National Environmental Justice Advisory Council

The National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC), a federal advisory committee to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, was established September 30, 1993. The Council provides advice and recommendations about broad, cross-cutting issues related to environmental justice, from all stakeholders involved in the environmental justice dialogue. In addition, the NEJAC provides a valuable forum for discussions about integrating environmental justice with other EPA priorities and initiatives.[1] Margaret J. May serves as the current Chairperson.[2]

National Environmental Justice Advisory Council
Agency overview
FormedSeptember 30, 1993
Employees26 members and 1 Designated Federal Officer (DFO)
Agency executive
  • Margaret J. May, Chairperson
WebsiteOfficial site

The NEJAC also has seven subcommittees to help develop strategic options for EPA. These subcommittees report to the NEJAC Executive Council. Each subcommittee consists of approximately 6 to 13 individuals knowledgeable in the subject area. Members are drawn from the NEJAC Executive Council as well as from other stakeholder organizations. The subcommittees are: Air and Water; Enforcement; Health and Research; Indigenous Peoples; International; Puerto Rico; and Waste and Facility Siting.[3]

History

For the past 20 years, NEJAC has provided a valuable forum for discussions about integrating environmental justice into EPA's programs, policies, and activities. The NEJAC has worked to shape agency policy including recommendations for the 1996 Brownfields report on Unintended Impacts from Revitalization that created the national Brownfields conference, recommendations for improving stakeholder relations between Federal facilities and environmental justice communities, as well as the 2005 Gulf Coast Hurricanes and Vulnerable Populations Recommendations that helped shape the agency response to the Gulf Oil Spill.[4][5][6][7]

Current Organization

The NEJAC membership consists of representatives from academia, community groups, industry and business, state and local government, environmental organizations, as well as tribal governments and indigenous groups.[8]

Achievements

Following research and advice provided by the NEJAC and Robert D. Bullard, President Bill Clinton signed Executive Order 12898 in 1994, the purpose of which was to focus federal attention on the environmental and human health effects of federal actions on minority and low-income populations with the goal of achieving environmental justice and protection for all communities.[9][10]

References
  1. "National Environmental Justice Advisory Council". epa.gov. United States Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  2. "National Environmental Justice Advisory Council: List of Members" (PDF). epa.gov. United States Environmental Protection Agency. September 2014. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  3. "The National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC)". fedcenter.gov. FedCenter. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  4. "National Environmental Justice Advisory Council Fact Sheet" (PDF). epa.gov. United States Environmental Protection Agency. July 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  5. "Brownfields 2015". brownfieldsconference.org. Archived from the original on 10 August 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  6. "Environmental Justice and Federal Facilities: Recommendations for Improving Stakeholder Relations Between Federal Facilities and Environmental Justice Communities" (PDF). energy.gov. National Environmental Justice Advisory Council, Waste and Facility Siting Subcommittee, Federal Facilities Working Group. October 2004. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  7. "20th Anniversary". epa.gov. EPA. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  8. "NEJAC Member Biographical Summaries" (PDF). epa.gov. National Environmental Justice Advisory Council. September 2013. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  9. "Summary of Executive Order 12898 - Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations". epa.gov. United States Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  10. "1994 Executive Orders Disposition Tables". National Archives. 15 August 2016.

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