Vanderbilt Institute for Spatial Research’s Post

🌎 Geospatial data is THE most important piece of information for responsible regulatory systems and transparency with the public. Check out this new publication for how a partnership between Vanderbilt, TDEC, TDH, and TAUD led to a new statewide dataset for public drinking water system service area boundaries. #geospatial #drinkingwater

Food Solutions New England's recent interview with Dr. Bindu Panikkar highlights the intersectionality of environmental justice and equitable food systems. All communities should have equitable access to a healthy environment, yet factors such as race, class and geographic location lead to inequitable access to resources and exposure to environmental hazards. One solution Dr. Panikkar recommends is centering community by advocating for environmental justice initiatives that prioritize the voices of impacted communities.

The Hudson 7 meets this month on Wednesday, September 11 at 5pm. On the agenda includes a special presentation on the Hudson 7's Drinking Water Source Protection Program (DWSP2) plan that is nearly complete. In 2021, the Hudson 7 communities were selected to participate in the DWSP2, a locally led, state-supported program that empowers municipalities to take action to improve and protect their public water sources and surrounding environment. The program offers free technical assistance to develop and implement community-specific drinking water source protection plans. The effort is focused in part on defining different geographic areas that are relevant to different types of potential contamination concerns. Through the focus of the Hudson 7 on source water protection, we will continually refine understanding of the complexities related to potential contamination sources at different distances from our intakes. https://lnkd.in/eE7t9ZX3 Riverkeeper NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Tighe & Bond

Ordinary High Water Mark assessments as a proxy for regulatory certainty? 💭 Against the landscape of evolving environmental policy, OHWM offers a clear, standardized assessment for all regions across the United States. An OHWM assessment demonstrates that due diligence was exercised at a site, and can serve as a proxy for regulatory certainty in states that rely exclusively on federal aquatic resources (i.e., wetlands and streams) regulations. Read more on the blog👇 linked in comments. #OrdinaryHighWaterMark

Today, CalEPA and US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released an #EnvironmentalJustice Enforcement Action Plan on joint work to protect California communities overburdened by pollution. The 2024/25 Action Plan builds on the groundbreaking federal-state partnership that was launched in 2021. From a few of our amazing community partners: “As Director of All Things Bayview, my core focus is to inform, educate and mobilize the intergenerational, multilingual community residents of Bayview Hunters Point community and our D10 neighbors. I am pleased to observe and report the ongoing efforts of the state and federal government represented by CalEPA/U.S. EPA. CalEPA/U.S. EPA’s consistent civic engagement with community residents has been inspiring for the engaged residents and empowering for residential community leaders like me. As a community leader and impacted resident, I am thankful for CalEPA/U.S. EPA coming into the community and personally giving us hope as we continue to fight for environmental justice.” - Kamillah Ealom, All Things Bayview Director and Bayview Hunter’s Point IVAN Co-Director “Illegal dumping is a major problem in the Central Valley, especially in unincorporated communities. In Fresno, the small community of Lanare has been fighting for years an illegal dumpsite that had caused significant damage to some residents, including trips to the hospital with asthma attacks after the squatters responsible for causing this dump burned down the trash multiple times. Local authorities hadn’t responded to residents’ complaints until the CalEPA/U.S. EPA Environmental Justice Enforcement program intervened. Meetings that involved multiple agencies at the local, state and federal levels resulted in a solution. In February 2024 the cleanup of the dump was completed under the leadership of CalRecycle with state funding.” - Nayamin Martinez, MPH, Executive Director of the Central California Environmental Justice Network Learn more on our website: https://lnkd.in/gXPnXx-F

We love having the ability to highlight women in the space of environmental justice! We reached out to Tonya Bonitatibus of Savannah Riverkeeper to find out how she got into the environmental justice space. 1. What initially sparked your interest in environmental justice, and how has your journey evolved since then? I did not get interested in environmental justice, but injustices have been an integral part of my work since the beginning. The very first issue I worked on with Riverkeeper was Olin Chemical, a chlorine manufacturer that emitted substantial amounts of mercury into the air and water in Augusta. The strategic location of polluting industries has proven time and time again to be disproportionate. Our current work of specifically working with those in the community most affected has come in the last few years. There is a big disconnect in Augusta between those being most negatively affected and environmental pollution awareness. The strategic effort to connect with new communities that do not often put environmental issues in the forefront has been fascinating, educational, and very rewarding. 2. Can you share a memorable experience or success story from your environmental justice initiatives? My favorite right now has been a 12-year battle against soil amendments, the remnants of meat packing and animal agriculture byproducts that, for years, were spread indiscriminately on rural communities. The "soil amendments" cause huge fly outbreaks and hordes of buzzards, not to mention the unbearable smell. Finally, after working with individual landowners in the last 2 years, things have started coalescing. In the last year and a half, we’ve had a $550k dedicated budget expansion for oversight on the program and, this year, a unanimously approved bill that gives EPD the power to issue a stop work order. It is my favorite because it proves playing the long game works. Taking the time to build relationships works, and once you get the train moving down the tracks it is hard to stop. The program is far from perfect, but so much better than it was. Find the rest on our Facebook Page: https://lnkd.in/euFKvejF

Announcement: Notice for Nominations - Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Advisory Committee Summary: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking nominations for membership on the Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Advisory Committee (FRRCC). The purpose of the FRRCC is to provide policy advice, information, and recommendations to the EPA Administrator on a range of environmental issues and policies important to agriculture and rural communities. Nominations should be submitted by September 5, 2024. Why it matters: Topics that the Committee addresses may include climate change, water or air quality issues, food loss and waste, environmental justice, and emergency response. EPA is seeking a balanced representation of interested persons that includes Tribal agriculture groups and Tribal governments. For more information go to bit.ly/FRRCAC24

The Biden-Harris Administration has racked up the most impressive list of environmental justice achievements in our nation’s history. But one major priority – finalizing the Lead and Copper Rule – still has not made it across the White House finish line. It’s urgent that EPA submit the rule for review by the Office of Budget and Management and for that Office to clear it ASAP to meet the pending October deadline.  Making the federal government more just? Check. Advancing equity by providing resources to change conditions on the ground? You bet. Going after toxic pollution to make air cleaner in EJ communities? Absolutely. Ensuring that we have safe drinking water free of lead? Well…almost. And almost doesn’t count. Read my full blog below to learn just how close we are and what more needs to be done to finish the job. #EnvironmentalJustice #GetTheLeadOut

The MPCA recently updated their environmental justice map to align with EPA standards and new legislative changes on what qualifies as an environmental justice area. 86% of our MN GreenCorps projects are either based in environmental justice areas or include initiatives focused on environmental justice. Learn more and check out the new map here: https://lnkd.in/gm5yySS6 #MNGreenCorps #AmeriCorps #EnvironmentalJustice

🌏 Exciting news this week : The U.S Environmental Protection Agency has entrusted 11 organizations, including Fordham University and Research Triangle Institute, with the task of distributing $600M in grants set to tackle industrial pollution and disinvestment in communities across the nation. ♻ From local cleanups to workforce development, the Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program aims to make a tangible impact where it's needed most. 🌱Read more about this groundbreaking initiative in the original article here: https://lnkd.in/eMb7jb-b #EnvironmentalJustice #Grantmaking #CommunityDevelopment #Climate