assisting congress to better understand environmental justice midterm briefing magdalena dewane...
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Assisting Congress to Better Understand Environmental JusticeMidterm BriefingMagdalena DewaneMarch 6, 2013Advisor: Gail Suchman
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WE ACT Today
• National leader in environmental justice
• New office in Washington, D.C.
• Programs:• Clean Air• Affordable, Equitable Transit• Waste Reduction• Toxic Free Products
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What is Environmental Justice?
“…the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race,
color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and
enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies…”
-U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(1985) Population SizeAverage
Household IncomePersons Below
Poverty Line
72nd StreetNeighborhood
84% white $123,000 8.5%
West Harlem 60% black $26,000 34%
Data: University of Michigan
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Promoting Environmental Justice
Objective: Support WE ACT in advocating for environmental justice in Congress.
Outputs:• Five community case studies by district• Localized fact sheets for district
Representatives• Research report and case study model• Congressional briefing
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Methodology Elements
• Conduct data analysis• Low-income and minority populations• Environmental hazards
• Research political profile• Relevant committee membership• Voting record
• Align with WE ACT policy priorities
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Colorado Demographics
Population 5,029,196
White 70%
Hispanic 21%
Black/African American 4%
Asian/Pacific Islander 3%
Median household income $56,993 (14th US)
Poverty 12.5%
Food stamp participants 10%
Unemployment 7.6%
2010 Census Statistics
Data: Census.gov
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Poverty in Colorado
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Percentage Below Poverty by County
%Below Poverty
Data: EPA EJ View
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Poverty in Denver
Percentage Below Poverty by Census Tract
%Below Poverty
Data: EPA EJ View
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Denver County Burden Ratios
0 20000 40000 60000
Indicator of Chemical Releases
0 0.20.40.60.8 1 1.21.41.61.8
Facilities Per Square Mile
Ratio2:1
Ratio1.21:1
Data: Good Guide
Toxic ChemicalReleases
Superfund Sites
Above PovertyBelow Poverty
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Political Analysis
Photo Credit: lcv.org
• Committee on Energy and Commerce
• Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy
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Additional Research
“When you first picture Denver, you probably don't picture pollution … but the state suffers
from a wide span of toxic, hazardous and radioactive pollution.”
Credit: TheWitness.org
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Overcoming Challenges
Challenge:• Identifying target communities
• 312 counties 3 cities/regions
Solution:• Cross reference environmental justice mapping
tool with census data• Consider committee assignments and voting
record of Representatives
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Looking Ahead
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Tasks:
• Conduct interviews
• Complete case studies
• Develop fact sheets
• Compile research report and model