Environmental Justice (EJ)

Region 5 EJ Contact

Alan Walts
Environmental Justice Program Manager
312-353-8894
Fax: 312-886-0747

Other EPA Contacts for Environmental Justice

Region 5 Enforcement

National Information

EJ Resources

EPA's Office of Environmental Justice

Information Resources

Grants

EJ grant programs
Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) grants - a competitive grant program that offers an innovative way for a community to organize and take action to reduce toxic pollution in its local environment.

EPA defines Environmental Justice (EJ) as the 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.

Region 5 Environmental Justice Action Plan FY 2009 (PDF) (4pp, 34K About PDF)

Fair treatment means that no group of people, including racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic groups, should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, municipal, and commercial operations or the execution of federal, state, local, and tribal environmental programs and policies.

Meaningful involvement means that:

potentially affected community residents have an appropriate opportunity to participate in decisions about a proposed activity that will affect their environment and/or health;
the public's contribution can influence the regulatory agency's decision;
the concerns of all participants involved will be considered in the decision-making process;
the decisionmakers seek out and facilitate the involvement of those potentially affected.

Safer Pest Control Project Honored for Environmental Justice Achievements

Safer Pest Control Project (PDF) (1pg, 132K, About PDF) is a winner of EPA's first Environmental Justice Achievement Awards. (October 21, 2008)

Twelve award recipients include community-based organizations, universities, and state and local governments from nine states. "We all have a stake in ensuring that our air is cleaner, our water is purer, and our land is better protected," said Granta Nakayama, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. "These organizations are making a positive impact in their communities by promoting a clean and healthy environment for all people."

The awards recognize organizations for their distinguished accomplishments in addressing environmental justice issues. EPA received dozens of nominations from across the United States.

Environmental Justice Achievement Awards

Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance | Office of Regional Counsel