justi.html
- 7. EPA and EJ • The Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ) – EPA • Mission: To facilitate Agency efforts to protect environment and public health in minority, low-income, tribal, and other vulnerable communities by integrating environmental justice in all programs, policies, and activities. • EPA’s environmental justice mandate extends to all of the Agency’s work, including: • Setting standards • Permitting facilities • Awarding grants • Issuing licenses • Regulations • Reviewed proposed actions by the federal agencies Source: http://www.toxipedia.org/display/toxipedia/Environmental+Protection+Agency
- 8. EPA Releases EJ 2020 • October 2016 • EPA’s EJ 2020 Action Agenda • Strategic Plan for 2016-2020 • Challenges and Priority Areas • Three overarching goals: • Deepen environmental justice practice within EPA programs to improve health and environment of overburdened communities. • Work with partners to expand our positive impact within overburdened communities. • Demonstrate progress on critical national environmental justice challenges. Source: https://www.coxcolvin.com/epas- environmental-justice-2020-action-agenda- released/
- 9. EPA’s Updated EJ Screen • EJSCREEN • EPA’s online environmental justice tool • ID places with higher environmental burdens and vulnerable populations • Updated version released June 2016 • Updated EJ Screen includes: • National Air Toxic Assessment environmental indicator data • Cancer risk • Respiratory risk • Diesel PM • Higher resolution data • Census block group • Census tract • County-level • More mapping power • Print maps • Look at two maps, side-by-side
- 10. Black Pearl, New Orleans • Environmental Indicators Source: https://ejscreen.epa.gov/mapper/
- 11. Black Pearl, New Orleans • Demographic Indicators Source: https://ejscreen.epa.gov/mapper/
- 12. Black Pearl, New Orleans • EJ Indicators Source: https://ejscreen.epa.gov/mapper/
- 13. Environmental Stewardship • EPA Office of Policy Office of Strategic Environmental Management • Responsibility for environmental quality shared by all those whose actions affect the environment. • 2005: EPA recognized environmental stewardship as a means to a more sustainable future Source: https://yorkviewpc.com/2018/01/08/environmental-stewardship-committee/
- 14. EPA’s LA EJ Cases • Louisiana • 14 complaints filed since 1996 • 5 rejected • 5 not reviewed • 4 accepted for review • Baton Rouge, Louisiana • Residents sickened by flies, odors & pollution from city’s Wastewater Treatment Plant • Residents filed 4 Title VI complaints • 2009: Rejected - lawsuit • 2010: Rejected again • 2010 (2): Rejected “not timely” • 2012: 4th rejection • “All these complaints to EPA have gotten us nothing – zero.” • Communities in Alabama, Michigan, Texas, New Mexico & California • Sued EPA (July 2015) • Failing to finish investigations pending for more than a decade
- 15. LA’s Environmental Justice Communities Agriculture Street Landfill, New Orleans, LA Alsen, LA Baton Rouge, LA Bayou Corne Sinkhole Chalmette, LA Isle de Jean Charles Mossville, LA New Sarpy, LA Norco and Diamond, LA Versailles, LA “If you want to be a frontline soldier on environmental protection, social justice or environmental racism, come to Louisiana” – Gary Groesch, 2002 Source:https://www.motherjones.com/environment/2014/03/sasol-mossville-louisiana/
- 16. Mossville • Mossville, Calcasieu Parish, LA • Founded by former slaves in 1790s • Surrounded by 14 industrial plants; highest blood dioxin levels in US based on ATSDR screening • Dioxins effects include cancer, damage to reproductive and immune systems, disruption of hormone function Source: http://clutchmagonline.com/2014/03/louisiana- community-founded-freed-slaves-facing-demolition-chemical- plant/ Source:https://theintercept.com/2015/11/04/erasing- mossville-how-pollution-killed-a-louisiana-town/ Source: https://www.emaze.com/@AZFWTCTZ/Environmental-Racism
- 17. Isle de Jean Charles • 1st official climate change refugees in the United States • Since 1955, band of Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw tribe has lost 98% of its land to the Gulf of Mexico • Coastal erosion, rising sea levels, lack of soil renewal, shifting soil due to dredging for oil and gas pipeline placement. • 22,400-acre island 320 acre strip remains • 300 people 60 remain • Tribal loss of identity, food, and culture Sources: http://www.isledejeancharles.com/ Source: http://www.isledejeancharles.com
