>> WELCOME, EVERYONE.
WELCOME TO THE 2022 FEDERAL
ENVIRONMENTAL SYMPOSIUM.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE TRACK.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS TRACK
FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS THINKING
WHAT TO SHARE WITH THE FEDERAL
COMMUNITY ABOUT EJ,
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.
THIS IS A THEME THAT IS INBRED
IN US, IN EPA.
WE LIVE THIS CONCEPT IN MY
OFFICE, WE EMBRACE IT.
WE WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU THE
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE THAT WE
HAVE BEFORE, BUT ALSO WE WANT TO
SHARE WITH YOU WHAT OTHER
FEDERAL COMMUNITIES, FEDERAL
AGENCIES ARE DOING ON THIS
CRITICAL ELEMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE.
YOU WILL NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE
MICROPHONE, YOUR LINES ARE MUTED
FROM THE BEGINNING.
IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE
SPEAKER, PLEASE SEND THOSE
QUESTIONS RIGHT AWAY.
GO TO THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SCREEN
WHERE IT SAYS SEND LIVE
FEEDBACK, PRESS THAT BUTTON,
TYPE YOUR QUESTION, YOUR NAME,
YOUR E-MAIL, YOUR QUESTION,
PRESS SEND.
WE WILL RECEIVE THOSE QUESTIONS
AND WILL SHARE THAT WITH THE
SPEAKERS RIGHT AWAY.
WE HAVE A LONG LIST OF GREAT
PRESENTATIONS TODAY.
OUR FIRST PRESENTATION IS KIND
OF AN INTRODUCTION OF EJ BY
SAMANTHA BEERS.
BEFORE I LET HER ON THE MIC I
WANT TO SHARE A COUPLE THINGS.
SHE WAS MY PREVIOUS SUPERVISOR
AND SHE'S JUST FABULOUS, AS A
SUPERVISOR, BUT ALSO EJ IS ONE
OF HER PASSIONS.
SHE LIVES, BREATHES, SHARES WITH
EVERYBODY SHE ENCOUNTERS,
EVERYTHING SHE CAN ABOUT EJ.
AND I BELIEVE THERE IS NOT A
BETTER PERSON TO START THIS
TRACK THAN MS. SAMANTHA BEERS.
SAMANTHA, I LEAVE THE MIC TO
YOU.
>> SO, YOU THINK IT WAS
PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL TIME,
WE'RE AT MID-YEAR, BUT WE'RE
NOT.
I ENJOYED WORKING WITH JOSE AS
WELL BECAUSE HE WAS VERY OPEN TO
THE IDEA OF FIGURING OUT HOW TO
USE INFORMATION AND
CONVERSATIONS TO GET FOLKS INTO
COMPLIANCE AND TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND REQUIREMENTS AND
WHERE THERE WERE PROBLEMS HE WAS
THE FACE OF THE FIRST
CONVERSATION, WAY BEFORE WE GOT
TO A SIGNIFICANT INSPECTION OR
ENFORCEMENT ACTION.
I KNOW WE ALL GO TO THESE JOBS
TO DO OUR VERY BEST, AND I'M
GOING TO ASK MY COLLEAGUE ANGUS
WELCH TO SHARE THE SCREEN AND
SET THE STAGE FOR A BROADER
CONVERSATION AND UNDERSTANDING
OF EJ AND WHAT IS EXPECTED OF US
IN THIS ADMINISTRATION.
WHILE ANGUS IS GETTING HIS
SCREEN UP, I WILL TELL YOU ABOUT
MYSELF, I WANT TO COLLEGE IN
PENNSYLVANIA, UNDERGLAD, FIRST
CLASS OF WOMEN, UNIVERSITY OF
CALIFORNIA BERKELEY FOR LAW
DEGREE, CAME TO EPA, PRIOR TO
COMING TO EPA WORKED FOR THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FAIR
EMPLOYMENT FOR HOUSING DOING
HOUSING DISCRIMINATION AND
EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION CASES.
THEN CAME IN TO EPA, WORKED FOR
SIX YEARS BEFORE BEING PROMOTED
TO BEING ENFORCEMENT
COORDINATOR, 17 STATUTES, 6
STATES, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
FOR ALL OF REGION 3.
IN THAT CAPACITY I WORKED WITH
AND MET MANY OF YOU OR YOUR
PREDECESSORS.
I WANT TO GIVE AN OVERVIEW TO
LAY OUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH EJ
AND THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND
NEAR EXPECTATIONS AS WELL AS
SOME TOOLS.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
SO, SPEAKING TO YOU TODAY IS
MYSELF, SAMANTHA PHILLIPS BEERS,
AND YOU'LL HEAR FROM ANGUS WELCH
TWO IS A GSA WIZARD, DOES OUR
MAPPING AND DATA, AND WILL SHARE
WHAT IS EJ AND C JEST.
LET'S START WITH THE BASICS, EJ.
EPA DEFINES IT AS FAIR TREATMENT
AND MEANINGFUL INVOLVEMENT OF
ALL PEOPLE REGARDLESS OF RACE,
COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN ORINGS
INCOME, WITH RESPECT TO
ENFORCEMENT OF LAWS,
REGULATIONS, POLICIES.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
I KNOW WE'LL HAVE MORE TIME TO
GO INTO IT BUT I THINK THIS
SLIDE IS MEANINGFUL FOR FOLKS TO
REALLY DRILL DOWN.
SOMETIMES THESE THREE TERMS,
EQUALITY, EQUITY AND JUSTICE ARE
USED INTERCHANGEABLY AND SHOULD
NOT BE.
WHAT DO I HAVE TO SELL?
I SELL WORDS.
WORD DEFINITIONS ARE IMPORTANT.
YOU SEE THERE'S A FENCE AROUND A
PLAYING FIELD FOR SOCCER.
FOLKS DECIDED YOU NEED A FENCE,
TO KEEP KIDS ON, KEEP BALLS ON,
KEEP DOGS OFF.
WE WON'T DEBATE THE NEED FOR
FENCE.
EQUALITY EVERYONE BENEFITS FROM
THE SAME SUPPORT.
THE TALL INDIVIDUAL DOES NOT
NEED A BOX.
HE GETS ONE ANYWAY.
IT IS EASIER FOR HIM TO SEE.
THE INDIVIDUAL IN THE MIDDLE,
SHE HAS ONE BOX AND CAN SEE
BECAUSE OF THE BOX.
THE INDIVIDUAL TO THE FAR RIGHT
CAN'T SEE DESPITE THE BOX.
THAT'S THE CONCEPT OF EQUALITY.
GIVE EVERYONE THE SAME THING,
EVERY EVERYONE WILL END UP THE
SAME.
EQUITY, THE GUY TO THE LEFT
DOESN'T GET THE BOX.
IN THE MIDDLE WHO CAN ONLY SEE
WITH ONE BOX GETS HER BOX, AND
THE INDIVIDUAL TO THE FAR RIGHT,
MOST HEIGHT CHALLENGED, GETS TWO
BOXES.
THAT'S THE CONCEPT OF
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, THAT YOU
PRODUCE EQUITY BY NOT GIVING
THINGS TO PEOPLE WHO DON'T NEED
THEM AND ENSURING WHAT YOU GIVE
ALLOWS EVERYONE TO SEE OVER THE
FENCE.
THE LAST ONE IS MY FAVORITE,
CONCEPT OF JUSTICE.
PLEASE NOTICE THAT THE FENCE
REMAINS BUT IT'S A DIFFERENT
TYPE OF FENCE.
SO SOMEONE DID A ROOT CAUSE
ANALYSIS TO FIGURE OUT, YES, WE
NEED THE FENCE BUT, NO, IT
DOESN'T HAVE TO BE SOLID WOOD.
IF YOU DO THE FENCE THE RIGHT
WAY, NOBODY NEEDS AN
ACCOMMODATION.
THERE'S NO NEED FOR BOXES.
THERE'S NO NEED FOR A FIGHT
BETWEEN THE GUY WITH A BOX TAKEN
AWAY THAT HE DIDN'T NEED AND
INDIVIDUAL WITH THE BOX THAT
STILL COULDN'T SEE OVER THE
FENCE.
ALL THREE CAN SEE WITHOUT
SUPPORT OR ACCOMMODATION BECAUSE
THE VERY CAUSE OF INEQUITY WAS
FIGURED OUT AND ADDRESSED.
SYSTEM
SYSTEMIC BARRIER WAS REMOVED,
THAT'S ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.
EVERYONE TALKED ABOUT EJ AS A
MOVEMENT, GRASS ROOTS MOVEMENT,
STARTED IN THE LATE 1980s.
PEOPLE LIKE ME STARTED PROVIDING
LEGAL SUPPORT IN 1992 IN THIS
MOVEMENT.
IT SEEKS TO MEANINGFULLY INVOLVE
THOSE POLITICALLY
DISENENFRANCHISED, SEEKS TO
ADDRESS AND REDRESS THE
DISPROPORTIONATE BURDEN, LOOK
FOR THAT PHRASE,
DISPROPORTIONATE BURDEN, SOME
HAVE MORE THAN OTHERS, PLACED ON
LOW INCOME AND MINORITY
COMMUNITIES.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
SO WHAT'S DIFFERENT?
EXECUTIVE ORDER 12898 SIGNED BY
PRESIDENT CLINTON IN 1994, AT
THAT POINT EPA WAS NOMINATED TO
BE THE KEEPER OF THAT FLAME,
RESPONSIBLE FOR EDUCATING OTHERS
WITHIN THE FEDERAL FAMILY.
PRESIDENT BIDEN WAS ELECTED AND
ISSUED TWO NEW ORDERS, VERY
DIFFERENT FROM EXECUTIVE ORDER
12898.
13985 ADVANCING RACIAL EQUITY
WAS SIGNED IN THE FIRST WEEK OF
HIS ADMINISTRATION, AND THE
SECOND WEEK HE SIGNED 14008,
CLIMB CRISIS AT HOME AND ABROAD.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
WHAT IS 13985?
THIS IS THE PART WE ALL NEED TO
WORK COLLABORATIVELY ON.
THIS PRESIDENT EXPECTS A
WHOLE-OF-GOVERNMENT EQUITY
AGENDA TO MATCH THE SCALE AND
OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES WE
ALL FACE.
SO THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT ALL OF
US WORKING ACROSS SILOS TO
BETTER UNDERSTAND WHERE THERE
ARE SYSTEMIC BARRIERS, WHERE THE
DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT IS, AND
WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO CHANGE
IT.
THAT IS THE EXPECTATION OF THIS
ADMINISTRATION.
WHICH IS WHY CONFERENCES LIKE
THIS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN
THEY WERE BEFORE.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
WHAT IS THE SECOND EXECUTIVE
ORDER SIGNED BY PRESIDENT BIDEN
ON THE 27th OF JANUARY OF
2021?
TACKLING THE CLIMATE CRISIS AT
HOME AND ABROAD.
AGENCIES SHALL MAKE ACHIEVING E
J PART OF THEIR MISSION TO
ADDRESS DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGH
IMPACTS.
THEY ALL PROVIDE FOR A NEW TOOL
THAT'S GOING TO DETERMINE WHERE
THESE COMMUNITIES ARE LOCATED AS
WELL AS SOMETHING CALLED JUSTICE
40 WHICH SAYS 40% OF FEDERAL
DOLLARS MUST BE USED IN
DISENFRANCHISED COMMUNITIES.
40%.
THINK ABOUT WHAT'S IN THE BLL
BILL, THINK ABOUT YOUR OWN
BUDGETS.
40% IS A LOT.
THAT INFORMATION IT'S IMPORTANT
TO NOTE HAS TO BE TRACKED,
REPORTED OUT EVERY YEAR.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
WHEN WE START TO TALK ABOUT,
OKAY, THESE ARE NEW REQUIREMENTS
ON YOU, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO GET
THERE?
I'M GOING TO TURN THIS OVER TO
ANGUS ON MY STAFF TO TALK ABOUT
SOME TOOLS OUT THERE AS YOU
BEGIN TO INTEGRATE THE TWO
EXECUTIVE ORDERS INTO YOUR DAILY
WORK LOAD.
ANGUS?
>> THANK YOU, SAMANTHA.
AS INTRODUCED IN THE COURSE OF
APPLYING THESE CONCEPT,
AUTHORITIES SHE MENTIONED,
EXECUTIVE ORDERS, INTO EVERYDAY
WORK AND STRENGTHENING THOSE
ELEMENTS OF EVERYDAY WORK, THERE
ARE A NUMBER OF TOOLS THAT CAN
BE HELPFUL TO HELP YOU ACHIEVE
THAT.
YOU CAN THINK OF THESE AS
VEHICLES THAT PULL THOSE
CONCEPTS AND AUTHORITIES INTO
YOUR WORK AND INTO MEANINGFUL
RESULTS AND SERVICE FOR THE
PUBLIC.
WHAT ARE THOSE TOOLS?
PERHAPS THE FOUNDATIONAL TOOL IS
EJ SCREEN, FOLKS MAY BE FAMILIAR
WITH THE TOOL, IT'S OUR
SCREENING TOOL FOR ESSENTIALLY
DISPROPORTIONATE AND ADVERSE
IMPACTS, THE TERMS RETURNING, TO
COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE
COUNTRY BUT THERE'S ALSO AN
ADDITIONAL TOOL CJEST, FROM THE
COUNSEL ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
THAT HELPS IDENTIFY AND CLARIFY
THE CONCEPT AND EXISTENCE OF
DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES.
EJSCREEN, TO INTRODUCE IT, I
MENTIONED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT
A MOMENT AGO, IT'S OUR WEB BASED
MAPPING TOOL, THERE ARE SEVERAL
DATASETS CONSISTENT IN ANY AREA
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, ABOUT A
DOZEN ENVIRONMENTAL DATASETS,
THERE ARE 7 OR SO DEMOGRAPHIC
DATASETS, AND ONE OF THE REAL
ADVANTAGES OF EJSCREEN OR
STRENGTHS IS ITS CAPACITY TO
COMBINE DEMOGRAPHIC AND
ENVIRONMENTAL IN A WAY TO
CLARIFY WHERE VULNERABLE
POPULATIONS MIGHT BE, AGAIN,
DISPROPORTIONATELY, THAT WORD
RETURNING, IMPACTED BY
POLLUTION.
SO WE USE EJSCREEN AS A STARTING
POINT TO CHARACTERIZE AND
UNDERSTAND AREAS OF POTENTIAL EJ
CONCERN.
IT'S ALWAYS -- I THINK THE TERM
I USED WAS A VEHICLE INTO ON THE
GROUND OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY
COORDINATION, PROVIDING
PRELIMINARY VIEW AND
UNDERSTANDING OF LOCAL
CONDITIONS.
NOW ON THE OTHER HAND CJEST IS
FROM THE COUNCIL ON
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, SEPARATE
FROM EPA, PART OF THE EXECUTIVE
BRANCH, HELPS IDENTIFY
DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES, SO
THE TOOL REVOLVES AROUND AND
FOCUSES ON THAT CONCEPT OF
DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES.
THE CURRENT VERSION OF THE TOOL
IN A WAY THAT IS SIMILAR TO
EJSCREEN PROVIDES DEMOGRAPHIC,
SOCIOECONOMIC INFORMATION,
ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE
INFORMATION SO YOU SEE THE TWO
THEMES OF DEMOGRAPHIC AND
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA COMING
TOGETHER THERE IN A WAY THAT
ATTEMPTS TO AND DELIBERATELY
IDENTIFIES DISADVANTAGED
COMMUNITIES THROUGH, AGAIN,
PUBLICLY AVAILABLE NATIONALLY
CONSISTENT DATASETS.
SO BOTH EJSCREEN AND CJEST
STRIVE TO PROVIDE A COMMON
CAPACITY TO REVIEW A PARTICULAR
AREA WITH THE SAME DATASETS THAT
WOULD BE PRESENT ANYWHERE ACROSS
THE COUNTRY, SO BOTH ARE VERY
STRONG IN THAT SENSE THAT YOU
WILL GET A VERY SIMILAR VIEW IN
TERMS OF THE AVAILABLE DATA OF
ANY AREA THAT YOU MAY BE
SCREENING THROUGHOUT THE
COUNTRY.
JUST TO PULL THE PIECES TOGETHER
HERE, AGAIN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
INTEGRATING AND APPLYING THE
CONCEPT AUTHORITIES THAT
SAMANTHA MENTIONED AND EJSCREEN
AND CJEST AS TWO OPTIONS TO
BEGIN TO EVALUATE DIFFERENT
AREAS, I'D LIKE TO COMPARE AND
CONTRAST THE TOOLS HERE AND
WE'LL BE SPEAKING FURTHER LATER
ON, WE'LL BE PROVIDING A VERY
SIMILAR PRESENTATION, IN THE
EARLY TO MID-AFTERNOON TODAY,
WE'LL HAVE A CHANCE TO ADDRESS
ANY QUESTIONS THAT MAY ARISE.
CJEST DOESN'T REPLACE EJSCREEN,
AND THERE'S BEEN SOME CURIOSITY
EVEN CONFUSION ABOUT THIS, THE
IDEA CJEST HAS A NEW TOOL MAY
SUPPLANT OR BE SINGULAR
ALTERNATIVE TO EJSCREEN.
TOOLS ARE REALLY FAIRLY
DIFFERENT WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO
THEIR PURPOSES AND FUNCTIONS.
THEY HAVE DIFFERENT UNITS OF
GEOGRAPHY WHICH IS TO SAY THAT
EJSCREEN PROVIDE A VIEW AT BLOCK
GROUP LEVEL, A SMALLER UNIT THAN
CJEST WHICH FOCUSES ON CENSUS
TRACT LEVEL, CJEST DOESN'T
INCORPORATE RACE OR ETHNICITY
WHICH IS A VERY IMPORTANT AND
CONTRASTING POINT TO EJSCREEN
WHICH DOES INCORPORATE RACE AND
ETHNICITY IN ITS CAPACITY OR ITS
ALLOWANCE OF REVIEWERS TO
EVALUATE AREAS OF E J CONCERN
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY CJEST
LABELS AREAS AS DISADVANTAGED.
EJSCREEN DOES NOT LABEL, ENABLES
EPA TO BETTER UNDERSTAND AREAS
OF EJ CONCERN TO ADDRESS THOSE
AREAS THROUGH THE EXECUTIVE
ORDERS THAT SAMANTHA MENTIONED,
12898, 13985 AND 14008.
SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO USE
EJSCREEN AS OUR PRIMARY
SCREENING TOOL FOR AREAS OF
POTENTIAL EJ CONCERNING BUT IT'S
HELPFUL AND IMPORTANT TO MENTION
EXISTENCE OF THIS TOOL, A
COMPLEMENT TO EJSCREEN, AND
WE'LL SHOW MANY OF THESE SAME
SLIDES THIS AFTERNOON AND I WILL
BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS, PROVIDE CLARIFICATION
THAT WE MAY NOT HAVE TIME TO
PROVIDE HERE IN THESE OPENING
REMARKS.
SO THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU,
AND ON THAT NOTE I'LL TURN IT
OVER TO SAMANTHA.
>> I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT
WHAT WE ALL THINK ABOUT, AS
FOLKS WHO WORK FOR THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE REGARDLESS OF WHAT AGENCY
WE WORK FOR.
WHAT'S CHANGED IN THE
EXPECTATION FOR WHAT I DO?
AM I EXPECTING TO DO MY JOB
DIFFERENTLY NOW THAT THE
EXECUTIVE ORDERS ARE IN PLACE?
YES.
YOU WILL HAVE HEADWINDS, WE'RE
HAVING THEM AT EPA.
WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS AS YOU DO
WHO SAY I'VE ALWAYS DONE MY
PROGRAM REALLY WELL, BUT THE
LARGEESSE MISSED A SEGMENT OF
POPULATIONA WE HAVE TO EXAMINE
HOW WE DO OUR JOBS AND EXTEND
THE BENEFITS OF OUR WORK TO ALL.
WHICH MAY MEAN YOU DO DIFFERENT
TYPES OF PUBLIC OUTREACH, MAY
MEAN YOU LOOK AT YOUR TRUCK
TRIPS AND TRAFFIC THAT'S BEING
CREATED, MAY MEAN YOU HAVE A
LITTLE BIT MORE CONCERN ABOUT
THE COMMUNITY, THE NOISE, THE
MESS, ODORS THAT YOU'RE CITED
IN, AND HOW QUICKLY YOU RESPOND
TO QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC.
I LOOK FORWARD TO VISITING WITH
YOU TODAY AND TALKING ABOUT THE
BENEFITS OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH
AND OTHER THINGS AND TO HEARING
YOUR QUESTIONS.
I HOPE YOU HAVE A VERY GOOD AND
PRODUCTIVE MEETING BECAUSE OF
COURSE THE FIRST STEP IS GETTING
TO KNOW EACH OTHER TO SHARE
APPROACHES, STRENGTHS,
WEAKNESSES AND BEST PRACTICES
ACROSS THE FEDERAL FAMILY.
THANK YOU.
>> THE SECOND PRESENTATION IS
ON -- WAS ON INTRODUCING US TO
THE CONCEPT OF ENERGY JUSTICE,
THAT IS JUST AN INCREDIBLE
PRESENTATION.
NOW ON THAT THEME, ENERGY
JUSTICE, WE HAVE NATALIE WITH
US, DEFINING DISADVANTAGED
COMMUNITIES WITH LENS TOWARDS
ENERGY JUSTICE.
I THINK THE TWO PRESENTATIONS
GOES HAND TO HAND, TAKING US
DEEPER IN THE CONCEPT OF WORKING
WITH THE COMMUNITIES SURROUNDING
OUR FACILITIES.
WITH NOTHING ELSE TO SAY,
NATALIE, PLEASE.
AND ARE YOU MUTED.
>> THANK YOU.
STARTING OFF ON A GREAT FOOT.
I'M GOING TO SHARE MY SCREEN.
AND MAKE SURE EVERYONE CAN SEE
THE PRESENTATION IN PRESENTATION
MODE.
>> NOT YET.
NOW, YEP.
>> AMAZING.
THANKS, JOSE, FOR THE QUICK
INTRO.
BACKGROUND, I'M A RESEARCH
SCIENTIST AT LAWRENCE BERKELEY
NATIONAL LAB BUT I WILL BE
REPRESENTING TODAY THE
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, WORKING
WITH SHALANDA BAKER'S TEAM LIKE
SALMA ON THE EXECUTIVE ORDER,
JUSTICE 40.
I'M GOING THROUGH BACKGROUND TO
GET EVERYONE ON THE SAME PAGE
BUT ASSUME MANY OF YOU ARE
FAMILIAR WITH THE JUSTICE 40
EXECUTIVE ORDER.
SO, ONE OF THE FIRST EOs
SIGNED LAST YEAR IN ORDER TO
REQUIRE THAT 40% OF CERTAIN
FEDERAL BENEFITS FROM INVESTMENT
ACCRUE TO DISADVANTAGED
COMMUNITIES, AND SO THERE'S BEEN
A LOT OF WORK ON THE FEDERAL
SIDE, HOW WE DEFINE THAT
COMMUNITY, BENEFITS, WHO SHOULD
BE DEFINING, GOVERNMENT, ET
CETERA.
WE'RE GOING OVER A VERY SMALL
PIECE OF THAT PIE TODAY WHICH IS
THE DOE-SPECIFIC APPROACH FOR
HOW WE STARTED THINKING ABOUT
WHAT A DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY
MEANS.
KNOWING HUGE CAVEAT, THIS IS AN
INTERIM DEFINITION, THERE'S THE
CLIMATE AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE
SCREENING TOOL THAT WAS JUST
RELEASED IN ITS BETA VERSION
FROM THE WHITE HOUSE SO
DEFINITELY WAITING TO HEAR MORE
WHETHER THAT'S GOING TO BECOME
THE OFFICIAL DEFINITION.
I WANT TO PUT THAT OUT FOR THIS
AUDIENCE.
THIS IS OUR INTERNAL DEPARTMENT
OF ENERGY WORKING DEFINITION.
SO, AS BACKGROUND, THE EXECUTIVE
ORDER DEFINES COMMUNITY AS A
GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN
GEOGRAPHIC PROXIMITY SO THAT'S
WHAT WE FOCUSED ON FOR OUR
DEFINITION, OR GEOGRAPHICALLY
DISPERSED SET OF INDIVIDUALS
SUCH AS MIGRANT WORKERS OR
NATIVE AMERICANS WHERE THEY
EXPERIENCE COMMON CONDITIONS.
AND SO THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO
DEFINE A COMMUNITY BUT SO WE'RE
ALL ON THE SAME PAGE WE'RE
THINKING TODAY VERY LITERALLY
ABOUT A GEOGRAPHICALLY PROXIMATE
SPATIAL GROUP.
AND IF YOU HAVE CLARIFYING
QUESTIONS PLEASE JUMP IN BUT
I'LL MAKE SURE TO LEAVE FIVE OR
TEN MINUTES TO GO OVER ANY MORE
DETAILED QUESTIONS.
SO, IT'S AN INCREDIBLY ONEROUS
TASK TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO
CAPTURE WHAT DISADVANTAGED
MEANS, KNOWING THAT THERE'S
INFINITE WAYS TO INTERPRET THAT
AND IT MAY BE REFLECTED IN EACH
COMMUNITY DIFFERENTLY.
THERE'S A LOT OF SYNONYMS FOR
DISADVANTAGED.
WE USE THIS TERM BECAUSE THAT'S
THE LANGUAGE IN THE EXECUTIVE
ORDER BUT WE CAN ALSO THINK OF
PLACES THAT HAVE BEEN
HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED BY
FEDERAL INVESTMENTS, HOW DO WE
NOW RECTIFY SOME OF THAT
HISTORICAL DISCREPANCY.
SO, AS WE'RE THINKING ABOUT WHAT
IT MEANS TO HAVE A GOOD
DEFINITION, THERE WERE SOME
PRIORITIES THAT WE SET OUT, LIKE
WHAT IS THE RIGHT NUMBER OF
COMMUNITIES, IF 80% OF THE
NATION GETS DEFINED AS
DISADVANTAGED WE'RE REALLY NOT
CARRYING OUT THE SPIRIT OF THE
EXECUTIVE ORDER.
SO, WHAT WOULD BE A BALANCE IN
IDENTIFYING THOSE LOCATIONS THAT
ARE REALLY EXPERIENCING SOME OF
THE HIGHEST CUMULATIVE BURDEN
BUT NOT SO RESTRICTIVE THAT
WE'RE OVERLOOKING A LOT OF
PLACES THAT COULD REALLY USE
FEDERAL HELP.
SO, WE ALSO REALLY WANTED TO
MAKE SURE WE'RE CAPTURING A
BROAD SPECTRUM OF THE DIFFERENT
ASPECTS OF DISADVANTAGE, NOT
JUST FOCUSING ON ENERGY SPECIFIC
INFORMATION BECAUSE THE DOE DOES
WORK IN ENERGY, BUT ALSO
CAPTURING THOSE INTERSECTING
ASPECTS THAT MAY CONTRIBUTE TO A
HIGHER LEVEL OF BURDEN WITH
RESPECT TO ENERGY PROGRAMS.
AND LASTLY WE DO WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE ARE CAPTURING
ENERGY WHICH IS NOT HISTORICALLY
THE CASE IN MOST DEFINITIONS OF
DISADVANTAGED BECAUSE DOE DOES
DO MOST OF ITS PROGRAMS FOR
ENERGY ACCESS AND AFFORDABILITY.
SO SOME OF THE CHALLENGES AND
I'M SURE MANY OF YOU ON THIS
CALL MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH THESE
AS WELL, IS REALLY TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT WHAT THE RIGHT
BALANCE IS BETWEEN DATA QUALITY
AND LOCATION-SPECIFIC
INFORMATION.
SO, IF YOU'RE AT ALL FAMILIAR
WITH WORKING WITH SOMETHING LIKE
THE CENSUS DATA, WE KNOW THAT
VERY SPECIFIC LOCAL INFORMATION
IS CRITICAL FOR BEING ABLE TO
DECIDE WHAT APPROPRIATE
INVESTMENTS MAY BE FOR ANY GIVEN
COMMUNITY, WHETHER THAT IS
DEFINED AT THE AGENCY LEVEL OR
DEFINED BY THE COMMUNITIES
THEMSELVES, THAT APPROPRIATE
INVESTMENT IS GOING TO VARY
GREATLY DEPENDING ON THE HIGHLY
CONTEXT-SPECIFIC ASPECTS OF
THOSE PLACES.
HOWEVER, WORKING WITH CENSUS
DATA OR SOMETHING AT A NATIONAL
SCALE MEANS THAT IT'S REALLY
HARD TO GET DETAILED INFORMATION
AT AS FINE A SCALE AS MAYBE WE
HOPED.
SO THERE'S LARGE ERRORS AND
UNCERTAINTY WHEN YOU GET DOWN TO
SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD-LEVEL
INFORMATION.
AND ANOTHER CHALLENGE THAT WE'VE
STARTED FACING AS WE WERE
WORKING ON THIS DEFINITION IS
KIND OF THE TRADEOFFS, WHAT WE
MEAN BY DISADVANTAGED, LIKE
RELATIVE TO WHAT?
AND SO YOU CAN THINK ABOUT WHERE
THE LOCATIONS IN THE NATION THAT
MAYBE ARE MOST DISADVANTAGED, OR
EXPERIENCING HIGH LEVELS OF
DIFFERENT DIMENSIONS OF
DISADVANTAGE, BUT WITHIN A
CERTAIN STATE HOW DO YOU TARGET
INVESTMENT FOR THAT STATE
SPECIFICALLY?
DOES IT MATTER IF WE'RE DEFINING
PLACES RELATIVE TO THEIR
NATIONAL ANALOGS OR STATE LEVEL?
AND ONE THING WE DEFINITELY RAN
INTO, THE WAY THAN COMMUNITY IS
DEFINED REALLY MATTERS.
BUT DATA CAN ONLY BE COLLECTED
TYPICALLY AT ONE LEVEL, AND SO
FOR EXAMPLE WE THINK IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT TO INCLUDE INFORMATION
ON TRIBAL COMMUNITIES.
BUT THE CENSUS TRACTS FOR TRIBAL
NATIONS DON'T MATCH UP WITH THE
U.S. KIND OF CONTIGUOUS CENSUS
TRACTS, SO FINDING WAYS TO
INCORPORATE INFORMATION AT
MULTIPLE SPATIAL LEVELS WAS ALSO
CHALLENGING.
SO, I'M GOING TO WALK US THROUGH
THE PROCESS THAT WE CAME UP
WITH, AND ASSERTING ONCE AGAIN
THIS IS OUR INTERIM DEFINITION
AND WE'RE JUST ABOUT TO PUT THIS
OUT ON OUR WEBSITE AND COLLECT
FEEDBACK, SO WE'RE INVITING
EVERYONE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION,
SUGGESTIONS, CONCERNS.
I'M GOING TO GIVE AN OVERVIEW
WHERE WE LAND FOR OUR VERY FIRST
PASS.
SO, FIRST WE LOOKED THROUGH TEN
EXISTING INDICES OF
DISADVANTAGE, THERE'S QUITE A
FEW METRICS OUT THERE ACTUALLY,
THAT COLLECTIVELY CONSIDER 118
VARIABLES.
SECONDLY, WE TRIED TO TAKE AS
MUCH OF THE WHEJAC
RECOMMENDATIONS AS POSSIBLE.
AND THEY RECOMMENDED ABOUT NINE
CATEGORIES OF INDICATORS,
RANGING FROM CLIMATE HAZARDS AND
ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS TO
DEMOGRAPHIC AND ECONOMIC
INDICATORS.
WE TRIED TO MAKE SURE WE WERE
INCORPORATING THOSE BUCKETS OF
INFORMATION.
THEN NEXT THINKING ABOUT WHAT IS
RELEVANT SPECIFICALLY FOR THE
DOE COMMUNITIES THAT WILL BE
AFFECTED BY TRANSITION TO A
CLEANER ENERGY ECONOMY AND THEN
ALSO ENERGY ACCESS AND
AFFORDABILITY.
SO WE STARTED WITH THIS POOL OF
OVER 100 INDICATORS, OR
VARIABLES, IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE
WE WEREN'T KIND OF DOUBLE
WEIGHTING WE REMOVED INDICATORS
THAT WERE HIGHLY CORRELATED.
SO WE ENDED UP WITH ABOUT 36
SPECIFIC VARIABLES THAT ARE EACH
SOMEWHAT ORTHOGONAL IN THE
STATISTICS-SPEAK, THAT REPRESENT
A DISTINCT DIMENSION OF
DISADVANTAGE.
AND I'M HAPPY TO GO INTO MORE
DETAIL WITH ANYONE OFFLINE ABOUT
VARIABLES, HOW WE ENDED UP WITH
THESE BUT FOR NOW I'M GOING TO
GO OVER WHERE WE ENDED UP.
SO THESE ARE THE 10 INDICES WE
LOOKED AT INITIALLY.
YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH SOME OF
THEM ALREADY.
ONE CHALLENGE IS THAT THERE
ISN'T A RULEBOOK I GUESS OR A
PLAYBOOK FOR HOW TO DEVELOP AN
INDEX.
