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EPA Holds Meeting on Port Arthur Environmental Justice Showcase Community Project

Release Date: 03/02/2012
Contact Information: Dave Bary or Jennah Durant at 214-665-2200 or r6press@epa.gov

(DALLAS – March 2, 2012) On Thursday, March 1, 2012, The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hosted a community meeting in Port Arthur, Texas, to provide an update on the Environmental Justice Showcase Community project. During the meeting residents had an opportunity to ask questions about current and future activities.

“Port Arthur Westside serves as a model for the EPA’s environmental justice efforts,” said EPA Regional Administrator Al Armendariz. “The showcase project has enhanced our efforts to achieve environmental and public health improvements in overburdened communities.”

Among the results of this collaborative effort are $1,000,000 for community health services; an environmental profile and training that informed residents about conditions related to health concerns; education about emergency response procedures and work to address specific community concerns about notification; $330,000 in Brownfields Assessments; and a commitment to work towards relocation of residents living in public housing on the fenceline of industry.

Successes were realized in six areas addressed by stakeholder workgroups: environmental quality and emergency response; community health; Westside community and downtown revitalization; energy efficiency; unemployment and skill development; and housing. Port Arthur’s new Environmental Justice Initiative focuses on these same six areas, and the workgroups remain in place to build on the success of the Westside Community project.

More about activities in EPA Region 6 is available at https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/region6.html