- 18. • Response: HUD awarded the tribe $48 million to relocate through the National Disaster Resilience Competition • Big problem – not just Louisiana • 200 million people in coastal communities globally could be displaced 2050 because of climate change Sources: http://www.isledejeancharles.com/
- 19. Bayou Corne Sinkhole • ~30 miles NW of Thibodeaux (Assumption Parish) • Originally developed in 2013 now covers 35 acres • Forced over 300 residents from their homes; loss of trees and land (literally swallowed) • The sinkhole was caused by a failed brine cavern Texas Brine mined in the Napoleon Salt Dome. Source: https://www.nytimes.com/video/multimedia/100000002464501/the-bayou-corne- sinkhole.html
- 20. • Texas Brine was originally blamed for the sinkhole, but has since filed a $100 million lawsuit today against Occidental Petroleum Corp., claiming their irresponsible drilling near the dome is to blame. • Last year, Texas Brine agreed to a $48.1 million class-action settlement for about 269 residents involved with about 100 properties in the tiny bayou neighborhood. Source: https://www.nytimes.com/video/multimedia/100000002464501/the-bayou- corne-sinkhole.html
- 21. New Orleans and EJ Issues: Claiborne Ave & Siting of I-10 Source: http://wwno.org/post/monster-claiborne-avenue-and-after-interstate Source: http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/04/claiborne_avenue_study_looks_a_1.html Source: http://www.nola.com/175years/index.ssf/2011/12/1967_the_interstate_hishway_sy.html
- 22. St. Joseph, Louisiana • Population decline of 12.2% in last 10 years • Population: 1,176 (Service connections: 587) • 77.7% African American • Per capita income: $9,049. • 37.8% below poverty line Source: https://leanweb.org/public-health/town-st-joseph-drinking-water-situation-update/
- 23. St. Joseph’s Drinking Water • High iron and manganese • Constant boil-water alerts May 2012 and January 2016: 20 boil water advisories • Filters won’t help Clog within days Source: http://therougecollection.net/therouge/louisianas-own-flint-water-crisis-why-are-we-only-addressing-it-now/
- 24. State says St. Joseph’s water is safe “Their complaints certainly have risen because of Flint, but it’s not a lead issue; it’s an iron issue, which is not a health issue.” -State Health Officer Jimmy Guidry Source: https://www.npr.org/2016/02/06/465702398 /beyond-flint-in-the-south-another-water- crisis-has-been-unfolding-for-years
- 25. Drinking Water Violations Failure to Monitor Chlorine • May 2015 • June 2015 • October 2015 • December 2015 • March 2016 Failure to Report Required Chlorine Concentrations • October 2015 • December 2015 • January 2016 • February 2016 Inadequate Minimum Chlorine Residual • May 2015 • October 2015 • March 2016 Failure to Monitor Coliform • July 2007 • October 2012 • May 2013 • September 2014 • May 2015 • October 2015 Coliform Detected in Water • August 11, 2014 • August 14, 2014 • April 28, 2015 • May 5, 2015 • September 8, 2015 • September 10, 2015 Public Notice Rule Violation • October 2012 • May 2013 • May 2015 • June 2015 • March 2016 Consumer Confidence Report Violation • July 2006 • July 2007 • July 2009 • July 2010 • July 2011 • October 2011 • July 2014 • October 2014 • July 2015 • October 2015 • August 11, 2014 • August 14, 2014 • April 28, 2015 • May 5, 2015 • September 8, 2015 • September 10, 2015
- 27. White House Petition Community petitioned White House calling on President Barack Obama to declare a state of emergency (Jan 20, 2016) It needed 100,000 signatures by February 19, 2016 Only 13,732 signed “This petition has been archived because it did not meet the signature requirements. It can no longer be signed.”
- 29. Independent Investigation Site 1 Site 2 Site 3 St. Joseph Cold Water Tap Samples Analyzed for Lead (Mar 22 – Apr 18, 2016) Researchers: Dr. Adrienne Katner, LSU School of Public Health; Drs. Jeff Parks and Marc Edwards, VA Tech
- 30. Impact • Residents brought LSU& VA Techs results before the State Legislature. • The State Health Officer was immediately contacted and charged with addressing the problem. • State promised to invest in infrastructure repair and replacement.
