[Federal Register: July 28, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 144)]
[Notices]
[Page 43691]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28jy05-28]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-7946-6]
Environmental Justice Strategic Plan Framework and Outline
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Supplemental notice; reopening of public comment period.
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SUMMARY: On June 22, 2005 (70 FR 36167), EPA's Office of Environmental
Justice announced a solicitation for public comment on the draft: (1)
``Framework for Integrating Environmental Justice;'' and (2)
``Environmental Justice Strategic Plan Outline,'' which includes
proposed Environmental Justice Priorities (``EJ Priorities''). The
Framework for Integrating Environmental Justice will be the foundation
for the Environmental Justice Strategic Plan for FY2006-2011. The
Environmental Justice Strategic Plan Outline identifies the anticipated
structure of the EJ Strategic Plan. EPA is drafting the Environmental
Justice Strategic Plan to integrate its environmental justice efforts
more fully into the Agency's existing programs and operations,
including its 5-year planning and budgeting processes. This
supplemental notice announces an extension to the public comment
period.
DATES: The public comment period is extended to August 15, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Mr. Barry E. Hill, Director,
Office of Environmental Justice, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Mail Code 2201A, Ariel Rios South
Building, Room 2226, Washington, DC 20460-0001. You may also e-mail
comments to hill.barry@epa.gov. Please identify e-mailed comments with
the phrase ``EJ Strategic Plan Comments'' in the subject line.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Danny Gogal, Senior Environmental
Protection Specialist, EPA Office of Environmental Justice, (202) 564-
2576, gogal.danny@epa.gov, or Delleane McKenzie, Senior Program
Analyst, EPA Office of Environmental Justice, (202) 564-6358,
mckenzie.delleane@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: To provide additional time for the public to
comment and in response to requests for additional time, EPA is
extending the comment period until August 15, 2005.
The draft Framework identifies the proposed key elements of the EJ
Strategic Plan that will help the Agency track progress and benchmark
its national environmental justice program objectives. The draft
Framework also describes the proposed link between the Environmental
Justice Action Plans of the Agency's 10 regional offices and the
substantive headquarters program offices (e.g., Office of Air and
Radiation, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response) and the
National Environmental Justice Priorities and targets established in
the EJ Strategic Plan.
The draft Outline identifies the ``mission'' and ``vision'' that
will guide the Environmental Justice Strategic Plan and identifies
where specific Environmental Justice Strategic Targets will be
included, once they are developed. The Outline also includes 12
potential National EJ Priorities, which would help focus attention on
critical human health and environmental issues faced by communities
with disproportionate impacts (e.g., asthma reduction, healthy schools,
safe drinking water). While the regional offices will continue to take
action on a wide range of environmental justice issues, using a
spectrum of strategies including cross-cutting approaches (e.g.,
community capacity-building, grants, training) to address local needs,
we would like to select 5-7 priorities for heightened national
attention. Therefore, in addition to providing comments on the overall
Outline, we ask that you rank the potential priorities (1 = highest
priority, 12 = lowest priority) and submit your ranking with your other
comments. If you have additional suggested priorities, please include
those as well.
The draft ``Framework for Integrating Environmental Justice'' and
the ``Environmental Justice Strategic Plan Outline,'' along with
responses to anticipated questions and a one-page fact sheet, are
available online at: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/reports/ej.html.
A hardcopy of these documents is available upon request.
Dated: July 25, 2005.
Barry E. Hill,
Director, Office of Environmental Justice.
[FR Doc. 05-15041 Filed 7-27-05; 8:45 am]
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