SO THESE ARE LARGELY QUALITATIVE
INCREDIBLY SUBJECTIVE ENDEAVORS,
AND I THINK IT BEHOOVES US TO
REMEMBER THAT THERE IS NO
MATHEMATICALLY CORRECT WAY TO
BUILD AN INDEX, AND THE
DEFINITION HAS HUGE IMPLICATIONS
IN TERMS OF HOW FUNDING IS
DISTRIBUTED AT FEDERAL LEVEL,
WHOSE LIVES ARE IMPACTED.
SO I THINK IT'S VERY HUMBLING TO
REMEMBER THAT THESE DEFINITIONS
DO HAVE A LOT OF WEIGHT AND WE
CERTAINLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
AS THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
WE'RE PRESENTING AN OPTION, NOT
THE OPTION.
AND ONCE AGAIN I INVITE FEEDBACK
FROM ALL OF YOU ON THIS CALL AND
YOUR CONNECTIONS AND COMMUNITIES
TO KIND OF VET HOW WE'RE
THINKING ABOUT THIS PROCESS.
SO HERE'S TEN PUBLISHED INDICES
THAT HAVE BEEN VETTED IN SOME
WAY.
AND THEY HAVE RANGED FROM 9 TO
40 VARIABLES, AT DIFFERENT
LEVELS OF KIND OF NEIGHBORHOOD
DEFINITIONS, SO DOWN TO THE
CENSUS BLOCK GROUP, AND AS LARGE
AS A COUNTY.
AND SO WE ENDED UP WITH AT THE
CENSUS TRACT LEVEL, NEEDING
SOMETHING MORE SPECIFIC THAN A
COUNTY BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE'S
SO MUCH VARIATION WITHIN A
COUNTY BUT ALSO FINDING THAT AT
THE BLOCK GROUP LEVEL THAT'S A
REALLY SMALL UNIT OF ANALYSIS IN
MANY LOCATIONS.
THERE'S JUST A LOT MORE ERROR IN
THAT DATA AND SINCE WE WERE
LIMITED TO USING PUBLICLY
AVAILABLE DATA, WE FELT MOST
CONFIDENT WITH THIS CENSUS TRACT
LEVEL.
SO, JUST FOR SOME INITIAL
BACKGROUND, AFTER REVIEWING
THESE TEN DIFFERENT INDICES WE
RANKED WHAT WAS SHOWING UP THE
MOST, AND ONCE AGAIN THIS WAS
NOT TO SAY THESE ARE THE MOST
IMPORTANT INDICATORS BUT WE
WANTED TO AT LEAST UNDERSTAND
WHAT OTHER INDICES WE'RE
CONSIDERING.
LOOKS LIKE SOMEBODY HAS SHARED
THEIR SCREEN.
THAT WAS NOT FOR YOU GUYS IN THE
AUDIENCE.
SO, THE KIND OF TOP RANKING
VARIABLES WERE MOST OFTEN
SOCIOECONOMIC, AND THEN WE DO
SEE ALSO QUITE A FEW INSTANCES
WHERE ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS ARE
INCLUDED AND THEN AS WE GET
LOWER DOWN THE LIST KIND OF
MORE -- I DON'T WANT TO SAY
ESOTERIC BUT INDICATORS LIKE
ASTHMA AND ACCESS TO GREEN
SPACE, START TO SHOW UP.
BY FAR THE MOST PREVALENT
INDICATORS WERE EDUCATION,
INCOME, POVERTY, AND HOUSING
DEMOGRAPHICS.
SO ON THIS CHART YOU CAN SEE THE
ONES IN GREEN WERE THE VARIABLES
WE WERE ABLE TO INCLUDE IN OUR
DEFINITION.
AND SOME OF THAT IS LIMITED BY
THE FACT THAT THERE ARE DATASETS
THAT ARE AVAILABLE, MAYBE AT THE
STATE LEVEL FOR CERTAIN INDICES
BUT NOT NATIONALLY.
SO WE WEREN'T ABLE TO GATHER
INFORMATION, SAY, ON LOW BIRTH
WEIGHTS FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.
OTHERS OF THOSE ARE SENSITIVE, I
THINK BEHIND IF IT'S HIPAA IF
I'M NOT MISTAKEN, SO A LITTLE
BIT HARDER TO GAIN ACCESS TO.
AND THEN ONCE AGAIN WE ALSO
WANTED TO SELECT FOR VARIABLES
MOST RELEVANT FOR THE DOE.
SO WE ENDED UP WITH 36
INDICATORS, AFTER REMOVING
HIGHLY CORRELATED ONES.
AND ALTHOUGH WE DON'T USE THESE
CATEGORIES FOR HOW WE DEVELOP
THE INDEX, INTERPRETATION, IT'S
HELPFUL TO THINK ABOUT IT IN A
FEW CATEGORIES, SO HIGHLY
SPECIFIC TO THE DOE IS THINKING
ABOUT ENERGY BURDEN.
SO WE THINK ABOUT THAT IN TERMS
OF BOTH LIKE ELECTRICITY AND
FUEL.
AND TRANSPORTATION.
AND SO MANY FAMILIES SPEND 30,
40% OF THEIR INCOME ON VEHICLES
AND FUEL.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S
CAPTURED WHEN WE START THINKING
ABOUT ENERGY-SPECIFIC
INTERVENTIONS.
POWER OUTAGES AND DURATION OF
THOSE OUTAGES ALSO REFLECT
AMOUNT OF ENERGY INSECURITY.
AND SAME WITH NON-GRID CONNECTED
HOME HEATING FUEL.
SO, MOST OF THAT INFORMATION
COMES FROM THE AMERICAN
COMMUNITY SURVEY, WE ALSO
CAPTURE FOSSIL DEPENDENCE OR
FOSSIL ENERGY DEPENDENCE, SO IF
WE'RE THINKING ABOUT WHERE
COMMUNITIES ARE GOING TO BE HIT
HARDEST, BY A TRANSITION AWAY
FROM FOSSIL FUELS, IT'S
IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE
NUMBER OF COAL AND FOSSIL ENERGY
JOBS IN THOSE COMMUNITIES.
THEN THE KIND OF MAJORITY OF OUR
INDICATORS COULD BE CONSIDERED
SOCIOECONOMIC, SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC,
AND WE USE THE TERM VULNERABLE
POPULATIONS WHICH REALLY
REFLECTS ALL OF THE WAYS IN
WHICH CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL
HAZARDS AND ENERGY BURDENS CAN
BE EXACERBATED, AND SO ANOTHER
CAVEAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE IS
THAT WE DO NOT MEAN TO STATE
THAT IT IS A BAD THING TO BE
OVER AGE 65, FOR EXAMPLE.
ONLY THAT THESE ATTRIBUTES
REINFORCE AND EXACERBATE THREATS
FROM CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL
HAZARDS AND FOSSIL ENERGY
DEPENDENCE.
SO A SLEW OF INDICATORS THAT
REFLECT BOTH THE AFFORDABILITY
OF THE AREA, UNEMPLOYMENT,
INCOME LEVELS, SAME WITH LIKE NO
VEHICLE HOUSEHOLDS, THAT'S NOT
IN THISLY A NEGATIVE THING BUT
DOES MEAN YOU'RE LESS RESILIENT
IN THE FACE OF CERTAIN NATURAL
DISASTERS AND STUFF.
AND LASTLY MOSTLY FROM THE
EJSCREEN TOOL, AND WE ADD ONE
MORE INDICATOR OF CLIMATE RISK
WHICH IS THE FEMA ANNUALIZED,
NOT INCLUDING PROPERTY AND
AGRICULTURAL VALUES BECAUSE WE
DON'T WANT TO SWAY OUR
DEFINITIONS TOWARDS WEALTHIER
LOCATIONS BUT DO INCLUDE
ESTIMATED LOSS OF LIFE AND
INJURY TO HUMANS DUE TO CLIMATE
EVENTS.
DIVINGINTO THE DETAILS WE
CONSIDERED MANY APPROACHES, BUT
IN THE END WE SETTLED ON A KIND
OF EQUAL WEIGHTING SCHEME SO
EACH OF THESE 36 INDICATORS HERE
ENTER OUR DEFINITION WITH EQUAL
WEIGHT BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE ARE
MANY WAYS THAT DISADVANTAGE CAN
SHOW UP AND WE INTENTIONALLY
REMOVED CORRELATED VARIABLES SO
WE FEEL CONFIDENT INCLUDING EACH
ON THEIR OWN MERIT.
WE HAVE 3*6 VALUES FOR EACH
TRACT, CALCULATE PERCENTILE
RANKING, YOU MAY BE 99 FOR
SINGLE, 47 FOR ENERGY BURDEN.
WE TAKE THEM AND SUM THEM.
EACH SCORES BETWEEN 0 AND 36,
35.9, ET CETERA, IN THE 99th
PERCENTILE OR RANKED LOWEST IN
THE NATION ON ALL 36 INDICATORS.
AND THEN BECAUSE IT WAS REALLY
IMPORTANT TO US TO HAVE RELATIVE
INDICATOR FOR DIFFERENT STATES,
WE THEN TAKE THE TOP 20% OF
CENSUS TRACTS IN EACH STATE.
SO THAT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE
AND BE EXPLICIT ABOUT.
IF WE LOOK AT THE TOP 20% OF
CENSUS TRACTS IN THE COUNTRY WE
DID FIND A NUMBER OF STATES
DON'T ACTUALLY SHOW UP.
>> COULD I INTERRUPT?
YOU'RE NO LONGER SHOWING YOUR
SLIDES.
>> OH.
>> YOU MAY NEED TO SHARE THEM.
I THINK SOMEBODY ELSE
ACCIDENTALLY SHARED THEIR SCREEN
AND THEY CAME OFF.
>> GOT IT.
>> APOLOGIZE FOR INTERRUPTING.
>> NO WORRIES.
LET ME SEE HOW --
DO YOU KNOW WHEN I LOST YOU
GUYS?
WERE YOU ABLE TO SEE THIS SLIDE
OF INDICATORS?
>> NO.
>> WERE YOU ABLE TO SEE THIS
SLIDE OF THE INDICATORS THAT WE
REVIEWED?
>> I DON'T KNOW BECAUSE I WAS
HOPPING AROUND.
>> GOT IT.
ALL RIGHT.
I WILL NOT REPEAT TOO MUCH BUT
FOR CONCRETENESS THIS IS THE SET
OF INDICATORS THAT WE FINALLY
SELECTED, AND I KNOW THE SLIDES
ARE AVAILABLE TO ALL OF YOU IN
THE AUDIENCE TO DOWNLOAD SO IT'S
NOT THE END OF THE WORLD THAT
YOU MISSED THEM.
AND WHERE I WAS JUST FINISHING
UP WAS THINKING ABOUT OUR
METHODS FOR DETERMINING
ELIGIBILITY AS A DAC,
DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY, WE WERE
INTENTIONAL TO CHOOSE THE TOP
20% OF TRACTS IN EACH STATE
RATHER THAN NATIONWIDE TO MAKE
SURE AT STATE LEVEL WE
UNDERSTAND THE RELATIVELY
DISADVANTAGED LOCATIONS IN EACH
STATE.
WE HAVE ONE MORE KIND OF
THRESHOLD WHERE WE DROP
COMMUNITIES IF THEY DO NOT HAVE
AT LEAST 30% HOUSEHOLDS THAT ARE
LOW INCOME.
AND THAT'S JUST TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE'RE NOT CAPTURING PLACES
THAT MAYBE HAVE MUCH OF
ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS BUT HAVE
MORE RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY
TO ADDRESS THEM.
SO, THIS IS KIND OF LESS
EXCITING PICTURE OF OUR MAP.
WE DO HAVE AN INTERACTIVE MAP
PUBLISHED ON THE DOE WEBSITE IN
THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS.
BUT WHERE WE END UP IS WITH
ABOUT 13,500 CENSUS TRACTS
IDENTIFIED AS DISCHANGED, THAT'S
OUT OF 73,000, SO ROUGHLY 18.5%
DISADVANTAGED.
LIKE I MENTIONED, WE DID FIND A
LOT OF CHALLENGE GETTING TRIBAL
AND TERRITORY DATA AS THE SAME
SCALE AS OTHER TRACTS.
TO NOT FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS
WE MADE THE DECISION AT DOE TO
INCLUDE ALL TRIBAL LANDS AND
NATIVE POPULATIONS AS ELIGIBLE
FOR JUSTICE40 FUNDING, SO
DISADVANTAGED ON ACCOUNT OF
HISTORICAL INJUSTICES IN THESE
COMMUNITIES AND SO WHILE THE
SPATIAL UNITS DON'T ALIGN
EXACTLY TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT
INDIVIDUAL DATA POINTS THE SAME
WAY AS WE CAN WITH OTHER CENSUS
TRACTS, WE DO INCLUDE THEM IN
OUR DEFINITION.
SO THAT IS THE GREEN LOCATIONS
ON THIS MAP AND THEN THE BLUE
ARE THE CENSUS TRACTS THAT WE
IDENTIFIED WITH THOSE 36
INDICATORS.
WE ALSO INCLUDE AT THIS POINT
ALL OF THE TERRITORIES.
WE HOPE AS WE HAVE ACCESS TO
ADDITIONAL DATA TO PARSE THAT SO
THAT WE'RE NOT INCLUDING
NECESSARILY THE ENTIRETY OF THE
VIRGIN ISLANDS, FOR EXAMPLE.
WE'VE ONLY GOT FIVE MINUTES LEFT
SO I WANT TO LEAVE TIME FOR
QUESTIONS BUT JUST TO GIVE KIND
OF AN EXAMPLE OF HOW WE'RE USING
SOME OF THIS INFORMATION WE CAN
LOOK AT THE DISTRIBUTION OF HOW
DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES ARE
DEFINED ACROSS DIFFERENT STATES,
SO HERE AS AN EXAMPLE WE HAVE
TRANSPORTATION BURDEN WHICH IS
DEFINED AS THE PORTION OF
HOUSEHOLD INCOME THAT'S SPENT ON
TRANSPORTATION.
REALLY WHAT'S SO ALARMING AND
INTERESTING IS SEEING IN
COMMUNITIES IN KENTUCKY AVERAGE
HOUSEHOLD TRANSPORTATION BURDENS
REALLY AROUND 30% OF THEIR
INCOME, WHEREAS IN D.C. THE
DISADVANTAGED HOUSEHOLDS
ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE ANY SORT OF
SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT
TRANSPORTATION BURDEN COMPARED
TO NON-DISADVANTAGED TRACTS.
AND IT'S MUCH MUCH LOWER.
ON AVERAGE ABOUT 10%.
AND SO USING THESE DATA TO KIND
OF HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE
THE RELEVANT ASPECTS OF
DISADVANTAGE IN DIFFERENT
COMMUNITIES, REALLY AN
INTERESTING EXPERIENCE, EVEN IF
WE'RE CAPTURING IN OUR
DEFINITION THE CUMULATIVE
BURDEN, WE'RE ABLE TO DRILL DOWN
ON THE SPECIFIC VARIABLES.
SO, IN SUM, TO INTERPRET OUR
RESULTS IT'S IMPORTANT TO
REMEMBER THAT THESE ARE A
CUMULATIVE SUM.
SO WE CAPTURE LOCATIONS THAT ARE
EXPERIENCING A MULTITUDE OF
ASPECTS OF DISADVANTAGE IN
DIFFERENT WAYS.
BETTER THAN, FOR EXAMPLE, THE
CJEST TOOL, THE CLIMATE AND
ECONOMIC JUSTICE SCREENING TOOL,
WHICH LOOKS AT THE 90th
PERCENTILE OF INDIVIDUAL
CHARACTERISTICS.
YOU COULD THINK OF THAT TOOL
CAPTURING COMMUNITIES THAT ARE
THE WORST OFF, QUOTE, ON A
PARTICULAR VARIABLE.
AND WE'RE CAPTURING COMMUNITIES
THAT ARE, QUOTE, WORST OFF IN
KIND OF SUM OF MANY DIFFERENT
ASPECTS BUT MAYBE NOT THE
HIGHEST IN ANY PARTICULAR ONE.
BECAUSE WE HAVE A STATE RELATIVE
DEFINITION A TRACT THAT MAY HAVE
THE EXACT SAME CHARACTERISTICS
IN OHIO MAY BE A DISADVANTAGED
COMMUNITY BUT IN NEBRASKA WOULD
NOT BE.
THAT HAS LIMITATIONS AND
TRADEOFFS, BUT THAT'S SO THAT
STATES CAN ALSO IDENTIFY THEIR
PRIORITIES FOR INVESTMENTS.
AND AS I SAID, THE SPATIAL UNITS
DON'T LINE UP BETWEEN NATIVE
LANDS AND CENSUS TRACTS SO WE
DON'T HAVE AS DETAILED
INFORMATION ON TRIBAL NATIONS AS
FOR OTHER COMMUNITIES BUT WE'RE
WORKING ON UPDATING THAT AS THE
NEW CENSUS DATA COME OUT.
I WILL STOP WITH THREE MINUTES
TO GO.
AND ONCE AGAIN INVITE YOU TO
PROVIDE ANY FEEDBACK YOU HAVE
EITHER NOW OR ON OUR WEBSITE
WHEN THAT COMES OUT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE
CONVERSATION.
I DIDN'T KNOW THERE WERE SO MANY
INDICES.
TO SEE THERE ARE SO MANY TOOLS
OUT THERE THAT SEEMS THEY ARE
EASY TO ACCESS.
I THINK IT'S GREAT.
BUT I WOULD LIKE YOU TO TAKE ME
BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF THE
CREATING THE DEFINITION OF
DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY.
I FEEL LIKE AT THE BEGINNING
THAT WAS KIND OF A LOT OF
ARGUMENT, DISCUSSIONS, WALK ME
AND THE REST OF THE AUDIENCE,
MORE THAN 120 PEOPLE LOGGED IN,
HOW WAS THAT CONVERSATION, THAT
DYNAMIC OF CREATING THIS
DEFINITION?
>> SO I WOULD SAY THE DYNAMIC
WAS LESS OPEN THAN I WOULD HOPE.
I THINK ONE THING THAT'S BEEN
INTERESTING FOR ME PERSONALLY,
COMING INTO THE AGENCY SIDE,
THERE'S A LOT MORE RESTRICTIONS
ON HOW TO COLLECT INFORMATION,
USE INFORMATION, PRESENT
INFORMATION, AND SO WE WOULD
LIKE TO HAVE HAD MUCH MORE
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN THIS
DEFINITION.
I THINK TO PUT IT BLUNTLY, IT'S
NOT NECESSARILY THE ROLE OF
GOVERNMENT TO DEFINE
DISADVANTAGE FOR EACH COMMUNITY,
BUT IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT
THAT WE START SOMEWHERE AND SO I
THINK THAT DYNAMIC HAS BEEN A
LOT OF INTERNAL COLLABORATION
WITH OTHER AGENCIES.
WE HAD TWO STAKEHOLDER
ENGAGEMENT EVENTS WITH COMMUNITY
FEEDBACK AND MAKING SURE THAT WE
WERE COMPARING OUR RESULTS WITH
EXISTING DEFINITIONS THAT HAVE
BEEN PUT FORTH BY COMMUNITY
GROUPS.
BUT IN TERMS OF HOW THE
DEFINITION CAME TOGETHER THAT'S
ONE THING -- THE DYNAMIC WAS
MORE CLOSED THAN IDEAL AND SO
WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO
THIS NEXT STAGE WHETHER WE'RE
ABLE TO PUT OUT WHAT WE DID SO
THAT WE CAN UPDATE IT ACCORDING
TO COMMUNITY FEEDBACK.
IT'S HARD WHEN THERE'S NO RIGHT
ANSWER, AND A LOT OF THE KIND OF
GROUND TRUTHING THAT HAPPENS IS
ONLY POSSIBLE BY ASKING
COMMUNITY MEMBERS DOES THIS MAKE
SENSE, DID WE CAPTURE THIS
CORRECTLY?
SINCE WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO
THAT YET, I THINK IT FEELS
INCOMPLETE BECAUSE WE NEVER KNOW
IF WE GOT THE ANSWER RIGHT.
>> THAT'S AN EXCELLENT POINT TO
ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY EARLY ON.
AND WHEN YOU SAY THE COMMUNITY,
DO YOU HAVE SOMEBODY IN MIND,
SOME GROUP IN MIND, MEANING
LOCAL-LOCAL, STATE LEVEL,
NATIONAL LEVEL, WHAT DO YOU
RECOMMEND?
A FACILITY TRYING TO GAUGE MY
COMMUNITY, WHAT DO YOU
RECOMMEND?
>> I THINK THAT IT VARIES,
RIGHT?
SO IN LARGE PART OUR DEFINITIONS
AT NEIGHBORHOOD LEVEL, IT'S
IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT
NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTERISTICS,
STATE LEVEL, DOESN'T NECESSARILY
GET YOU THERE.
ON THE OTHER HAND, LIKE
ORGANIZATIONS THAT WORK AT THE
STATE LEVEL ALSO HAVE A GOOD
SENSE OF THE RELATIVE ATTRIBUTES
OF DIFFERENT LOCATIONS ACROSS
THE STATE AND SO CAN DO GUT
CHECKS FOR WHICH COMMUNITIES POP
UP AND WHICH ONES DON'T AND
WHETHER THAT MAKES SENSE.
ONE BIG ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM IS
LIKE WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS
OF BEING CALLED DISADVANTAGED,
AND THAT IS ALSO A LOCALLY
SPECIFIC COMMUNITY -- I KEEP
SAYING COMMUNITY, LET'S SAY
NEIGHBORHOOD DECISION, AND
QUESTION THAT WE HAVE BECAUSE
THERE ARE SUCH HUGE IMPLICATIONS
FOR WHERE MONEY GOES BASED ON
THIS DEFINITION, BUT ARE THERE
OTHER -- ARE THERE WAYS THAT
MIGHT BACKFIRE TO BE LABELED
DISADVANTAGED WHEN MAYBE THAT
MUNICIPALITY DOESN'T CONSIDER
THEMSELVES THAT WAY OR THERE'S
DISAGREEMENT WITHIN THE
COMMUNITY BETWEEN GROUPS SO
YOU'RE RIGHT, I KEEP SAYING
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, MAYBE
THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
DON'T EASTBOUND AGREE
NECESSARILY ON SPECIFIC
ATTRIBUTES, SO A LOT MORE
COMPLEX THAN I'M MAKING IT SEEM.
>> I THINK THE KEY HERE IS TO BE
AWARE THAT WE NEED TO REACH OUT
BEFORE WE FORMALIZE THE
DEFINITION, CREATE THE DYNAMIC
AND DEBATE AND CONVERSATION
BECAUSE WE MAY CREATE A PROBLEM
TRYING TO BE HELPFUL.
I THINK IT'S GREAT ADVICE.
WE'RE RUNNING A LITTLE BIT LATE
HERE BUT I THINK IT'S CRITICAL
TO ENGAGE THE AUDIENCE.
TANIA SMITH FROM DOE, WILL
INFORMATION BE OF FOR THIS BE
PRESENTED?
YES, PRESENTATIONS IN FEDCENTER
RIGHT NOW.
IF YOU NEED SPECIFIC, E-MAIL ME.
I HAVE YOUR E-MAIL.
I COULD REPLY WITH NATALIE'S
E-MAIL BUT THEY ARE IN FED
CENTER.
SHE'S RAISING THE QUESTION I'M
CURIOUS WHAT TOOLS WAS USED TO
GO THROUGH ALL THE INDICES TO
NARROW THE DEFINITION TO A SET
PARAMETER?
>> OKAY, SO TOOL-WISE I'M NOT
FULLY CERTAIN HOW TO INTERPRET
THAT QUESTION BUT WE MAPPED OUT
I GUESS THE NUMBER OF INDICATORS
AND THEN WE USE STATISTICAL
TOOLS LIKE CORRELATION
COEFFICIENTS TO REMOVE THINGS
THAT WERE BASICALLY BEING DOUBLE
COUNTED.
AND THEN WE CONSIDERED DIFFERENT
WEIGHTS SO WHETHER WE SHOULD
COUNT ENERGY BURDEN MORE THAN
DEMOGRAPHICS, FOR EXAMPLE, BUT
ULTIMATELY DECIDED THAT BECAUSE
DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES, WE
WANTED TO MAKE A DEFINITION NOT
ONLY APPLICABLE TO DOE THAT
WASN'T LIKE SO NARROWLY DEFINED
THAT IT ONLY INCORPORATED
ENERGY.
I DON'T KNOW IF I INTERPRETED
THAT QUESTION CORRECTLY BUT THE
TOOLS WERE BASICALLY -- ARE IN
EXCEL.
>> BASICALLY SHE WAS ASKING HOW
THAT PROCESS OF NARROWING --
YEAH, SO I THINK I ALLUDED TO
THIS.
WE HAD WEEKLY WORKING GROUP
MEETINGS WITH OTHER AGENCIES.
AND SO VERY MUCH INTERNAL TO THE
GOVERNMENT BUT WE COORDINATED
WITH EPA AND SOME OF THE
NATIONAL LABS, HUD TO SOME
EXTENT, DOT, WORKED WITH NISERTA
GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS FOR
NEW YORK, ABLE TO DO MORE
ROBUSTER STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
WRITTEN INTO THEIR WORK.
WE DIDN'T HAVE AS MANY
STAKEHOLDER OUTREACH EVENTS WE
COULD ALSO GATHER THE FEEDBACK
THAT NEW YORK WAS GETTING AND
LIKE ASSESS WHETHER IT WAS
RELEVANT FOR NATIONAL DEFINITION
AND IF SO LIKE TAKE THAT INTO
CONSIDERATION.
>> OKAY.
I HAVE A FINAL QUESTION BEFORE
WE MOVE TO THE NEXT SPEAKER.
THIS IS FROM MICHELE AT NIH.
HOW MUCH OF THIS WORK HAS BEEN
DONE IN THE WASHINGTON, D.C.
AREA IF YOU'RE AWARE OF THAT?
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN BY
THAT.
>> SEEMS LIKE SHE'S ASKING ABOUT
IF THIS COLLECTION OF DATA OR
DEFINITION OF DATABASES OR TOOLS
HAVE BEEN DONE IN THE D.C. AREA,
IF YOU'RE AWARE OF ANY OF THAT
WORK.
>> THE PROCESS TO DEVELOP
EVERYTHING HAS BEEN FULLY REMOTE
EVERYWHERE, I THINK THE DATA ARE
AVAILABLE AT THE D.C. AREA SO
OUR MAP HAS D.C. ON IT, IF YOU
ARE INTERESTED IN THE ACTUAL
VARIABLES AND RESULTS.
THE WORK ITSELF --
>> THAT I WAS A GREAT
PRESENTATION IN TERMS OF DATA.
I ENJOYED IT.
MY APOLOGIES, I HAVE TWO
COMPUTERS, WORKING ON MY SECOND
ONE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IF YOU WANT TO STICK AROUND, WE
HAVE ANOTHER EXCELLENT SPEAKER
COMING UP.
JIMMY PARRISH.
>> THANK YOU, JOSE.
THANKS EVERYONE.
BYE.
>> NATALIE, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> I'M JIMMY PARRISH, I FOLLOW
YOU, I'M THE ONE THAT MESSED UP
YOUR CHARTS GETTING ON TOO SOON
TO SHOW THE SLIDES.
SO SORRY, IT WAS NOT INTENDED.
>> NO WORRIES, JIMMY.
GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR
PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU.
>> JIMMY, WELCOME TO OUR
PRESENTATION.
JIMMY'S AN OLD FRIEND, I'VE
KNOWN HIM FOR MORE THAN 15
YEARS, MAYBE 20.
BEFORE I OPEN THE MIC FOR JIMMY,
I WANT TO REMIND THE AUDIT
DWRENS TO PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR
QUESTIONS VIA THE LOWER BUTTON
OF YOUR SCREEN, PLEASE SHARE
YOUR QUESTIONS, WE'LL RAISE THEM
TO THE SPEAKERS AND AGAIN PLEASE
PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF
BACKGROUND ABOUT YOURSELF AND
JUST START.
>> JIMMY, WE CAN'T HEAR YOU.
THE SCREEN YOU'RE SHARING IS
YOUR ENTIRE SCREEN, SO WE CAN
SEE WHAT'S ON YOUR COMPUTER
THERE.
>> YEP.
AND JIMMY, MY APOLOGIES TO YOU
BEFORE YOU JUMP IN AND PLAY THE
RIGHT PRESENTATION.
I HAVE A QUESTION FOR NATALIE
THAT JUST CAME IN.
NATALIE, ARE YOU STILL AROUND?
>> YEP.
>> REGARDING INDICATORS,
DISABILITY CROSS-CUT GEOGRAPHIC
DIMENSIONS, I WONDER HOW
DISABLED COMMUNITIES ARE
INCLUDED IN ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE CONSIDERATIONS OR OF
COURSE DEAF BOARDING SCHOOL CAN
BE IDENTIFIED ESPECIALLY BUT
THEY ARE DEAF AND HARD OF
HEARING PEOPLE EVERYWHERE.
>> RIGHT.
THE WAY THAT DISABILITIES ENTER
OUR CURRENT DEFINITION WHICH IS
THE GEOGRAPHIC DEFINITION, IS
THE PERCENT OF POPULATION IN ANY
CENSUS TRACT THAT REPORTS ANY
SORT OF PHYSICAL DISABILITY IN
THE CENSUS DATA.
SO IT'S NOT NECESSARILY
CAPTURING BOARDING SCHOOLS, A
TERM I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH, BUT
IT IS CAPTURING OVERALL
POPULATION.
I THINK AS WE START THINKING
ABOUT MORE CONCRETELY THE
DEFINITION OF COMMUNITY THAT IS
NON-GEOGRAPHIC, SO IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT TO THE DOE TO CAPTURE
INCARCERATED FOLKS AND FARM
WORKER POPULATIONS AND ALSO
INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES
WHO ARE UNSHELTERED, THOSE ARE
GROUPS THAT COULD BE CONSIDERED
DISADVANTAGED UNDER THIS
EXECUTIVE ORDER BUT NOT IN THE
SPATIAL DEFINITION WE'VE
DEVELOPED.
>> THANK YOU.
JIMMY, WE'RE STILL NOT SEEING
YOUR PRESENTATION.
>> OKAY.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ISSUE IS.
HANG ON.
>> YEP.
>> I HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME.
DO YOU WANT ME TO OPEN AND
SHARE?
>> IS IT UP?
>> YES, IT'S UP.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU, JIMMY.
>> SO SORRY.
I DO APOLOGIZE.
>> IT'S PART OF TECHNOLOGY.
WELCOME, WELCOME.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I'M SORRY, JOSE.
>> WELCOME.
>> ARE WE GOOD?
>> YEP, YOU'RE GOOD.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU.
I'M JIMMY PARRISH, INTERNAL
MANAGEMENT DIVISION CHIEF AT THE
DEFENSE SUPPLY CENTER RICHMOND
WHICH I WILL TELL YOU ABOUT IN
JUST A FEW SECONDS.
AND I'M HONORED TO BE WITH YOU
TODAY AND TO GIVE A PRESENTATION
OF HOW WE USE OUR ENVIRONMENTAL
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM TO INTERACT
WITH OUR COMMUNITY.
AGAIN, I DO APOLOGIZE FOR
NATALIE.
I'M NOT VERY GOOD AT THIS.
A QUICK PRELUDE OR EXPLANATION
TALKING ABOUT DLA AND WHO I AM,
GOING BACK IN TIME TO 2000 AND
PRESIDENT CLINTON AND HOW WE USE
OUR EMS TO ENGAGE WITH COMMUNITY
ESPECIALLY WITH REGARDS TO
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.
I AM A HUGE BELIEVER IN AN EMS.
I REALLY DO BELIEVE IN IT.
I ALSO REALLY LIKE THE FACT OR
LIKE AN EMS THAT'S EXTERNALLY
CERTIFIED AND I'LL TALK ABOUT
THIS BUT I LIKE THAT THIRD PARTY
RECOGNITION THAT IMPARTIAL LOOK
WE CAN SHARE WITH OTHERS.
ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT I DO
LIKE TO SAY IS THAT ONE OF THE
KEY FACTORS I FIND ABOUT ANY EMS
IS THAT IT'S ADAPTABLE,
DESIGNABLE TO YOUR INSTALLATION,
IF YOU'RE IN THE GOVERNMENT
DoD, YOUR FACILITY, WHAT YOU
CAN MAKE IT AS TO WHAT YOU WANT
IT TO BE AND WHAT YOU NEED TO
PURSUE AND WHAT OBJECTIVES YOU
NEED TO REACH.
SO, PLEASE DON'T THINK THAT -- I
CERTAINLY DON'T KNOW, I KNOW
VERY LITTLE SO PLEASE DON'T
THINK THESE CHARTS ARE THE
GOSPEL, HOW AN EMS SHOULD LOOK
OR HOW AN EMS SHOULD WORK.
IT'S JUST REALLY INTENDED TO
MAYBE GIVE A FLICKER IN YOUR
BRAINS TO MAKE IT WORK BEST FOR
YOU.
FOR THOSE THAT HAD TO SUFFER
THROUGH MY ONCE AGAIN INEPT
'TUDE USING TECHNOLOGY,
YESTERDAY, I GAVE A TALK
YESTERDAY.
THE DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY IS
THE NATION'S COMBAT LOGISTICS,
THE WAR FIGHTER NEEDS IT,
SUPPLIES, PARTS, FOOD, UNIFORMS.
WE GET IT TO THEM.
AND THE DEFENSE SUPPLY CENTER
RICHMOND DLA IS BROKEN UP WHERE
WE CENTRALIZE THE ACTIVITY BASED
ON THE TYPE OF MATERIAL WE'RE
SUPPORTING.
