8/13/2019 EJ Risk Mgmt and COmm 12-12-1

1/18

Environmental Justice

A brief overview of the concept,movement and resulting laws.

Intro. to Environmental Health

8/13/2019 EJ Risk Mgmt and COmm 12-12-1

2/18

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.

8/13/2019 EJ Risk Mgmt and COmm 12-12-1

3/18

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.

8/13/2019 EJ Risk Mgmt and COmm 12-12-1

4/18

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.

8/13/2019 EJ Risk Mgmt and COmm 12-12-1

5/18

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

8/13/2019 EJ Risk Mgmt and COmm 12-12-1

6/18

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

8/13/2019 EJ Risk Mgmt and COmm 12-12-1

7/18

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

8/13/2019 EJ Risk Mgmt and COmm 12-12-1

8/18

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.

8/13/2019 EJ Risk Mgmt and COmm 12-12-1

9/18

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.

8/13/2019 EJ Risk Mgmt and COmm 12-12-1

10/18

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.

8/13/2019 EJ Risk Mgmt and COmm 12-12-1

11/18

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

8/13/2019 EJ Risk Mgmt and COmm 12-12-1

12/18

Risk Management

8/13/2019 EJ Risk Mgmt and COmm 12-12-1

13/18

Risk Management

Selection of an appropriate courseof action using

Risk assessment

Statutory and legal requirements

Economic effects

Social considerations

Informed judgments

8/13/2019 EJ Risk Mgmt and COmm 12-12-1

14/18

Driving Forces in Risk Management

PoliticsPress

Public PerceptionBureaucratic ImperativesLaw

EconomicsScienceEthics

8/13/2019 EJ Risk Mgmt and COmm 12-12-1

15/18

Risk Communication

8/13/2019 EJ Risk Mgmt and COmm 12-12-1

16/18

8/13/2019 EJ Risk Mgmt and COmm 12-12-1

17/18

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)

8/13/2019 EJ Risk Mgmt and COmm 12-12-1

18/18

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.