Presentation Title:
CANCELLED: Understanding Environmental Justice and Fostering Community Engagement in the Context of Contaminated Site Management

Background/Objectives:

Environmental justice and contaminated site management are closely related in addressing environmental inequities, particularly in communities disproportionately affected by hazardous waste sites. Many contaminated sediment sites are located in or near marginalized communities, making environmental justice a critical concern in how these sites are managed.

Approach/Activities:

This panel will engage practitioners in a lively dialogue around environmental justice and effective engagement with communities in understanding risks and potential solutions at contaminated sediment sites. The panel will include an attorney and representatives from industry, ports, and regulatory agencies. The discussion will highlight best practices as well as challenges and opportunities to incorporate environmental justice in site investigation and remediation.

Results/Lessons Learned:

In the United States, Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) guidance encourage community participation that can take the form of citizen advisory groups or public meetings for updates on investigations at large sites and proposed remedial action plans. In Canada, consultations with First Nations are incorporated into decision-making at contaminated sites. Moving forward, community participation in the United States is likely to extend beyond simply being informed of decisions. For example, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 2023 draft Meaningful Involvement Policy highlights opportunities for the public to participate in the decision-making process and influence the agency’s decisions. Importantly, true engagement will necessitate a more proactive approach to reach members of affected communities. Future approaches and expectations for engagement mark a shift from current practices that often consider public engagement to be informing the public what the remedy is after all significant decisions have been made.

Stacey Halliday

Affiliation

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CANCELLED: Understanding Environmental Justice and Fostering Community Engagement in the Context of Contaminated Site Management