RICHMOND IS THE HOME OF DLA
AVIATION, DEMAND AND SUPPLY
CHAIN MANAGER FOR THE AIR
SYSTEMS, AIR SUPPORT SYSTEMS.
IF IT FLIES OR PARTS ARE NEEDED,
PLANE, HELICOPTER, WEAPONS
SYSTEMS ON THAT PIECE OF
EQUIPMENT, THE PARTS ARE MANAGED
AND SUPPLIED OR STORED HERE.
REAR-- WE'RE 600 ACRES,
CELEBRATING OUR 80th BIRTHDAY
THIS YEAR, IN 1942 WE WERE
LARGELY SET UP TO STORE PROPERTY
BUT AS THE DEPARTMENT OF THE
DEFENSE EVOLVED WE GOT MORE INTO
JUST-IN-TIME DELIVERY, HAVING
CONTRACTORS STORE FOR US, A
GREAT MANY BUILDINGS THAT DO
REMAIN ON THE INSTALLATION ARE
PRIMARILY ADMINISTRATIVE.
I'M THE ONE WITH THE WHISKERS,
WORKING FOR THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT AS JOSE MENTIONED,
WITH HIM FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
ALMOST 40 YEARS.
21 YEARS AT RICHMOND, YOU CAN
SEE WHAT I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR.
WE'RE JUST 600 ACRES BUT HAVE
QUITE A FEW PROGRAMS WE MANAGE,
ON THAT ACREAGE TO INCLUDE OUR
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGE SYSTEM,
FORTUNATE TO LEAD A STAFF OF
SEVEN TALENTED INDIVIDUALS.
LET'S GO BACK IN TIME.
I WAS WORKING WITH THE
GOVERNMENT THEN.
WAY BACK IN 2000, PRESIDENT
CLINTON SIGNED 13148, WE SHOULD
USE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AS
A WAY OF REALLY JUST DOING WHAT
IT IS WE DO.
IN OUR POLICIES AND IN OUR
OPERATIONS AND HOW WE PLAN AND
HOW WE MANAGE OUR PROGRAMS.
AND THAT EXECUTIVE ORDER PUT
EMPHASIS ON ENVIRONMENTAL
COMPLIANCE.
IT PUT EMPHASIS ON LETTING
NEIGHBORS KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON
THE INSTALLATION, TRYING TO
PREVENT POLLUTION, REDUCE TOXIC
CHEMICALS, REDUCE OZONE
DEPLETING SUBSTANCE AND USE OF
THEM AND SOUND LANDSCAPING,
WE'RE NOT CREATING A RUNOFF
THAT'S GOING TO PLUG STREAMS AND
PLUG IN MY CASE THE JAMES RIVER
WHICH IS RIGHT NEARBY.
THAT EXECUTIVE ORDER GAVE US
UNTIL 2005 TO IMPLEMENT AN
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
AT APPROPRIATE AGENCY
FACILITIES.
THAT THE DLA LEFT IT UP TO EACH
FACILITY DO WHAT THEY THOUGHT
WAS BEST FOR THEM TO DO.
WHEN BUILDING THIS YOU HAVE YOUR
GOALS, YOUR OBJECTIVES AND
TARGETS.
OUR EMS WAS FORMALLY CERTIFIED
OR REGISTERED TO THE ISO
STANDARDS IN NOVEMBER 2005.
AS MENTIONED, WE CHOSE TO GO
WITH EXTERNAL CERTIFICATION
BECAUSE BACK IN THAT TIME PERIOD
OUR REPUTATION WITH THE PUBLIC
AND WITH THE CITY OF RICHMOND
AND CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, WHERE
WE RESIDE AND WITH OUR
REGULATORS WAS NOT VERY GOOD.
WE ARE SUPERFUND SITE.
AND WE DIDN'T -- WE MANAGED THAT
PROGRAM VERY WELL BUT DIDN'T
MANAGE OUR INTERACTION WITH THE
PUBLIC VERY WELL.
WE DID WHAT I LIKE TO SAY WAS AT
THAT TIME TYPICAL GOVERNMENT
RESPONSE, THE PUBLIC WOULD ASK
FOR INFORMATION AND WE WOULD
TELL THEM TO PUT IN A FOIA
REQUEST OR GET BACK TO THEM IN
SIX MONTHS AND IF AT ALL.
AND SO OUR COMMANDER, COMMANDER
AT THAT TIME, SAID WE NEVER DID
HAVE AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM,
WE HAVE AN INFORMATION PROBLEM.
SO WE FELT THAT IF WE GO WITH
THIS EXTERNAL CERTIFICATION
LOOKING AT HOW YOU'RE DOING
THINGS AND DOING THINGS WELL AND
WHERE YOU NEED TO IMPROVE, THAT
WOULD BE MUCH BETTER THAN THE
GOVERNMENT TELLING WE'RE DOING
OKAY.
WE WERE THE ONLY DLA FACILITY AT
THAT TIME TO OBTAIN EXTERNAL
CERTIFICATION AND HAVE BY FAR
BEEN THE OWN ONE TO KEEP IT AS
LONG AS WE HAVE.
FOR THOSE THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN
WORKING FOR AS LONG AS JOSE AND
I HAVE, WE BECAME A MEMBER OF
PERFORMANCE TRACK.
LET ME GO BACK, I'M SORRY.
NOW, WHEN WE FIRST STARTED EMS,
WHEN YOU IMPLEMENT, WHEN YOU GO
FROM ZERO, IT'S ALWAYS POSITIVE,
ALWAYS A PLUS.
SO IT WAS RELATIVELY EASY, LOTS
OF FUN WHEN THE EMS CAME IN,
LOTS OF LOW-HANGING FRUIT.
THINGS THAT WE COULD GET OUR
HANDS ON QUITE EASILY.
AND WE DID THAT.
AND IT WENT PRETTY WELL.
YOU CAN SEE THERE, I AM
BRAGGING, I'M SORRY, BUT 2005
THE CHESAPEAKE BAY GAVE US AN
AWARD FOR ENVIRONMENTAL
EXCELLENCE, WE WON TWICE, THEN
KNOWN AS THE WHITE HOUSE CLOSING
CIRCLE AWARD.
AND THEN 2011 WE WON THE
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AWARD.
I'M ALSO PROUD TO SAY THAT SINCE
OUR EMS WE'VE HAD NO REGULATORY
VIOLATIONS.
AUDITS AND PROGRAMS WE HAVE
AUDITED NOT ONCE A WRITE-UP DUE
TO SOMETHING WE WERE DOING
WRONG.
MANAGEMENT WAS HAPPY, TOP LEVEL
SUPPORT WAS HAPPY.
WE WERE DOING GOOD THINGS FOR
THE INSTALLATION, FOR THE
ENVIRONMENT.
WE WANTED TO CONTINUE TO DO
THAT.
SO, THAT BRINGS US TO TODAY.
AND HOW CAN WE USE, JOSE ASKED
ME TO SPEAK HOW DO WE USE OUR
EMS TO INTERFACE WITH OUR
COMMUNITY.
ESPECIALLY WHEN CONSIDERATION,
CONSIDERING NATALIE TALKED ABOUT
WITH REGARDS TO ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE.
AND FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS
BRIEFING, I BROKE THIS INTO OUR
COMMUNITY, THREE PARTS,
INTERNAL, OUR EMPLOYEES, OUR
NEIGHBORS WHO ARE ADJACENT, AT
LARGER JUST EXPAND THAT LOCAL
COMMUNITY.
I DIDN'T MENTION IF YOU WERE
HERE YESTERDAY, I TOLD YOU ALL
ABOUT THIS, BUT BACK IN 2015 ISO
STANDARD WAS UPDATED.
AND IT WAS -- REQUIRED -- NOW
REQUIRES THE LAST UPDATE WAS
2004, THEN 2015.
THE 2015 VERSION REQUIRES US TO
DO -- I WOULD ARGUE WITH OUR
AUDITOR, WE WERE DOING A LOT,
EVERYTHING THAT THE 15 VERSION
ASKED US TO DO.
WE WEREN'T DOCUMENTING.
THERE'S THE BELIEF OR OPINION IF
IT'S NOT DOCUMENTED IT DIDN'T
HAPPEN SO THE 2015, YOU HAVE TO
HAVE A RECORD.
ONE THING IT REQUIRES WAS TO
UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS AND
EXPECTATIONS OF OUR INTERESTED
PARTIES.
OUR INTERESTED PARTY CAN BE
ALMOST ANYONE THAT HAS AN
INTEREST OR INTERACTION WITH
YOUR EMS.
AND AS MENTIONED IT HAS TO BE
DOCUMENTED.
WELL, OURS WAS 15 PAGES LONG.
IT'S A WIDESPREAD SHEET.
WE DID AN EXTENSIVE AMOUNT OF
RESEARCH IDENTIFYING WHO MAY
HAVE AN INTEREST IN OUR EMS AND
HOW THEY MAY INTERACT WITH US
AND WHAT WOULD BE THEIR CONCERNS
AND EXPECTATIONS OF THAT EMS
WITH REGARDS TO US AND THEM.
NOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE
INTERNAL GROUP, THOSE THAT ARE
FAMILIAR WITH DoD OR YOU SEE
IT ON TV OR HOW IT USED TO BE,
WE USED TO HAVE RESIDENTS ON THE
INSTALLATION, COMMANDER,
OFFICERS, A MESS AREA, CHAPEL,
POOL.
THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE HAS
CHANGED.
AND ALL THE HOUSING THAT WE USED
TO HAVE ON THE INSTALLATION IS
GONE.
SO WE'RE JUST ADMINISTRATIVE,
EIGHT TO FIVE OR NINE TO FIVE
INSTALLATION.
WE'RE ALL TRANSIENT.
SO THERE'S NO ONE LIVING HERE.
BUT WE DO KEEP OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
BEING OUR EMPLOYEES INFORMED AS
TO WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THEIR
EMS AND PROGRESS OF IT IN AND
ROLE.
WE DO WHAT USED TO BE THE
INTRANET, PUTTING OUT NOTICES TO
EMPLOYEES WITH REGARD TO HOW EMS
IS DOING, AUDITS, WHAT
OBJECTIVES WE'VE ATTAINED, WHAT
RECOGNITION WE'RE GETTING, SO
THAT KEEPS EMPLOYEES UP TO DATE.
WE ALSO HAVE WHAT'S KNOWN AS EMS
WORKING GROUP WITH VARIOUS
TENANTS ON THE INSTALLATION,
REPRESENTATIVES FROM TENANTS,
GET TOGETHER, TALK ABOUT EMS,
WHAT IT'S DOING AND THEN
LISTENING TO THESE TENANTS TELL
US WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE AND SEE
IF WE CAN MODIFY OUR EMS WITH
REGARDS TO MAYBE A NEW
ENVIRONMENTAL OBJECTIVES THAT
CAN MEET THOSE NEEDS.
IT'S REALLY -- THE WHOLE THING,
MY BIG POINT TO GET AHEAD OF
MYSELF, IT HAS TO DO WITH
LISTENING, ASKING QUESTIONS AND
LISTENING AND TRYING TO DO
SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
NOW, LET'S GO TO OUR IMMEDIATE
NEIGHBORS.
ONE OF THE THINGS, A LOT OF
DoD MILITARY INSTALLATIONS ARE
FACING CHALLENGES OF ENCROACH.
HAVING BUFFERING SPACES AND
THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE'VE NEVER HAD THAT PROBLEM
BECAUSE SINCE WE'VE BEEN HERE IN
1942 OUR NEIGHBORS ARE RIGHT TO
OUR FENCE LINE.
THE ONLY THING SEPARATING US
FROM NEIGHBORS IS THAT THE WIDTH
OF A STEEL FENCE.
AND SO USING THE ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE SCREENING WHICH IS
REALLY A NEAT TOOL, WE PULLED
OUT THE SOCIOECONOMIC AND
POLLUTION SOURCES INDICATORS FOR
OUR IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE'RE AN IMPACTED NEIGHBORHOOD.
LARGE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE OF
COLOR, LARGER THAN VIRGINIA,
HIGHER THAN VIRGINIA PERCENTAGE
OF LOW INCOME, HIGHER THAN
VIRGINIA PERCENTAGE OF
UNEMPLOYMENT.
AND THEN THE POLLUTION AND
SOURCES, HAZARDOUS WASTE, WE'RE
A LARGE QUANTITY GENERATOR, VERY
CLOSE TO US, THE CANCER RISK BY
AIR TOXINS, YOU CAN SEE THAT
NUMBER, PARTICULATE MATTER YOU
CAN ALSO SEE THAT NUMBER.
HOW DO WE ENGAGE WITH THESE
PEOPLE THAT ARE IN A SENSE
ALMOST SHARING THE SAME PROPERTY
WITH US?
WELL, WE STEAL AN IDEA FROM
ANOTHER PROGRAM OR BORROW AN
IDEA FROM AN EXISTING PROGRAM.
AND THOSE OF YOU THAT WORK
SIRCLA AND SUPERFUND, BEAR WITH
ME.
IT WORKS FOR US.
AS I MENTIONED, WE'RE A
SUPERFUND SITE.
IN THE 50s AND '60s, MAYBE
EARLY '70s BURIED THINGS WE
SHOULDN'T HAVE BURIED, BURNED
THINGS, EXTENSIVE GROUND WATER
CONTAMINATION THROUGHOUT THE
INSTALLATION, WE'VE BEEN WORKING
THAT FOR A LONG TIME.
ONE OF THE BENEFITS TO ME TO
HAVING A RESTORATION, BEING A
SUPERFUND SITE, THAT YOU CAN
HAVE A RESTORATION ADVISORY
BOARD.
THE RESTORATION ADVISORY BOARD
IS COMPRISED OF REPRESENTATIVES
FROM MY OFFICE, FROM THE COMMAND
OFFICE HERE, WE HAVE HIGHER
LEVEL COMMAND, MY BOSS' BOSS
COMES TO THESE MEETINGS,
INSTALLATION COMMANDER COMES TO
THESE MEETINGS, AND IT'S -- WE
ALSO HAVE THE ENVIRONMENTAL
REGULATORS THERE, WITH THE
VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, WITH EPA
REGION 3 ATTENDS.
AND WE ALSO HAVE REPRESENTATION
FROM ALL, FROM OUR VARIOUS
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT SURROUND US.
AND SO THE PRIMARY FOCUS ON THE
RAB IS TO DISCUSS THE
RESTORATION PROGRAM.
WHAT WE'RE DOING TO RESTORE THE
INSTALLATION AND HOW WE'RE
PROGRESSING WITH THAT AND IF WE
HAVE ANY SETBACKS AND IF WE DO,
WHAT WE'RE DOING TO FIX THAT.
BUT THE RAB GIVES US THE
OPPORTUNITY AS LONG AS WE'RE
MEETING AND HAVE REPRESENTATION,
ALL THESE GROUPS, LET'S TALK
ABOUT OTHER THINGS IF WE CAN,
WHEN WE HAVE TIME.
SO WE TALK ABOUT WHAT ELSE IS
GOING ON ON THE INSTALLATION.
AND ENVIRONMENTAL-WISE.
WE TALK ABOUT THE VARIOUS
ENVIRONMENTAL OBJECTIVES THAT
WE'RE PURSUING, AND SOME OF THE
THINGS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO,
HOW WE CAN IMPROVE THINGS IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE CAN BENEFIT
THEIR ENVIRONMENT.
AS I MENTIONED WITH EMPLOYEES,
WE LISTEN.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO --
REMEMBER I SAID WHY WE CHOSE
EXTERNAL CERTIFICATION WAS THAT
WE HAD SUCH A LOUSY REPUTATION
IN THE PUBLIC.
I FORGOT TO MENTION THIS BUT
OVER A THREE-MONTH PERIOD WE
WERE IN THE NEWSPAPER ABOUT 60
TIMES.
THREE MONTHS, 60 TIMES.
MOST WERE HEADLINES.
ALL OF THEM WERE BAD NEWS.
AND SO WE REALLY WERE IN A BAD
PLACE.
SO THIS OPPORTUNITY TO IMPLEMENT
AN OPEN BOOK PROCESS HAS REALLY
BEEN REWARDING.
SO WE LISTENED TO OUR NEIGHBORS,
TELL THEM WHAT THEY DO, ASK WHAT
THEIR CONCERNS ARE AND WE SEE
WHAT IT IS THAT WE CAN DO TO
ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS.
NOW, THE LAST TWO BULLETS, WE
KEEP OUR NEIGHBORS INFORMED,
EXCUSE ME FOR STARING AWAY BUT I
KNOW I WROTE DOWN THESE NOTES I
DON'T WANT TO MISS.
WE KEEP NEIGHBORS INFORMED
WHAT'S GOING ON THE
INSTALLATION.
AND WE'RE LOOKING AT ESPECIALLY
WHEN WE TALK TO THEM, EXCUSE ME,
WHEN WE TALK TO THEM -- HOW DID
THAT HAPPEN?
I'M GETTING POP-UPS FROM WORK, I
SHOULD HAVE STOPPED THEM.
WHAT ENVIRONMENTAL OBJECTIVES
WE'RE TRYING TO DO, HOW THEY
MIGHT IMPROVE WHAT THEY HAVE, SO
WE'RE DOING BIG CHANGES WITH
CLIMATE CHANGE.
IF YOU NOTICE FROM THE POLLUTION
AND SOURCES, PARTICULATE MATTER
WAS 92 PERCENTILE.
ONE RECENT OBJECTIVE WAS WE
SWITCHED FROM ALL OUR BOILERS,
YOU CAN IMAGINE ALL THE
BUILDINGS WE ASK, PRIOR TO A
COUPLE YEARS AGO, ALL THOSE
BOILERS WERE HEATED WITH FUEL
OIL.
WE IMPLEMENTED AN INITIATIVE
THROUGH OUR EMS TO REPLACE THOSE
BOILERS WITH NATURAL GAS.
WHICH YOU ALL KNOW BURNS CLEANER
THAN FUEL OIL AND REDUCES
PARTICULATES GOING UP IN THE
ENVIRONMENT.
AND THEN THIS LAST BULLET,
SUBBULLET, WE KEEP OUR -- AS I
SAID, WE'RE RIGHT ON TOP OF EACH
OTHER SO THEY SEE WHAT'S GOING
ON WHEN OF IN THE INSTALLATION.
ANYTIME WE'RE DOING ANY TYPE OF
MAJOR CONSTRUCTION OR MAJOR
DEMOLITION, WE LET OUR EMPLOYEES
KNOW.
WE EITHER GO DOOR TO DOOR AND
KNOCK ON THE DOORS AND EXPLAIN
TO THEM OR WE SEND THEM LETTERS
EXPLAINING WHAT'S GOING ON AND
WHAT KIND OF NOISE AND MAKING
SURE WE JUST OPERATE DURING
NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS AND THEN
GIVING THEM A POC THAT THEY CAN
COME AND TALK TO IF THEY HAVE
ANY ISSUES.
LET'S LOOK INTO OUR LOCAL
COMMUNITY.
WE'RE TWO MILES FROM DUPONT'S
CHEMICAL -- DUPONT CHEMICAL'S
SPRUANCE, MAKERS OF KEVLAR AND
TYVEK.
USING ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
SCREEN, POLLED THEIR NUMBERS,
JUST A COUPLE MILES AWAY, IF
EVEN THAT.
AND WITH REGARDS TO COMPARING IT
TO THE INSTALLATION, LOWER THAN
US ON THE PEOPLE OF COLOR, SAME
AS LOW INCOME, HIGHER
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, HIGHER
HAZARDOUS WASTE PROXIMITY, NOT
SURPRISING BECAUSE THEY ARE NEXT
TO A CHEMICAL PLANT.
AND THEN LOWER ON THE CANCER
RISK AND LOWER ON THE
PARTICULATE MATTER.
HOW DO WE ENGAGE WITH BIGGER
COMMUNITY?
WE HAVE NEIGHBORHOOD AND
COMMUNITY.
DUPONT HAS WHAT THEY CALL A
COMMUNITY ADVISORY PANEL.
AND THAT'S MADE UP OF THEIR
STAFF, ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICE,
SAFETY OFFICE, VARIOUS
DIRECTORS, VERY HIGH LEVEL.
YOU HAVE HIGH LEVEL
REPRESENTATION, HIGH LEVEL
BUY-IN.
AND THOSE FOLKS ARE THERE AS
WELL AS LOCAL COMMUNITY IS
THERE, VARIOUS COMMUNITY GROUPS,
VARIOUS NEIGHBORHOOD
ASSOCIATIONS, COMMUNITY
GOVERNMENT IS THERE, POLICE SHOW
UP, FIRE DEPARTMENT SHOWS UP,
COUNTY SHERIFF SHOWS UP.
NEARBY BUSINESSES, WHICH I'M
INCLUDING US EVERY QUARTER,
DISCUSSING ENVIRONMENTAL
INITIATIVES ON THE INSTALLATION
AND LOCAL CHALLENGES AFFECTING
OUR JOINT COMMUNITY.
NOW, WE LOOK AT THE
ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY OPERATION
ALSO OF THE PLANT.
THEY HAD A VERY -- HIGH LEVEL OF
THE HAZARDOUS WASTE PROXIMITY
AND STILL A HIGH LEVEL OF
PARTICULATE MATTER SO WHAT IS
DUPONT DOING TO ADDRESS THOSE
ISSUES?
AND WHAT CAN THE REST OF US
ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT HAVE
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
AS DUPONT DOES, WHAT CAN WE DO
TO HELP LOWER THOSE NUMBERS OR
WHAT KIND OF ADVICE, WHAT
LESSONS LEARNED DO WE HAVE TO
SHARE WITH DUE MONTH, VICE VERSA
AND TALK ABOUT VARIOUS
INITIATIVES THAT AFFECT THE
COMMUNITY.
WE ARE VERY CLOSE TO THE JAMES
RIVER.
AND WE ARE VERY CLOSE TO A MAJOR
TRIBUTARY, FALLING CREEK, THAT
FEEDS INTO THE JAMES RIVER.
THAT FALL CREEK IS ALMOST
ADJACENT TO DUPONT, CLOSE TO US.
THE COUNTY IS DEVELOPING A PARK
THAT SORT OF LINES THE FALLING
CREEK AND GOES DOWN THE JAMES
RIVER, A LOCAL HOMEOWNER DONATED
A GREAT AMOUNT OF PROPERTY.
SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT AND
HOW WE CAN IMPROVE THE
RECREATIONAL AREA WITHIN OUR
COMMUNITY.
AS IMPORTANTLY WE TALK ABOUT,
OKAY, WE HAVE BOTH AREAS HAVE
VERY HIGH OR VERY LOW
EMPLOYMENT.
AND LOW INCOME, HIGH
UNEMPLOYMENT.
WHAT CAN WE DO?
WE WORK OR WE TALK WITH -- WE
HAVE, I'M MUMBLING, WE HAVE
VARIOUS BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS
ATTEND THESE MEETINGS.
SO THEY HAVE -- THERE'S A PRIME
CORRIDOR, ROUTE 1, NORTH TO
SOUTH, SOUTH TO NORTH,
THROUGHOUT VIRGINIA.
AND IT REALLY LINKS DSCR WITH
DUPONT.
AND THERE'S A BIG INCENTIVE TO
TRY TO REVITALIZE THIS AREA.
TRY TO ELIMINATE THE -- NOT THE
COMMUNITIES BUT ELIMINATE THE
BUSINESSES THAT ARE UNSIGHTLY OR
CLEAN UP ABANDONED UNSIGHTLY
BUSINESS IS, THINGS THAT AREN'T
ATTRACTIVE, TRYING TO BRING IN
NEW BUSINESSES, TRYING TO BRING
IN NEW RESTAURANTS, AND THEN
WITH THAT, IF YOU CAN CLEAN UP
THE NEIGHBORHOOD, MAKE A
DESIRABLE PLACE TO STAY THAT HAS
PLACES YOU CAN EAT, STORES YOU
CAN SHOP AT, GROCERY STORES YOU
CAN GET FOOD AT, AND HOUSING
WILL COME AFTER THAT.
SO THIS ADVISORY PANEL IS
DISCUSSING THIS THING,
DISCUSSING WHAT WE CAN DO TO
CONTRIBUTE IT TO THAT
INITIATIVE.
I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A SEC.
WHEN WE MEET WITH NEIGHBORS,
WHEN WE MEET WITH COMMUNITY, WE
TAKE THOSE THINGS BACK AGAIN, AS
I MENTIONED, WITH EMPLOYEES.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ASK
QUESTIONS AND TO LISTEN TO WHAT
THEY SAY AND TRY TO ACT ON THOSE
CONCERNS.
SO WE TRY TO TAKE THOSE CONCERNS
AND TURN THEM BACK INTO
ENVIRONMENTAL OBJECTIVE WITHIN
OUR EMS.
I JUST MENTIONED WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT REENERGIZING ROUTE 1.
DEFENSE SUPPLY CENTER DOWN TO
DUPONTS.
WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE
TRYING TO DO THAT WE VOLUNTEERED
TO DO AS I MENTIONED OUR
INSTALLATION IS 80 YEARS OLD.
WE'VE NEVER HAD A SIDEWALK IN
FRONT OF OUR INSTALLATION.
THERE'S NEVER BEEN A MAILS TO
WALK -- A PLACE TO WALK ON ROUTE
1, WHICH IS VERY BUSY.
WE'RE GOING TO ACTUALLY INSTALL
SIDEWALKS IN FRONT OF OUR
INSTALLATION, JUST TO FACILITATE
THIS DEVELOPMENT OF THIS
COMMUNITY TO ENHANCE PEOPLE TO
BE ABLE TO WALK TO GET FROM ONE
PLACE TO ANOTHER WITHOUT HAVING
TO WORRY ABOUT PUTTING THEIR OWN
LIFE IN DANGER.
AND THEN WHAT OTHER EFFORTS CAN
WE DIRECTLY CONTROL?
WE'RE A SUPERFUND SITE, WHICH
AFFECTS OUR IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORS
BECAUSE IT'S GROUND WATER AND
THAT GROUND WATER IN SOME PLACES
DOES LEAD THE INSTALLATION.
SO WE'RE WORKING VERY, VERY HARD
TO MINIMIZE OUR HOT SPOTS, TO,
YEAH, MINIMIZE HOT SPOTS AND
REDUCE IF NOT DRAW BACK IN THE
SIZE AND STRENGTH OF THE
HAZARDOUS CONTAMINANTS TO
MINIMIZE ON OUR NATION.
THE BULLET ON PREVENTING STORM
WATER, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE
FAMILIAR WITH RICHMOND, THE SOIL
HERE IS TERRIBLE.
IT IS VERY -- IF YOU LIKE CLAY,
YOU'LL LOVE IT.
HIGH CONCENTRATION OF CLAY WHICH
MEANS WHEN IT RAINS AND IN
RICHMOND IT DOESN'T SPRINKLE, IT
DOWNPOURS.
SO THE RAIN COMES DOWN IN A
HURRY.
WITH ALL THAT CLAY IN THE SOIL
THE WATER TENDS TO SIT THERE.
WHAT WAS HAPPENING WITH OUR
NEIGHBORS WE'RE ON AN ELEVATION
AND SOME PARTS OF THE
INSTALLATION, YOU CAN'T SEE MY
HANDS BUT WE'RE ON AN ELEVATION,
ON TOP, WATER FLOWS DOWN TO
THEM.
AND WE AT TIMES WERE FLOODING
THEIR YARDS.
AND THEY WEREN'T REAL HAPPY.
BUT THROUGH THE RESTORATION
ADVISORY BOARD AND THROUGH
WORKING WITH OUR NEIGHBORS THEY
LET US KNOW THAT AND WE WERE
ABLE TO, IN AREAS MOST
SUSCEPTIBLE TO RUNOFF, WE WOULD
CAPTURE THE RUNOFF, INDENTATION,
RAISE THE SOIL WHERE THE WATER
WOULD SIT AND WOULD PUT IN
BIOUNITS TO FILTER AS IT GOES
INTO THE GROUND WATER SO WE
COULD STOP THAT FROM FLOODING
OUR NEIGHBORS' BACK YARDS AND
RUINING ANY KIND OF FAMILY
OUTING THEY MIGHT WANT TO HAVE.
AND THEN IN THE LAST BULLET, WE
ALWAYS KEEP OUR NEIGHBORS UP TO
DATE.
WE ALWAYS LET THEM KNOW WHAT'S
GOING ON ON THE INSTALLATION.
I WAS REMISS NOT TELLING YOU
WE'RE DOING SOME DEMOLITIONS, I
DID SAY THAT, WE GO DOOR TO DOOR
AND WE'RE VERY IMPORTANT ON THAT
BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO
DISTURB -- WE DON'T WANT
SURPRISES WITH OUR NEIGHBORS,
THAT DOESN'T -- THAT NEVER GOES
OVER WELL.
OKAY.
MY LAST CHART.
I'M A HUGE ADVOCATE OF EMS.
IT'S WORKED FOR US.
IT'S OUR WAY OF DOING BUSINESS.
INITIALLY WHEN IT STARTED IT WAS
STRUGGLE, NOW IT'S WHAT WE DO
AND HOW WE DO BUSINESS EVERY
DAY.
AND EMS, CAN YOU TAKE AN EMS IF
YOU HAVE ONE NOW, IT'S
FANTASTIC.
IF YOU WANT TO BUILD ONE IT'S
EVEN BETTER.
YOU CAN USE THOSE SYSTEMS AND
DESIGN THOSE SYSTEMS TO MEET
YOUR NEEDS.
AND HOPEFULLY AS I JUST SORT OF
BRIEFLY TOUCHED ON IT, YOU CAN
MEET NEEDS WITH REGARDS TO
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, LISTENING
TO YOUR NEIGHBORS AND TO YOUR
COMMUNITY.
AND I'VE SAID THIS SEVERAL
TIMES, WORKING WITH YOUR
COMMUNITY, BE IT YOUR EMPLOYEES,
YOUR IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORS OR
LARGER COMMUNITY, ALWAYS A
TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION.
LISTEN TO THEIR CONCERNS.
MAKE AN EFFORT TO LISTEN TO
THEIR CONCERNS, REALLY MAKE AN
EFFORT TO LISTEN TO THEIR
CONCERNS, ACT WHEN YOU CAN AND
CELEBRATE LITTLE VICTORIES.
SOMEONE ASKED FROM YESTERDAY'S
PRESENTATION HOW DO I TEAR DOWN
THE STOVE PIPES?
EVERYBODY LIKES TO GET THEIR --
WHAT I SAY, EVERYBODY LIKES TO
GET THEIR PICTURE TAKEN,
EVERYBODY SMILES WHEN THEY ARE
GETTING THEIR PICTURE TAKEN,
HOLDING AN AWARD.
CELEBRATE THE LITTLE SUCCESSES,
WHEN YOU WORK TOGETHER AND YOU
HAVE SUCCESS THEN THAT JUST
BREEDS TRUST AND MAKES THINGS --
MAKES EVERYTHING EASIER DOWN THE
ROAD.
AND I ALWAYS LEAVE THIS, I'M A
HUGE FAN OF EPA, HUGE FRIEND OF
JOSE AND WORKED WITH HIM FOR A
LONG TIME BUT ALWAYS END EVERY
BRIEFING, I HAVE BORROWED SO
MUCH OR INFORMATION, I SHOULD
HAVE ASTERISKS ON EVERYTHING.
THERE'S SO MANY NEED IDEAS YOU
CAN BORROW FROM OTHER PEOPLE SO
YOU DON'T NEED TO REINVENT THE
WHEEL.
IT'S ALREADY BEEN PROVEN.
IF YOU EVER HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
OR IF YOU EVER HAVE ANYTHING
THAT YOU THINK I MIGHT OR WE AT
DLS RICHMOND MIGHT HELP YOU
WITH, SEND ME AN E-MAIL.
I'VE GOTTEN SEVERAL FROM
YESTERDAY'S DISCUSSION, FEEL
FREE TO GIVE ME A CALL AND WE
WILL GIVE YOU, IF WE CAN,
WHATEVER WE CAN.
THAT'S IT FOR ME.
JOSE, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS?
>> YES, WE HAVE TONS OF
QUESTIONS.
WE HAVE A FEW MINUTES.
I PROMISED PEOPLE I WOULD GIVE A
FIVE-MINUTE BREAK AT THE END OF
YOUR QUESTIONS AND WE'LL BE
BACK.
I THINK QUESTIONS ARE GREAT.
THEY ARE CRITICAL.
LET ME START READING SOME OF
THESE QUESTIONS.
THIS IS FROM LUCY.
LUCY IS ASKING DO YOU ANTICIPATE
FEDERAL EMS HAVING TO PERFORM
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AUDIT?
IF SO, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON
HOW THIS WILL LOOK?
>> NO, WE HAVEN'T YET.
SO I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.
THE ANSWER IS NO.
I I'M NOT SURE HOW IT WOULD
LOOK.
TO BE HONEST EVEN THOUGH WE'VE
BEEN DEALING WITH WHAT MIGHT BE
CONSIDERED ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE, I'M STILL LEARNING SO
MUCH HERE.
>> BEAUTIFUL.
NEXT QUESTION IS IN TERMS OF
THIS IS FROM KEVIN, AT THE AIR
FORCE.
