Pollution and Justice 101

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be conducting a webinar [1] to instruct the public on how to use the pollution information in the agency's Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) to support environmental justice efforts. In addition to teaching the basics about TRI, the webinar will feature real life examples of how communities have used TRI to address environmental justice [2] concerns. We have encouraged EPA to reach out to the public and publicize the data and tools the agency provides; this webinar is an excellent opportunity for any citizen or public interest group to learn about a very valuable advocacy tool at their disposal.

The TRI tracks toxic pollution from thousands of facilities nationwide and makes the information available to the public. EPA has developed several online tools [3] that help citizens search the data and apply the information to the needs of their specific communities. Much research [4] has confirmed that poorer neighborhoods and minority neighborhoods are exposed to higher levels of pollution than other neighborhoods. EPA administrator Lisa Jackson has made addressing these environmental justice issues a priority [5].

Although we encourage the use of Internet technologies and tools such as webinars, it is unfortunate to note that many of the citizens living within environmental justice communities lack easy access to computers or the Internet. In-person meetings conducted by EPA in these communities are another important approach. Lisa Jackson has exemplified this by visiting many impacted communities as part of an ongoing environmental justice tour [6].

The webinar will be May 25, 2010 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm EDT. The Environmental Council of the States (ECOS) is co-hosting. For more information and to register online, go to http://www.chemicalright2know.org/content/webinar/spring2010 [1].