- 31. Declaration of Emergency June 1, 2016 • To allow outside assistance, the Mayor had to sign a Declaration of Emergency • Pride kept him from signing for 6 days • This declaration never made it past the Tensas Parish Police Jury. In view of the findings and violations, the extensive water leaks, continued boil advisories, lack of maintenance in the water system, it is hereby declared a serious and imminent danger to the public health. Source: https://www.cnn.com/2016/12/20/us/louisiana-public-health-emergency-drinking-water/index.html
- 32. St. Joseph Update (2016) • Lead was found to exceed the Action Level of 15 ppb (not a health- based standard) in 22% of St. Joe’s samples. • It is in violation of the Lead & Copper Rule. Source: http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/opinion/mark_ballard/article_3369fee8-d437-11e6-938a- 8b6795b924df.html Source: https://www.cnn.com/2016/12/20/us/louisiana-public-health-emergency-drinking-water/index.html
- 33. EJ Summary • EJ is not about intent • About fair treatment and meaningful participation • EJ Community characteristics • Minority or low income populations • Excluded from policy decisions • Disparate implementation of protections • Disparate exposures and health impacts • US enforcement of EJ is lacking • US forced to promote EJ via national policies, which it does with questionable vigilance • EPA’s Office of Civil Rights has not enforced a single case of environmental injustice
- 34. Achieving Environmental Justice • Environmental justice will be achieved when everyone enjoys: • The same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards • Equal access to the decision-making process to have a healthy environment in which to live, learn, and work
Editor's Notes
- It is important to emphasize the Social Ecological Model in relation to Environmental Justice. Environmental Justice issues are fueled by public policy --- If we want to fix something, these needs to be a policy! Public policy drives community and institutional action (and/or inaction when policies are weak and not inclusive) Communities/institutions help/hinder our interpersonal interactions, again depending on funding/investment in community resources, infrastructure, health, and education. These factors all affect the individual and his/her health The individual’s health reflects the health of the community (healthy individuals = healthy communities and unhealthy individuals = unhealthy communities)
- EPA EJ: https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice Environmental justice is all about empowering communities! Think….. Civil Rights + Green Movements Championed by minorities, for minorities. As EJ communities are often low-income, poor-performing schools, inadequate access to health care services, or hazardous exposures. These communities are usually not prioritized at the federal/state levels, and sometimes corruption at the local level influences the disproportionate impacts these communities suffer. Perfect example of environment justice in Greater New Orleans area: Industry along the river (easy access to body of water for transportation) This was the same areas cultivated by plantation owners after abolition of slavery, many slaves and their families continued to live along the river…. Nowhere else to go; didn’t know any other life (some couldn’t read or write) Now suffering adverse health effects due to LOCATION (their home) Air pollution, hazardous waste, etc.
- Industry, government, and commercial business are thinking about PROFIT, not POPULATION! Need regulation, more importantly EFFECTIVE regulation (however, this is not cheap) No funds? No regulation. Thus, the call for environmental justice. With EJ, people must have voice in their own environment/health Public contributions require empowering the community (they matter; their health matters; the health of their children and families also matter.) Need a strong community leader
- 4 characteristics of an Environmental Justice community These are the necessary characteristics a community must exhibit in order to considered an EJ community. All characteristics should be met.
- Social Justice and Environmental Justice are related Most often social issues are influenced by environment and vice versa In public health, we often talk about how place determines health (how one’s environment and the exposures within it affect overall health and well-being) Ask students if they find this surprising?
- The Environmental Protection Agency has taken a stand on Environmental Justice Office of Environmental Justice and it’s mission (sounds like fair treatment and meaningful involvement) EJ is engrained in everything the EPA does, every aspect of operation EPA bringing EJ forward federal government support always helps
- - Challenges: lead, drinking water, air quality, and hazardous waste sites - Priorities: rule making, permitting, compliance and enforcement, science, state and local governments, federal agencies, community-based work, and tribes and indigenous peoples Other components: Implementation, Outreach and Engagement, and Resources
- Link to EJSCREEN: https://www.epa.gov/ejscreen Measures Environment Justice (exposures) Within a community or specific location (can select and individual point/address or entire neighborhood/community) Can even compare different areas/communities Learn to use EJSCREEN: https://www.epa.gov/ejscreen/learn-use-ejscreen Assignment: Compare EJSCREEN results from your home and school.
- Environmental Indicators
- Demographic Indicators
- EJ Indicators
- Being a steward of your own environment means promoting the health of yourself, your family, your school, and your entire community. Environmental Stewardship promotes the ideals of Environmental Justice Sustainable solutions will protect the environment and its natural resources By protecting our environment and our communities, we are investing in not only our health but the health of our children and future generations
- One could ask what is going on in LA with EJ? Multiple complaints; some never reviewed Baton Rouge example: multiple rejections, even a lawsuit. No EPA action Other communities have also sued the EPA to no avail; they never finishing investigating
- LA has a lot of disparities Rural areas (less access) History of racism (south) Big industry in LA (oil and gas) Question: Is this a surprise? Discuss how public health directly relates to number of EJ communities.