WHAT IS YOUR RECOMMENDATION ON
HOW TO APPROACH ABOVE-GROUND
STORAGE TANK, STATE INSPECTOR,
WHEN THEY DETERMINE THE
INSTALLATION HAS (INDISCERNIBLE)
HUMIDITY AND THE INSPECTOR
CANNOT DO THE INSPECTION,
BASICALLY WE DON'T HAVE TO
WELCOME THEM, THEY DON'T HAVE NO
JURISDICTION OVER THOSE THINGS,
WHAT IS YOUR APPROACH FROM THE
EMS POINT OF VIEW?
>> OH, I WILL TELL YOU WE'VE HAD
PAST COMMANDERS THAT, YOU KNOW,
HAVE ACTUALLY TURNED INSPECTORS
AWAY , AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT
THAT DOESN'T GO OVER REALLY
WELL.
AND WHATEVER THE SAYING IS, YOU
MIGHT WIN THE BATTLE BUT YOU'RE
GOING TO LOSE THE WAR.
SO WE DO JUST THE OPPOSITE.
WE WELCOME OUR INSPECTORS, WE
HAVE -- MY OFFICE, WE HAVE TWO
LARGE INFORMATIONAL ELECTRONIC
SIGNS AND WE PUT UP THE
INSPECTORS' NAMES WITH A WELCOME
SIGN, THE DAYS THEY ARE THERE.
AND I TELL, OF YOU -- I TELL
YOU, PEOPLE WILL GO UNDER THE
MARQUEE AND HAVE THEIR PICTURE
TAKEN WHEN THEIR NAME IS
FLASHED.
WHERE OF WHAT WE LEARNED DEALING
WITH OUR BAD REPUTATION, ALSO
WITH THE REGULATORS, WE HAVE AN
OPEN BOOK, OPEN DOOR POLICY.
IF IT'S NOT RIGHT AND SOMEONE
COMES IN, I LOVE AUDITS, IT'S
ONLY GOING TO MAKE YOU BETTER,
INSPECTIONS MAKE YOU STRONGER.
IT MIGHT STING AND TAKE WORK TO
FIX IT BUT IT WILL ONLY IMPROVE
YOUR PROGRAM.
>> A COMMENT FROM MICHELE AT
NIH.
GOOD PARENTHESES TAKES, A LOT OF
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE
PRESENTATION.
THAT IS POSITIVE.
>> THANK YOU.
THE COLLABORATION AND SUCCESS,
BRINGS TRUST AND GOOD THINGS, IT
DOESN'T HURT.
>> LET ME SEE OTHER E-MAILS.
I GOT ANOTHER QUESTION THAT I
WANT TO PARAPHRASE IN TERMS OF
WHEN YOU HAVE THE EMS GROUP AND
COMPLIANCE GROUP THAT DO NOT
AGREE, THEY HAVE CONFLICT, WHAT
DO YOU RECOMMEND FOR THEM TO
WORK TOGETHER IN IMPLEMENTING
THESE AND A GREAT SUCCESSFUL
PROGRAM?
>> THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION.
THAT CAME UP YEARS AGO, WHAT ANY
OFFICE, WHEN AN OFFICE FALLS
BACK ON JUST REGULATION AND
CITING REGULATION SAYING, HEY,
RCRA SAYS THIS OR THE VIRGINIA
COMMONWEALTH SAYS THIS, THEREOF
WE HAVE TO DO IT, THE TECH WITH
ANYTHING ELSE, PEOPLE DON'T LIKE
TO HAVE THAT SORT OF SHOVED DOWN
THEM.
SO WHAT WE ALWAYS TRY TO BUILD
THE EMS, IMPLEMENT THESE VARIOUS
MANDATES AND PURSUING
ENVIRONMENTAL OBJECTIVES IS TO
REALLY DEMONSTRATE AND SHOW THE
VALUE THAT IT BROUGHT TO THE
INSTALLATION AND THEN THROUGH
THAT THE VALUE IT BROUGHT TO THE
ORGANIZATION.
SO, IT SOUND CORNY BUT IT'S
REALLY KIND OF A WIN-WIN THING.
IF I CAN MAKE -- SOMEONE ASKED
THIS MORNING FROM YESTERDAY'S
TALK, HOW DO YOU WIN -- BREAK
DOWN STOVE PIPES?
YOU WORK WITH PEOPLE AND KEEP
WORKING WITH PEOPLE AND KEEP
WORKING WITH PEOPLE, AND THEN
YOU TRY TO SORT OF, YOU KNOW --
HEY, LET'S TRY TO DO IT THIS WAY
AND THEN IF IT'S SUCCESS, YOU
SHARE THOSE SUCCESSES WITH THEM.
ONE THING THEY SAY, WELL, TELL
YOUR BOSS, YOU HAVE GREAT IDEA,
MAKE IT SOUND LIKE IT'S HIS OR
HER IDEA, SOMETHING SIMILAR.
I'M CERTAINLY NOT SAYING YOU
IGNORE THE REGULATIONS, THAT YOU
CAN'T DO.
YOU CAN'T DO THAT.
THAT'S A MANDATE AND THAT'S
MANDATORY.
BUT IT'S MUCH EASIER WHEN YOU
CAN SPIN COMPLIANCE WITH
REGULATION AS BENEFITING
SOMETHING ON THE INSTALLATION OR
THE ORGANIZATION, AND IT ENDS UP
IN A MUCH EASIER SELL.
>> THE FINAL TWO QUESTIONS
BEFORE WE GO TO THE NEXT
SPEAKER, WE'LL GIVE THEM A
FIVE-MINUTE BREAK, WILL YOU
SHARE A COPY OF YOUR INTERESTED
PARTIES (INDISCERNIBLE) AS A
BLANK TEMPLATE?
THE PERSON THAT'S INTERESTED, I
WILL SEND YOU TO THE E-MAIL.
WHAT INFORMATION IS COLLECTED IN
MAKING DETERMINATION FOR
INCLUSION IN YOUR EMS CODE,
FIRST CAN YOU SHARE THE BLANK
TEMPLATE OF THAT SPREADSHEET.
>> ABSOLUTELY, A BLANK TEMPLATE,
A FULL TEMPLATE.
YOU CAN SEE THE COLUMNS AND HOW
IT'S FILLED IN.
EVERYTHING WE HAVE IN OUR EMS,
AGAIN, BOTH MY DAUGHTERS ARE
ONLINE SO THEY ARE GOING TO KILL
ME FOR THIS ONE, EVERYTHING IS
AN OPEN BOOK.
I'M NOT GOING TO HIDE ANYTHING.
THE AUDITORS SEE IT, THERE'S NO
REASON YOU CAN'T.
I SHARE ANYTHING.
>> THE SECOND PART IS WHAT
INFORMATION IS COLLECTED,
DOCUMENTED, MAKING THE
DETERMINATION FOR INCLUSION IN
YOUR EMS CODE?
>> WELL, THE THING THAT --
HERE'S THE FALLBACK ON IT'S YOUR
EMS.
SO I HAVE FOUND WHEN DEALING
WITH TH AUDITORS IF YOU CAN
EXPLAIN IT, IF YOU CAN JUSTIFY
IT, THEY ARE GOING TO SAY, OKAY,
THAT MAKES SENSE.
SO OUR -- WE REALLY SAT DOWN AND
PULLED ALL THE MINDS TOGETHER,
ENVIRONMENTAL MINDS, COMMUNITY
MINDS, WHATEVER, OKAY, WHO IS IT
THAT WE DEAL WITH?
AND WE REALLY JUST STARTED WITH
IF I LOOK AT EMS RESIDING IN
ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICE, WE STARTED
WITH INSTALLATION SUPPORT, WE'RE
RESPONSIBLE FOR COMMANDERS, ARMY
GUYS, RESPONSIBLE FOR
INSTALLATION, SO WE START WITH
THERE.
HOW DOES THE EMS INTERFACE WITH
THOSE OFFICES?
WHAT DO WE EXPECT FROM THEM AND
WHAT DO THEY GIVE US AND EXPECT
FROM US?
AND THEN WE JUST EXPANDED THAT.
ONCE WE WENT THROUGH THE
ORGANIZATION, WE WENT TO THE
INSTALLATION, WHAT DO TENANTS
EXPECT FROM US AND NEED FROM US?
ONCE YOU HAVE THOSE DOWN, LET'S
JOE -- GO OUTSIDE, WHAT DO
NEIGHBORS AND COMMUNITY EXPECT?
TO INCLUDE DLA, WHAT DOES DLA
EXPECT?
EVEN THE REGULATORS.
REALLY YOU COULD MAKE IT ALMOST
AS SHORT AS YOU WANT OR AS LONG
AS YOU WANT AS LONG AS THAT WHEN
SOMEONE THOSE UP, BENEFIT OF
EXTERNAL AUDIT, SOMEBODY SHOWS
UP WHO HAS DONE THESE A MILLION
TIMES, AND IF YOU'RE ABLE TO
JUSTIFY, EXPLAIN AND JUSTIFY WHY
YOUR LIST IS THIS SHORT OR THIS
LONG, WHO YOU INCLUDED THEN IT
WORKS FOR EVERYBODY.
>> BEAUTIFUL.
JIMMY, LAST TWO THINGS NIGHT TO
GIVE THESE PEOPLE A BREAK.
>> YEP.
>> NUMBER ONE, ANOTHER PERSON ON
THE CALL SAID GREAT JOB, JIM.
GREAT LEADERSHIP AND RESOURCES.
YOU HAVE IMPLEMENTED.
JIMMY, MY FINAL THOUGHT, YOU'RE
ALWAYS GREAT TO YOUR CHILDREN
THAT ARE LISTENING, I AM A
FRIEND OF YOUR FATHER FOR MANY
YEARS, AND I AM GRATEFUL AND
HONORED TO CALL YOUR FATHER A
FRIEND.
MY SON ALSO IS LISTENING TO YOU.
THEREFORE THIS IS A FAMILY
AFFAIR.
[ CHUCKLES ]
>> WE GO WAY BACK, WE WENT
THROUGH TOUGH TIMES TOGETHER AND
DID A HECK OF A LOT OF GOOD
THINGS TOGETHER.
CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT THE
FUTURE HOLDS.
>> WE HAVE 150 VIEWERS NOW, THIS
IS AMAZING.
>> THAT'S FANTASTIC.
THANK YOU.
>> I AM PUSHING THIS BEYOND THE
BREAK BECAUSE THIS IS GREAT
INFORMATION.
I THINK THIS IS VALUABLE TO
LISTEN TO JIMMY.
HE BROUGHT US GREAT INFORMATION
ABOUT HOW TO RELATE THIS TO
GREAT TOPICS.
I NEED TO GIVE YOU A BREAK.
WE'LL SEE YOU BACK IN FIVE
MINUTES.
PLEASE, FIVE MINUTES.
I WILL PUT US ON LET'S SAY 1:45.
I KNOW I'M RUNNING LATE BUT
GREAT INFORMATION.
BACK AT 1:45.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE.
>> THANK YOU ALL.
>> THE TITLE 6 EXPERT SPENT FIVE
YEARS COLLEAGUE UP A TITLE 6
BACKLOG, AND ANGUS, AND HE
WORKED WITH MATT LEE.
WE HAVE A LONG AND COMMITTED
HISTORY OF DOING E.J. BEFORE IT
WAS POPULAR, WE'LL DO IT IF IT
EVER LOSES FAVOR, I'M HOPEFUL IT
WON'T.
ANGUS, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
YOU'RE HEARING FROM ME, FROM
REGGIE, ON DETAIL NOW, AND
ANGUS.
WE LIKE TO TELL PEOPLE WORRY
GOING TO GIVE AN OVERVIEW,
EXECUTIVE ORDERS, HOW DO YOU
MAKE THIS REAL IN YOUR
ORGANIZATION, WHAT ARE THE STEPS
AND SCREENING TOOLS.
THIS SETS THE FRAMEWORK.
EVERY PERSON IN THE UNITED
STATES HAS THE RIGHT TO CLEAN
AIR AND CLEAN WATER.
THANK YOU, ADMINISTRATOR REGAN.
LET'S TALK DEFINITIONS.
FAIR TREATMENT AND MEANINGFUL
INVOLVEMENT OF ALL PEOPLE WITH
RESPECT TO DEVELOPMENT,
IMPLEMENTATION AND ENFORCEMENT.
I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T
SAY THE FIRST ORGANIZATION
WITHIN EPA TO PUT OUT A --
DON'T BE SURPRISED IF OECA IS
MORE ACTIVE.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
YOU SAY THIS.
THESE TERMS ARE USED
INTERCHANGEABLY.
EQUALITY, EQUITY AND JUSTICE.
EQUALITY SAYS EVERYONE GETS THE
SAME THING.
EQUITY IS WHEN YOU SAY THIS
INDIVIDUAL IS SHORT SO WE'LL
GIVE HER MORE, AFFIRMATIVE
ACTION.
WE KNOW IN AMERICA ON THE FAR
LEFT, THE GUY WHO HAD HIS BOX
TAKEN AWAY IS ANGRY.
JUSTICE IS THE ROOT CAUSE, STYLE
OF FENCE.
IF YOU DO A ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS
YOU'RE AT JUSTICE.
E.J. IS A MOVEMENT, GRASS ROOTS,
MANY POINT TO THE UNIT THE --
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST STUDY IN
1987.
THE MOVEMENT SEEKS TO INVOLVE
THOSE POLITICALLY
DISENFRANCHISED OR ECONOMICS
INCAPABLE OF MAKING CHANGES,
RENTING VERSUS OPENING, WORKING
HARD TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE
AND CAN'T GO TO MEETINGS,
STRIVES TO END RACISM.
WE COULD TALK ABOUT RED LINING
PARTICULARLY IN COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR WHERE THEY DID NOT GET THE
LARGESS OF PROTECTION.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
YOU KNOW ABOUT THE THREE
EXECUTIVE ORDERS, 13985 FIRST
WEEK OF THE BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION, ADVANCING
VARIABLE THE QUESTION AND
EXECUTIVE ORDER 14008, JUSTICE40
IS THERE.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND
THIS EXECUTIVE ORDER 13985, THE
WHOLE-OF-GOVERNMENT APPROACH,
ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT THE
GOVERNMENT WAS PART OF THE
PROBLEM, USING WHAT SHOULD HAVE
NEUTRAL AND BENIGN LAWS IN
DISCRIMINATORY FASHION.
I COMMEND AND WILL TRY, ANGUS IS
BETTER, TO PUT IN THE CHAT BOX A
17-MINUTE VIDEO THAT TALKS ABOUT
REDLINES AND NEUTRAL COMMISSION
THAT USED REDLINES TO SEGREGATE
AMERICA, MADE IT HARDER FOR
FOLKS TO GET A MORTGAGE IF YOUR
NEIGHBORHOOD WAS REDLINED.
THE ACTUAL DOCUMENTATION FROM
1937 TO 1939 REFERENCES
REDLINING AND NEGROES AND LET'S
PUT THEM HERE WHICH MEANS FOLKS
HAD A HARDER TIME EVEN UNDER THE
G.I. BILL GETTING A MORTGAGE IN
NEIGHBORHOODS REDLINED FOR
HISPANIC AND BLACK AND IN SOME
INSTANCES CHINESE COMMUNITIES.
HAD OF IF -- IF YOU MISSED YOUR
ONE PAYMENT YOUR LAND COULD BE
REPOSSESSED, ONE PAYMENT IN 30
YEARS.
THINK ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO
PASS ON WEALTH AND BEQUEATHING
HAS BEEN A WAY FOR MOST
AMERICANS TO ACCUMULATE WEALTH.
BUY A HOUSE, LIVE IT IN 35
YEARS, IT'S WORTH MORE, THAT'S
SOMETHING TO PASS TO YOUR
CHILDREN, OR TO USE FOR EXTENDED
MEDICAL CARE OR FUND YOUR
GRANDCHILDREN'S COLLEGE, FOR
EXAMPLE.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
WE CAN SHARE THIS SLIDE WHICH
TALKS ABOUT INTERAGENCY COUNCIL,
OMB STUDY, WORKING GROUP TO
START HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT
HOW THE WHOLE GOVERNMENT IS
WORKING TOWARDS REDRESSING
ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
14008 HAS PORTIONS THAT ARE, I
BELIEVE, GROUNDBREAKING IN THIS
MOVEMENT.
IT TALKS ABOUT THE CREATION OF
SEE FIRST, DICTATES HOW WE
REPORT ON FEDERAL FUNDING, 40%
OF FEDERAL FUNDS MUST BE USED IN
UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, DEFINED
USING THE TOOL.
THIS AGAIN IS THE
GOVERNMENT-WIDE APPROACH,
INCLUDES SIGNIFICANT
CONVERSATION ON CLIMATE CRISIS.
WORKING WITH OUR MILITARY
PARTNERS YOU'VE BEEN MOVING
FORWARD WHEN YOU COULDN'T CALL
IT THAT BECAUSE YOU WERE
CONCERNED FOR TROOPS, SUPPLIES,
PLACEMENT WHERE YOU WOULD HAVE
ABILITY TO PROVIDE WATER FOR
FOLKS AND THINK ABOUT WHETHER OR
NOT IF YOU STUCK SOMETHING
SOMEWHERE AND THERE WAS A FLOOD
WHETHER IT WOULD BE DESTROYED.
YOU'RE FORWARD THINKING.
THEY WERE OF THEY WENT TO THE
E.J. COUNCIL, FOLKS WERE
REVIEWING.
THE NEWEST VERSION ARE DUE THE
END OF APRIL, EVERY SIX MONTHS
TO SEE IF FOLKS THINK IT'S
ENOUGH.
THE PLANS ARE IMPORTANT FOR
GETTING AMERICA TO THINK
HONESTLY ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE
AND WHEN ANGUS DOES THE EJSCREEN
WE HAVE THE OEJ ADDED CLIMATE
LENS SO YOU CAN TURN IT ON AND
SEE WHAT AREAS ARE LIKELY TO
FLOOD UNDER CLIMATE CHANGE.
THIS EXECUTIVE ORDER ALSO FORMED
THE WHITE HOUSE E.J. COUNCIL AND
ADVISORY COUNCIL AND TALK ABOUT
STRENGTHENING ENFORCEMENT WITHIN
COMMUNITIES OF CONCERN.
THERE'S A COMMUNITY NOTIFICATION
PROGRAM, FOLKS NEED TO THINK
ABOUT EXPECTATIONS OF HOW YOU
TALK TO THE COMMUNITIES, WHAT'S
GOING ON INSIDE YOUR FENCES THAT
THE SCREENING TOOL AND
ENFORCEMENT STRATEGY AND
JUSTICE40.
I HOPE WE HAVE A ROBUST
CONVERSATION.
WE'RE HERE.
ANGUS?
>> I'D LIKE TO START WITH AN
APOLOGY TO JOSE.
WE GOT WIRES CROSSED.
I MAY HAVE BEEN SCHEDULED TO
PROVIDE A BRIEF INTRODUCTION AND
WE HAD A MIXUP.
I APOLOGIZE.
I'LL DO MY BEST TO SUMMARIZE
EJSCREEN AND TO THE EXTENT
ANYONE MAY HAVE QUESTIONS OR IF
I COULD PROVIDE A SEPARATE
DEMONSTRATION AT ANOTHER TIME,
IF TIME DOESN'T PERMIT.
NEXT STEPS TO INTEGRATE E.J.,
THE SLIDES WILL MIRROR THOSE
SLIDES THIS MORNING AS DID
SAMANTHA'S TO BEGIN THIS
SESSION, BUT JUST IN
REITERATION, AS I PIVOT BACK TO
THE SLIDES HERE, THERE ARE OF
COURSE MYRIAD WAYS YOU CAN
INTEGRATE E.J. INTO YOUR DAILY
WORK, INTO YOUR DAILY PROGRAMS
THROUGH ENFORCEMENT COMPLIANCE,
PERMITTING, COMMUNITY OUTREACH
THAT CAN PERMEATE EACH OF THOSE
INTO ENFORCEMENT COMPLIANCE.
HOW DO WE BEGIN TO INTEGRATE
THESE E.J. PRINCIPLES AND
EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT SAMANTHA
INTRODUCED.
SOME MECHANISMS APPEAR IN THE
FORM OF SCREENING TOOLS,
VEHICLES THAT HELP TO CARRY,
AGAIN, THOSE CONCEPTS,
PRINCIPLES, AUTHORITIES, INTO
YOUR WORK, INTO YOUR PROGRAMS,
EJSCREEN AND CEJST ARE GREAT
EXAMPLES OF SCREENING TOOLS AS
THOSE TYPES OF VEHICLES.
THIS WILL BE ONE SLIDE ON
EJSCREEN, HAPPY TO SPEAK MORE.
IT'S EPA'S WEB BASED TOOL FOR
SCREENING AND MAPPING, EJSCREEN
HAS A SET NUMBER OF DATASETS
THAT APPEAR IN THE SAME EXACT
FORM WITH THE SAME RELIABILITY,
SAME CONSISTENCY, FOR EVERY
LOCATION ACROSS THE UNITED
STATES.
THERE ARE 12 ENVIRONMENTAL
DATASETS, 7 DEMOGRAPHIC
DATASETS, THERE ARE 12 COMBINED
ENVIRONMENTAL DEMOGRAPHIC
DATASETS AND THERE ARE A HAND
FUL OF OTHERS, SO IT'S A ROBUST
TOOL TO GAIN A SCREENING LEVEL
PERSPECTIVE OF A PARTICULAR
AREA.
THE CAVEAT, IT IS JUST A TOOL,
NOT A STARTING POINT.
THE VEHICLE TO APPLY INTO DAILY
PRACTICE, JUST A STARTING POINT.
NEXT STEP IS ALWAYS TO ENGAGE A
COMMUNITY, TO LEARN MORE ON THE
GROUND WITH ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION BEYOND THE SCREENING
TOOL.
THE REAL STRENGTH OR YOU MIGHT
SAY DIFFERENTIATOR RELATIVE TO
OTHER SCREENING TOOLS, ONLINE
RESOURCES, IS THE COMBINES
ENVIRONMENTAL AND DEMOGRAPHIC
DATA.
IT DOES SO IN A WAY TO HIGHLIGHT
AREAS WHERE VULNERABLE
POPULATIONS MIGHT BE
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED,
THAT COMBINATION OF DEMOGRAPHICS
FOR POPULATION DATA, AND
ENVIRONMENTAL FOR
DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACTS.
EJSCREEN IS AVAILABLE AT
EPA.GOV/EJSCREEN.
YOU CAN ALSO GOOGLE EJSCREEN AND
IT APPEAR OR ANY OTHER SEARCH
ENGINE.
IT'S OUR PRIMARY TOOL FOR
PRELIMINARY E.J. SCREENING BUT
ANOTHER TOOL CALLED CJEST THAT
CAN IS UP OF COMPLEMENT AND
SUPPLEMENT.
CJEST IS THE CLIMATE AND
ECONOMIC JUSTICE SCREENING TOOL,
SINGULAR TOOL.
THE FIRST VERSION JUST BECAME
AVAILABLE IN THE LAST MONTH OR
SO.
AND THE COOL IS REALLY DESIGNED
SPECIFICALLY TO HELP IDENTIFY
DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES,
FOCUSING ON THAT TERM, THAT
ADJECTIVE, DISADVANTAGED.
COMMUNITIES MARGINALIZED,
UNDERSERVED, OVERBURDENED BY
POLLUTION.
AND IN A WAY THAT'S PERHAPS
SIMILAR TO EJSCREEN, CJEST JUST
PROVIDE DEMOGRAPHIC DATA,
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA, AND
EVALUATES THEM IN TANDEM TO
PROVIDE THESE CHARACTERIZATIONS
OF DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES.
THIS TIES TO JUSTICE40 WHICH
SAMANTHA MENTIONED, IN EXTENSION
OF 14008, TYING BACK TOGETHER
WHERE EJSCREEN WAS A REFLECT OF
12898, THAT EXECUTIVE ORDER FROM
1994, CJEST TIES TO 14008, FROM
2021.
THIS CURRENT VERSION OF THE TOOL
ALSO LIKE EJSCREEN HAS
NATIONALLY CONSISTENT DATASETS,
DATASETS THAT ARE OF THE SAME
RESOLUTION, SAME RELIABILITY FOR
ANY LOCATION IN THE COUNTRY,
LIKE EJSCREEN YOU CAN SEARCH
CJEST, THE WEBSITE NAME IS
LONGER THAN EJSCREEN, IT'S
PROBABLY EASIEST TO SEARCH CJEST
BUT IT'S PUBLICLY AVAILABLE,
FREE OF CHARGE FOR ANYONE WITH
AN INTERNET CONNECTION.
TO CONTRAST BECAUSE I'VE
MENTIONED THAT THEY ARE BOTH
SCREENING TOOLS THAT PROVIDE
DEMOGRAPHIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL
DATA, AND WHICH DO SO IN A
NATIONALLY CONSISTENT WAY THERE
ARE SOME DIFFERENCES.
FIRST CJEST DOESN'T REPLACE
EJSCREEN, CERTAINLY DOESN'T
REPLACE EJSCREEN FOR OUR
PURPOSES AT EPA.
WE'VE RECEIVED SOME QUESTIONS TO
THAT EFFECT, IS CJEST THE NEW
EJSCREEN SHOULD WE USE IT
INSTEAD OF EJSCREEN, THEY ARE
DIFFERENT TOOLS.
FIRST, THEY HAVE DIFFERENT
GEOGRAPHY, EJSCREEN PROVIDES
RESOLUTION AT THE BLOCK GROUP
LEVEL, REALLY THE SMALLEST OR
AMONG THE SMALLEST GEOGRAPHIC
UNITS FOR THIS DATA IS PROVIDED.
CJEST PROVIDES DATA AT CENSUS
TRACT LEVEL, UNIT THAT'S BIGGER,
NOT EQUIVALENT COMPARISON.
CJEST DOESN'T INCORPORATE RACE
AND ETHNICITY.
THAT GETS US TO THE BIGGEST
DIFFERENCE, CJEST IS A LABELING
TOOL, IT LABELS COMMUNITIES AS
DISADVANTAGED.
EJSCREEN DOES NOT LABEL ANY
COMMUNITY AS ANYTHING.
IT'S A SCREENING TOOL TO CLARIFY
AREAS OF E.J. CONCERN, THAT'S
THE CORE DIFFERENCE CONCERN,
USED TOGETHER SUPPLEMENTING ONE
ANOTHER, GIVEN DIFFERENCES AND
POTENTIAL DIFFERENT PURPOSES AND
APPLICATIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE
UNDER EITHER ORIENTATIONS WE'LL
CONTINUE TO USE IT, I'D BE MORE
THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS
ABOUT EJSCREEN OR CJEST OR TOOLS
THAT MAY COME TO MIND WHICH YOU
MAY BE CURIOUS FOR EJSCREEN
PURPOSES.
FINAL SLIDE.
WE TEND TO END THESE
PRESENTATIONS JUST AS WE BEGIN
THEM.
WE HAVE THIS QUOTE FROM OUR
CURRENT ADMINISTRATOR, WITH THE
IDEA THAT EVERYONE IN THE
COUNTRY HAS THE RIGHT TO CLEAN
AIR, CLEAN WATER, HEALTHIER LIFE
NO MATTER WHO THEY ARE.
AND HOPEFULLY THAT MESSAGE THAT
THEME HAS FLOWED THROUGH THE
SLIDES SO FAR.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK I APOLOGIZE FOR THE
INTRODUCTION BEFOREHAND BUT
REMAIN READY AND MORE THAN
WILLING TO HELP WITH ANY
QUESTIONS OR PROVIDE MORE
ORIENTATION PENDING
AVAILABILITY.
>> YOU HANDLED THAT GREAT.
I LOVED THE PRESENTATION.
WE HAVE PLENTY OF TIME.
WE'RE SPLITTING THIS PANEL INTO
FIRST INFORMATION FROM YOU AND
SAMANTHA AND REGGIE, AND LATER
INTO A PANEL IN HOW TO
INTEGRATE.
BEFORE GOING THERE WE HAVE
AVAILABLE AROUND 20 MINUTES.
>> OKAY.
>> WE HAVE PLENTY OF TIME.
CAN YOU TAKE US BACK TO THE EJC
AND WALK US -- EXCUSE ME,
EJSCREEN, I'M STILL USING THE
OLD TERM.
AND GIVE US EXTRA INFORMATION
AND ALSO IF YOU CAN RUN SOME
EXAMPLES, USING THE SYSTEM.
OR IF YOU CAN OPEN ON YOUR END
AND SHOW US HOW THE SYSTEM
WORKS.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
WILL DO.
I'M GOING TO CLOSE THIS
PRESENTATION BRIEFLY.
AND I WILL JUST TAKE A LOOK TO
SEE IF I CAN PULL UP THE SLIDES
THAT GO INTO MORE DEPTH.
REGGIE, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU
WOULD ADD?
YOU MAY HAVE BEEN SET TO TALK
ABOUT THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS BUT
--
>> NO, NO, NO.
I THINK THE GOAL IS TO INTRODUCE
PEOPLE TO E.J. A LITTLE BIT
DEEPER, OFFER AN EXPLANATION AND
GIVE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT
EJSCREEN AND THEN TAKE ALL THAT
INFORMATION AND KIND OF COLLIDE
WITH EMS AND HOW CAN WE AT
FACILITY LEVEL, CAN USE THE
TOOL, WE CAN USE THE CONCEPT,
INTEGRATE THAT WITH THINGS YOU
SAID, THE COMPLIANCE ASPECT,
PERMITTING ASPECT, SCREENING
TOOLS, TAKE ALL THAT IN AND WORK
THE SYSTEM IN.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THAT MAKES SENSE.
I WAS DEFERRING TO REGGIE FOR A
MOMENT BECAUSE HE HADN'T GOTTEN
TO SPEAK DURING THE
PRESENTATION, IN CASE THERE WAS
ANYTHING HE WOULD ADD TO WHAT WE
DISCUSSED SO FAR.
REGGIE, ANY THOUGHTS ON YOUR
END?
>> I WOULD JUST TAKE SOME THINGS
YOU SAID FURTHER.
YOU MENTIONED VERY CLEARLY THAT
EJSCREEN IS A SCREENING TOOL, SO
STARTING POINT.
AND IT IS A STARTING POINT.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE
UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S JUST
ANOTHER SOURCE OF INFORMATION
THAT HELPS YOU TO BETTER
CHARACTERIZE COMMUNITIES, BETTER
UNDERSTAND WHO LIVES THERE,
GIVES YOU SOME INSIGHT INTO SOME
THINGS THAT MIGHT BE GOING ON.
AND MIGHT HELP POINT YOU IN THE
DIRECTION THAT YOU NEED TO GO,
AS YOU START TO WORK IN A
COMMUNITY AND WORK ON THE
VARIOUS INITIATIVES THAT HAVE
BEEN PUT INTO PLAY.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO
UNDERSTAND THAT THIS DATA HELPS
YOU TO UNDERSTAND, HELPS YOU TO
KNOW, AND IS A STARTING POINT
THAT HOPEFULLY WILL LEAD TO A
LONGER TERM RELATIONSHIP IN
COMMUNITIES, GETTING TO KNOW WHO
IS THERE, WHAT'S GOING ON,
UNDERSTANDING WHAT IT'S LIKE ON
THE GROUND.
UNDERSTANDING WHAT THEIR
DAY-TO-DAY REALITY IS.
SO THAT YOU CAN DO YOUR BEST TO
SERVE THEM.
THANK YOU, ANGUS.
>> THANK YOU, REGGIE.
THAT WAS FANTASTIC EXTENSION
BEHIND THE IDEA AS WE SHARED,
PROVIDING CLARITY.
I'M GOING TO PULL UP A SLIGHTLY
LONGER PRESENTATION ON EJSCREEN,
WE'VE ALREADY INTRODUCED THE
TOOL AND PERHAPS PULL UP THE WEB
TOOL.
JOSE, PLEASE KEEP ME ACCOUNTABLE
WITH TIME HERE.
AND ON THAT NOTE, I WILL GET US
STARTED.
CAN YOU SEE MY SCREEN?
>> I SEE THE PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU.
SO, GETTING INTO EJSCREEN, I'M
ANGUS WELCH, HERE IS MY CONTACT
INFORMATION.
REACH OUT WITH QUESTIONS ABOUT
EJSCREEN.
I TEND TO START WITH THE
DEFINITION OF ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE.
SAMANTHA SHARED US BUT THE IDEA
IS TO BUILD AS WE GET INTO
CONCEPTS OF EJSCREEN.
FAIR TREATMENT, MEANINGFUL
INVOLVEMENT, KEEPING THAT IN
MIND AS WE GET FURTHER IN.
THESE EXECUTIVE ORDERS ARE
CRUCIAL TO THE USE OF EJSCREEN
BECAUSE EJSCREEN IS THAT VESSEL
THAT VEHICLE THAT CARRIES FORTH
MANY OF THESE CONCEPTS EMBEDDED
WITHIN THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS.
SPECIFICALLY I'D POINT YOU TO
12898 TOWARDS THAT SPECIFIC
FOCUS ON ADDRESSING
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IN
MINORITY POPULATIONS AND LOW
INCOME POPULATIONS, IDENTIFYING
AND ADDRESSING THE POTENTIAL FOR
DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACTS AMONG
DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS, BASED ON
EXTENSIVE BODY OF SOCIOLOGICAL
LITERATURE BUT THE POINT IS
THOSE TWO GROUPS HAVE BEEN
IDENTIFIED AND WE SEE THE
RECURRENCE OR IDENTIFICATION OF
BOTH GROUPS IN EJSCREEN IN
CONTINUITY OF THIS EXECUTIVE
ORDER.
