Beverly L. Wright, Ph.D. Executive Director Dillard University Deep South Center

1. The Experience of Fenceline Communities: History, Context and Evolution of the Refinery Rule Beverly L. Wright, Ph.D. Executive Director Dillard University Deep South Center for Environmental Justice New Orleans, LA EPA Workshop for Environmental Justice Communities On Proposed Updates to Emission Standards for Refineries June 26, 2014

2. Events that Led to Its Genesis… The Birth of the Modern Environmental Movement

3. A Response to… Fires and Oil Spills and Smog Oh My! • Killer Smog in New York City November 24, 1966 • Santa Barbara, CA Oil Spill January 28, 1969 • Cuyahoga River Fire June 22, 1969 On Nov. 24, 1966, a killer smog blanketed New York City, spurring emergency anti-pollution measures into action.http://www.businessinsider.com/manhattan-smog-photos-1966-2013-1#ixzz2xeV837Zp An estimated three million gallons of oil, over 10 days, was released into the Pacific Ocean during the Santa Barbara "blowout." The resulting damage to the surrounding water and beaches took weeks to clean. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/14/the-santa-barbara-oil-spi_n_112605.html Historical photo from June 22, 1969, when an oil slick and debris in the Cuyahoga River caught fire and burned high enough to destroy bridges http://www.treehugger.com/clean-water/1969-cuyahoga-river-catches-fire.html

4. In the United States 1960’s and 1970’s The Political Landscape • Hippie and flower child culture • Flower power was a slogan used during the late 1960s and early 1970s as a symbol of passive resistance and non-violence ideology • Protests against the Viet Nam War • Leaded gasoline • Gas guzzling V8 engines • Industries released smoke & sludge with little fear of consequences or bad press • Air pollution commonly accepted as the smell of “progress and prosperity” America remained oblivious to environmental concerns until…

5. Rachel Carson wrote… 1962 The Silent Spring

6. 1962 New York Times Best Seller • A watershed moment for the Modern Environmental Movement • Sold more than 500,000 copies in 24 countries • Raised public awareness and concern for : • living organisms • the environment and • public health

7. The Establishment of… April 22, 1970 Earth Day

8. Founder of Earth Day U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson (D-WI) • Sen. Nelson established Earth Day in response to a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, CA • Creation inspired by student anti-war protesters • Infusing the energy of young protesters with an emerging consciousness about air and water pollution • Forcing environmental protection onto the national political agenda Senator Gaylord Nelson (1916 – 2005)

9. Became Earth Day National Teach In… • Sen. Nelson (D) presented to the media the idea for a “national teach in” on the environment • Persuaded Sen. Pete McCloskey (R) conservative, to serve as Co-Chair • And Denis Hayes, an environmental lawyer by training, as national coordinator • Hayes built a nationwide staff of 85 workers across the country to promote “Environmental Teach In” events throughout the U.S. In 1970, with nine staff members (pictured: Judy Moody and Denis Hayes on April 22, 1970) and a $125,000 budget, a Washington, D.C.-based group organized the Environmental Teach-In.

10. April 22, 1970 The First Earth Day • 20 million Americans “took to the streets” in organized protests against the deterioration of our environment • Thousands of college students and groups fighting against: • Oil spills • Polluting factories & power plants • Raw sewerage & toxic dumps • Pesticides • Freeways • The loss of our wilderness areas and • The extinction of wildlife • Suddenly realized they shared common values The first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, drew crowds of thousands in cities, on campuses, and in public parks, such as this one, around the U.S. Photograph by Lambert/Getty Images

11. A Rare Political Alignment Earth Day… • Received support from • Republican and Democratic leaders • Rich and Poor • Urban city dwellers and Rural farmers • Most notably led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)

12. A Rare Political Alignment Earth Day… • Led to the passage of: • The Clean Air Act of 1970 • The Clean Water Act of 1972 • Endangered Species Act of 1973

13. Legislation, Legislation & More Legislation But many communities remained unprotected Unequal Protection

14. While great strides were made: Who Isn’t Protected? • New and improved legislation to protect the environment and public health • The benefits of these laws did not accrue to all citizens

15. Laying It All on the Line… In Wilmington, NC The Rise of the Environmental Justice Movement

16. A Necessary Response… The Beginnings of the EJ Movement • The Environmental Justice Movement was started by primarily people of color • To address the inequity of environmental protection in their communities

17. The Congressional Black Caucus A Bipartisan Coalition of: • Academics • Social scientists • Political activists Met with EPA to discuss the following: • Findings that environmental risk was higher for minority and low-income populations • The fact that EPA inspections as carried out were not addressing their communities’ needs

18. The EPA Response The Environmental Equity Working Group • EPA Administrator, William K. Reilly created this working group in July of 1990 • To address the allegation that: • “racial minority and low-income populations bear a higher environmental risk burden than the general population”

19. 1992 Report from the Environmental Equity Workgroup Reducing Risk for All Communities

20. Environmental Equity Workgroup June 1992 Report Released • This report supported the allegation and made 10 recommendations for addressing the problem • The most important recommendation: • “To create the Office of Environmental Justice to address these inequities” • As a result: • The Office of Environmental Equity was established in 1992 • It was changed to the Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ) in 1994

21. The Fight for Equal Protection • New environmental laws did not protect minority and poor communities • People of color organized to fight for equal protection

22. Unchecked Development The Question is “Why?”

23. A Perfect Example The Mississippi river chemical corridor

26. Louisiana Toxic Releases and Transfers

27. Learn More About the Work of The Deep South Center for Environmental Justice at Dillard University

28. Three Must Reads