- VIDEO: “African American Community in Louisiana Fights for Health and Life” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S58slLjDZLg (13:25)
- Isle de Jean Charles website: http://www.isledejeancharles.com/ HUGE: 1st climate change refugees Minorities: Native Americans (the ultimate minorities) Plays into a lot of current environmental issues that are heavily debated need to be priority for LA and other coastal areas Bus
- Department of Housing and Urban Development (through National Disaster Resilience Competition) Climate change ---- Is it a hoax? Is it a problem? National debate, but should it be? Science tells us otherwise…. Another obstacle: ignorance within coastal communites The debate between big business (oil/gas corporations) and saving the coastal environment Oil and gas bring money and jobs Regulatiton requires money and can also bring jobs
- Bayou Corne Sinkhole Video (Source – New York Times) https://www.nytimes.com/video/multimedia/100000002464501/the-bayou-corne-sinkhole.html
- Emphasize individuals/community impact Corporations fault corporations should pay Corporations often try to avoid/cut costs (incorrectly sealed salt dome? Irresponsible drilling) leads to EJ issues, such as this one
- Environmental and societal impacts of 1-10; destroying the culture and lives of New Orleanians in mutliple neighborhoods What was once a lively neighborhood rich with culture has been replaced by a concrete jungle Many businesses were destroyed/forced to close down Destroyed a culture Necessary? Alternate routes?
- The town of St. Joseph, LA is a good example of drinking water obstacles faced by small towns with a declining tax base and a majority population of minority and impoverished residents.
- St. Joseph’s water exceeds secondary standards and has near constant boil water alerts. Since 2014 the residents had been living under a near-constant boil water alert. Even the local school was affected - forced to shut its doors because they had no potable water. Filters don’t work here as they clog within days. The only affordable solution for this low-income population is bottled water, but even this solution is not affordable to many St. Joseph residents. ‘ In conjunction with LSU Health, we are currently monitoring the city’s water to investigate the associations between iron content and pathogen growth. State officials stated there were around 400 other small towns in the state facing similar iron exceedances.
- But the State insisted the water was safe to drink. Iron levels exceeded secondary standards, but the water was still safe. When asked to drink the water by the media though, the state Health Officer politely declined.
- These are a few, and by no means all, of the drinking water violations and failures reported for St. Joe’s water system. Failure to monitor and report chlorine levels; failure to monitor coliform; coliform detections; and failure to alert the public of violations
- In the beginning of 2016, residents finally had enough. Perfect example of environmental justice at work in the era of technology/social media. Ask students what they think of the effectiveness of using one’s political voice via social media? If the state wouldn’t do anything, they would petition the white house.
- The petition needed 100,000 signatures, but this town of less than 2000 people simply couldn’t mobilize enough support. The petition was shelved.
- Situation in Flint, Michigan vs. St. Joseph, LA Discussion – similarities/differences?
- Residents finally reached out to Dr. Adrienne Katner of Louisiana State University’s School of Public Health. They had heard about her investigations of lead in New Orleans drinking water and wanted her help. She forwarded sample collection kits up to some of the residents. In the end, water was collected from 3 different sites. Finally, a strange kind of hope arrived. This independent citizen-led investigation of the town’s water revealed lead levels as high as 42 ug/L. Citizens were finally empowered with the evidence they needed to force the state’s hand.
- While Dr. Katner had brought these results to the attention of the state, no action was taken. Finally, residents, armed with this evidence, brought the issue before the state legislature. The State Health Officer was immediately contacted and told to address the problem. For their assistance in bringing this issue to the state’s attention, the researchers were subsequently black-listed from working with all their former state partners. St. Joseph reveals some of the struggles faced by citizens and researchers alike when they mobilize to stand up for their right to safe water.
- Finally, by June 1st, community and media pressure finally prevailed and the mayor agreed to sign a Declaration of Emergency. The city’s water system was finally declared to be a serious and imminent danger to public health. The mayor’s signature on this declaration was required to allow in outside assistance and water; It took him 6 days to sign the declaration - a delay he blamed on his wounded pride. Similar to Flint, he agreed to hand over power to a state-appointed fiscal administrator. The saga continues though. Residents are struggling to get this Declaration extended and the state-promised repairs to their infrastructure are slow to arrive. With the media attention now dying down, the residents are being told once again that their water is safe.
- US EPA needs to promote EJ in more ways Again, significant cuts in funding to the EPA (~30%) does not show likely increase of EJ at the national level Is the outcome bleak for EJ communities/research?
- Doesn’t mean you can’t make a difference. Fight for EJ and explore your own personal ethics. It’s people like you (who care about people and communities other than themselves/their own) that make a difference in this world.