For Release: Wednesday, May 17, 2006
DEC Announces Availability of Environmental Justice Grants
Funding For Communities To Help Address and Assess Environmental Harms And Risks
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Denise M. Sheehan today announced the availability of new State assistance funding under the Environmental Justice Community Impact Research Grant program for projects that address exposure of communities to multiple environmental harms and risks.
Environmental justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies. Environmental justice efforts focus on improving the environment in under served communities, specifically minority and low-income communities, addressing disproportionate adverse environmental impacts that may exist in those communities, and ensuring meaningful public participation and environmental benefits. In 2003, DEC issued Commissioner Policy 29 Environmental Justice and Permitting to establish requirements for certain proposed actions potentially affecting minority or low-income communities.
The Community Impact Research Grants are being made available to local groups that focus on addressing environmental and/or public health problems in their communities. Applicants must be located in their proposed project areas and must have over 50 percent of their members living in those areas. Each applicant community group must either be a Not-For-Profit Corporation (NFP) or partner with an NFP that will act as the financial agent for the group.
Eligible grant projects must address the exposure of communities to multiple environmental harms and risks and include research and education components. Grants will range from the minimum amount of $2,500 to the maximum amount of $25,000. DEC will determine the amount of the grant award based on the scope of the project identified in the application. A total of $1 million has been appropriated for the grants.
Projects that could be eligible for Community Impact Research Grants include: community inventories of industrial, municipal, or commercial facilities; mobile source emission tracking and monitoring; demonstration projects such as green rooftops and alternative energy projects; research into harms and risks to subsistence fishing populations that use waterways restricted for fish consumption; or projects to identify industrial, commercial or municipal processes that result in pollution and monitoring the impacts on a community. All research projects must be used to expand the community's knowledge and understanding of how to mitigate exposure to environmental impacts and improve quality of life.
Grant applications are available from the DEC Office of Environmental Justice by calling 1-866-229-0497 and will soon be available on the DEC's Office of Environmental Justice website. Applications are due on July 18, 2006. Additional information including frequently asked questions will be posted on the DEC Website.
For technical assistance information or general application questions, please contact: Monica L. Kreshik, Environmental Justice Coordinator or Douglas E. Morrison, Environmental Program Specialist, DEC Office of Environmental Justice, 625 Broadway, Albany, New York, 12233-1500. Toll free: 1-866-229-0497, Telephone: 518- 402-8556, ej@gw.dec.state.ny.us
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