SO, AGAIN, WE SAW THIS SLIDE,
EJSCREEN IS OUR WEB-BASED GIS
TOOL, AND MAPPING WITH FOCUS
TOWARDS CLARIFYING,
HIGHLIGHTING, IDENTIFYING AREAS
FOR DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACTS MAY
AFFECT VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.
BEFORE WE GET INTO ALL THE
THINGS EJSCREEN CAN DO I'D LIKE
TO TALK ABOUT THE CAVEATS AND
LIMITATIONS.
I GOT INTO THESE BEFOREHAND,
REGGIE DID A FANTASTIC JOB OF
FRAMING THESE.
EJSCREEN IS REALLY JUST THAT.
A SCREENING TOOL.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS
THAT APPEAR ARE MOSTLY SCREENING
LEVEL ESTIMATES, NOT EXACT
MEASUREMENTS OF GROUND LEVEL
CONDITIONS, DATA MAY VARY IN
AGE, SOME DATASETS ARE AS OLD AS
2017, REFLECTING THE LIMITED
AVAILABILITY OF NATIONALLY
CONSISTENT DATA BECAUSE IT TAKES
TIME TO VALIDATE AND QUALIFY
INFORMATION THAT'S SO EXTENSIVE.
IT DOESN'T COVER ALL ISSUES.
THEY DON'T COVER THE FULL SCOPE.
THE CENSUS RECORD HAS
LIMITATIONS, THERE ARE LIMITS OF
CONFIDENTIALITY, IN TERMS OF
IDENTIFYING AND CHARACTERIZING
WITH PRECISION, EJSCREEN DOESN'T
GO DOWN TO THE SPECIFIC PLOT
LEVEL WITHIN MUNICIPAL BLOCK,
STAYS AT BLOCK GROUP LEVEL.
I MENTIONED BEFOREHAND RESULTS
SHOULD BE VERIFIED ON THE GROUND
WHENEVER POSSIBLE.
EPA DOESN'T HAVE A DEFINITION
FOR E.J. COMMUNITIES WHICH GETS
BACK TO THE POINT I MADE ABOUT
EJSCREEN NOT BEING INTENDED TO
LABEL ANYTHING AS FOR INSTANCE
DISADVANTAGED, BUT IT MIGHT HELP
TO IDENTIFY AREAS IN WHICH
ELEVATED POLLUTION BURDENS AND
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS MAY BE
PRESENT.
SO NOT APPLYING ANY HARD AND
FAST LABELS BUT PROVIDING THAT
PRELIMINARY UNDERSTANDING OF
COMMUNITY IN A CAN THEN SUIT AND
SUPPORT VERIFICATION ON THE
GROUND.
I INTRODUCED SEVEN DEMOGRAPHIC
DATASETS.
THERE ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR
POPULATION, LOW INCOME
POPULATION, BOTH OF WHICH TRACE
BACK TO EXECUTIVE ORDER 12898,
AND SO THAT'S BEING PULLED
FORWARD HERE.
PEOPLE OF COLOR POPULATION, LOW
INCOME, FIVE OTHERS ARE
LINGUISTIC ISOLATION, EDUCATION
BELOW THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL,
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, POPULATION
BELOW THE AGE OF 5, AND OVER THE
AGE OF 64, A BROAD BASKET OF
DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS
AVAILABLE FOR SCREENING IN
EJSCREEN.
IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL SECTION
THERE ARE WASTE-RELATED
DATASETS, WATER, AIR RELATED, AT
LEAST ONE WATER, SO A VARIETY OF
MEDIA CAN BE SCREENED WITH THE
ENVIRONMENTAL DATASETS IN
EJSCREEN.
WE GET TO E.J. INDEX, THE
COMBINATION OF DEMOGRAPHIC AND
ENVIRONMENTAL THAT, AGAIN,
ENABLES THE SCREENING OF
DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACTS OR
POTENTIAL IMPACTS TO LOCAL
POPULATIONS, THERE'S A FORMULA
THAT GOES INTO THAT CALCULATION,
AVAILABLE THROUGH THE EJSCREEN
WEBSITE.
I HAVEN'T INCLUDED IT BUT THAT'S
TO SAY THAT THE COMBINATION OF
DEMOGRAPHIC DATA AND
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA FOR EACH OF
THE DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTAL
DATASETS PROVIDES THIS E.J.
INDEX.
TO BE MORE SPECIFIC, FOR EACH
ENVIRONMENTAL DATASET, I'LL PICK
ONE, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE'S THE
INDICATOR FOR HAZARDOUS WASTE
PROXIMITY.
IT'S AN INDICATOR OF, AS YOU
MIGHT GUESS, THE NUMBER OF
HAZARDOUS WASTE FACILITIES NEAR
A PARTICULAR SCREENED AREA.
THE E.J. INDEX WOULD BE THAT
DATASET COMBINED WITH PEOPLE OF
COLOR DATA AND LOW INCOME
POPULATION DATA, TO CREATE THAT
E.J. INDEX.
EACH E.J. INDEX IS ENVIRONMENTAL
DATASET WITH LOW INCOME
POPULATION DATA AND PEOPLE OF
COLOR POPULATION DATA AS WELL AS
LOCAL POPULATION COUNT, TO SAY
E.J. INDEX HARNESSES A
PARTICULAR ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN
AND THEN IN CONTINUITY OF,
AGAIN, 12898 APPLIES PEOPLE OF
COLOR INFORMATION, LOW INCOME
COMMUNITY INFORMATION TO PROVIDE
THAT COMBINED PERSPECTIVE OF THE
POTENTIAL FOR DISPROPORTIONATE
IMPACTS TO POTENTIALLY
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.
WITHIN EJSCREEN BEYOND THE E.J.
INDEX THERE'S ADDITIONAL
ENVIRONMENTAL DATA, MORE
DEMOGRAPHIC DATA FROM THE
CENSUS, PUBLIC HEALTH DATA,
CRITICAL SERVICE GAPS FOR
INSTANCE FOOD DESERTS, BROADBAND
CONNECTIVITY, MEDICALLY
UNDERSERVED AREAS, ET CETERA.
A WIDE RANGE OF INFORMATION
AVAILABLE IN THE TOOL.
AND SO TO SUMMARIZE THESE PIECES
AND TO TALK ABOUT THIS
SUITABILITY OR WAYS IT MAY BE
USEFUL OR DIGESTIBLE, AGAIN,
THERE ARE 12 DIFFERENT E.J.
INDICES, EACH INDEX IS AN
ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATOR,
ENVIRONMENTAL DATASET, COMBINED
WITH DEMOGRAPHICS.
THIS IS SIMPLIFIED CALCULATION,
AN INDICATOR WITH LOW INCOME
POPULATION DATA AND THE
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR POPULATION
DATA IN THE FORM OF AN E.J.
INDEX OR WHAT'S DEFINED AS E.J.
INDEX, IN EJSCREEN.
TOXICITY, A RANGE OF SUBJECTS
ALONG THOSE LINES.
I'VE MENTIONED A FEW TIMES NOW
THESE OF THE SYSTEM PROVIDES
DATA PRIMARILY AT THE BLOCK
GROUP LEVEL.
I MENTIONED AT THE BLOCK GROUP
LEVEL, IT'S AMONG THE SMALLEST
UNITS FOR WHICH THE CENSUS
PUBLISHES DATA THAT'S MAPPABLE
IN A TOOL LIKE EJSCREEN, CENSUS
BLOCK GROUPS CONTAIN BETWEEN 600
AND 3,000 PEOPLE, ON AVERAGE
1500 PEOPLE SO YOU'RE GETTING A
FAIRLY GRANULAR VIEW OF A LOCAL
POPULATION IN THE FORM OF A
BLOCK GROUP.
NOW, IN MORE DENSITY POPULATED
AREAS, MANY URBAN AREAS, BLOCK
GROUPS WILL BE SMALLER BECAUSE
THE POPULATION REMAINS FAIRLY
CONSTANT.
SO AREA WILL FLUBBING RATE.
IN RURAL AREAS THERE'S LARGER
BLOCK GROUPS.
YOU CAN PRINT REPORTS, MAPS, BAR
GRAPHS AND VIEW ONLINE OR
EXTRACT THOSE WORK PRODUCTS, OR
EVEN DATA IN RAW FORM, IN XL
SPREADSHEET FORM, BASICALLY GIS
DATA FORM, YOU HAVE A NUMBER OF
OPTIONS FOR USING, VIEWING, MORE
BROADLY ACCESSING DATA THROUGH
EJSCREEN.
JUST TO TALK ABOUT IF THE E.J.
INDEX, I'VE LED US WITH THE
CONCEPT AND COMBINATION OF THE
DIFFERENT COMPONENTS.
YOU SEE A CALCULATION ON THE
SCREEN, DOWN TO THE BOTTOM LEFT.
YOU BY NO MEANS NEED TO
MEMORIZE, HOPING TO GIVE A LOOK
UNDER THE HOOD WITH THE
ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATOR,
DEMOGRAPHIC INDEX, COMBINATION
OF PEOPLE OF COLOR POPULATION,
LOW INCOME POPULATION, FOR A
PARTICULAR BLOCK GROUP AS
COMPARED TO THE REST OF THE
COUNTRY SO THAT'S WHERE YOU SEE
THAT BLOCK GROUP AS COMPARED TO
THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.
COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE.
YOU HAVE THE POPULATION OF THE
BLOCK GROUP, FAIRLY CONSTANT.
THE E.J. INDEX PROVIDES YOU
PERSPECTIVE OF ENVIRONMENTAL
DATA AND DEMOGRAPHIC DATA
COMBINED FOR PARTICULAR AREA
COMPARED TO THE REST OF, SAY,
THE COUNTRY AS DEMONSTRATED
HERE.
SO JUST A SLIGHTLY CLOSER LOOK
AT THAT E.J. INDEX BECAUSE IT IS
SUCH A KEY CONCEPT, A KEY PIECE
OF INFORMATION, IN EJSCREEN.
I TALKED ABOUT COMPARISONS TO
THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.
EJSCREEN ALLOWS YOU TO COMPARE A
SURVEYED AREA, ADD IT TO THE
REST OF THE COUNTRY, THE REST OF
THE EPA REGION.
IT COULD BE ANY REGION ACROSS
THE COUNTRY, OR TO THE REST OF
THE STATE.
YOU CAN PICK THAT OPTION IN
EJSCREEN, AND THE WEBSITE
PROVIDES DOCUMENTATION AND
TUTORIALS HOW TO TAKE EACH STEP
BEYOND WHAT I'M DESCRIBING HERE
SO THERE'S COMPREHENSIVE WRITTEN
AND I THINK EVEN VIDEO
DOCUMENTATION, TUTORIALS, TO
HELP WITH THE ACTUAL SCREENING
PROCESS, WHICH I'D BE MORE THAN
HAPPY IF WE HAVE TIME HERE
TODAY.
IN THE COURSE OF COMPARISON
YOU'LL SEE THE INFORMATION
APPEARS IN PERCENTILE TERMS.
FOR FOLKS WHO HAVEN'T DEALT WITH
PERCENTILES IN A WAY THEY PUT
INDICATORS INTO UNITS OF ZERO
TO 100.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT METRICS IN
EJSCREEN, FOR INSTANCE AN
AIR-RELATED INDICATOR, IT WILL
HAVE DIFFERENT UNITS OF
MEASUREMENT MAYBE MICROGRAMS PER
CUBE METER VERSUS NUMBER MUCH
HAZARDOUS WASTE FACILITIES AS
COMPARED TO WHAT YOU'RE U'RE
SCREENING.
DIFFERENT UNITS, YOU CAN HAVE A
COMPARATIVE SENSE OF HOW EACH OF
THE INDICATORS OR INDICES
COMPARE TO THE REST OF THE
COUNTRY.
A NATIONWIDE VALUE AS COMPARED
TO THE REST OF THE COUNTRY
95th PERCENTILE REFLECT AS
HIGHER VALUE IN 5% OF THE
POPULATION.
PROXIMITY TO HAZARDOUS WASTE
FACILITIES, THAT'S TO SAY IF FOR
A SCREENED AREA YOU CAN SEE
95th PERCENTILE, 5% EXPERIENCE
AS HIGHER PROXIMITY OR GREATER
PROXIMITY TO THAT PARTICULAR
ENVIRONMENT INDICATOR.
RANKINGVALUES ALLOWS COMPARISON
WHEN MEASURED WITH DIFFERENT
UNITS BUT DOESN'T MEAN RISKS OR
CONCERNS BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT
INDICATORS ARE IN ANY WAY EQUAL
OFFER COMPARABLE, SIMPLY TO MAKE
THOSE INDICATORS AND INDICES
MORE UNDERSTANDABLE AND MORE
USER FRIENDLY SO THEY CAN BE
MORE USEFUL FOR YOU AS YOU APPLY
THEM TO YOUR DAILY WORK AND
PRACTICE.
>> WE HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR
JUMPING TO QUESTIONS AND THE
PANEL.
>> I'LL ZIP THROUGH THE END.
WAS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU
HOPED TO MENTION?
>> NO, NO.
YOU'RE GOOD.
THANK YOU.
>> PERFECT.
SO WE MIGHT NOT GET TO A LIVE
DEMONSTRATION BUT WILL COVER KEY
DETAILS TO PROVIDE A FOUNDATION.
THERE'S DOCUMENTATION, TUTORIALS
THAT GO EVEN BEYOND THE SCOPE OF
WHAT I'M DISCUSSING HERE THAT
WILL HELP YOU TO REALLY DIG INTO
THE TOOL AND GET STARTED.
THIS IS THE CENTRAL WORK PRODUCT
THAT YOU CAN GENERATE OR EXTRACT
FROM EJSCREEN, VERY SMALL ON A
SCREEN, MY HOPE IS NOT TO GO
INTO EXTRAORDINARY DETAIL OF
CONTENTS BUT TO HIGHLIGHT THE
PURPOSES OF EACH OF THE PAGES.
PAGE 1 YOU HAVE THE E.J. INDEX
RESULTS.
ON PAGE 2, LOCATION MAP, YOU SEE
YELLOW CIRCLE CASTING A RADIUS
FROM AN IDENTIFIED LOCATION.
YOU CAN SEARCH FOR A LOCATION AT
EJSCREEN AND YOU CAN SAY, HEY,
I'D LIKE TO SEE, SAY, THE AREA
THAT'S WITHIN A ONE MILE RADIUS
OF THIS ADDRESS.
THAT'S WHAT THIS REPORT
REFLECTS.
WHEN YOU PERFORM THAT ACTION,
YOU CAN GAIN AN UNDERSTANDING OF
THE LOCAL COMMUNITY WITHIN THAT
BUFFER OF A SITE OF INTEREST.
A ONE-MILE RADIUS IS A GOOD AND
RECOMMENDED GENERAL PRACTICE AS
A STARTING POINT FOR SCREENING
BUT THERE MAY BE CASES WHERE YOU
WANT TO DRAW IRREGULAR SHAPE OR
MAYBE WANT 3 MILES, 5 MILLS.
WE DISCOURAGE CASTING RADI, THAT
ARE TOO BROAD SO ONE MILE IS A
GOOD STARTING POINT, RELIABLE
BUFFER.
THAT'S WHAT WE SEE ON THE SECOND
PAGE.
THIRD PAGE IS THE UNDER THE HOOD
SECTION, YOU KEY INDICATORS
WHICH COME TOGETHER FOR THE E.J.
INDICES ON PAGE 1.
AND SO TO DIVE DEEPER INTO THESE
E.J. INDEX RESULTS HERE, I'VE
HIGHLIGHTED THEM TO TRY TO BRING
SOME CONTEXT, TO BRING A LITTLE
BIT MORE SUBSTANCE TO SOME
CONCEPTS WE'VE INTRODUCED SO
FAR.
NOW, THESE INDICES ARE FROM THE
LAST VERSION, YOU'LL SEE 11 HERE
RATHER THAN 12, THERE'S BEEN ONE
ADDED, AVAILABLE AT EPA.GOV.
YOU SEE EACH OF THE INDICES IN
PERCENTILE AS COMPARED TO STATE,
REGION, COUNTRY.
IF WE LOOK AT THE TOP LINE, E.J.
INDEX FOR PARTICULATE MATTER
2.5, AIR-RELATED E.J. INDEX,
LOOK AT USA PERCENTILE, WE SEE
86.
FOR THE SCREENED AREA FOR THIS
REPORT WE SEE THAT AREA IS AT
THE 86TH PERCENTILE AS COMPARED
TO THE COUNTRY FOR P.M. 2.5,
ONLY 14% MAY EXPERIENCE A HYPER
VALUE FOR THIS PARTICULAR
METRIC, WHICH IS TO SAY IF 50 IS
THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD BECAUSE
WE'RE IN A 0-100 SCALE THIS IS
VERY ELEVATED.
ANYTIME WE SEE VALUES ABOVE
ROUGHLY THE 80th PERCENTILE
LEVEL WE BEGIN TO DEVELOP
PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATIONS OR
CONCLUSIONS THAT WE MAY BE
SCREENING AN AREA OF POTENTIAL
E.J. CONCERN.
IT'S THAT 80th PERCENTILE THAT
IS INDICATIVE OF SOME OF THE
PRELIMINARY CONCERN THAT WE CAN
ASSESS THROUGH EJSCREEN.
WHEN YOU GET CLOSER TO 100, ON
THESE PERCENTILE SCALES, THERE
BEGIN TO BE INCREASING
INDICATIONS OF POTENTIAL
CONCERNS AMONG LOCAL COMMUNITY.
I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO
DISCUSS THAT ON THE SIDE WITH
ANY FOLKS WHO HAVE QUESTIONS.
I BELIEVE THIS IS THE FINAL
SLIDE.
I MAY HAVE ONE OR TWO MORE.
I LIKE TO WRAP UP WITH
APPLICATIONS.
WE TALKED ABOUT THAT BRIEFLY
WITH E.J. INTEGRATION STEPS BUT
TO REINFORCE IDEAS, POINTS,
EJSCREEN HAS BROAD USES, PUBLIC
OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT OF
COURSE ARE MAYBE THE MOST COMMON
COMBINED USE WHERE YOU APPROACH
THE PUBLIC WITH CONCERNS ABOUT
THE POTENTIAL FOR
DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACTS TO A
COMMUNITY BUT GOING BEYOND
OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT IT CAN
BE VALUABLE AROUND ENFORCEMENT
AND COMPLIANCE, TARGETING,
INCLUSION, INSPECTION REPORTS
FOR PERMITTING AND FOR ANY FOLKS
INVOLVED WITH NEPA, NEPA REVIEWS
TO PROVIDE PERSPECTIVE, BEYOND
THAT ON GRANT PROJECTS AND ANY
OTHER PLACE-BASED INITIATIVES
WHERE YOU CAN GAIN PRELIMINARY
UNDERSTANDING OF LOCAL
CHARACTERISTICS AND LOCAL
CONDITIONS AND E.J. CONCERNS.
THAT WAS A BRIEF INTRODUCTION.
I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE GONE
INTO A LIVE DEMONSTRATION BUT I
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT
EJSCREEN AND WHAT IT IS, WHAT
IT'S NOT.
IT'S JUST A SCREENING TOOL BUT
IT CAN BE A POWERFUL STARTING
POINT AND TO THE EXTENT FOLKS
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
ALLS OF THE TOOL ITSELF OR
SCREENING OF LOCATIONS, AGAIN
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME,
I'M HAPPY TO CHAT AND THANKS
AGAIN.
>> ANGUS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ONE COMMENT FROM ANGELYNE, I
LOVED THIS TOPIC.
GREAT JOB PRESENTING IT.
THEREFORE KUDOS TO YOU.
ONE QUESTION, MAYBE THIS IS
DIFFICULT.
BUT THERE ARE OTHER MEMBERS IN
THE PANEL THAT CAN HELP.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE AND
SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE
EJSCREEN AND THE DOEJ40 ANALYSIS
PRESENTED EARLIER?
HOW DOES CEJST FIT IN IT, YOU
MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR, BUT DOEJ 40
ANALYSIS, IF SOMEBODY HERE CAN
ARTICULATE BETWEEN THE TWO, IT
WOULD BE GREAT.
>> I APOLOGIZE.
I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO READ
UP AND PROVIDE THE ANSWER.
>> NO REASON TO APOLOGIZE.
IT'S A DIFFICULT QUESTION.
ANYWAY, I WOULD LIKE THE OTHER
PANEL MEMBERS TO OPEN THEIR MIC
AND USE THE NEXT 15 MINUTES TO
TALK ABOUT E.J., ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE.
AND LET ME JUST PICK UP THIS
CONVERSATION FROM YOUR
PRESENTATION, ANGUS, WHERE YOU
MENTIONED A LOT OF CRITICAL
ELEMENTS, ALSO REGGIE, ALSO FROM
THE PREVIOUS PRESENTATION, DR.
WHITEHEAD, ABOUT STAKEHOLDERS,
ABOUT TOOLS, AND WITHIN EACH
FACILITY DEVELOP AN EMS,
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.
THEY CAN DEVELOP AND ENERGY OR
WATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.
THERE'S ISO GUIDANCE FOR EACH
AREA AND MORE.
ALL THOSE ELEMENTS, THAT YOU
MENTIONED, AND TOOLS, IT CAN BE
AN INCORPORATED INTO OUR EMS.
THE QUESTION IS, HOW DO WE DO
THAT?
WHERE DO WE DO THAT?
AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE ANY OF
THE PANEL MEMBERS THEY WANT TO
TAKE THE FIRST REACTION OF THAT.
WE HAVE 15 MINUTES BEFORE THE
NEXT PANEL.
ANY THOUGHTS, ANY REACTION?
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> OF COURSE.
>> THIS IS JIMMY PARRISH.
EXCELLENT COMMENTS.
WE USE THE EJSCREEN TO IDENTIFY
OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND OUR
COMMUNITIES, AND THE SPECIFIC
CHARACTERISTICS OF IT.
I DON'T THINK THAT, TO BE
HONEST, IF WE WERE A WEALTHY
HIGHLY EMPLOYED HIGH INCOME
COMMUNITIES WE WOULD STILL DO
THE SAME THINGS WE WERE DOING
WITH THE CURRENT NEIGHBORHOODS,
BUT THE EJSCREEN HELPS IT
PRESENT EXACTLY WHO WE'RE
DEALING WITH AND WHAT THEIR
CONCERNS ARE.
WE FIND IT EXTREMELY HELPFUL.
>> YEP.
>> JOSE?
>> YES.
>> I'D LIKE TO COMMENT.
>> OF COURSE.
>> THERE'S A VARIETY OF
DIFFERENT TYPES OF INFORMATION
THAT ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH
EJSCREEN.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE LINGUISTIC
ISOLATION INFORMATION TELLS YOU
THE PRIMARY LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT
HOME BY FAMILIES IN A GIVEN
AREA.
SO, CAN YOU KNOW IF YOU NEED TO
TRANSLATE DOCUMENTS INTO ANOTHER
LANGUAGE, IF YOU NEED
TRANSLATORS AS PUBLIC MEETINGS,
ALSO OTHER INFORMATION AVAILABLE
THAT WILL GIVE YOU INSIGHTS INTO
THE READABILITY OF INFORMATION
THAT YOU PROVIDE, MAKING SURE
THAT IT'S ON AN APPROPRIATE
LEVEL SO ALL OF THE PEOPLE THERE
CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT, HAVING, FOR
EXAMPLE, IF YOU'RE TRYING TO GET
INFORMATION, USING HIGHLY
TECHNICAL TERMS, MAY NOT BE
APPROPRIATE IN SOME AREAS
BECAUSE YOU MAY HAVE A NUMBER OF
PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE HIGH
SCHOOL EDUCATION, FOR EXAMPLE.
INFORMATION FROM THOSE INDEXES
CAN GIVE YOU INFORMATION AND
UNDERSTANDING ABOUT SOME OF THE
POTENTIAL CONCERNS THAT THE
PEOPLE MAY BE FACED WITH.
THE PUBLIC HEALTH INFORMATION
THAT'S CITED MAY GIVE YOU SOME
INSIGHT INTO THE HEALTH STATUS,
POTENTIAL HEALTH STATUS OF
PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND WHAT TYPES OF THINGS WE NEED
TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION AS WE
DEVELOP OUR PLANS AND STRATEGIES
NO DO THE WORK WE NEED TO DO.
YOU KNOW, IT REALLY GIVES US A
LOT OF BUILDING BLOCKS THAT WE
CAN USE TO HELP US TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND FOLKS, KNOW WHO WE'RE
DEALING WITH, AND HELPS YOU
FIGURE OUT HOW TO APPROACH AND
COMMUNICATE WITH THEM.
YOU KNOW, COMMUNICATION IS KEY
TO SUCCESS.
>> THIS IS JIMMY AGAIN.
I SUPPORT THOSE COMMENTS
ESPECIALLY THE LANGUAGE BECAUSE
OUR COMMUNITIES, NEIGHBORHOOD
AND COMMUNITIES, IS RAPIDLY
CHANGING TO A SPANISH
AMERICAN-SPEAKING COMMUNITY AND
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WHEN WE'RE
RELAYING INFORMATION TO THOLES
PEOPLE THAT WE DO IT IN A MEANS
AND METHOD THEY UNDERSTAND.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> WHAT WILL YOU JUST SAID IS
CRITICAL.
WE ALL KNOW IN THE PARTICIPANTS,
WE HAVE AROUND 121 PEOPLE RIGHT
NOW LISTENING TO US.
COMMUNICATION IS A CRITICAL
ELEMENT WITH AN EMS.
THEREFORE WHAT WE ARE EXPLORING
AND ASKING AND KIND OF
DISCUSSING IS INCLUDING ADDING
THAT NEXT STEP OF E.J. KNOWING
OUR COMMUNITY, KNOWING WHO ARE
WE REACHING OUT TO THEN DEVELOP
THE RIGHT COMMUNICATION TOOL TO
REACH OUT TO THEM.
BUT I THINK IT'S JUST EXCELLENT.
>> I THINK AT TIMES WE CAN FOCUS
I DON'T WANT TO SAY SOLELY BUT
PRIMARILY INTERNALLY WITHOUT
REALIZATION OR APPRECIATION WHO
LIVES AROUND US.
>> YES.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I LEARNED
FROM REGGIE IN MY YEARS WORKING
WITH HIM WAS WHEN REACHING
COMMUNITIES, KNOW WHO THEY ARE.
FOR EXAMPLE, SOMETIMES PEOPLE
DON'T GO TO AN OPEN MEETING,
COMMUNITY MEETING, ON A
WEDNESDAY NIGHT.
THEY ALL CONGREGATE AT CHURCH ON
SUNDAY.
IF THAT'S THE CASE, THAT'S WHAT
WE DISCOVERED, WE NEED TO BRING
OUR MESSAGE ON THAT SUNDAY
MORNING TO THAT CHURCH AND ASK
PERMISSION TO ADDRESS THE
CONGREGATION, VERSUS TRYING TO
SET UP A MEETING 7 P.M. WHEN
PEOPLE ARE WORKING LONG HOURS,
HARD WORK, I MEAN EXPECTING THEM
TO SHOW UP AT A PUBLIC MEETING,
SOMETIMES IT'S JUST -- IT MAKES
NO SENSE.
AGAIN, I LEARNED FROM WORKING
WITH REGGIE.
BUT, AGAIN, COMMUNICATION,
CRITICAL.
LET ME JUST GO A COUPLE THINGS
ON MY LINE HERE.
THERE ARE MANY ELEMENTS WITHIN
OUR EMS.
WE HAVE ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY.
WE NEED TO CREATE.
THERE WE NEED TO INCORPORATE,
UPDATE, THAT POLICY TO MENTION
E.J.
TO MENTION ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE, TO MENTION THAT WE ARE
IN TUNE WITH THE COMMUNITY THAT
IS AROUND US.
ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS, THE
SAME WAY.
WE NEED TO EVALUATE OUR
ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS IN
TAKING IN CONSIDERATION
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.
THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED.
AND WE, WHEN DEALING WITH OUR
REQUIREMENTS, WE'RE TAKING INTO
CONSIDERATION THE IMPACT, RISK
OF OUR ACTIVITIES TO THAT
COMMUNITY, AND IF THERE IS
THERE, THEN LET'S MINIMIZE IT.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECT, WHEN
SELECTING, WHEN EVALUATING OUR
ASPECT, WE DID THAT MANY YEARS
AGO, LET'S REVIEW, TAKING INTO
CONSIDERATION A NEW ELEMENT,
E.J.
THEREFORE, NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT
THIS ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECT AND
SAYING IS THIS ASPECT CRITICAL
TO THE COMMUNITY THAT SURROUNDS
US?
ARE THEY IMPACTED BY THEM?
IF THAT'S THE CASE WE ELEVATE
THEM.
OBJECTIVES THE SAME WAY, TAKING
INTO CONSIDERATION E.J.
THEREFORE, COMMUNICATION,
ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS,
OBJECTIVES, ENVIRONMENTAL
ASPECT, AS SOME OF THE ELEMENTS
THAT WE CAN CREATE AN IMPACT,
RELATED WITH BOTH E.J. AND EMS.
AND WE HAVE FOUR MINUTES LEFT.
I WANT TO OPEN TO SOMEBODY ELSE
IN THE CALL THAT WANTS TO SAY
SOMETHING ON THIS.
ANYBODY ON THE CALL, ANYBODY TO
SHARE SOMETHING?
IF NOT, I WILL --
>> THIS IS KENNY FLOYD.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ASK HOW WE
CAN BETTER INCORPORATE
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE INTO OUR
COMPLIANCE INITIATIVES.
>> YEAH I WILL GO THERE.
WERE YOU ABLE TO LISTEN TO ME,
EMS ELEMENTS?
>> FOR THE MOST PART.
>> YEAH, I THINK SOMETHING
HAPPENED WITH MY COMPUTER, I'M
JUST MUTED.
AGAIN, I WILL BE BRIEF, WE CAN
INCORPORATE E.J. IN MANY OF THE
ELEMENTS, FOR EXAMPLE, OUR
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY,
ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS,
ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS,
COMMUNICATION, WE HAVE BEEN
TALKING ABOUT THAT.
THAT IS CRITICAL.
OBJECTIVES.
KENNY, YOUR QUESTION IS ABOUT IN
OUR ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS,
I BELIEVE.
>> YES.
FOR FACILITIES THAT, YOU KNOW,
ARE WELL ESTABLISHED, THEY ARE
NOT GOING ANYWHERE, THEY KNOW
THEIR COMMUNITY ALREADY, HOW DO
WE BEST INVOLVE OR BEST ADDRESS
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IN THOSE
SITUATIONS?
>> I REALLY BELIEVE THAT
REVISITING ENVIRONMENTAL
ASPECTS, WHAT IS RISK TO
SURROUNDING COMMUNITY BASED ON
E.J.?
WHAT I'M SAYING, REEVALUATING
THAT, THE ASPECT, BASED ON E.J.
ADDING E.J. AS A CRITICAL
ELEMENT, CRITERION TO EVALUATE
THEM.
NUMBER ONE.
ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL
REQUIREMENTS, ADD ANOTHER LAYER,
ANOTHER CRITERION IN TERMS OF
RISK, TO THE COMMUNITY.
WHICH ONE OF THOSE ENVIRONMENTAL
REQUIREMENTS CAN BE A RISK TO
OUR COMMUNITIES?
FOR EXAMPLE, AGAIN, AN EXAMPLE,
UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANK, IF
THAT LEAKS IS MY SURROUNDING
COMMUNITY IN WELL DRINKING
WATER, ARE THEY CONSUMING WATER
FROM WELLS?
IF I HAVE AN UNDERGROUND STORAGE
TANK NEARBY THE AREA IF I HAVE
THE LEAK ABOUT THAT IMPACT THAT?
THE ANALYSIS IS WHAT ARE MY
REQUIREMENTS AND WHAT IS THE
RISK OF THOSE ENVIRONMENTAL
REQUIREMENTS TO THAT COMMUNITY?
WE CAN DO ALL THAT THROUGH ALL
OUR ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS,
AND WITH ONE MINUTE LEFT I WANT
TO TURN THIS OVER TO THE PANEL
TO SEE IF THEY CAN ANSWER YOUR
QUESTION.
AND PROVIDE OTHER IDEAS.
>> ANOTHER IDEA THAT I WOULD
SUGGEST IS THAT YOU ASK PEOPLE.
TALK TO COMMUNITIES.
ASK WHAT THEY THINK.
YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THEIR
CONCERNS?
WHAT ARE THE BURNING QUESTIONS
THAT THEY HAVE?
WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT THEY
THINK ARE NEEDED?
ASK THEM DO THEY UNDERSTAND?
IF NOT, TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW
YOU CAN MAKE IT EASIER FOR THEM
TO UNDERSTAND, AND IF THERE
ARE -- ASK IF THEY HAVE
SUGGESTIONS HOW TO IMPROVE IT
AND IMPROVE THE RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN YOU AND THE COMMUNITY.
AND I THINK GIVING THEM A LITTLE
BIT OF RESPONSIBILITY AND AN
OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD AND HAVE
THEIR SAY, THAT WILL INCREASE
THE BUY-IN.
>> AWESOME.
>> YEP.
ANY OTHER THOUGHTS FROM THE
PANEL?
AGAIN, THANKS, ANGUS, REGGIE,
JIMMY.
I THINK THIS PRESENTATION WAS
GREAT.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR
CONTRIBUTION.
