Northwest Environmental Business Council’s Post

During a 30-day public comment period, EM’s Hanford Field Office (HFO) hosted its annual Hanford Site 5-Year Plan public meeting this fall to engage the public about Hanford Site cleanup work to be completed or initiated during fiscal years 2025 to 2029. HFO representatives provided an overview of Hanford’s goals and objectives in major areas, including tank waste treatment, risk reduction and site infrastructure. Representatives with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Washington State Department of Ecology also shared their perspectives, followed by a Q&A session with meeting attendees. HFO will use feedback collected during the comment period to better understand the public’s project priorities as it develops future budget submissions! 👍

📣 Read all about it! 🗞 Several of our experts – from our Environmental Justice, Site Solutions, and Health Sciences practices – have co-authored an article in the Environmental Bankers Association Journal’s Summer issue. Elizabeth Sherwood Krol, PG, EP, MBA, CRE, Kun Zhao, Leo Rebele, Sofia Leotta, Alma (Cardenas) Feldpausch, Elizabeth Miesner The article, entitled Navigating the Complex Community Engagement Requirements as Part of Site Cleanups, presents the challenges often associated with brownfield cleanups through three case studies from Lynnwood, California. “Brownfield sites are frequently located in communities already burdened by environmental and socioeconomic factors such as poor air quality, high traffic impact, low household income, and high unemployment rates. These factors often overlap with high populations of people of color and communities that primarily speak languages other than English. Thus, the long-term success of any brownfield cleanup project often hinges on how the proponents of the projects approach environmental justice issues.” ➡ Read the full article (https://lnkd.in/ebUPxu7R starts on page 24) #EJ #proactiveEJ #brightminds #DEI #environmentaljustice #sitesolutions #healthsciences

🌍✨ Exciting news: the budget and funding interactive map for the HEAL Act is here! 🎉 This interactive map will track funding for projects benefiting our environment. It will specifically highlight how much funding goes to overburdened communities, ensuring transparency and accountability in our environmental justice efforts. The HEAL Act aims to uplift all communities, especially those most affected by environmental challenges. This new tool will empower you to see where investments are being made and help advocate for equitable distribution of resources. Check it out today!

Justfields: Elevate your Land Reuse Initiatives with New Environmental Justice Funding Webinar Date: Thursday, March 7 | 11 a.m. PST EPA’s Environmental and Climate Justice (ECJ) Program, created under the Inflation Reduction Act, will infuse a historic $3B investment into communities facing environmental justice concerns. The funding will help underserved and overburdened communities take action and implement initiatives that support the health, well-being, and resilience of their neighborhoods. Each of the new funding opportunities includes eligible activities that support land reuse and brownfields redevelopment. Join this important conversation where speakers will articulate the intersections between brownfields funding and ECJ funding. Attendees will learn how to effectively leverage ECJ funding to support their communities’ revitalization initiatives and mitigate past environmental injustices. Speakers from EPA’s Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization (OBLR) and the Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights (OEJECR) will: Outline available and upcoming ECJ funding, including the Community Change Grants and Thriving Communities EJ Subgrants; Spotlight eligible activities that are particularly relevant to land reuse; Identify CERCLA 104(k) and 128(a) limitations that can potentially be addressed with ECJ funding; And consider financial layering opportunities that maximize the potential of redevelopment initiatives and support project momentum. Meet the moment with CCLR! This level of investment doesn’t come around every day. Join them on March 7th to learn more about this invaluable opportunity! Register today: https://lnkd.in/gTejXkjQ!

Jordan Ramis PC will be a bronze sponsor of the 2024 Business & The Environment Conference presented by Northwest Environmental Business Council, Washington State Department of Ecology, and the State of Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. David Rabbino will be moderating a panel on “Managing Environmental Liabilities in Transactions.” This session will discuss the risks to be aware of when dealing with environmental liabilities, ways to mitigate those risks, including how to minimize future liability with the government and/or potentially effectuate a transfer of cleanup liabilities.

Science, data, and research are critical to advancing #EnvironmentalJustice by showing how disparities in environmental quality and health outcomes happen— and to help identify ways to reduce environmental inequities. It is why we have the Center for Environmental Justice at Smithsonian's Anacostia Community Museum and helped contribute to https://lnkd.in/dGavfGai

ASA Analysis & Communication, Inc. has been recognized as one of the Top Natural Resources Consulting Services Provider by Environmental Business Review. ASA Analysis & Communication, Inc. (ASA) is an environmental consulting firm that provides technical services in ecological sciences, natural resource evaluation, risk and impact assessment, permitting, and related studies. “Our foundation is to apply science in ways that lead directly to answers for the questions being asked by our clients and regulatory agencies,” says John Young Principal Scientist and Vice President at ASA. The article will also be featured in the forthcoming special print edition on Natural Resources Consulting 2024. Read More : https://lnkd.in/grkz55jd #environmentalconsultancy #ecologicalsciences #impactassessment

Meet the Soil Dr… aka Tim Waters. With over 45 years of experience in environmental consulting, Tim has a wealth of knowledge to answer any questions you have regarding environmental issues. He is always happy to discuss your concerns and provide insightful answers. If you are looking for someone to guide you through the process of due diligence the Soil Dr. is here to help. #environmentalconsulting #timwaters #duediligence #lethbridgesmallbusiness #environmentalengineering #environmentalassessment #lethbridgerealestate

An excellent blog about #citizenscience and #environmentalpolicy! “By integrating citizen science with traditional methods, environmental review processes can become more comprehensive, transparent and defensible." #SciComm #DialogicModel https://lnkd.in/etgsGjNZ

🌍 Setting up a cross-continental investigation might be challenging, but we are here to support you  🤝 🎤 Last week, Gustavo Faleiros, Director of Environmental Investigations at the Pulitzer Center, shared his experience in overseeing such projects and insights to keep in mind when you embark on such an investigation. Did you miss it? We’ve got you covered! You can watch the #webinar on our YouTube channel 🔗 https://lnkd.in/ecTsPZd2