PA Environment Digest Blog: On Demand: ReImagine Appalachia Faith In Action: Environmental Justice For All - Ensuring Equity And Benefits Across Our Most Climate-Impacted Communities

ReImagine Appalachia’s Faith in Action group organized a webinar this past Spring entitled Environmental Justice for All: Ensuring Equity and Benefits Across Our Most Climate-Impacted Communities.

The webinar highlights the numerous tools and initiatives available that have the potential to bring substantial funding to Appalachian communities and drive positive change.

However, it’s crucial for individuals, as well as organizations, to understand the specifics of these initiatives and tools in order to best benefit their communities.

The speakers included--

-- Amani Reid, PA DEP Office of Environmental Justice

-- Bishop Marcia Dinkins, Black Appalachia Coalition/ Ohioans For Sustainable Change

-- Samantha Beers, EPA Region 3 Office of Communities, Tribes & Environmental Assessment

-- Angus Welch, EPA

-- Felecia Bute, Climate Reality Project Pittsburgh

While equality assumes that everyone receives the same support and equal treatment regardless of their individual needs, and equity ensures that individuals receive personalized support tailored to their specific needs, Environmental Justice goes a step further.

By understanding that these issues impede civil rights, Environmental Justice addresses the underlying causes of inequity and removing systematic barriers.

In order to effectively approach Environmental Justice, we must dismantle the colonized narrative of Appalachia and center solutions around the lived experiences of marginalized Appalachians.

All of our voices must be heard. Regardless of faith, we all have the belief that we hold to be true; we must work from a place of belief so that we can fight relentlessly for a better, more just world.

Click Here to watch the webinar (Facebook). [Bottom of page]

Click Here for the resources discussed in the webinar.

Visit ReImagine Appalachia for more information on how a 21st century economy can work for the people of Appalachia.

DEP Environmental Justice Proposal:

-- New DEP Interim Final Environmental Justice Policy, Definition Of Environmental Justice Areas Effective Sept. 16; Public Comments Accepted Thru Oct. 29 [PaEN]

NewsClips This Week:

-- Inside Climate News - Jon Hurdle: Appalachian Economy Sees Few Gains From Natural Gas Development, Report Says

-- The Derrick - Makayla Keating: DEP Cites Petro Erie With 5 Additional Violations [For More Leaking Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Tanks In Sugarcreek Boro, Venango County, Near Contaminated Reno Water Supply] [PDF of article]

-- The Derrick - Letter To Editor: Disappointed In Lack Of Involvement In Sen. Hutchinson, Rep. James To Resolve Village Of Reno Water Contamination Issue In Venango County [Polluted By Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Spill] [PDF of Article]

-- TribLive: DEP Examining ‘Pinhole Leak’ In A Penneco Natural Gas Gathering Line Behind Homes That Exploded In Plum Boro, Allegheny County [PUC, DEP Have No Statutory Authority To Regulate Safety Of Gathering Pipelines]

-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: LNG Natural Gas Export Facility Proposed In Chester Draws Pushback: ‘We Suffer For Everybody Else’s Comfort’

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: ‘We Suffer For Everybody’s Else’s Comfort’ Critics Of LNG Natural Gas Export Hub Say

-- WHYY: Chester Residents Unite Against Philly LNG Natural Gas Task Force Proposal: ‘We Will Not Allow This Environmental Genocide’

-- PA Capital-Star: Advocates Vow To Fight LNG Natural Gas Export Facility In Delaware County’s Poorest Community

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Business Advocates: Lack Of PA Permitting Reform Is Costing Jobs

-- City & State PA: Business Leaders, Lawmakers Hope For Bipartisan Action On Permitting Reform