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| Environmental Justice Task Force Meeting |
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Friday, April 12, 2013 10 AM to 3 PM
Roth's - Santiam Room
1130 Wallace Road NW Salem, OR 97304
Call-In Number: 1-866-249-5279 Participant Code: 535205
The public is welcome to attend any portion of the meeting.
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| EPA honors Oregon's Environmental Justice Task Force |
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EJTF is lauded for 'unprecedented cooperation and relationship building'
The Oregon Environmental Justice Task Force has received a National Achievements in Environmental Justice Award from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for effectively implementing Oregon's environmental justice legislation (Senate Bill 420 - scroll down to learn more) and incorporating environmental justice considerations into state agency programs. The EJTF was one of five environmental partnership's to receive recognition. Read the full story at EPA's website.
Governor Kulongoski congratulated EJTF members for their significant accomplishments and expressed his appreciation for former Senator Avel Gordly's leadership in developing Senate Bill 420 in an announcment released by Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. Read DEQ's press release.
EJTF member Robin Collin offers remarks at EPA's award ceremony - Watch it on YouTube!
Videos of the award announcment and Ms. Collin's remarks are at YouTube.com/White House Environmental Justice Forum (Parts 1-4)
EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson's announcement is in Part 1. Go to 0:13:48
Robin Collin's remarks are in Part 3. Go to 1:10:22
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| Oregonians have a voice in environmental policy decisions |
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Governor Kulongoski signs Senate Bill 420 |
Senate Bill 420 created the Environmental Justice Task Force in 2007
Senate Bill 420 calls for environmental justice in Oregon by ensuring that all persons affected by decisions of natural resource agencies have a voice in those decisions. At the same time, the bill set up a task force - Environmental Justice Task Force, or EJTF - to advise the Governor and natural resource agencies on environmental justice issues.
Senate Bill 420 identified 11 state agencies as participants in the Environmental Justice Task Force: Agriculture, Environmental Quality, Fish & Wildlife, Forestry, Geology & Mineral Industries, Human Services, Land Conservation & Development, State Lands, Transportation, Water Resources and the State Fire Marshal's Office. Two additional agencies, Occupational Safety & Health and Energy, voluntarily participate. The agencies report annually to the EJTF on steps they are taking to ensure that their actions address the interests of all Oregonians. Read the agencies' 2009 Report to EJTF.
EJTF consists of 12 members (see roster at the end of this page) and is staffed by Governor Kulongoski's office. The Task Force reports annually to the Governor, detailing the progress of natural resource agencies toward achieving the environmental justice goals outlined in Senate Bill 420. Read EJTF's 2009 Report to the Governor and click here to read the first annual (2008) report.The Environmental Justice Task Force meets quarterly.
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| Make your voice heard! |
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What is Environmental Justice? How can you participate in decisions that affect you?
Environmental Justice Defined: Environmental justice is equal protection from environmental and health hazards, and meaningful public participation in decisions that affect the environment in which people live, work, learn, practice spirituality and play. "Environmental justice communities" include minority and low-income communities, tribal communities, and other communities traditionally underrepresented in public processes.
Purpose of the Environmental Justice Task Force: When state agencies make decisions that affect our environment it is critical that low-income and minority populations are not disproportionately affected. The Environmental Justice Task Force (EJTF) was created by the Legislature to help protect Oregonians from disproportionate environmental impacts on minority and low-income populations. The EJTF encourages state agencies to give all people knowledge and access to improve decisions that affect environment and the health of all Oregonians.
Make Your Voice Heard: Offer your voice in decisions made by state agencies. The EJTF encourages you to take action when you feel impacted by one or more issues listed below.
Your voice for Environmental Justice
- You have a voice in decisions that affect potable drinking water and clean air.
- You have a voice in decisions that may put toxic pollutants in your living and working areas.
- You have a voice in decisions about toxics in schools that affect your kids.
- You have a voice in decisions that affect your community's health, such as land use decisions that could increase pollution in your neighborhood.
- You have a voice in asking for caution in environmental decisions that affect your community, even if absolute proof of the problem is not yet confirmed.
- You have a voice in clean and healthy access to your native cultural places and usual and accustomed fishing sites.
- You have a voice in decisions that will increase climate change and impact your community, such as increased flooding, drought and fires, and impacts to species, habitats or local foods.
- You have a voice in all decisions about toxics in food, water, air, soil and homes.
- You have a voice in any issue of concern regarding environmental issues that affect your home, work, or place of worship.
How to be heard:
Contact Governor Kitzhaber if you have an opinion you would like to share on important environmental justice issues.
The EJTF meets quarterly with opportunity for public comment and the next meeting is listed on this web page. For information regarding upcoming meeting logistics, please email or call the Governor's Natural Resource Policy Advisor, Brett Brownscombe (503-378-6549).
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| Environmental Justice Task Force Members |
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There is established the Environmental Justice Task Force consisting of 12 members appointed by the Governor. The members shall be persons who are well-informed on the principles of environmental justice and who, to the greatest extent practicable, represent minority communities, low-income communities, environmental interests, industry groups and geographically diverse areas of the state. Of the 12 members, the Governor shall appoint one member of the task force from each of the commissions on Asian Affairs, Black Affairs, Hispanic Affairs and Indian Services.
Current appointees:
Ben Duncan, Multnomah County Environmental Health
Jon Ostar, OPAL Environmental Justice Oregon
Robin Morris Collin (Salem) Professor of Law, Willamette University
Robert William Collin (Salem) Willamette University Center for Sustainable Communities
Jack Johnson (Cove) -- Resident of Union County
Khalid Wahab (Portland) Commission on Asian Affairs
Jennifer Coleman (Portland) Oregon Environmental Council
Julie Samples (Hillsboro) Oregon Law Center Farmworker Program
Terry Witt (Salem) Oregonians for Food and Shelter
Commission on Black Affairs: VACANT
Commission on Hispanic Affairs: VACANT
Commission on Indian Services: VACANT
Please note: Task Force members' affiliation is listed for identification purposes only, except for the four commission representatives
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