WITH THAT SAID LET ME MOVE TO
THE FINAL PRESENTATION OF THE
DAY, HOPEFULLY THE PANEL IS
ALREADY HERE.
IF THEY ARE, PLEASE JUST UNMUTE
YOURSELF AND LET ME KNOW YOU'RE
IN THE ROOM.
>> I'M HERE IN THE ROOM.
>> BEAUTIFUL, CASTRO.
SOMEBODY ELSE SAID PRESENT?
MANDY?
>> HI, YES, MANDY IS HERE.
>> BEAUTIFUL, MANDY.
LET ME JUST CONCLUDE THE PRESENT
PRESENTATION AND MOVE TO THE NEW
ONE.
THIS IS FOR THE VIEWERS.
WE'VE BEEN RECEIVING GREAT
INFORMATION FROM ALL THE
SPEAKERS SO FAR.
AS YOU REMEMBER, IF YOU WERE
WITH US AT THE BEGINNING OF THE
PRESENTATION, THE TRACK, WE
STARTED WITH BASIC INFORMATION.
I'M RECAPPING.
WITH BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT
EMS, WE JUMPED INTO ENERGY
JUSTICE, TWO BACK-TO-BACK
PRESENTATIONS THAT GAVE US GREAT
INSIGHTS ON THE PRINCIPLES, ALSO
ON DATA AND THE COMMUNED AND
DEFINING DISADVANTAGED
COMMUNITIES.
FROM THERE WE WENT TO JIMMY
PARISH, HOW INSTRUMENTAL WAS EMS
AND IT WAS JUST A GREAT
PRESENTATION.
FROM THERE WE WENT TO DR. WHITE
HEAD AND COMMANDER GUMAPAS ON
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE STRATEGY
AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.
GREAT, GREAT, GREAT INFORMATION.
FROM THERE SAMANTHA BEERS,
REGGIE HARRIS AND ANGUS WELCH
GAVE US A GREAT INSIGHT ON
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.
POWERFUL PRESENTATION.
ALSO THEN WITH THE COMBINATION
OF JIMMY PARRISH AND MYSELF WE
COMBINED TWO CONCEPTS THAT MAY
LOOK THAT THEY ARE NOT
CONNECTED, E.J. AND
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM,
INTO SOMETHING THAT CAN WORK
TOGETHER.
AND TO CONCLUDE THIS GREAT
TRACK, WE HAVE ENGAGEMENT AS A
TWO-WAY EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION,
IDEAS, RESOURCES THAT, AGAIN,
THIS IS REINFORCING WHAT MANY,
MANY PRESENTERS HAVE BEEN SAYING
FROM EARLY ON.
I WOULD LIKE THEM TO INTRODUCE
THEMSELVES.
AGAIN, TAKE THE MIC.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, FOR THE
INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY.
THIS AFTERNOON I'D LIKE TO
WELCOME EVERYONE TO THE
AFTERNOON SESSION ON ENGAGEMENT
AND TWO-WAY EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION.
I'M KRYSTAL BRUMEFIELD, YOUR
TRACK MODERATOR TODAY.
BEFORE WE BEGIN OUR
PRESENTATIONS I WANT TO REMIND
THE PANELISTS AND THE AUDIENCE
OF SOME HOUSEKEEPING RULES.
THE FIRST FORTUNE THE PANEL, I
WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
ELIMINATING BACKGROUND NOISE OR
MINIMIZING BACKGROUND NOISE.
I ASK THAT YOU KEEP YOUR
MICROPHONES MUTED DURING
PRESENTATIONS IF YOU'RE NOT
SPEAKING.
ALSO GOING TO ASK EVERYONE TO
KEEP THEIR VIDEOS TURNED OFF SO
THAT THE SPEAKERS AND PRESENTERS
ARE VISIBLE.
AND IF YOU'RE CONNECTED TO A VPN
YOU MAY WANT TO CONSIDER
DISCONNECTING TO HELP ENSURE
THAT YOU DON'T DROP OFF DURING
THE MEETING.
IN THE EVENT THAT YOU DO WE
UNDERSTAND CHALLENGES ARISE, WE
ASK THAT YOU DON'T PANIC BUT TRY
RECONNECTING TO REGAIN ACCESS.
FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN THE
AUDIENCE, THE PRESENTATIONS FOR
THIS TRACK ARE AVAILABLE ON THE
FED CENTER WEBSITE, I'LL POST IT
FOR YOUR ACCESS.
ALSO JUST FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T
ATTEND THE LIVE RECORDING TODAY
WE WILL HAVE THE RECORDINGS
AVAILABLE LATER ON THE FED
CENTER WEBSITE AS WELL.
MORE INFORMATION WILL BE SENT
OUT FOLLOWING THIS SYMPOSIUM.
LASTLY, I'M GOING TO ASK AND
ENCOURAGE QUESTIONS FOR THE
PRESENTERS TODAY.
I WILL PROVIDE AN E-MAIL ADDRESS
FOR YOU TO E-MAIL US YOUR
QUESTIONS FOR THE PRESENTERS
THIS AFTERNOON.
AND INCLUDE ANY QUESTIONS IN THE
BODY OF THE E-MAIL.
AGAIN, INCLUDE INCLUDE YOUR
QUESTIONS IN THE BODY OF THE
E-MAIL.
I WANT TO WELCOME TODAY'S PANEL
DISCUSSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE AND EQUITY.
I'M YOUR MODERATOR.
I'M JOINED THIS AFTERNOON BY AN
ALL-STAR PANEL, MANDY LEE IS A
PROGRAM MANAGER FOR NAACP EQUITY
IN SUSTAINABLE BUILDING SECTOR.
WE HAVE MORE CHRIS CASTOR,
DIRECTOR OF OFFICE OF
SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCE
FOR CITY OF ORLANDO.
AND MISS MARSON GREEN, CITY OF
ORLANDO.
MR.ALEX GAMBLE IS AN ARCHITECT
AND SUSTAINABILITY COORDINATOR
AT IHS, COMMISSIONER NINA ALBERT
IS A COMMISSIONER AT GSA OVER
THE PUBLIC BUILDING SERVICE.
TODAY'S PANELISTS WILL ENGAGE IN
DIALOGUE ON TWO-WAY EXCHANGE OF
INFORMATION OF IDEAS AND
RESOURCES.
I ENCOURAGE EACH OF US TO LISTEN
AS MUCH AS WE SPEAK AND
PARTICIPATE IN THE CONVERSATION.
TODAY WE ARE GOING TO EXPLORE
OPPORTUNITIES OF MEANINGFUL
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
WHERE COMMUNITIES ARE PART OF
THE LIFE CYCLE OF PROJECTS THAT
ARE HAPPENING IN THEIR BACK
YARDS.
WE'RE ALSO HERE TO DISCUSS HOW
EFFECTIVE ENGAGEMENT REMOVES
BARRIERS FROM COMMUNITIES THAT
MAY HAVE PREVIOUSLY PREVENTED
RESIDENTS AND THE GOVERNMENT
FROM SUCCESSFULLY WORKING
TOGETHER.
AND SO AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO
PRESENT OUR FIRST PRESENTER,
MISS MANDY LEE.
BEFORE JOINING THE NAACP'S
ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE
JUSTICE TEAM SHE WORKED AT THE
INTERSECTION OF EQUITY AND
SUSTAINABILITY IT IS U.S. BUILD
GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL,
GEORGETOWN CLIMATE CENTER AND
WHITE HOUSE COUNCIL ON
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY.
SHE HAS CARRIED OUT
COMMUNITY-BASED DEVELOPMENT AND
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
PROGRAMS, IN WASHINGTON, D.C.,
NEW JERSEY, KENYA, AND TANZANIA.
AND WITH THAT IF WE HAVE OUR
PRESENTATIONS TEED UP I'LL TURN
IT OVER TO YOU, MS. LEE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, KRYSTAL.
THIS IS MANDY.
I AM SO GREAT TO BE ABLE TO JOIN
YOU IN THE SPACE TODAY.
AND I'M EXCITED TO SHARE ABOUT
THE WORK THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING
AT THE NAACP IN OUR
ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE
JUSTICE PROGRAM AND SHARE
EXAMPLES OF ENGAGEMENT
APPROACHES AND LESSONS LEARNED
THAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED.
SO I WANT TO START FIRST BY
SHARING THAT FOR THOSE WHO ARE
NOT FAMILIAR, THE NAACP WAS
FOUNDED IN 1909 IN RESPONSE TO
ONGOING VIOLENCE AGAINST BLACK
PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES.
AND OUR MISSION IS REALLY
ANCHORED IN ENSURING THE
ELIMINATION OF DISCRIMINATION
AND ENSURING HEALTH AND
WELL-BEING OF ALL PEOPLE.
FOR THE NAACP, A CONNECTION WAS
MADE A FEW YEARS AGO THAT THIS
WAS SOMETHING THAT DIRECTLY
RELATED TO THE BUILDINGS IN
WHICH BLACK AND OTHER PEOPLE OF
COLOR COMMUNITIES AND LOW INCOME
COMMUNITIES LIVE, WORK, PLAY,
PRAY, GATHER.
AND FOR THAT REASON, A NEW
INITIATIVE WAS CREATED CALLED
CENTERING EQUITY, IN THE
SUSTAINABLE BUILDING SECTOR.
I WANT TO JUST GIVE GRATITUDE
AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO THE FORMER
DIRECTOR JACKIE PATTERSON WHO
ENVISIONED THIS AND 600 MEMBERS,
LEADERS FROM THE COUNTRY AND
SUSTAINABILITY AND BUILDING
PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE WORKING IN
SOLIDARITY WITH US.
AND WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE
PLEASE.
SO, THE CORE TENET OF THE SECTOR
INITIATIVE IS REALLY WELL
EXPRESSED BY THIS QUOTE FROM A
SPEAKER AT THE LAUNCH SUMMIT OF
OUR WORK WHICH SAYS THAT
SUSTAINABILITY WITHOUT EQUITY IS
SUSTAINING INEQUITY.
IT'S THE IDEA THAT WITHOUT
PRIORITIZING THOSE WHO ARE MOST
IMPACTED BY, FOR EXAMPLE,
INEFFICIENT HOMES AND HIGH
ENERGY BURDEN, DISASTER
VULNERABLE HOMES IN A TIME WHEN
THERE ARE INCREASINGLY INTENSE
AND FREQUENT NATURAL DISASTERS,
THESE FOLKS ARE NOT ONLY MOST
IMPACTED BUT ALSO WHO STAND TO
BENEFIT THE MOST FROM
SUSTAINABLE BUILDING PRACTICES.
AND WITHOUT PRIORITIZING THEM
WILL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE QUALITY
OF LIFE FOR PRIMARILY AFFLUENT
AND WHITE AUDIENCES AS HAS BEEN
THE CASE FOR THE GREEN BUILDING
INDUSTRY OVER THE PAST FEW
DECADES.
AND WE'LL FOCUS ON BENEFITS TO
COMPANIES REAPING PREMIUMS FROM
POSITIONING SUSTAINABILITY AS AN
AMENITY RATHER THAN ADDRESSING
THE CLIMATE CRISIS.
I'M GOING TO SHARE A FEW
STATISTICS TO GROUND US IN THE
CHALLENGES THAT OUR NAACP
MEMBERS ARE CONFRONTING ON A
DAILY BASIS.
WHEN IT COMES TO BUILDINGS AND
THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT AROUND US.
THERE ARE ABOUT 35 UNITS OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR EVERY 100
LOW INCOME PEOPLE.
AND AT THE SAME TIME, VACANT
UNITS OUTNUMBER PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN THE
UNITED STATES 30 TO 1.
BLACK HOMEOWNERSHIP, A LOT OF
STATISTICS WILL FOCUS ON BLACK
AMERICANS, THE PRIMARY BASE OF
THE NAACP, BLACK HOMEOWNERSHIP
IS AROUND 42%, THE SAME AS IT
WAS ABOUT 50 YEARS AGO.
AND MEDIAN WEALTH OF BLACK
AMERICANS IS EXPECTED TO FALL TO
ZERO BY 207 L. L. ARE R. R.
R. -- BY BY 2053 WITHOUT
INTERVENTION.
71% ARE LIVING IN COUNTIES IN
VIOLATION OF AIR POLLUTION
STANDARDS AND I MENTIONED
INCREASING NATURAL DISASTERS,
BLACK PEOPLE ON AVERAGE ARE
LOSING WEALTH AFTER DISASTERS
WHILE WHITE PEOPLE ARE GAINING
WEALTH.
LESS THAN 2% OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS
ARE FULLY COMPLIANT WITH ADA,
AND IN ADDITION WE'RE SEEING
WHITE WORKERS ARE
OVERREPRESENTED AND BLACK
WORKERS ARE UNDERREPRESENTED IN
PRETTY MUCH EVERY PROFESSION
THAT MAKES UP THE SUSTAINABLE
BUILDING SECTOR.
FOR EXAMPLE, ENGINEERING,
ARCHITECTURE, PARTICULARLY WHEN
IT COMES TO EXECUTIVE AND SENIOR
ROLES, A FACT THAT CONTINUES TO
I THINK DEMONSTRATE THIS GAP
THAT JUST LAST YEAR WAS THE
MOMENT WHEN WE WERE ABLE TO
CELEBRATE THERE BEING 500 BLACK
WOMEN ARCHITECTS TOTAL IN THE
UNITED STATES.
AND IT'S LIKELY THAT BECAUSE
COMMUNITIES THAT ARE ON THE
FRONT LINES OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND
CLIMATE AND ECONOMIC AND RACIAL
INJUSTICES ARE NOT THE ONES
SEEKING SOLUTIONS IN LEADERSHIP
ROLES WE'RE SEEING THESE TRENDS
AND SEEING SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS
LARGELY BEING LIMITED TO
COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS, PUBLIC
BUILDINGS, NEW CONSTRUCTION,
ESPECIALLY LUXURY DEVELOPMENT
RATHER THAN TREATING THIS TOPIC
AS A CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS
ISSUE THAT MUST PRIORITIZE
EXISTING BUILDINGS AND
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS AND
COMMUNITY FACILITIES WHERE
FRONTSLINE COMMUNITIES ARE
ACTUALLY HAVING -- EXPERIENCING
THE MOST IMPACTS.
WITHOUT CORRECTIVE TRANSPARENT
EFFORT, INCLUDING POLICYMAKERS,
WE EXPECT THAT RACIAL AND
ECONOMIC INEQUALITY WILL
INCREASINGLY IMPEDE OUR ABILITY
TO THRIVE IN FUTURE CRISES.
WHAT WE'D LIKE TO OFFER IS THE
IDEA THAT THERE IS THE CONCEPT
OF JUST TRANSITION, WHICH SOME
OF YOU MAY HAVE HEARD OF BEFORE.
IT'S THE IDEA THAT CHANGE IS
INEVITABLE, ESPECIALLY IN THE
FACE OF CLIMATE CRISIS, JUSTICE
IS NOT.
AND TO MAKE THE SHIFT FROM
POLLUTING INDUSTRIES TO
PLACE-BASED AND REGENERATIVE
ECONOMIES, ALSO REQUIRES THAT WE
BUILD ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL
POWER.
THE NAACP OPERATES WITH A FEW
FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES
INCLUDING ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
PRINCIPLES CREATED IN 1991, AND
HAMMISH PRINCIPLES FOR
DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZING, TALKING
ABOUT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN A
CONCRETE WAY, INCLUDING TALKING
ABOUT THINGS LIKE POLITICAL,
ECONOMIC, CULTURAL,
ENVIRONMENTAL SELF-DETERMINATION
FOR ALL COMMUNITIES, THE RIGHT
TO PARTICIPATE AS EQUAL PARTNERS
IN EVERY LEVEL OF DECISION
MAKING, IMPORTANCE OF BOTTOM UP
ORGANIZING AND LETTING PEOPLE
SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.
IT SHOULD NOT WELCOME THOSE WHO
HAVE BEEN HISTORICAL EXCLUDED
BUT INDEED BE LED BY THOSE
VOICES.
AND WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
THANK YOU.
I'D LIKE TO OFFER A COUPLE
RESOURCES GROUNDING THE NAACP.
THIS IS THE NAME OF A RESOURCE
THAT WE PUBLISHED THAT IS A
GUIDE DESIGNED FOR COMMUNITY
MEMBERS BUT I THINK HAS A LOT OF
VALUE FOR POLICYMAKERS AND
PRACTITIONERS IN THE
SUSTAINABILITY AND BUILDING
SECTOR.
YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE
PLEASE.
THIS IS THE SPECTRUM OF
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT DEVELOPED
BY ROSA GONZALEZ OF FACILITATING
POWER.
AND HAS INVALUABLE IN OUR
THINKING ABOUT COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT.
THERE ARE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF
COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION.
STARTING AT ZERO, WHICH ROSA
DESCRIBES AS THE STATUS QUO.
I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
WHAT WE EXPECT AND SEE BY
DEFAULT IS THAT MARGINALIZATION
ENDS UP BEING THE STATUS QUO
WHEN IT COMES TO COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT.
MOVING UP YOU'LL SEE THAT
THERE'S SHADING THAT STARTS AT
LEVEL 3.
AND THIS IS ACTUALLY THE MINIMUM
LEVEL THAT THE NAACP EXPECTS
FROM INDUSTRY, GOVERNMENT,
COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND
OURSELVES.
THIS IS THE LEVEL AT WHICH
COMMUNITIES ARE INVOLVED, HAVE
VOICE, AND THEIR NEEDS AND
ASSETS ARE INTEGRATED INTO THE
PROCESS AND INFORMED PLANNING
FOR ANY GIVEN PROJECT OR
POLICY-MAKING PROCESS.
AS YOU MOVE FORWARD FROM LEVEL 3
TO LEVEL 4 AND 5 YOU'LL SEE THAT
WE BUILD FROM A CULTURE OF
COLLABORATION, TO A CULTURE OF
WHOLE GOVERNANCE BY IMPACTED
COMMUNITIES.
WITH THE INTENTION OF BREAKING
THE CYCLE OF PERPETUAL ADVOCACY
FOR BASIC NEEDS THAT TOO MANY
COMMUNITIES ARE TRAPPED WITHIN.
AND TO GET TO THESE HIGHER
LEVELS I'LL MENTION YOU'LL SEE
THERE'S INITIAL CAPACITY
INVESTMENTS REQUIRED TO BE ABLE
TO ENABLE AND MOBILIZE COMMUNITY
MEMBERS INTO A LEADERSHIP AND
OWNERSHIP ROLE, AND WE WANT TO
SEE GOVERNMENT FOLLOW THE LEAD
OF FRONTLINE COMMUNITY
ORGANIZERS AND PUBLIC INTEREST
DESIGNERS TO UNLEARN AND
REIMAGINE DEVELOPMENT PROCESSES
WHICH OTHERWISE EXCLUDE,
EXPLOIT, AND HARM LOW INCOME
COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR.
WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE
PLEASE.
THIS WILL BE MY LAST SLIDE,
CLOSING WITH TAKEAWAYS AND
LEARNINGS FROM THE NAACP
INITIATIVE THAT WE'VE HAD OVER
THE PAST YEAR, AND IN PARTICULAR
THIS IS AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY
FOR CONVERSATION AS WE'RE STILL
IN AN ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH GSA
THAT I HOPE WE'LL TALK ABOUT
EVEN MORE AFTER THE
PRESENTATIONS.
WHAT WE'VE SEEN FROM OUR MEMBERS
IS THAT WHEN THERE'S COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT THAT ISN'T REACHING
LEVEL 3 OR HIGHER, OUR MEMBERS
HAVE USED THEIR OWN EXPERIENCES
PARTICIPATING IN THINGS LIKE
COMMITTEES TO ATTEMPT TO
ILLUSTRATE TO THE REST OF THE
PARTICIPANTS HOW ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE IS ABOUT REDESIGNING
STRUCTURES TO BE INCLUSIVE.
NEARLY EVERYTHING ABOUT CURRENT
DEVELOPMENT PROCESSES AND
GOVERNMENT ENGAGEMENT PROCESSES
TEND TO FAVOR STAKEHOLDERS WITH
AMPLE RESOURCES, TIME, AND
PRIVILEGE.
AND EXCLUDE MARGINALIZED GROUPS.
FOR US, COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
REQUIRES A WILLINGNESS AND
TOLERANCE TO INCREASED
COMPLEXITY, AND DECREASED
CONTROL OF THOSE IN POWER.
AND THERE'S SOME BASIC PROCESS
CHANGES, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN WE
THINK ABOUT GOVERNMENT
COMMITTEES, AND A TASK GROUP
THAT GSA INVITED THE NAACP TO
PARTICIPATE IN THAT ENABLES
GETTING ABOVE THE LEVEL OF
CONSULTATION WHICH PRODUCES
LIMITED VOICE AND TOKENIZATION
TO TRUE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.
HERE IS A FEW THINGS BASIC
PROCESS CHANGES.
BEING ABLE TO SHIFT MIND SETS
ABOUT AMOUNT OF TIMING, THINKING
ABOUT OUTREACH BROADLY AND IN A
TARGETED WAY TO COMMUNITY
MEMBERS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN
HISTORICALLY IN CONVERSATION
WITH A GOVERNMENT ENTITY.
WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO
PROVIDE ORIENTATION TO
PARTICIPANTS IN ANY GIVEN
PROCESS, WHO OTHERWISE MAY NOT
SPEAK THE SAME LANGUAGE, MAY NOT
USE THE SAME JARGON, MAY NOT BE
ABLE TO MEANINGFULLY PROVIDE
INPUT WITHOUT HAVING A VERY
CLEAR PICTURE OF THE STRUCTURE
OF AN AGENCY OR THE WAYS IN
WHICH PROCESSES UNFOLD.
WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THE NEED FOR
FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING.
THE NAACP ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY IN
THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE TEAM
WE ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY SCHEDULE
OUR EVENTS FOR EVENINGS, IN
ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE MEMBERS ON
THE WEST COAST GETTING OUT OF
WORK, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE
ACTUALLY DID AS A PART OF THE
TASK GROUP, BE ABLE TO PROVIDE
SPACES TO THE FORMAL COMMITTEE
SPACES TO HAVE CONVERSATION AND
INCLUDE PEOPLE WHO OTHERWISE
COULDN'T BE THERE.
ANOTHER POINT, ACCESSIBILITY,
THINKING ABOUT ACCESS NEEDS, HOW
INFORMATION IS SHARED, HOW FAR
IN ADVANCE YOU SHARE
INFORMATION, WHETHER INFORMATION
IS REPORTED AND INTERACTED FOR
THOSE BRAND NEW TO A MEETING OR
MAYBE MISSED A CONVERSATION,
POSSIBILITIES FOR SELECTION OF
LEADERSHIP AND SHARED AGENDA
SETTING, ALSO PRIORITIES FROM
OUR MEMBERS.
I'LL INCLUDE IN TERMS OF
FACILITATION HAVING FACILITATORS
COMING IN WITH TRAINING ON
WORKING WITH DIVERSITY OF
PARTICIPANTS, SETTING COMMUNITY
AGREEMENTS UP FRONT AND BEING
ABLE TO ARRIVE AT A CONSENSUS
DECISION-MAKING PROCESS ARE ALSO
SOME PROCESS CHANGES THAT WE
HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT.
BUT BEYOND THESE BASIC PROCESS
CHANGES I THINK WHAT WE TRULY
ASPIRE TO IS AN ENTIRELY NEW
MODEL OF DELEGATING POWER AND
FOSTERING COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP.
I WANT TO LIFT UP TWO EXAMPLES
SURFACED AS PART OF OUR WORK
WITH GSA THAT ARE TRANSFORMATIVE
AND BEAUTIFUL ROLE MODELS FOR US
TO THINK THROUGH.
FIRST IS FROM THE INDIAN HEALTH
SERVICE, I HOPE OUR OTHER
PANELIST, ALEX, WILL SPEAK TO
THIS MORE.
HOW THE INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE
HAS THE INDIAN
SELF-DETERMINATION CONSTRUCTION
CONTRACT AGREEMENT.
THERE'S A TRANSFER OF CONTROL OF
HEALTH-CARE RELATED CONSTRUCTION
PROJECTS INCLUDINGED A ED A
ADMINISTRATIVE PROJECTS IN
PLANNING, CONDUCTING,
ADMINISTERING A CONSTRUCTION
PROJECT SO IT'S RESPONSIVE TO
THE NEEDS OF THE INDIAN
COMMUNITY.
AND FROM KING COUNTY,
WASHINGTON, WHERE THE
SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE SCORE
CARD THAT HAD GUIDED ALL PUBLIC
PROJECTS GOT UPDATED, AFTER AN
ORDINANCE WAS PASSED FOR THE
ENTIRE COUNTY IN 2017, TO
ADDRESS EQUITY AND SOCIAL
JUSTICE, AND SO THE NEW RATING
SYSTEM ADDED ALMOST A THIRD OF
THE POINTS AS NEW POINTS THAT
ARE REQUIRED TO BE ATTEMPTED BY
ALL PROJECTS TO DEVELOP A PLAN
FOR EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
BASED ON AN ASSESSMENT OF
CONDITIONS AND INFORMATION
GATHERED ON PRIORITIES FROM
STAKEHOLDERS, PARTICIPATION AND
ENGAGEMENT BY PRIORITY
POPULATIONS, VIA COMMUNITY
PARTNERSHIPS, OUTREACH,
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING,
GETTING -- THEY HAVE SET A GOAL
ALONG A CONTINUUM OF ENGAGEMENT,
SIMILAR TO THE SPECTRUM I
SHOWED, TO MOVE FROM A PLACE OF
INFORMING RESIDENTS TO ACTUALLY
HAVING COMMUNITIES DIRECT THE
ACTION OF GOVERNMENT.
THEY INCLUDE REQUIREMENT TO
RELEASE A PUBLIC EQUITY IMPACT
REVIEW FOR EVERY PROJECT.
I WANT TO SHARE A COUPLE MOMENTS
THAT HAPPENED IN THIS PAST YEAR
THAT I THINK ARE REALLY
INTERESTING STARTING POINTS FOR
FURTHER CONVERSATION, AND
ACKNOWLEDGING WHERE THERE ARE SO
MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH
AND LEARNING TOGETHER.
TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S EVEN --
THERE WAS EVEN MORE ROBUST
ENGAGEMENT OF NAACP MEMBERS AS
PART OF THE GSA TASK GROUP'S
WORK, WHAT WE DID WAS ACTUALLY
PUT TOGETHER A TOWN HALL THAT
WAS FACILITATED BY NAACP MEMBERS
THEMSELVES, PARTICIPATING IN THE
TASK GROUP, TO LEARN ABOUT GSA
APPROACHES TO SUSTAINABILITY AND
EQUITY AND TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY
MEMBER PERSPECTIVES.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS EXAMPLE
IS THAT BEYOND THIS TASK GROUP
THERE NEEDED TO BE TRUSTED
MESSENGERS AND INTERMEDIARIES TO
REACH THE BASE AND THERE NEEDED
TO BE A WAY IN WHICH TO ADDRESS
THE FACT THERE WAS ONLY A VERY
SMALL NUMBER OF FRONTLINE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AT THE TABLE
GIVEN CONSTRAINTS ON HOW
MEETINGS WERE CARRIED OUT.
SECOND, WE NEEDED TO PROVIDE
FEEDBACK ABOUT THE PROCESS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS TO ADDRESS THE
PROCESS IN ADDITION TO ALL OF
THE OTHER INTERVENTIONS AROUND
BUILDINGS AND DEVELOPMENT.
THAT GAS WAS LOOKING FOR.
AND SO WE FACILITATED
CONVERSATIONS TO DIGEST
INFORMATION AND PREPARE A
CONSENSUS DOCUMENT WITH OUR
RECOMMENDATIONS.
SOME OF THE TOP RECOMMENDATIONS
THAT CAME OUT OF THE PROCESS
WERE TO MAKE SURE THERE'S A SET
OF PROCESSES FOR FRONTLINE
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND DESIGN
IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION,
WITH DECISION MAKING AUTHORITY
THROUGHOUT ALL GSA PROCESSES.
THERE WAS A RECOMMENDATION TO
RESTRUCTURE THE MAKEUP OF THE
COMMITTEES THAT MEMBERS HAD BEEN
PARTICIPATING IN WITH FOCUS ON
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND
FRONTLINE REPRESENTATION, TO
BRING MORE THAN ONE AGENCY TO
THE TABLE AROUND ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE AND EQUITY IN THE
CONTEXT OF THE BUILT
ENVIRONMENT, IN THE CONTEXT OF
JUSTICE40 AND COORDINATION THAT
WOULD BE NEEDED.
AND ADDITIONAL EXAM HER TO HIRE
LOCAL EXPERTS TO PERFORM
ASSESSMENTS FOR GSA PROJECTS.
THIS SESSION IS TITLED
ENGAGEMENT AS TWO-WAY EXCHANGE
OF INFORMATION BUT REALLY THINK
WE'RE TRYING TO ARRIVE AT
LASTING RECIPROCAL
RELATIONSHIPS, FINDING A WAY
HAVE MUTUAL BENEFIT FRONTLINE
COMMUNITIES TO ENGAGE IN
PROCESSES THAT MAY REQUIRE
REPAIRING PAST HURTS, BUILDING
BRIDGES, PATHWAYS FOR
COLLABORATION AND I WOULD LIKE
TO CLOSE WITH A QUOTE FROM AN
ORGANIZATION CALLED COMMUNITY
READY CORPS, WITH ANY COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT PROCESS AND IN
GENERAL LEARNING HOW TO COUNTER
ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE JUSTICE,
MISTAKES ARE INEVITABLE,
TRANSFORMATION IS ALWAYS
POSSIBLE, AND WILLINGNESS IS
ESSENTIAL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THE
CITY OF ORLANDO, WE HAVE MISS
MERCHON GREEN, CHIEF EQUITY
OFFICER, MR. CHRIS CASTRO,
DIRECTOR OF OFFICE OF
SUSTAINABILITY, TWO INDIVIDUALS
TOGETHER TO PROVIDE A
PRESENTATION ON THE
OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE CITY OF
ORLANDO.
I SEE CHRIS.
GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU, KRYSTAL AND I WANT
TO ENKERNELING COURAGE MERCHON
AND THANK MANDY AND FELLOW
PRESENTERS CONTRIBUTING YOUR
WISDOM.
I HAD FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE AS A
BUILDING ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MEMBER FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO
PARTICIPATE IN OUR E.J. WORKING
GROUP AND THE COLLABORATION AND
PARTNERSHIP THAT WAS ESTABLISHED
WITH NAACP WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN
MOVING FORWARD TH ADVICE LETTER
TO THE GSA ADMINISTRATOR.
WE APPRECIATE THAT AND CERTAINLY
HAD A LOT OF THINGS RESONATING
WITH THE WORK WE'RE TRYING TO DO
HERE.
WE CAN PROCEED TO THE NEXT
SLIDE.
I'M CHRIS CASTRO, SERVE AS
DIRECTOR OF OFFICE OF
SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCE.
I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MERCHON.
>> I'M MERCHON GREEN, CHIEF
EQUITY OFFICER FOR CITY OF
ORLANDO.
>> WE'RE HONORED TO BE HERE AS
PART OF THE FEC 2022 CONFERENCE
TO SHED LIGHT ON WHAT THE CITY
OF ORLANDO IS DOING TO ADVANCE A
GREEN AND EQUITABLE FUTURE HERE
IN THE CITY BEAUTIFUL.
I'LL SAY OUR MAYOR OVER 19 YEARS
HAS STEPPED FORWARD AND PROVIDED
A BOLD VISION FOR BOTH MERCHON
AND I TO TRANSFORM ORLANDO TO A
FRIENDLY AND INCLUSIVE AND
ECONOMICALLY DIVERSE CITY, A
FUTURE-READY CITY AT THE
FOREFRONT OF INNOVATION AND
SUSTAINABILITY.
A BRIEF OUTLINE OF WORK, WE WANT
TO DEFINE HOW ORLANDO LOOKS AT
EQUITY AND SUSTAINABILITY.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT OUR INITIATIVES
AROUND EQUITABLE PROCUREMENT,
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT, SOME TOOLS WE'VE
BEEN UTILIZING.
I WAS EXCITED TO HEAR OF THE
EJSCREEN TOOL AND WE'LL LIGHT ON
OTHER MAPPING TOOLS AND CLOSE
OUT WITH SOME OF THE NEXT STEPS
IN EQUITY IN ACTION WE
ANTICIPATE MOVING FORWARD WITH
HERE IN ORLANDO.
NEXT SLIDE, WE'LL START WITH
MERCHON SETTING THE STAGE.
>> WE STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM,
WANTED TO GO BACK TO EQUALITY,
EQUITY, JUSTICE.
A LOT OF TIMES EQUALITY AND
EQUITY ARE INTERTWINED, SO
PEOPLE DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND.
HERE ARE A FEW DEFINITIONS.
EQUALITY IS GIVING THE SAME
STATUS.
EQUALITY IS ADDRESSING UNIQUE
NEEDS OF HISTORICALLY OPPRESSED
GROUPS PROPORTIONATE TO
CIRCUMSTANCES.
EQUITY SEEKS FAIRLESS.
AND JUSTICE IS ADDRESSING ROOT
CAUSE OF OPPRESSION, CREATING
STRUCTURAL CHANGE SO EVERYONE
HAS ACCESS TO EQUAL
OPPORTUNITIES TO THRIVE.
