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EPA Seeks Comments on Draft Civil Rights and Environmental Protection Guidance

Release Date: 8/18/2000
Contact Information: For more information contact the Office of External Affairs at (214) 665-2200.

     The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold public participation sessions in Baton Rouge, La., August 21 and San Antonio, Texas, August 24 regarding EPA's combined draft civil rights and environmental protection guidance.

     The guidance is part of EPA's effort to protect public health and economic progress while ensuring that pollution does not unfairly and disproportionately affect minority communities. It reaffirms EPA's commitment to enforcing both environmental and civil rights laws.

     "This guidance will be a blueprint for community and business leaders to work together alongside state and local governments to develop new efforts to reduce clear environmental impacts when they plainly violate the civil rights of minority communities. I encourage minority communities to take advantage of this opportunity to make their views on the draft guidance known," said EPA Regional Administrator Gregg Cooke.

     The August 21 public participation session will be held from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at the Baton Rouge Radisson Hotel, Cypress II Room, 4728 Constitution Avenue, Baton Rouge, La. (near College Ave. & I-10).

     The August 24 public participation session will be held from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at the University of Texas San Antonio, Assembly Room, Buena Vista Bldg., 501 W. Durango Blvd. (corner of Buena Vista & Frio), San Antonio, Texas.

     EPA will also accept written comments received by August 28, 2000. Comments should be sent to Title VI Guidance Comments, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Civil Rights (1201A), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460 or by e-mail to civilrights@epa.gov.

     EPA's Office of Civil Rights held a similar session in Dallas on July 17.  The guidance is available on the EPA website at https://www.epa.gov/civilrights.