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EJ Initiatives & Achievements
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 Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPs) |
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For more information on SEPs, contact Michael Wenstrom, 303-312-7009.
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| TRI and EJ Communities' Projects |
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For more information on TRI and EJ Communities' Projects, contact Tami Thomas-Burton, 303-312-6581. |
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| Brownfields |
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| Lead Poisoning Prevention Projects |
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The EPA has regulatory authority to enforce lead rules related to remodeling practices, hazard abatement and disclosure of lead hazards. In addition to these enforcement activities, the EPA lead program carries out community outreach and education activities. Along with other federal, state and local agencies, the EPA is committed to the goal of eliminating childhood lead poisoning in Colorado by 2010. The following efforts are underway:
For more information on Lead Projects, contact Nancy Reish, 303-312-6040. |
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| NEPA - EIS Projects |
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For more information on NEPA-EIS Projects, contact Tami Thomas-Burton, 303-312-6581. |
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| San Luis Valley Drinking Water Well Project |
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For more information on the San Luis valley Well Water Drinking Environmental Initiative, contact Tami Thomas-Burton, 303-312-6581.
Basic Well Information Sheets
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| Migrant Farm Workers |
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 Farm
worker labor is essential to our economy and well-being. Farm workers plant
and harvest our produce, and put food on our table, often at the expense
of their health and livelihood. They work long hours for low wages, face
high risks of injury, and live under substandard housing conditions.
An area of particular concern to the US EPA is drinking water in migrant farm worker camps. In 1999, very little information was available in Colorado about the status of drinking water sources in farm worker communities, so EPA's Environmental Justice Program initiated the Migrant Farm Worker Drinking Water Project. For more information on Migrant Farm Workers, contact Michael Wenstrom, 303-312-7009.
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For more information on the Diesel Truck Anti-Idling Campaign, contact Tami Thomas-Burton, 303-312-6581.
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| Pueblo County, Colorado Projects |
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For more information on Pueblo County Projects, contact Michael Wenstrom, 303-312-7009.
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| Tribal
Projects |
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For more information on EJ and Tribal Projects, contact Jean Belille, 303-312-6556.
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| Northeast
Denver Projects |
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A
Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) is part of an enforcement settlement
connected with the violation of an environmental statutory or regulatory
requirement. As part of the enforcement settlement, a violator voluntarily
agrees to undertake an environmentally beneficial project in exchange
for a reduction in the penalty. A SEP furthers EPA's goal of protecting
and enhancing the public health and the environment, and does not include
the activities a violator must take to return to compliance with the law.
This project examines whether releases reported through the Toxic Release
Inventory (TRI) are located in low-income and minority communities. In
this study, we combine data about toxic releases with federal census data
to examine patterns of differential proximity to industrial toxics. The
goal is to identify "potential" environmental justice communities
associated with TRI regulated facilities, and to identify and present
existing environmental pollution conditions that may raise environmental
justice issues. Region 8 has oversight of six states, Colorado, Utah,
Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota, which are the study
area for this project. 
EPA
defines brownfields as real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or
reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence
of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. Environmental justice
is becoming an increasingly important component of brownfields redevelopment.
Since Brownfields are generally concentrated in communities of color and
other low-income areas, stakeholder involvement in such projects is inherently
an environmental justice issue. As cities become aware of the effect that
abandoned industrial sites have had on the residential communities in
which they are located, brownfields redevelopment offers the city and
the community a chance to reverse patterns of neglect in inner city neighborhoods.
The
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) directs federal agencies to consider
in their decision-making the environmental impacts of their actions and
to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for major actions significantly
affecting the quality of the human environment. The Environmental Justice
Executive Order (EO 12898) emphasizes that agencies should use existing
laws, such as NEPA, to identify potential environmental justice concerns.
As part of the NEPA analysis planning process, special studies are conducted
including Environmental Justice, Cultural, Social and environmental analysis.
These studies provide the background for preparing the EIS, which form
the basis for environmental decision-making. 
In the San Luis Valley where many residents may have private and household wells, it is essential that these wells be properly maintained to issue safe drinking water. The San Luis Valley Well Water Drinking Environmental Initiative is a partnership between the EPA's Environmental Justice Program and local community groups to raise awareness of drinking water well issues as well as provide well water testing, education and information in San Luis Valley communities.
Emissions
from idling heavy-duty diesel vehicles pose a significant threat to air
quality. The anti-idling campaign targets idling that occurs from diesel
truck emissions. Idling emissions are particularly significant at locations
such as truck stops, travel centers, rest areas, and at warehouse/distribution
centers and port terminals where loading and unloading freight require
long waiting periods. These locations can experience a very high number
of trucks idling together for extended periods of time. These emissions
can affect the health of the drivers, truck stop, warehouse, and ports
personnel, and the neighboring community. The health concerns in particular
become more serious when such locations are located in communities that
are already disproportionately impacted by air pollution.
The
Region 8 EJ Program is involved in a number of initiatives relating to
environmental issues affecting neighborhoods in Pueblo County, Colorado.
EPA
Region 8 includes 27 Federally-recognized Tribal governments located on
26 Indian Reservations.
The
North Denver Environmental Initiative is a multi-agency, multi-disciplinary
project that addresses environmental justice concerns in the northeast
Denver metropolitan area. The project is envisioned as a cooperative partnership
utilizing federal, state, county and local government authorities to address
community concerns proactively regarding potentially harmful environmental
consequences of industrial and transportation developments. The goals
of the project are to improve coordination and communication between the
partner organizations and the communities to address environmental concerns
through compliance assistance, enforcement authorities, pollution prevention,
and other tools available to the agencies.
