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Environmental Justice in Permitting

Environmental Justice in Permitting. Heather Ceron US EPA Region 4 May 21, 2013. Considering EJ in Permitting. Two documents have been issued Actions that Regional Offices Are Taking to Promote Public Participation in the Permitting Process (“EPA Actions”)

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Environmental Justice in Permitting

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  1. Environmental Justice in Permitting Heather Ceron US EPA Region 4 May 21, 2013

  2. Considering EJ in Permitting • Two documents have been issued • Actions that Regional Offices Are Taking to Promote Public Participation in the Permitting Process (“EPA Actions”) • Promising Practices for Permit Applicants Seeking EPA-Issued Permits: Ways to Engage Neighboring Communities (“Promising Practices”) • http://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/plan-ej/permitting.html

  3. Who does this apply to? • EPA Actions and Promising Practices apply only to permits issued by EPA. • They do not apply to permits issued by state, tribal or local governments.

  4. Region 4 EJ Permitting Implementation Plan • Goal: To establish a process for the region to plan and allocate resources for outreach in order to improve opportunities for meaningful engagement of overburdened communities in permitting activities potentially affecting their communities. • How: EJ screening through the use of EJSCREEN and other readily available sources of information. • When: Region 4 will consider prioritizing enhanced public activities for those EPA-issued permits that may involve activities with significant public health or environmental impacts on already overburdened communities as determined by use of screening tools or other methodology.

  5. Permits to Prioritize • Air: • Permits for criteria pollutants • Excluded GHG only permits and OCS permits • Water: • New sources or new discharges • Existing sources with major modifications • Tribal wastewater treatment facilities (greater than or equal to 1 MGD) • Federal NPDES permits for which a community has expressed concerns or other information indicates EJ concerns related to the permit • RCRA: • HSWA Corrective Action Plans in MS • TSCA approvals for PCB disposal facilities and clean up actions by private parties

  6. Enhanced Activities • Planning/Gathering information • Encourage Enhanced Activities by Applicant • Upon Receipt of Permit Application • Internal coordination with all media • Inform impacted community • Consider informational meetings/training in the community • Insure ongoing coordination with the regional Office of EJ • Upon Preparation of Draft Permit • Communicate with public regarding the proposed permit • Plan for a public hearing • Once Permit is Issued • Ensure appropriate follow-up with community stakeholders

  7. Questions ?

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