A few weeks ago, Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA) and 72 members of Congress sent a letter to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson urging the EPA to finalize their long-delayed study on dioxin once and for all.  Read all about it in Rep. Markey’s press release. EPA’s study on dioxin has been delayed for over 20 years due to intense lobbying by dioxin-spewing chemical corporations such as Dow Chemical.  The new Congressional letter to EPA expresses concern that “EPA has missed this self imposed deadline to finalize and release the report by the end of 2010”and concludes by requesting EPA’s “detailed timeline for finalizing and releasing the Dioxin Reassessment once the SAB [Science Advisory Board] review is complete.” 

When EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson announced the EPA’s Science Planfor finalizing the Dioxin Reassessment two years ago, EPA Administrator Jackson pledged to finalize it by the end of 2010.  Unfortunately EPA has missed that self-imposed deadline yet again.  

CHEJ thanks and applauds Rep. Markey (D-MA) and the 72 other members of Congress for writing to EPA Administrator Jackson on this critical public health and environmental justice issue.  We can only hope EPA will do the right thing and finalize this study once and for all.

Hilton Kelley receives the Goldman Environmental Prize

CHEJ congratulates Hilton Kelley for receiving the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize for his leadership for environmental justice in his hometown of Port Arthur, Texas. The Goldman Environmental Prize is awarded annually to grassroots environmental heroes from each of the world’s six inhabited continental regions. Kelley was this year’s award recipient for North America.

Kelley was born and raised on the West Side of Port Arthur, Texas and spent many of his early years in a community on the fence line of the Motiva oil refinery. When he returned to the community in 2000 after a stint in the Navy and a successful acting career, he established Community In-power and Development Association (CIDA), and began training local residents to monitor air quality.

In 2006, when Motiva announced that it would expand its Port Arthur facility into the largest petrochemical refinery in the country, CIDA was ready. As a result of their community advocacy campaign, Motiva installed state-of-the-art equipment to reduce harmful emissions. Kelley also negotiated a “good neighbor” agreement with Motiva that provided health coverage for the residents of the West Side for three years and established a $3.5 million fund to help launch new businesses in the community.

Learn more about Hilton Kelley and other recipients of the Goldman Environmental Prize.

Newcastle, WY

Since Love Canal, fear of environmental contamination affecting schools has been on people’s minds nationwide. Since 2000, safe school siting has been a top priority for CHEJ. CHEJ recently began working with a group in Wyoming called Citizens for Responsible Government. The group is dealing with pollution from the Wyoming Refining Company, which is located in the middle of their town and a mere quarter of a mile from the local high school. CHEJ is helping Citizens for Responsible Government brainstorm ways to get the school relocated away from the toxic refinery.

The residents of Newcastle have been battling the oil refinery for over 80 years, with little to no compliance from the company. Residents have developed various illnesses related to the pollutants from the refinery, including many types of cancer, which has left resident Ellis Hemler a widower twice.  The small county has a 30% cancer rate, which is higher than the state average in Wyoming. CHEJ continues to work with Citizens for Responsible Government to develop a campaign strategy and build capacity for their fight to ensure future generations will not continue to endure environmental injustice.