[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 144 (Thursday, July 28, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 43691]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-15041]


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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 [email protected]. 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, [email protected], or Delleane McKenzie, Senior Program 
Analyst, EPA Office of Environmental Justice, (202) 564-6358, 
[email protected].

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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