I LOVE THIS SLIDE HERE BECAUSE
IT GIVES THE VISUAL TO HELP
PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE
DIFFERENCES, EVEN WHEN TALKING
ABOUT IT THERE COULD BE SOME
THAT FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS.
TOP LEFT UNEQUALITY.
UNEQUAL ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY.
IF YOU LOOK AT IT, IT'S
LABELED -- YOU SEE THE TREE
LEANING TO THE LEFT, LOADED WITH
FRUIT ON THE LEFT SIDE, APPLE
FALLING FROM THE TREE TO THE
CHILD ON THE LEFT.
THE CHILD ON THE RIGHT DOESN'T
HAVE ACCESS TO ANY FRUIT.
BENEATH THAT, THAT PICTURE IS
LABELED EQUALITY.
EVENLY DISTRIBUTED TOOLS AND
RESOURCES, SAME TREE WITH BOTH
CHILDREN ON A FOUR-STEP LADDER.
ON THE LEFT THE CHILD CAN REACH
BECAUSE THE TREE LEANS BUT THE
TREE IS STILL OUT OF REACH ON
THE RIGHT SIDE.
TOP RIGHT PICTURE, EQUITY,
CUSTOM TOOLS THAT IDENTIFY AND
ADDRESS INEQUALITY.
CHILD ON THE LEFT FOUR-STEP
LEDDER, ON THE RIGHT SIX-STEP
LADDER, BOTH CAN NOW REACH THE
TREE AND HAVE ACCESS TO APPLES.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE TREE, IT'S
STILL LEANING, FRUIT IS STILL ON
THE LEFT, FRUIT STILL SCARCE FOR
THE CHILD ON THE RIGHT.
ON THE BOTTOM FIXING THE SYSTEM
TO OFFER EQUALLY ACCESS TO BOTH,
BOTH ON A FOUR-STEP LADDER, YOU
NO LONGER SEE THE TREE LEANING.
THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM
THAT WAS THE ACCESS INITIALLY
THROUGHOUT THE THREE PICTURES
HAS NOW BEEN SOLVED.
SO WE'RE ALL WORKING TOWARDS THE
GOAL OF JUSTICE.
WHILE GETTING TO JUSTICE, EQUITY
PLAYS A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN
MAKING SURE THAT OUR RESIDENTS
AND PEOPLE WE SERVE HAVE ACCESS.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
THAT PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY --
FROM THE GIVING TREE BOOK, SHEL
SILVERSTEIN.
WE DISCUSSED A SNAPSHOT AT THE
CITY, OUR GOALS FOR THE CITY,
THE FIRST UNDER INTERNAL,
DISCUSSING WHAT WE'RE DOING
INTERNALLY AT THE CITY AND
EXTERNALLY LOOKING TO INCREASE
EQUITY.
WE'RE STARTING EQUITY
CONVERSATIONS TO GAUGE WHERE
EMPLOYEES ARE, WITH EQUITY, WHAT
DO THEY BELIEVE EQUITY IS, HOW
THEY BELIEVE EQUITY WORKS IN
THEIR DEPARTMENT, DO THEY FEEL
THEY ARE IMPLEMENTING EQUITY,
THAT THERE'S A NEED TO IMPROVE
SOME AREAS?
FROM THOSE CONVERSATIONS WE'LL
HAVE STAFF TRAININGS WHERE
EXPERTS COME IN NOW AND TRAIN
OUR STAFF ON EQUITY SO WE'RE ALL
ON THE SAME PAGE OF WHAT
COMMITTEE LOOKS LIKES AND MEANS
AND HOW AS A CITY WE CONFER
EQUITY.
FROM THOSE CONVERSATIONS WE'RE
HOPING TO GET TO A LEVEL OF
UNDERSTANDING WHERE NOW OUR
EMPLOYEES ARE NATURALLY USING
THE EQUITY LENS IN THEIR
BEHAVIOR WITH STAFF, INTERNAL,
AND EXTERNAL WITH OUR RESIDENTS,
AND WE'LL SEE A SHIFT IN CLIMATE
AND CULTURE OF THE CITY.
AND REVIEW POLICIES, PROGRAMS,
SERVICES TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
ALIGNED WITH WHAT OUR NEWLY
FORMED OR REVISED IDEAS OF
EQUITY ARE AND WE'RE BETTERING
OUR SERVICES PROGRAMS AND
POLICIES.
AND THEN FROM THERE CREATING
EQUITY COMMITTEE, HOPING WE'VE
FACILITATED THAT DESIRE TO
IMPROVE AND THAT INTEREST IN
EQUITY, ALLOWING DIFFERENT
DEPARTMENTS TO DESIGNATE OR HAVE
EMPLOYEES VOLUNTEER TO BE PART
OF THE COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS
EQUITY, HOW WE IMPLEMENT IN OUR
CITY AND GO BACK TO THEIR
RESPECTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND MAKE
SURE THAT IT IS ALIGNED WITH
WHAT WE'VE HAD DISCUSSED IN
MEETINGS AND AN EQUITY PLAN, WE
WOULD GO BACK TO OUR RESPECTIVE
DEPARTMENTS AND CREATE A PLAN
THAT ALIGNS WITH THOSE VALUES
THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED, AND MAKE
SURE DAY-TO-DAY ACTIVITIES ARE
FOUNDED AND ROOTED IN EQUITY.
EXTERNALLY LOOKING TO INCREASE
INTENSITY AND METHODS OF
COMMUNICATION, WITH OUR
COMMUNITY.
THE MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES
DON'T HAVE MUCH COMMUNICATION
WITH THE CITY, AND TRADITIONAL
METHODS WILL NOT INCREASE
COMMUNICATION.
WE HAVE TO BE UNORTHODOX WITH
HOW WE'RE TRYING TO REACH THOSE
COMMUNITIES.
ONCE WE'VE REACHED THEM WE'LL
HAVE LISTENING TOURS HEARING
CONCERNS, WHERE WE CAN IMPROVE
AND TELL US WHAT WORK WE CAN DO
WHAT EFFORTS THEY CAN MAKE TO
ASSIST IS AND FROM HEARING THEM
WOULD INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY,
MAKE SURE WE'RE MEETING
QUARTERLY WITH OUR COMMUNITY,
AND ALSO THERE WHEN THEY NEED
US, THEY KNOW WHO TO CONTACT
WITH CERTAIN ISSUES, MAKING SURE
THAT WE KEEP THE LINES OF
COMMUNICATION OPEN.
AND THEN INCREASE OUR ADVOCACY
INTERNALLY.
SO THE ADVOCACY WILL COME FROM
WHAT WE HEARD ON LISTENING
TOURS, NOT TRYING TO DO THINGS
TO OUR RESIDENTS BUT MAKE CHANGE
WITH OUR RESIDENTS.
BASED OFF THEIR FEEDBACK WILL
DRIVE HOW WE WORK INTERNALLY AND
WHAT WE ADVOCATE SO WE'RE ON THE
SAME ACCORD.
WE'VE ALSO EXPRESSED THAT WE
WOULD LIKE THEM TO COLLABORATE.
CHANGE CAN'T JUST HAPPEN
INTERNALLY.
WE NEED THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND
TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE
PREDDING THE WORD ABOUT THE --
SPREADING THE WORD AND PEOPLE
KNOW WHO THEY CAN CONTACT TO
ENSURE WE'RE MAKING THE RIGHT
STEMS NEED -- STEPS TO BE
ACCESSIBLE.
LAST
LASTLY OUR ACTIONS, WE WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT BEFORE WE TAKE
THOSE ACTIONS WE HEAR FROM OUR
COMMUNITY.
THOSE ARE THE EFFORTS THAT WE'RE
MAKING INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY
IN THE CITY TO INCREASE EQUITY.
I WILL TURN IT OVER TO CHRIS.
>> NEXT SLIDE.
THANK YOU, MERCHON.
IT'S BEEN SO REFRESHING TO HAVE
YOU ON THE CITY, IN THE CITY AND
EXECUTIVE STAFF OF THE CITY OVER
THE LAST YEAR AND JUST IN ONE
YEAR HELPING TO PROVIDE THIS
ROADMAP TO FURTHER EQUITY IN OUR
CITY.
I WILL SAY THE CITY HAS BEEN
THINKING ABOUT EQUITY FOR A LONG
TIME.
AND IN THE EARLY 2000s ONE OF
THE MAJOR STEPS FORWARD WAS
AROUND ENABLING EQUITABLE
PROCUREMENT POLICIES AND WE
ACTUALLY ENABLED CHAPTER 57 IN
THE CITY'S MUNICIPAL CODE IN
ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD IN
OFFICIAL MINORITY AND WOMEN
BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROGRAMMER
MWBE, THE WHOLE IDEA WAS TO
INCREASE OPPORTUNITY FOR
MINORITY AND WOMEN-OWNED
BUSINESSES TO PARTICIPATE IN
CITY PROCUREMENT AND ENSURE
EQUAL CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES
IN THE MWBE COMMUNITY.
THE COMMUNITY SAID CODE FOR
MAJOR -- FOR ANY PROCUREMENTS WE
SCREEN TO IDENTIFY 18% OF THAT
SUPPLY OR THOSE SERVICES COMING
FROM MINORITY BUSINESSES AND 6%
COMING FROM WOMEN-OWNED
BUSINESSES.
AND OUR OFFICE OF MWBE LED BY
JANERO, HE ASSEMBLED A COALITION
BASED ON SERVICES, GETTING
CONTACTED WAYS TO PLUG INTO THIS
PROGRAM.
CHAPTER 57 ENTAILED OTHER
ASPECTS AND WOULD LOVE FOR YOU
TO CHIME IN.
>> YES, CHAPTER 57 WAS CREATED
IN 1972, AND NOT ONLY
ESTABLISHED CHAPTER 57 BUT ALSO
ESTABLISHED A CHAPTER 57 BOARD
AND OFFICE OF HUMAN RELATIONS,
ENFORCING CITY AND FEDERAL LAWS
THAT PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION IN
EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING, PUBLIC
ACCOMMODATION.
CHAPTER 57 BOARD HEARS APPEALS
ON CHAPTER 57 AND HUD HOUSING
COMPLAINTS AND APPEALS FOR
DENIALS OF MINORITY AND
WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS
CERTIFICATION.
CHAPTER 57 IS EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT AND SHOWS A LOT ABOUT
THE CITY AND HOW THE CITY OF
ORLANDO VIEWS DISCRIMINATION
BECAUSE IT HAS ADDED PROTECTION.
IN ADDITION TO RACE, COLOR,
RELIGION, NATIONAL ORIGIN,
MARITAL STATUS, AGE, SEX, SEXUAL
ORIENTATION, THE CITY ADDED
FAMILIAL STATUS, GENDER
IDENTITY, AS ADDITIONAL
PROTECTED CLASSES.
SO THOSE, ALL THOSE COMPLAINTS
ARE IN THE OFFICE OF HUMAN
RELATIONS WHICH ENFORCES CHAPTER
57 CODE.
>> WE'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
EARLY ON IN MAYOR DYER'S TERM A
VISION WAS COMMUNITY CENTER,
LIKE THE AMWAY CENTER, CAMPING
WORLD STADIUM WITH PRO BOWLS AND
OTHER MAJOR SPORTING EVENTS, AND
EVEN OUR DR. PHILLIPS CENTER FOR
PERFORMING ARTS.
IN ORDER TO DRIVE MORE WORKFORCE
AND JOB CREATION, CREATING THOSE
VENUES, MAYOR DYER LAUNCHED THE
BLUEPRINT PROGRAM, ESSENTIALLY
OVER THE COURSE SINCE THAT TIME,
OVER 12,000 RESIDENTS HAVE
REGISTERED FOR THE PROGRAM AND
HAVE GOTTEN TRAINING FOR
EMPLOYMENT AS WELL AND OVER
4,000 WERE PLACED INTO JOBS.
WE HAVE SINCE ACTUALLY EARLIER
THIS YEAR REIGNITED THIS PROGRAM
UNDER THE BRAND, RISE, RISE
PROGRAM, TO ENSURE RESIDENTS
IMPACTED BY COVID-19 HAVE ACCESS
TO JOB TRAINING, COACHING, OTHER
SUPPORT SERVICES.
SO THIS NEW RISE PROGRAM
CONNECTS TO OUR REGIONAL
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AGENCY,
CAREER SOURCE, AND THEY HAVE
OVER 100 SHORT-TERM JOB AND
VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMS IN
A VARIETY OF FIELDS, FINANCE,
HOSPITALITY, CONSTRUCTION,
HEALTH CARE AND MORE.
WE HAVE PROGRAMS WHERE RESIDENTS
CAN PROVIDE TUITION -- BASICALLY
COVERING TUITION OF SEVERAL
PROGRAMS AND TRAININGS, AS WELL
AS SUBSIDY FOR THE TRAINING
SUBSIDY, $125 PER WEEK TO COVER
COSTS WHETHER TRANSPORTATION OR
HOUSING, CHILD CARE, AND MORE.
WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THIS BECAUSE
THIS SPURRED THE CREATION OF
THESE VENUES AND NOW THAT THE
VENUES ARE BUILT THE PROGRAM IS
PIVOTING TO ADDRESS OTHER
CONCERNS AND ISSUES WITHIN THE
COMMUNITY AND REALLY GET OUR
COMMUNITIES OF CONCERNED TRAINED
TO HELP WITH THAT.
I WAS VERY EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT
THE EJSCREEN SCREENING TOOL
BEING SHARED AND THE JUSTICE40
MAPPING TOOL TO HELP UNDERSTAND
WHERE JUSTICE40 AND INVESTMENTS
OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL CAN
GO TOWARDS TO ACHIEVE THE
JUSTICE40 REQUIREMENTS.
AND WE HAVE ALSO BEEN THINKING
ABOUT MAPPING THE INEQUITIES
ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY.
HERE ARE TWO MAPS WE'VE CREATED.
FOOD INSECURITY ON THE LEFT,
IDENTIFIED PLACES WHERE
RESIDENTS ARE A MILE AWAY FROM
GROCERY STORES, FARMERS MARKETS
OR FORMS OF FRESH FOOD.
WE'RE USING THESE TOOLS AS A WAY
TO OBVIOUSLY ADDRESS THAT
INSECURITY THROUGH DIFFERENT
PROGRAMMINGS, WHETHER STARTING
COMMUNITY GARDENS OR STARTING
FARMERS MARKETS OR TURNING OVER
VACANT LAND INTO URBAN FARMS AND
URBAN GARDENS THE COMMUNITY CAN
ACTIVATE AND OPERATIONALIZE.
YOU SEE A MAP ON ENERGY BURDENS.
I WAS EXCITED TO HEAR THAT WAS A
TOPIC OF DISCUSSION BECAUSE
WE'RE SEEING REAL DISPARITIES,
LOOKING AT THIS ACROSS
DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION,
GEOSPATIALLY, WE'RE ABLE TO
PINPOINT WHERE HOUSEHOLDS ARE
DISPROPORTIONATE OF SPENDING
HIGHER ON UTILITY BILLS COMPARED
TO AFFLUENT AND WHITE
COMMUNITIES SO WE'RE WORKING TO
TARGET THE OUTREACH OF OUR
REBATE PROGRAMS, EVEN OTHER
INITIATIVES TO BEGIN ADDRESSING
THOSE CONCERNS.
NEXT SLIDE.
>> WE'RE BIG ON COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT.
I SUPPORT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
BEFORE THIS POSITION I WAS
COMMUNITY ORGANIZING WORKING IN
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY.
FOR OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
PORTION WE HAVE THE BOWMAN GROUP
REPORT, THIRD PARTY ANALYSIS
THAT RECOMMENDED REFORM TO THE
ORLANDO POLICE DEPARTMENT, OUR
POLICE CHIEF ALLOWED THE GROUP
TO DO AN INTERNAL ASSESSMENT,
TURNED OVER EVERYTHING.
THEY MADE RECOMMENDATIONS ON
BASICALLY EVERY AREA OF OUR
POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND SINCE
WE'VE RECEIVED THAT INFORMATION
WE'VE BEEN WORKING TO ACTUALLY
MAKE IT ACTIONABLE, TAKING
RECOMMENDATIONS, WORKING TO
IMPROVE ORLANDO POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
FUTURE READY MASTER PLAN, CHRIS
CAN SPEAK MORE TO.
>> MANY HAVE HEARD OF THE
CONCEPT OF SMART CITIES AND WE
FELT THE BETTER TERMINOLOGY IS
BEING A FUTURE-READIED CITY TO
PREPARE FOR AND RESPOND TO
FUTURE SHOCKS AND STRESSORS AND
GET AHEAD OF THE CHANGES IN
TECHNOLOGY THAT MAY DISRUPT
COMMUNITIES.
THIS MASTER PLAN PROCESS STARTED
BEFORE COVID, AND HELD A
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF COMMUNITY
FORUMS, ENABLED MEETINGS, A
VIRTUAL REALITY WORKSHOP WHERE
RESIDENTS WERE ABLE TO
PARTICIPATE IN THIS VIRTUAL
WORKSHOP AND PROVIDE COMMENTS
AND FEEDBACK INTO THE DRAFT
PLAN, WHICH WE RECEIVED
THOUSANDS.
WE ALSO WORKED WITH OUR ENABLED
CENTERS IN COMMUNITIES THAT
MAYBE HAD LOW BANDWIDTH OR
CONNECTIVITY FOR INTERNET AND
PROVIDED FREE HOT SPOTS AND
TABLETS.
WE STILL HAVE A HOT SPOT AND
TABLET CHECKOUT PROGRAM, LIKE
CHECKING OUT A BOOK AT A
LIBRARY, RESIDENTS ARE ABLE TO
CHECK OUT DEVICES SO THEY CAN
INTERACT WITH THE CITY, JOIN
CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS TO PROVIDE
INPUT, APPLY FOR JOBS OR EVEN
IDENTIFY WHERE THEY CAN GET
COVID VACCINE AND THE LIKE.
SO THAT WAS REALLY CRITICAL AND
LASTLY I'M SUPER EXCITED THAT
MANDY SHARED THE SPECTRUM OF
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT GRAPHIC
BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN USING THAT
AS A AN IMPORTANT TOOL TO GAUGE
OUR HISTORIC POLICY MAKING AND
MAKE CHANGES SO THAT AS WE MOVE
FORWARD WE'RE BEING MUCH MORE
EQUITABLE IN THE POLICY-MAKING
PROCESS AND ONE OF THOSE IS AN
EXCITING EFFORT CALLED BUILDING
PERFORMANCE STANDARD WHERE WE
ALL KNOW HOUSING AFFORDABILITY,
INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY,
HIGH ENERGY BURDEN ARE ISSUES
THAT ARE OFTEN FACED BY
DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES AND WE
ARE TRYING TO REALLY ADDRESS
THIS THROUGH EMPOWERING
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO
DO THE FACT FINDING AND HELP
PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE
CITY SO WE'VE WORKED CLOSELY
WITH NAACP, ORLANDO CHAPTER, A
GROUP CALLED LATINX AND BOTH
GROUPS HAVE BEEN GATHERING
ENLISTED PUT AND SURVEYING
TENANTS IN APARTMENT COMPLEXES,
AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS TO
UNDERSTAND HOW DO THEY DEFINE
PERFORMANCE, WHAT ARE CHALLENGES
AND CONCERNS ABOUT LANDLORD
RETALIATION AND GENTRIFYING,
INCREASING RATES AS THEY BEGIN
MAKING IMPROVEMENTS TO THEIR
BUILDINGS.
ON MONDAY MAYOR DYER AND CABINET
HEARD FROM THESE GROUPS, THEY
PRESENTED TO THE MAYOR AND
CABINET, THEIR FINDINGS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS, A GOOD STEP
FORWARD, HOW ORLANDO IS MOVING
ALONG THAT SPECTRUM OF COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT FOR POLICYMAKING.
LAST SLIDE.
>> THE LAST SLIDE IS EQUITY IN
ACTION.
BASICALLY WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING
IN THE CITY OF ORLANDO SO FAR,
THE FIRST IS MONTHLY EQUITY
MEETINGS.
I OWE THAT ALL TO CHRIS AND THE
SUSTAINABILITY DEPARTMENT.
I WAS ELATED WHEN I CAME IN,
THEY WERE ALREADY MEETING,
HAVING DISCUSSIONS ABOUT EQUITY
AND NOT JUST SUSTAINABILITY BUT
CITY WIDE, AMAZING TO SEE HOW
MUCH UNDERSTANDING THEY HAD FOR
EQUITY AND HOW CO-ACTIVE THEY
WERE IN IN THEIR EFFORTS.
INTENTIONAL WITH OUR EFFORTS TO
INCREASE DIVERSITY ON BOARDS,
AIMING TO ENSURE DIVERSITY ON
THE BOARDS MIRRORS DIVERSITY IN
OUR COMMUNITY.
WE'VE BEEN REACHING OUT AND
NETWORKING TO SEE IF THERE'S
ANYONE INTERESTED IN BEING PART
OF THE BOARD MAKING SURE WE'RE
INTENTIONAL WITH THE
ANNOUNCEMENT OF BOARD OPENINGS.
AS WELL AS POLICY CHANGES,
RIGHT?
WE'RE CONSTANTLY REVIEWING OUR
POLICIES, TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE'RE MEETING THE MARK, NOT JUST
IN THE CENTRAL FLORIDA AREA BUT
NATIONALLY, AND WE HAVE OUR EAR
TO THE GROUND WITH OUR
COMMUNITIES TO GIVE FEED BANK
AND THE BOWMAN GROUP REVIEW WAS
HUGE FOR THIS COMMUNITY BECAUSE
IT CAME RIGHT AFTER PROTESTS OF
GEORGE FLOYD, OF THE HE --
AFTER HE WAS MURDERED, THE CITY
OF ORLANDO IS TRYING TO BE
PRO-ACTIVE DOING WHAT IS
NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT OUR
RESIDENTS FEEL SAFE AND VALUED.
I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO CHRIS
FOR THE ENGAGEMENT PORTION
BECAUSE THEY HAVE DONE A LOT IN
SUSTAINABILITY WITH COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT.
>> I THINK WE'VE MENTIONED MOST.
WE'RE GOING TO YIELD OUR TIME TO
THE PANEL.
THANK YOU, IN CLOSING, TO
EVERYONE FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO
LISTEN TO THE ORLANDO STORY AND
INVITE US TO SHARE.
WE'RE GRATEFUL TO BE PART OF IT
AND LOOK FORWARD TO LEARNING
MORE FROM YOU AS WELL.
BACK TO YOU, KRYSTAL.
>> THANK YOU, CHRIS AND MERCHON.
WE'RE GOING TO RESERVE
QUESTIONS FOR THE END.
NEXT MR. ALEX GAMBLE WITH INDIAN
HEALTH SERVICE, THE ARCHITECT
AND SUSTAINABILITY COORDINATOR.
OVER TO YOU, ALEX.
>> THANK YOU.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> LOUD AND CLEAR.
>> THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S TIME
THIS AFTERNOON.
OUR GUEST PANELIST, KRYSTAL
SITTING WITH US TO HAVE A
MEANINGFUL DISCUSSION ON THIS
IMPORTANT TOPIC.
WE'RE UNDER THE HHS DEPARTMENT,
IHS IS PRINCIPAL ADVOCATE FOR
INDIAN PEOPLE.
THE GOAL IS TO RAISE THEIR
HEALTH STATUS TO THE HIGHEST
POSSIBLE LEVEL.
AND JUST TO MENTION WHAT MANDY
WAS BRINGING UP REGARDING OUR
PART OF THE PROCESS WHEN IT
COMES TO NON-DIRECT FEDERAL
PROJECTS WHERE CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS IN THE FORM
OF NEW HOSPITAL OR AMBULATORY
CARE FACILITY, EVEN STAFF
QUARTERS, IS TURNED OVER TO THE
TRIBE, WHERE THEY CAN BEGIN TO
ADMINISTER, PLAN, DESIGN, BUILD
THE PROJECT.
AND FROM THAT POINT THE IHS
INCLUDING MYSELF ENDS UP
BECOMING CONSULTANTS AND
PARTNERS WITH THE TRIBES WHEN
THEY DO THAT PROJECT.
THAT'S ALL DEVELOPED UNDER JUST
REITERATING THE TITLE 1 OF THE
ACT WHERE TRIBES BEGIN TO TAKE
AN ACTIVE LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THE
BUILT ENVIRONMENT ON THOSE
PROJECTS.
NOW, WITH RESPECT TO EQUITY IN
THIS CONVERSATION, WHEN IT COMES
TO DIRECT FEDERAL WHERE THE IHS
IS LEADING THOSE PROJECTS, GOING
TO THIS FIRST SLIDE HERE, WE'VE
TAKEN THE POSITION OF
IMPLEMENTING BIOPHILLIC DESIGN
IN OUR PROJECTS, CONNECTING
PEOPLE TO PEOPLE TO THE NATURAL
ENVIRONMENT.
WE'VE TAKEN IT A STEP FURTHER,
SUPPORTING EVIDENCE-BASED
DESIGN, WHERE THROUGH SCIENTIFIC
RESEARCH WE WANT PARTICULAR
DESIGN STRATEGIES THAT
DEMONSTRATE WIDE RANGE OF MENTAL
AND PHYSICAL HEALTH BENEFITS TO
OUR BUILDING OCCUPANTS.
SO THIS GOES TO PATIENTS AND
VISITORS, AND ALSO OUR STAFF
THAT OPERATE THE FACILITY.
THIS IS ALL LED FROM AN
ARCHITECTURAL LENS, DELVING INTO
HISTORY, CULTURE, ECOLOGY AND
CLIMATE OF A PROJECT.
THE DESIGN PROCESS HOPEFULLY
SHIFTS MORE FOCUS ON THE PEOPLE
AND CULTURAL CONTEXT TO BETTER
CREATE COMMUNITY WITHIN THE
FINISHED PROJECT AND CONNECTION
TO THE LARGER COMMUNITY, IHS
SERVES.
BY BETTER EXPLORING THE CULTURAL
VARIATION AND CONTEXT OF
BIOPHILIC RESPONSES, WE'RE
TRYING TO CONNECT PEOPLE AND
BUILDINGS TO NATURE FOR THOSE
HEALTH BENEFITS, BUT A PART OF
THAT PROCESS WE'VE UNCOVERED
THAT THROUGH THAT PROCESS WE CAN
CREATE BETTER DIALOGUE, BETTER
PARTNERSHIPS, WITH THE
COMMUNITIES WE SERVE.
SO BIOPHILIC DESIGN, WE BEGIN TO
REALLY EXPLORE THE PROJECTS,
WHAT THE BUILDING, THE PROJECT
IS FOR, AND TO BEGIN TO HAVE A
BETTER CONVERSATION BUT BETTER
YET PROVIDE A BETTER SPACE FOR
OUR COMMUNITIES TO COMMUNICATE
WITH THE IHS ON WHAT'S NEEDED IN
THIS PROJECT, IN THE FORM OF A
HOSPITAL OR HEALTH CARE CENTER,
IN ADDITION SO WHEN WE GO
THROUGH THIS DESIGN EXERCISE
WE'RE TRYING TO UNCOVER,
DISCOVER CULTURAL STRENGTHS, YOU
KNOW, HOW CAN THOSE STRENGTHS BE
CELEBRATED IN THE SPACE, HOW
NATURE IN THE SPACE CAN CONNECT
PEOPLE, ALSO HOW THEY CAN
CELEBRATE EACH OTHER, RIGHT?
IN THESE SPACES.
THROUGH THE BIOPHILIC DESIGN
PROCESS, WE'RE ASKING THE DESIGN
TEAM, PROJECT STAKEHOLDERS,
CONTRACTORS, VENDORS, YOU KNOW,
WE'RE CHALLENGING THE ACCEPTED
PROCESSES, NORMS, HIERARCHIES OF
DECISION MAKING TO BRING MORE
BENEFIT TO OUR COMMUNITIES,
RIGHT?
AND ALSO TO THE PROJECT.
SO THIS IS HOPEFULLY LEADING TO
MORE IMAGINATIVE AND EFFECTIVE
SOLUTIONS, LEADING TO THOSE
BIOPHILIC DESIGN GOALS THAT
FLESHES OUT THE HEALTHY OUTCOMES
THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR, BECAUSE
THE IHS'S MISSION IS TO RAISED
PHYSICAL, MENTAL, SOCIAL AND
SPIRITUAL HEALTH OF AMERICAN
INDIANS AND ALASKA NATIVES, TO
THE HIGHEST QUALITY.
SO, AGAIN, TO REITERATE BIOFILL
P HILIC DESIGN, THE INTENT IS
NOT FOR THE DESIGN TEAM TO
RESEARCH THE PROJECT AND OTHER
EXPERIENCES, IF YOU WILL, TO A
PARTICULAR PROJECT, BUT IT'S TO
INCLUDE RESEARCH FROM OUR
STAKEHOLDERS, AND OUR COMMUNITY
THAT APPROACH PROBLEMS
DIFFERENTLY.
AT THAT POINT BIOPHILIC DESIGN
BEGINS TO TEASE OUT WHAT IS OF
VALUE AND IMPORTANCE TO THE
COMMUNITY THAT CAN BE REFLECTED
IN THIS BUILDING, AND THE DESIGN
THAT WILL MANIFEST ITSELF INTO A
PHYSICAL BUILDING.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
SO, WITH THIS SLIDE TO GIVE YOU
A RECAP OF WHAT BIOPHILIC DESIGN
IS, FUNDAMENTALLY IT'S DIRECT
EXPERIENCE OF NATURE, THE
INDIRECT EXPERIENCE OF NATURE,
BUT WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT FROM
BIOPHILIC DESIGN THAT WE'RE
TRYING TO ACHIEVE AT THE IHS IS
EXPERIENCE OF THE SPACE, THAT'S
REALLY WHERE THE CULTURAL, THE
PEOPLE CONTEXT COMES INTO PLAY,
IN THESE SPACES AND HOW OUR
PRACTITIONERS INTERACT WITH OUR
PATIENTS TO ULTIMATELY LEAD TO
BETTER HEALTH OUTCOMES, HEALTHY
BEHAVIORS, THAT WILL OVERALL
LEAD TO BETTER POPULATION
HEALTH.
SO, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE'RE
LEVERAGING MULTIPLE THINGS HERE
ON TOP OF TRYING TO BETTER
ENGAGE, BE A BETTER PARTNER WITH
THE INDIAN COUNTRY, SO
GEOGRAPHIC CONNECTIONS TO THE
PLACE, YOU KNOW, SOLICITS SECURE
FEELINGS OF CONNECTION TO
GEOGRAPHY AND AREA, FOSTERS
FEELINGS OF FAMILIARITY, AND
PREDICTABILITY, SO WHAT DOES
THIS MEAN FOR THE BUILT
ENVIRONMENT, EMPHASIZING
ORIENTATION, SIGHTING, VIEWS,
ALSO IMPORTANT TO HAVE
COMMUNITIES SELF-IDENTIFY AND
CULTURALLY IDENTIFY WHAT THE
PLACE AND PROJECT COULD MEAN TO
THEM, BECAUSE NOT ONE COMMUNITY
IS LIKE, EVEN IN THE SAME CITY,
RIGHT?
COMMUNITIES ARE DIFFERENT WITHIN
THE SAME ZIP CODE, IN THIS CASE
WORKING WITH MANY TRIBES THERE
ARE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR
THE IHS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND
WHAT THE CULTURAL STRENGTHS ARE
OF THE COMMUNITY AND HOW CAN WE
HIGHLIGHT THAT IN THE BUILDING,
AT THE SAME TIME FLESH OUT
HEALTHY OUTCOMES THAT WE -- THAT
BUILDING SCIENCES HAVE
UNCOVERED, THAT LEAD TO BETTER
OUTCOMES.
SO, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH ALL I
HAVE RIGHT NOW.
I'LL LEAVE IT TO THE NEXT
PRESENTER.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT WE'LL HEAR FROM MISS NINA
ALBERT, WHO CURRENTLY SERVES AS
COMMISSIONER FOR THE PUBLIC
BUILDING SERVICES, AT THE U.S.
GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION,
OVERSEEING OVER 371 MILLION
SQUARE FEET OF SPACE AND NOW
WE'LL HEAR FROM NINA.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE
INTRODUCTION.
THIS TOPIC OF ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE IS
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO ME
PERSONALLY.
AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE TYPES OF
PROJECTS THAT I'VE WORKED ON, I
HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN LOCAL
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR AT
LEAST THE LAST 15 YEARS OF MIGHT
HAVE CAREER.
A LOT OF THAT WORK AS THE FOLKS
FROM THE CITY OF ORLANDO HAVE
MENTIONED, WHEN YOU'RE WORKING
AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, THERE ARE --
IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO
HAVE MEANINGFUL COMMUNICATION
INVOLVEMENT MY COMMUNITY.
I'M AGAIN JUST VERY PERSONALLY
AWARE OF WHAT IN A COMMITMENT
TAKES TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
AS WELL AS THE REWARD THAT CAN
COME FROM IT.
ALSO IN MY WORK I'VE INTEGRATED
SUSTAINABILITY GOALS INTO REAL
STATE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.
THROUGHOUT MY CAREER.
AND SO THAT'S WHY BEING ABLE TO
WORK AT GSA AT THIS TIME IS SO
MEANINGFUL TO ME.
LET'S SEE WHERE WE ARE.
WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
THIS IS JUST A SNAPSHOT AND MANY
OF YOU ARE PROBABLY FAMILIAR
WITH OUR PORTFOLIO.
THERE ARE A COUPLE POINTS I WANT
TO MAKE FROM IT.
FIRST OF ALL, WE'RE THE NATION'S
LARGEST LANDLORD, 1600
BUILDINGS, THE NATION'S LARGEST
TENANT.
AND OUR FOOTPRINT IS IN MORE
THAN 2,000 COMMUNITIES
NATIONWIDE.
THE PURPOSE IN SHARING THIS
INFORMATION IS TO PROVIDE
CONTEXT FOR THE SCOPE AND SCALE
OF THE PORTFOLIO THAT WE HAVE.
ALSO, TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF THE
VARIETY AND DIVERSITY OF TYPES
OF PROJECTS WE WORK ON.
MANY FACILITIES HAVE BEEN WITHIN
COMMUNITY FOR MANY GENERATIONS.
YOU CAN SEE A THIRD OF
PORTFOLIOS ON THE NATIONAL
HISTORIC LANDMARK REGISTRY.
SO, AGAIN, THIS IS NOT NEW
DEVELOPMENT.
THIS IS VERY OLD DEVELOPMENT.
WE ALSO HAVE PROJECTS THAT ARE
SIGNIFICANTLY OPERATIONAL IN
NATURE.
SUCH AS OUR LAND PORTS OF ENTRY.
I'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT TODAY.
AND THEN LASTLY FEDERAL
COURTHOUSES MAKES UP THE LARGE
PORTION OF WHAT WE DO.
YOU CAN SEE HERE JUST FROM THESE
THREE IMAGES THE VARIETY OF
TYPES OF PROJECTS OR FACILITIES
THAT WE CONTROL AND MANAGE.
MUCH OF OUR OFFICE SPACE IS
LOCATED IN DOWNTOWN AREAS OR
COMMERCIAL BUSINESS DISTRICTS.
BECAUSE IT IS OFFICE IN NATURE,
AND COMMUNITIES WANT US TO BRING
OUR FEDERAL WORKFORCE TO
REINFORCE AND CONTINUE TO BUILD
AND DEVELOP THEIR DOWNTOWN CORE.
AND THEN THERE'S, AGAIN,
FACILITIES LIKE THE LAND PORTS
OF ENTRY THAT ARE IN QUITE RURAL
AREAS.
WE RUN THE GAMUT OF NOT ONLY
TYPES OF SPACE BUT ALSO THE
TIMES OF PLACE WE GO TO.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
GSA HAS ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
GUIDING PRINCIPLES AT THE HEART
OF THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE
AND THE WORK WE DO.
TODAY AND MY PRESENTATION I'LL
KEEP THINGS HIGH LEVEL, JUST
BECAUSE OF THE BREADTH OF THE
PORTFOLIO AND JUST FIELD
QUESTIONS DURING THE Q&A.
SO, OUT OF THE GATES WE TAKE A
SCIENCE-BASED APPROACH TO MAKE
SURE THAT THERE IS INTEGRITY IN
DECISION MAKING, WHEN YOU MANAGE
A PORTFOLIO THIS SCALE IF YOU
REALLY WANT TO BE ABLE TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT THE OPPORTUNITY
IS, IT'S IMPORTANT TO RELY ON
DATA IN DECISION MAKING.
ALSO, AS WE'RE MAKING DECISIONS,
WE ARE MAKING DECISIONS WITH AND
SOMETIMES ON BEHALF OF OUR
CUSTOMER AGENCY.
SO, AGAIN, THAT EVIDENCE BASED
OR SCIENCE-BASED APPROACH IS
WHAT HELPS DRIVE AND ENCOURAGE
THE RIGHT DECISION TO BE MADE,
IF YOU WILL.
WE ALSO WANT TO PROTECT THE
ENVIRONMENT.
GSA AT MINIMUM COMPLIES WITH ALL
APPLICABLE FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL
ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS, STAT
STATUTES AND REGULATION, TO
PREVENT GENERATION OF HAZARDOUS
MATERIALS AT THE SOURCE, AND I
JUST LAY THIS GROUND WORK DOWN
BECAUSE FOR A LOT OF THESE TYPES
OF PROJECTS THE REGULATORY
ENVIRONMENT HAS MULTIPLE LAYERS
TO IT.
AND COMPLEXITIES.
AND LASTLY WE KNOW WHAT THE
LASTING IMPACT OF A FEDERAL
BUILDING IS WITHIN A COMMUNITY.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IMPACT
HAS DIRECT DURABLE AND
SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS TO LOCAL
COMMUNITIES.
AND SO STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
HAS BEEN A KEY TO OUR SUCCESS TO
DATE.
AND WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION'S
COMMITMENTS, TO SOCIAL EQUITY,
TO ECONOMIC RECOVERY, WE ARE
TAKING A VERY DETAILED LOOK AT
HOW TO IMPROVE OUR OUTREACH
EFFORTS.
NEXT SLIDE.
I'M HOPING THAT SOME OF YOU HAD
THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM
JEREMY ALCORN IN THE PUBLIC
BUILDING SERVICE, THE DIRECTOR
OF CLIMATE AND SUSTAINABILITY.
HE PROBABLY DELVED INTO A LOT OF
DETAIL ABOUT THE HOW OF GSA
EFFORTS ON SUSTAINABILITY.
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF
THESE THINGS BECAUSE, AGAIN, WE
BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE THE MARKET
TO GENERATE DEMAND FOR NEW
TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION AND
WANT TO LEVERAGE TO THE BEST OF
OUR ABILITY.
WE DO THAT THROUGH THE AUTHORITY
THAT WE HAVE, BUYING POWER AND
EXPERTISE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO
BRING TO THE TABLE.
THE AGENCY IS DEVELOPING AND
DEPLOYING A CLIMATE AND
SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY, THAT
WILL MOVE OUR FEDERAL PORTFOLIO
TO ACHIEVE NET ZERO OPERATIONS
BY 2045.
I TALK ABOUT THAT GOAL AS A
MOONSHOT GOAL.
NOT AS A GOAL THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE
TO ATTAIN BECAUSE IT'S NOT.
BUT MOONSHOT IN THE SENSE THAT
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE MIGHT NOT
KNOW HOW TO ACHIEVE TODAY BUT
WHEN WE HERALD OUR COLLECTIVE
EXPERTISE AND WILL, WE WILL
ACHIEVE IT BY 2045.
THERE'S MANY THINGS IN MOTION
NOW IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO GET
THERE.
OUR PRIMARY STRATEGIES ARE TO
PRIORITIZE INVESTMENTS IN ENERGY
AND WATER EFFICIENCY AS WELL AS
WASTE REDUCTION.
AND THEN THERE IS, I WOULD SAY,
A FOCUS ON CARBON POLLUTION-FREE
ELECTRICITY, THAT IS REQUIRING A
LOT OF DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS
INCLUDING UTILITY COMPANIES.
IT IS A COMPLEX MARKETPLACE TO
NAVIGATE BECAUSE OF THE
DEREGULATED AND REGULATED ENERGY
MARKETS, BUT WE BELIEVE THAT
THAT'S AN AREA WHERE THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO PLAY A PART
IN ORDER TO GET THE WHOLE
COUNTRY MOVING TOWARD THIS
COMMITMENT.
AND THEN LASTLY, ANOTHER
INVESTMENT STRATEGY IS ZERO
EMISSION VEHICLES, SUPPORTING
INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT THAT
FLEET.
GSA HAS BEEN A LEADER IN HIGH
PERFORMANCE GREEN BUILDINGS FOR
20 YEARS AND WE ARE WELL
POSITIONED TO SET THIS NEW
STANDARD AS WELL AS DRIVE DEMAND
FOR CARBON POLLUTION HAD BEEN
FREE BUILDINGS ACROSS THE UNITED
STATES, AT THAT TIMES WHAT WE
INTEND TO DO.
LASTLY IS THE GOAL OF
STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIP WITH
COMMUNITIES.
I MENTIONED EARLIER GSA HAS A
PRESENCE IN MORE THAN 2,000
COMMUNITY NATIONWIDE.
THIS PRESENTS A UNIQUE
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IN A VARIETY OF
DIFFERENT WAYS.
COMMUNICATION WILL BE KEY IN OUR
EFFORTS.
AS MANY OF YOU TALKED ABOUT
EARLIER ON THE PANEL.
AND WE ALSO PLAN TO SUPPORT
THROUGH OUR OWN INVESTMENTS
STATE, LOCAL, TRIBAL GOVERNMENT
GOALS AS WELL AS GSA-CONTROLLED
FACILITIES AWAY.
HE DO THIS THROUGH TWO PROGRAMS,
IN PARTICULAR, WHICH HAVE HAD
MUCH SUCCESS IN THE PAST BUT
HAVE BEEN SORT OF UNDER OR
DEVALUED UNTIL RECENTLY.
THAT IS OUR GOOD NEIGHBOR
PROGRAM AS WELL AS A PROGRAM
CALLED PLANNING OUTREACH AND
PARTNERSHIP, POP, ENGAGEMENTS.
THE TWO BODIES OF WORK HAVE
DIFFERENT SCALES AND DIFFERENT
BREADTH TO THEM.
BUT WE ALWAYS START OFF OUR
TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE
COMMUNITY BY MEETING AND
COORDINATING WITH LOCAL
OFFICIALS AND WORKING WITH THEM
TO GUIDE ORIENTATION TO
COMMUNITY.
OFFICIALS WILL SHARE WHAT THE
COMMUNITY-WIDE INVENTORY, LONG
RANGE PLANNING GOALS ARE AND
OTHER INFORMATION THAT HELPS US
BECOME BETTER ACCLIMATED TO
COMMUNITY CONCERNS AS WELL AS
DESIRES AND OPPORTUNITIES.
THE GOAL TO HAVE THESE
CONVERSATIONS EARLY IN THE
PROCESS, WHEN OPPORTUNITIES TO
LEVERAGE MUTUAL GOALS ARE
MAXIMIZED, AND THEY WILL ALLOW
US TO FIND AREAS OF MUTUAL
INTEREST AND FRANKLY TO BEGIN A
WORKING RELATIONSHIP TO
ADVANCE -- WELL IN ADVANCE OF
MORE FORMAL REAL ESTATE ACTIONS.
THESE ARE ALSO OPPORTUNITIES FOR
US TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY WHERE
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES MIGHT BE
MAKING INVESTMENTS IN THAT SAME
COMMUNITY.
SO THAT IF THERE'S AN
OPPORTUNITY TO LEVERAGE BOTH
INVESTMENTS AND MAXIMIZE IMPACT,
WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT.
SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON.
I WOULD BE REMISS IF THE DIDN'T
MENTION THE BIPARTISAN
INFRASTRUCTURE LAW, A ONCE IN A
GENERATION OPPORTUNITY TO INVEST
IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, AND WE
TALK ABOUT THOSE IMPACTS FROM AN
INFRASTRUCTURE PERSPECTIVE.
BUT WE KNOW THAT THOSE
INVESTMENTS ARE OCCURRING WITHIN
A COMMUNITY.
THE APPROPRIATION THAT GSA GOT
IS $3.4 BILLION, AND THAT IS TO
MODERNIZE AND EXPAND 26 LAND
PORTS OF ENTRY ALONG THE
NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN BORDERS OF
THE UNITED STATES.
THE OPERATIONAL NEEDS OF THOSE
FACILITIES ARE INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT BECAUSE, AGAIN,
NATIONAL AND BIG PICTURE
PERSPECTIVE THESE ARE MISSION
CRITICAL GATEWAYS FOR PEOPLE AND
COMMERCE THAT NEEDS TO BE
SECURED, EFFICIENT, FUNCTIONAL.
BEYOND HELPING WITH THE FLOW OF
COMMERCE AND HOPEFULLY UNLOCKING
SUPPLY CHAIN BOTTLENECKS, THAT
THIS COUNTRY IS EXPERIENCING
RIGHT NOW, THESE TYPES OF
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS ARE
ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A
WIN-WIN FOR LOCAL COMMUNITY.
SO, THAT IS SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN
EVEN NOW TODAY SPENDING TIME
WITH THE PROJECT MANAGERS OF
EACH OF THOSE LAND PORTS OF
ENTRY, TO ENSURE THAT THEY
UNDERSTAND NOT ONLY WHAT THE
PROCESS IS BUT SOME OF THE TOOLS
THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE SO THEY
CAN BE BETTER STEWARDS OF THOSE
PROJECTS AS WELL AS PARTNERS
WITH COMMUNITY.
LET'S SEE.
I WANT TO TOUCH ON THE FACT THAT
WE'RE LOOKING TO MAXIMIZE WITH
LAND PORTS OF ENTRY LOCAL JOB
HIRING, LOCAL BUSINESS HIRING,
AND VERY IMPORTANTLY TO US IS
THAT THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
OF THESE FACILITIES WILL RESULT
IN MUCH MORE CLIMATE RESILIENT
AND SUSTAINABLE PORT
INFRASTRUCTURE.
THESE PROJECTS WILL ACHIEVE,
THIS IS WHAT OUR DESIGN STANDARD
REQUIRES, LEED GOLD, SITE SILVER
CERTIFICATION AND NET ZERO
READY.
EARLY SUCCESS RECEIVING INDUSTRY
FEEDBACK ON PROPOSED LOW CARBON
CONCRETE STANDARDS, INTEGRATED
RIGHT NOW INTO A NEW RFP.
FOR PAVEMENT REPLACEMENT FOR ALL
THIS AT OUR LAND PORTS OF ENTRY.
WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO AND
I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THE TEAM
THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE CARES AND
IS COMMITTED TO THE WORK OF
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND
EQUITY.
SO WITH THAT I WILL CONCLUDE MY
REMARKS AND TURN IT BACK TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE
PANELISTS FOR YOUR PRESENTATIONS
TODAY.
>> I'LL START WITH YOU, NINA.
>> LOCATION IS EVERYBODY'S
TALKING ABOUT, ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE, PARTICULARLY
MEANINGFUL, BECAUSE PROJECTS
WILL BECOME INTEGRATED IN THE
NEAR PERFECT FUTURE, I WILL SEND
THAT NAP THE CHAT.
>> GETTING TO THE HEART OF
THINGS, MAKING SURE THERE'S SOME
CONNECTIVITY WITH THE COMMUNITY,
I'M GOING TO POSE TO THE PANEL,
TALKING ABOUT A TWO-WAY
CONNECTION, GETTING THE
COMMUNITY TO BE PART OF THE
SOLUTION, OF THE PROJECTS.
CAN ANYONE JUMP IN FOR ME?
>> I CAN START, IN ORLANDO, YOUR
QUESTION REMINDS ME OF A
NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY
CENTER BUILT IN A HISTORICAL
BLACK COMMUNITY, THE PARAMORE
COMMUNITY WEST OF OUR INTERSTATE
AND CONVERTING AN OLD K-8
SCHOOL, WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT
MAINTAINING THE CORE AND SHELL
OF THE FACILITY, ADDING TO IT,
BRINGING IT UP TO A HIGH
PERFORMANCE STANDARD, WHEN WE
WERE CONCEPTUALIZING THE IDEA,
THE FIRST THING WE DID WAS BEGIN
HOSTING WORKSHOPS, PRIMARILY A
WAY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE
INPUT ON THE DESIGN, ON THE
PROGRAMMING, ON THE VARIOUS
FEATURES WITHIN THE FACILITY,
AND SERVICES THAT THOSE
FACILITIES WERE GOING TO OFFER,
AND WE WERE INTENTIONAL ABOUT
EXACTLY WHAT WAS GOING IN THIS
FACILITY.
ONE THING WE HEARD WAS THE NEED
FOR US TO FOCUS ON EQUITABLE
RESILIENCE AND THAT OFTEN WHEN
GETTING HIT BY TROPICAL EVENTS,
HURRICANE SEASON SOON,
COMMUNITIES WITHOUT POWER FOR A
WEEK, EVEN MORE, AND THEY WERE
CLAIMING THAT THIS NEW
NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER NEEDED TO
PROVIDE RELIEF IN TIMES OF
DISRUPTION IN ELECTRIC GRID OR
COMMUNICATION.
SO WE'VE DESIGNED THIS FACILITY
TO BE WHAT WE CALL RESILIENCE
HUB THAT HAS THE CAPABILITY OF
DISCONNECTING COMPLETELY FROM
THE GRID, BATTERY BACKUP
SYSTEMS, ROOFTOP SOLAR,
PROVIDING 80% OF ON-SITE POWER
NEEDED, REDUNDANCY, A COMMUNITY
GARDEN, FOOD PANTRY, WATER
FILTRATION, ICE AND ICE STORAGE,
SAND IS AN ISSUE DURING
HURRICANES, WE'LL DEVELOPING TO
ACTIVATE IN TIMES OF DISASTER
AND WHEN IT'S OPERATING
REGULARLY IT'S PROVIDING
PROGRAMMING AROUND FINANCIAL
LITERACY, CHILD CARE, COMPUTER
LAB, A NUMBER OF SERVICES THAT
ARE EVEN COMMERCIAL KITCHEN
WHERE WE'RE PROVIDING COOKING
AND NUTRITION CLASSES IN THE
COMMUNITY, TRYING TO MAKE THIS A
COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH.
WE WOULDN'T PROBABLY HAVE
INCORPORATED A LOT HAD IT NOT
BEEN THE MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT
OF THE RESIDENTS TO SAY THIS IS
WHAT WE NEED AND WE NEED YOU TO
INCORPORATE THAT IN YOUR PLAN.
>> SURE, SURE.
>> IF I MAY, I'LL JUST -- SOME
THINGS THAT WE'RE, ESPECIALLY
WITH LAND PORTS AND DIFFERENT
PROJECTS AS WELL, ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS
SORT OF MULTI-TIERED SET OF
STAKEHOLDERS, THIS IS VERY
IMPORTANT TO TRY AND IDENTIFY
THAT VERY EARLY ON.
FOR LAND PORT IT IS AN
OPERATIONAL FACILITY, IN SOME
CASES, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE 800
CHILDREN WHO ARE COMING ACROSS
THE BOARDER ON A DAILY BASIS TO
GO TO SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY ARE
ACCOMPANYING A PARENT COMING
ACROSS THE BOARDER TO GO TO WORK
AND RETURNING TO WORK.
THERE'S A VERY PERSONAL
EXPERIENCE OF APPROACH, OF BEING
TREATED WITH RESPECT, DIGNITY AS
THEY GO THROUGH.
AND THEN ALSO THE EFFICIENCY,
THIS IS NOW PART OF SOMEBODY'S
DAILY COMMUTE.
THAT'S KIND OF ONE LEVEL OF
STAKEHOLDER THAT WE'RE TRYING TO
IDENTIFY WHAT THAT USER
EXPERIENCE IS, AS THEY GO
THROUGH THIS FACILITY.
THE NEXT LAYER IS QUITE
DIFFERENT, THE SURROUNDING
COMMUNITY BECAUSE, AGAIN, A LAND
PORT OF ENTRY WHEN YOU THINK
ABOUT IT FROM A TRAFFIC VOLUME,
THERE IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT
IMPACT, AND IF ANY OF YOU WHO --
MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN INVOLVED
IN PROJECT DEVELOPMENT, WHAT'S
ONE OF THE VERY FIRST THINGS,
MANY COMMUNITIES FIXATE ON,
PARKING AND TRAFFIC.
AND THAT'S BEFORE YOU EVEN GET
TO SORT OF WHAT I CALL HIGHER
LEVEL GOALS.
SO THAT IS KIND OF THIS VERY --
AND THEN WITH THE TRAFFIC
COMMENTS WHAT ARE TRUE
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ISSUES,
SUCH AS AIR POLLUTION, ASTHMA
ISSUES.
HOW DO WE OFFSET THAT, MITIGATE
AND CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE
OUR PRESENCE DOES NOT CONTRIBUTE
TO THOSE TYPES OF TRUE
ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS AND HAZARDS
TO PEOPLE.
AND THEN THE THIRD IS BROADER
POTENTIALLY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
GOALS, OR ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITIES.
SO THAT'S HOW WE FOR THE LAND
PORTS PROJECT ARE ANALYZING AND
WE'RE RIGHT NOW SORT OF BUILDING
OUT.
WE GOT THE MONEY, NOT THAT LONG
AGO, WE'RE IN OUR OWN SPRINT
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT BUDGET
STUFF, ALL THAT MACROPLANNING
THAT OCCURS BUT AT THIS STAGE,
AT THIS EARLY STAGE OF PLANNING
THOSE PROJECTS, WE'RE ASKING THE
QUESTION OF HOW ARE YOU GOING TO
APPROACH AND THINK ABOUT
MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
AGAIN AT THESE MULTIPLE TIERS,
SO THAT ONCE PROJECT PLANNING
STARTS TO REALLY TAKE PLACE,
THAT WE'RE THINKING ABOUT THOSE
ISSUES FAR IN ADVANCE.
AT LEAST HAVE AN AWARENESS OF
THEM.
>> A QUESTION --
>> KRYSTAL?
>> GO FOR IT.
>> ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO ADD
WITH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT,
FINDING WAYS TO USE BUDGET
DOLLARS TO COMPENSATE COMMUNITY
MEMBERS WHEN THEY COME TO THESE
MEETINGS, TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
PEOPLE'S TIME IS OF VALUE AND IT
DOES BRING A RESOURCE TO THE
PROJECT OR IN THIS CASE WHAT THE
GOVERNMENT IS TRYING TO DO IN
THE COMMUNITY.
BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS AN
ISSUE ON MANY LEVELS THAT I'VE
EXPERIENCED, FEDERALLY AND
LOCALLY, WHEN YOU BEGIN TO TALK
WITH COMMUNITY WHERE YOU HAVE
GOVERNMENT STAKEHOLDERS BEING
PAID TO SPEND TIME TO TALK ABOUT
THESE THINGS, AND COMMUNITY'S
NOTIFIED ON SHORT NOTICE TO COME
OUT ON A WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND
TO BEGIN TO GET AWAY FROM THAT
TRANSACTIONAL EXPERIENCE WITH
COMMUNITY, RIGHT?
BECAUSE WE DO NEED THOSE FOLKS
AND THOSE LEADERS TO COME OUT
AND TO HELP SUPPORT WHAT WE'RE
DOING, BUT WITH LARGE BUDGETS,
WE'VE GOT TO FIND A WAY TO
COMPENSATE FOR PEOPLE'S TIME AND
EFFORT WHEN THEY PARTICIPATE.
>> IF I COULD ADD, KRYSTAL, I
THINK SOMETHING THAT COMES UP
OVER AND OVER AGAIN FROM OUR
MEMBERS IS JUST A DEEP DISTRUST
OF GOVERNMENTS THAT HAVE HAD
HISTORIC HARMS PERPETUATED IN
FRONT LINE COMMUNITIES.
AND SO ONE OF THE BIG LESSONS OF
NAACP IS THE WAY IN WHICH
PARTNERSHIPS ARE ESSENTIAL TO BE
ABLE TO HAVE THE CONNECTION TO
COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO WOULD NOT
COME TO A TABLE WHERE THERE'S NO
GOOD REASON TO SPEND TIME AND
ENERGY BASED ON PAST EXPERIENCE
SO I WOULD SAY THAT FIGURING OUT
WAYS TO BUILD TRUST WITH
ORGANIZATIONS THAT REPRESENT AND
ARE THE TRUSTED MESSENGERS FOR
THE COMMUNITIES IN A WILL BE
MOST IMPACTED BY ANY GIVEN
PROJECT IS LIKE STEP NUMBER 1.
BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT
TRANSPARENCY, JUST DEEP
TRANSPARENCY, SO THAT
ORGANIZATIONS HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BE PRO-ACTIVE AND
ACTUALLY COME OUT AND RESPOND TO
PROJECTS THAT ARE HAPPENING
RATHER THAN BEING INFORMED ABOUT
SOMETHING THAT IS A PLAN THAT IS
IN PROGRESS THAT IS HAPPENING,
AND THERE'S VERY LIMITED AMOUNT
OF INPUT THAT CAN CHANGE THE
PLAN.
YEAH, I'LL STOP THERE.
>> TO BUILD ON THAT, MANDY, THAT
WAS A REALLY IMPORTANT POINT.
AND IN OUR EXPERIENCE WITH THIS
BUILDING PERFORMANCE STANDARD, I
THINK TO YOUR POINT, IT WAS
CHALLENGING -- IT'S BEEN
CHALLENGING TO GET SOME
MEANINGFUL FEEDBACK FROM
RESIDENT BECAUSE OF THAT LACK OF
TRUST.
AND THE APPROACH OF BEING ABLE
TO WORK THROUGH NAACP AND LATINX
HAS THE TRUSTED COMMUNITY, YOU
KNOW, ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE
BUILT THEIR MEMBERSHIP AROUND
THEIR MISSIONS, THAT WAS
INVALUABLE AND PROVIDED US REAL
INSIGHT ABOUT WHAT THE CONCERNS
ARE AND THE POTENTIAL CHALLENGES
OF A POLICY AS WE MOVE FORWARD,
ONCE AROUND LET'S SAY WE SIZE
POLICY'S BUILDINGS NEEDING TO
COMPLY TO ENSURE THEIR
FACILITIES WERE ACTUALLY PART OF
IT.
AND OUR BENCH MARKING LAW IS
REQUIRING COMMERCIAL AND
MULTI-FAMILY BUILDINGS TO REPORT
THEIR ENERGY AND CARBON
EMISSIONS AND WATER USE FOR
50,000 SQUARE FEET AND ABOVE
FACILITIES BUT WE DID AN
ASSESSMENT ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY
AND IDENTIFIED THAT COMMUNITIES
OF COLOR OVER 75% ARE LIVING IN
PLACES UNDER 30,000 SQUARE FEET,
RETROFITTING, WE'D BE LEVERING
OUT MAJORITY, AND THAT WAS
IMPORTANT INSIGHT WE WOULD HAVE
MISSED IF WE HAD NOT MOVED ALONG
THAT SPECTRUM OF COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT AND EMPOWERED CBOs.
>> THANK YOU.
WE'RE GETTING REALLY CLOSE TO
TIME.
I'M GOING TO THROW OUT A
QUESTION, ASKING EVERYONE TO
JUMP IN AND ANSWER AND PROVIDE
ANY LAST-MINUTE REMARKS.
NOW WE'RE GOING TO THE POINT OF
THE CONVERSATION WHERE WE'VE
TALKED ABOUT TRUST, WE'VE TALKED
ABOUT ENGAGEMENT, IT REALLY DOES
MATTER AT WHAT POINT OF THE
PROJECT YOU ACTUALLY GO OUT INTO
THE COMMUNITY, RIGHT?
AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM
EACH OF THE PANELISTS IN
ADDITION TO YOUR FINAL REMARKS
JUST AN ADVICE OR WAYS TO GET
THE COMMUNITY'S INVOLVEMENT IN A
WAY THAT WE'RE ABLE TO MOVE PAST
THE GOVERNMENT MOTIVATION OR
COMMUNITY'S MOTIVATION TO WHERE
WE'RE GETTING TO REALLY THE VERY
HONEST TRUTH, WHETHER ABOUT
DECISION-MAKING PROCESS, IF
WE'VE PASSED THAT POINT ARE OR
IF WE'RE IN THE BEGINNING PHASE,
HOW DO WE GET TO A POINT WHERE
WE ARE ABLE TO COME UP WITH SOME
EFFECTIVE AND HOLISTIC SOLUTIONS
WHERE WE CAN DRAW IN AN ARRAY OF
KNOWLEDGE AND DIVERSE GROUPS,
UTILIZING SOME GROUPS SIMILAR TO
AND INCLUDING THE NAACP, HOW ARE
WE GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT
WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST TO MAKE
THINGS BETTER FOR ALL
COMMUNITIES?
>> HMM.
>> I'D BE HAPPY TO JUMP IN AND
OFFER SOME THOUGHTS.
I THINK THE TENDENCY IS TO THINK
ABOUT HOW TO GET GROUPS, RIGHT?
GET COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO
PARTICIPATE IN AN EXISTING
PROJECT WHEN IN REALITY
ESPECIALLY IN COMMUNITIES ON THE
FRONT LINES OF THE CLIMATE CHRIS
IS, ECONOMIC AND RACIAL
INJUSTICE, THEY ARE ALREADY THE
EXPERTS IN THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES
AND HAVE VERY LIKELY THOUGHT
ABOUT THE SOLUTIONS THEY BO LIKE
TO PROBLEMS THAT GOVERNMENTS ARE
SEEKING TO ADDRESS, AND SO WHAT
I WOULD LOVE IS GOVERNMENTS
SHOWING UP FOR THEIR WORK, THEIR
PROJECTS, RATHER THAN INVITING
COMMUNITY MEMBERS INTO A
GOVERNMENT SPACE AND TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT WAYS FOR GOVERNMENTS
TO BE -- TO SHOW UP FOR
COMMUNITY-OWNED CONCEPTS AND
PROJECTS.
AND INTEGRATE THAT AS A PRIORITY
INTO PLANNING AND FUNDING
RESOURCES AND STAFF CAPACITY AND
EXPERTISE.
I'LL STOP THERE BECAUSE I THINK
WE ONLY HAVE A COUPLE MINUTES.
>> I'LL REARTICULATE THE USE OF
THAT SPECTRUM OF COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT WORKING WITH TRUSTED
GROUPS IN THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN
SO FAR VERY -- SEEMED TO BE VERY
EFFECTIVE FOR US.
THE OTHER THING IS DON'T GO AT
THIS ALONE.
WE'VE RECENTLY JOINED THE
GOVERNMENT ALLIANCE ON RACE AND
EQUITY, RACE FORWARD.
THEY HAVE SOME AMAZING TOOLS
THAT OTHER COMMUNITIES HAVE
CREATED AND ARE CHAIRING.
WE USE A RACIAL EQUITY TOOL KIT
ON A MONTHLY BASIS, AND WE RUN
IT THROUGH THE TOOL AND IDENTIFY
SOME GLARING ISSUES, IF THEN,
AND TRY TO GO BACK AND RESOLVE
AS A COMMUNITY AND SO THOSE ARE
SOME TOOLS WE'VE INCORPORATED
THAT HAVE BEEN HELPFUL.
>> I'LL ADD TO WHAT BOTH MANDY
AND CHRIS HAVE TOUCHED ON.
I THINK THAT WORKING THROUGH AN
INTERMEDIARY CAN BE REALLY
IMPORTANT.
PARTICULARLY IF THEY ARE ONE
THAT'S ALREADY KNOWN AND TRUSTED
WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
SO THAT THEN WE OF ONE OF THE
STRUGGLES THAT GOVERNMENT HAS
AND PARTICULARLY THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT WHICH IS VERY LARGE
AND HAS LIKE A LOT OF THINGS
GOING ON AT ONCE, IS THAT THEN
YOU HAVE THAT MAINSTAY AND
COMMUNITY THAT CONTINUES TO HAVE
THEIR EAR TO THE GROUND SO I
THINK THAT'S, YOU KNOW, AND
INTERMEDIARY CAN BE AN EFFECTIVE
TOOL AND WAY TO DO THINGS AND
THEN THE OTHER IS IN D.C.,
WORKING FOR DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA, THIS IS PRE-COVID,
TALKING ABOUT HOW YOU CREATE A
VIRTUAL OR DIGITAL PLATFORM FOR
PEOPLE TO PROVIDE INPUT SO YOU
CAN GET A BROADER RANGE AND LESS
TIME CONSUME WEIGHING TO
CONTRIBUTE -- LESS TIME
CONSUMING WAY TO CONTRIBUTE.
HOW DO YOU BREAK THROUGH SOME OF
THE FACTIONING SO YOU CAN GET
THE BEST IDEAS AND INNOVATION
AND INPUT.
SO I THINK WE AS A COLLECTIVE
NEED TO CONTINUE TRYING TO COME
UP WITH SOME TOOLS SO WE CAN
CAST A BROAD NET BUT ALSO GIVE
VOICE POTENTIALLY TO SOME OF THE
MORE -- DIFFERENT INNOVATION,
DIFFERENT IDEAS.
>> THANK YOU.
I'LL ASK MERCHON, ANY LAST
REMARKS?
>> I'LL ECHO WHAT MANDY SAID,
GONG TO -- - -- LISTENING TO
ISSUES, THEY HAVE GREAT
KNOWLEDGE, PUTTING THAT AT THE
FOREFRONT AND DO WHAT GOVERNMENT
DOES, FORMULATE A PROCESS TO
MAKE THOSE SOLUTIONS HAPPEN.
I THINK THAT'S THE MORE
APPROPRIATE APPROACH.
AGAIN, LIFT EXPERIENCES FROM THE
COMMUNITY IS VITAL TO ADDRESSING
THOSE ISSUES.
>> THANK YOU.
I WANT TO THANK OUR PANELISTS
FOR PRESENTATIONS, PARTICIPATING
IN A TWO-WAY EXCHANGE OF
INFORMATION.
THE RACIAL EQUITY TOOL CYST KIT
BY THE GOVERNMENT ALLIANCE ON
RACE AND EQUITY THAT HE JUST
MENTIONED WITH THE GREAT
INFORMATION OUR PANELISTS SHARED
TODAY, AGAIN THIS PRESENTATION
WILL BE POSTED ON THE WEBSITE SO
YOU CAN GO BACK AND LISTEN.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
HAVE A GOOD EVENING.