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Oregon Environmental Justice Task Force recognized by EPA

Release Date: 12/16/2011
Contact Information: Sheryl Stohs, EPA Region 10 Environmental Justice Liaison, 206-553-0250, stohs.sheryl@epa.gov, Tony Brown, EPA Public Affairs, 206-553-1203, brown.anthony@epa.gov

EPA also awards $50,000 Environmental Justice Grants to community-based organizations in Oregon

(Seattle – Dec. 16, 2011) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regional Administrator Dennis McLerran today presented an award for outstanding work to further environmental justice to the Oregon Environmental Justice Task Force (EJTF). EJTF is being recognized for their effective implementation of Oregon State legislation and Task Force initiatives which incorporate environmental justice considerations into State agencies’ programs. Other significant milestones include:

• The creation of a “Your voice for Environmental Justice” document outlining citizens’ rights to be involved in decisions that affect their quality of life
• Organizing a community event to introduce the Task Force and its work to the public
• Partnership with community-based groups to develop demographic maps of statewide environmental justice communities

“EPA is pleased to recognize Oregon’s EJ Task Force for its ability to incorporate environmental justice considerations into State agencies’ programs,” said Dennis McLerran, EPA’s Regional Administrator in Seattle. “Bringing communities and State agencies together when making decisions that affect their quality of life can only help our most overburdened communities to become healthier, and more sustainable.”

EPA will also be awarding $25,000 Environmental Justice Grants to two community-based organizations in Oregon as part of the agency’s Environmental Justice Small Grant Program. These grants will assist communities to address environmental and public health issues at the local level.

The recipients are:

Oregon

Recipient: Beyond Toxics - $25,000
Project: The EJ in West Eugene: Families, Health and Air Pollution Project
Location: Eugene, OR
Issue: Air Quality

The “Families, Health and Air Pollution Project” seeks to reduce the asthma risk among West Eugene School District children. This project will conduct community health research of West Eugene, Oregon. The projects goals are to perform GIS mapping and conduct a toxic tour of the affected community area. Beyond Toxics will work to address the problems of disproportionate pollution exposure and poor health outcomes for children in low-income neighborhoods of the West Eugene School District and educate the community on asthma risk reduction. Beyond Toxics contact: Lisa Arkin, 541-465-8860 Email: larkin@BeyondToxics.org
Website: www.BeyondToxics.org

Recipient: Josiah Hill III Clinic - $25,000
Project: Green Steward Project
Location: Portland, OR
Issue: Toxic substances, Air Quality

The “Green Steward Project” will train faith based congregations to reduce exposure to toxics chemicals and indoor air pollutants. The project will train 120 congregants to reduce human environmental exposure to toxic chemicals and indoor air pollutants. Josiah Hill III Clinic will work with the congregations to deliver workshops and green cleaning parties to raise awareness of toxic chemicals and human health impacts. The Clinic will conduct blood screening clinics at each congregation and educate on lead poisoning and environmental hazards for young children. Josiah Hill III Clinic contact: Charles A. McGee, 503-334-9694 Email: charles@jhillclinic.org
Website: http://www.jhillclinic.org/

Nationally, EPA awarded 46 grants totaling more than $1 million to address environmental justice issues and concerns in communities throughout the United States.

For additional information about EJTF, visit: http://www.oregon.gov/Gov/GNRO/environmental_justice.shtml

For additional information about EJ award program, visit:
https://www.epa.gov/compliance/ej/awards/index.html

EPA’s national news release on EJ Grants, visit: https://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/bd4379a92ceceeac8525735900400c27/5a44fdc15ec2c0aa85257960006459a7!OpenDocument

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