Environmental Justice Small Grant Program

The primary purposes of proposed projects should be to develop a comprehensive understanding of environmental and public health issues, identify ways to address these issues at the local level, and educate and empower the community.

The long-term goals of the program are to help build the capacity
of the affected community and create self-sustaining, community-based partnerships that will continue to improve local environments in the future.

Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2008: To provide financial assistance to eligible non-profit organizations.

The purposes of proposed projects should be to educate the community, develop a comprehensive understanding of environmental and/or public health issues, and identify ways to address these issues at the local level and create and develop collaborative partnerships.

The long-term goals of the EJSG Program are to help build the capacity of the affected community and create self-sustaining, community-based partnershis that will continue to improve local environments in the future.
Related Programs

Examples of Funded Projects

(1) Training of two environmental youth organizations to identify and categorize contamination levels at key sites along the creek using available site histories and local knowledge.

Based on the type and level of contamination, the groups will research and identify best practices for remediation of those sites as well as determine possible liability issues.

Students will research policy barriers preventing the transfer of control over the identified sites to partners wishing to create public open space on the site.

(2) Development of a health communication model which will provide information about ways to prevent exposure and reduce risk from the harm associated with the organic, chemical and heavy metal compounds/ substances found in fish and seafood from an Estuary System.

The goals of the research will be to gather the necessary cultural data to: (1) increase awareness of fish contamination and prevention measures; (2) isolate data gaps in the information about the complex socio-cultural environment of fish consumption among the resident population; (3) develop a collaborative relationship between public health researchers, community advocates, and health care professionals serving the affected communities, and (4) acquire the information needed to foster behavior changes among the vulnerable populations at risk from potential exposure(s); (5) Creation of a one-hour documentary and two 20-minute documentaries on the environmental concerns associated with three copper mines including the history of the mines and the combined work of citizens and the EPA to clean up the mines; (6) Construction of a safe, affordable off-ground garden structure and share its designs and curriculum with local educators and community members wanting safe alternatives to deal with environmental and public health issues at the site.


Agency - Environmental Protection Agency

The mission of the Environmental Protection Agency is to protect human health and the environment. Since 1970, EPA has been working for a cleaner, healthier environment for the American people.

Office - Region l Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont: Primary Contact: Kwabena Kyei-Aboagye (617) 918-1609, Kyei-Aboagye.Kwabena@epa.gov, USEPA Region 1 (RAA), One Congress Street - Suite 1100, Boston, MA 02203-0001; Secondary Contact: Sires Rivers (617) 918-1343, rivers.sires@epa.gov.

Region 2 New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, U. S. Virgin Islands: Primary Contact: Terry Wesley (212) 637-5027, wesley.terry@epa.gov, USEPA Region 2, 290 Broadway, 26th Floor, New York, NY 10007; Secondary: Tasha Frazier (212) 637-3861, frazier.tasha@epa.gov.

Region 3 Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia: Primary Contact: Reginald Harris (215) 814-2988, harris.reggie@epa.gov, USEPA Region 3 (3DA00), 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029.

Region 4 Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee: Primary Contact: Elvie Barlow (404)562-9650, barlow.elvie@epa.gov, USEPA Region 4 Main Office (404) 562-8407, 61 Forsyth Street, Atlanta, GA 30303-8960; Secondary: Ella Mclendon (404) 562- 8316, mclendon.ella@epa.gov.

Region 5 Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin: Primary Contact: Margaret Millard (312) 353-1440, millard.margaret@epa.gov, USEPA Region 5 (DM7J), 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60604-3507.

Region 6 Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas: Primary Contact: Shirley Quinones (214) 665-2713, quinones.shirley@epa.gov, USEPA Region 6, Fountain Place, 13th Floor, 1445 Ross Avenue (RA-D), Dallas, Texas 75202-2733; Secondary Contact: Nelda Perez (214) 665-2209, perez.nelda@epa.gov.

Region 7 Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska: Primary Contact: Althea Moses (913) 551-7649, moses.althea@epa.gov, USEPA Region 7, 901 North 5th Street (RGAD/ECO), Kansas City, KS 66101.

Region 8 Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming: Primary Contact: Nancy Reish (303) 312-6040, reish.nancy@epa.gov, USEPA Region 8 (8ENF-EJ), 999 18th Street, Suite 300, Denver, CO 80202-2466; Secondary: Jean Belille (303) 312-6556 belille.jean@epa.gov.

Region 9 Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, American Samoa, Guam: Primary Contact: Karen Henry (415) 972-3844, henry.karen@epa.gov, USEPA Region 9 CMD-1, 75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA 94105.

Region 10 Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington: Primary Contact: Running Grass (206) 553-2899, grass.running@epa.gov, USEPA Region 10 (OMP-143), 1200 Sixth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101.



Program Accomplishments

In FY 2007, 74 applications were received and 20 grants were awarded. At the end of these projects, OEJ anticipates the following accomplishments, outputs, results achieved and services rendered from the diverse group of projects: in-home trainings on Integrated Pest Management, which focus on using safer pest elimination methods and reducing the number of pesticides used in the homes; indoor air quality management programs to improve the indoor air quality of the schools in Chicago, IL; and an analysis of the numerous environmental and public health issues that confront the Hyde Park community in Richmond, GA and potential remedies to resolve these issues. It is anticipated that approximately 150 applications will be received in fiscal year 2008 and 40 awards will be granted.

Uses and Use Restrictions

Grants and cooperative agreements are available to support recipients' allowable direct costs incident to approved surveys, studies, and investigations plus allowable direct costs in accordance with established EPA policies and procedures.

Assistance agreement awards under this program may involve or relate to geospatial information.

Further information regarding geospatial information may be obtained by viewing the following website: http://geodata.epa.gov.

The recipient cannot use these funds for the following activities under this program: litigation against the Federal government or any other government entity; construction; lobbying; matching funds for other Federal grants; travel for Federal employees; and human health studies (taking blood or other information from humans).ble for use in lobbying or underwriting legal actions, including the preparation of court testimony and hiring of expert witnesses.

Assistance agreement awards under this program may involve or relate to geospatial information.

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