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Environmental Justice Council


About the Environmental Justice Council 

In 2022, the Oregon Legislature passed HB 4077 that renamed and codified the then existing Environmental Justice Task Force (EJTF) as the Environmental Justice Council (EJC). The EJC, established within the Office of the Governor, is a 13-member statewide council responsible to advise the Governor and state natural resource agencies on environmental justice (EJ) issues. The statute directs the council, with staff support from the Department of Environment Quality and Oregon Health Authority, to develop an environmental justice mapping tool. The purpose of this mapping tool is to provide geospatial information about EJ impacts and to develop guidance for state agencies when adopting rules and policies. The act further requires the council to follow an inclusive community engagement process to develop the mapping tool and directs it to establish technical collaboration with the Office of Enterprise Information Services; the Institute of Natural Resources at Oregon State University; and the Population Research Center at Portland State University to develop, maintain, and make the tool publicly available.

HB 4077 expanded the definition of “environmental justice communities" to broadly include communities of color, communities experiencing lower incomes, communities experiencing health inequities, tribal communities, rural communities, remote communities, coastal communities, communities with limited infrastructure and other communities traditionally underrepresented in public processes and adversely harmed by environmental and health hazards, including seniors, youth, and persons with disabilities. Environmental justice is defined as “equal protection from environmental and health risks, fair treatment and meaningful involvement in decision making of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, immigration status, income or other identifies with respect to the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies that affect the environment in which people live, work, learn, and practice spirituality and culture."

Council Members

Chairperson, Quinn (Quynh Dien) Read
Chair

Vice Chair, Valentin Sanchez
Vice Chair

Amanda Sullivan-Astor
Member 

Danny Cage
Youth Representative 

Ben Duncan
OCBA Appointee 

Victoria (Vee) Paykar
Member

Jim Kreider
Member

Aparna Rajagopal-Durbin
OCAPIA Appointee

Tiffany Monroe
Member 

Gustavo Morales
OCHA Appointee 

Katie Murray
Member

Huy Ong
Member 

Vacant
Appointee of Commission on Indian Services 

Upcoming Meetings

October 10, 2024

  • Agenda, EJ Mapping Info Session Report
  • Time: 10:00am - 3:00pm
  • Address: Columbia Gorge Community College at The Dalles (400 East Scenic Drive, The Dalles, OR 97058) 
    • Location: Boardroom
    • Zoom registration here
  • Public Comment: Verbal comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting after Leadership Updates and at the end of the meeting after the last agenda item. Written public comment may be sent in advance to van.nguyen@deq.oregon.gov no later than 5:00 PM on October 9, 2024. The Oregon Environmental Justice Council makes every attempt to hold strictly to the timing distributed agenda. Topics and public comment may move up or be delayed based on the cadence of the meeting.

December 12, 2024

  • Time: 10:00am - 3:00pm
  • Address: Lloyd 700 Building (700 NE Multnomah St, Portland, OR 97232)
    • Location: 6th Floor, Conference Room 601
    • Zoom registration here
  • Public Comment: Verbal comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting after Leadership Updates and at the end of the meeting after the last agenda item. Written public comment may be sent in advance to van.nguyen@deq.oregon.gov no later than 5:00 PM on December 11, 2024. The Oregon Environmental Justice Council makes every attempt to hold strictly to the timing distributed agenda. Topics and public comment may move up or be delayed based on the cadence of the meeting.

Previous Meetings

August 7, 2024
June 13, 2024
April 11, 2024

February 8, 2024

January 16, 2024

December 5, 2023

  • Agenda
  • Watch recorded meeting: here (Recording Passcode: EJC-12523)

November 13, 2023 - Cancelled

November 8, 2023 

October 17, 2023

October 3, 2023: EJC Governance Subcommittee Meeting

  • Watch the recorded meeting: here

September 18, 2023 

September 5, 2023

July 26, 2023

June 2, 2023

Resources and References

Environmental Justice Task Force Handbook

Natural resources agencies

Previously recorded meetings

Note: Only select meetings have been recorded


Annual Reports

2023
  • Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
  • Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD)
  • Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI
  • Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL)
  • Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA)
  • Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF)
  • Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW)
  • Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE)
  • Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT)
  • Oregon Health Authority (OHA)
  • Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD)
  • Oregon Public Utilities Commission (OPUC)
  • Oregon State Fire Marshall (OSFM)
  • Oregon State Marine Board (OSMB)
  • Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB)
  • Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD)


Contact Us

To be added to the Environmental Justice Council email list or for questions, please send your request to: EJ.Council@oregon.gov







Accomplishments