PADEP to host open discussions to ‘advance climate action in environmental justice communities;’ nearest is hour away
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL FILE - Mining activity can be seen in the distance from West Poplar Street in Shenandoah.
HARRISBURG, Dauphin County – Shenandoah and Mahanoy City are both considered “environmental justice communities” by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, but if you want to share your views on climate actions in the community, you’ll have to drive an hour or do it online.
PADEP announced Wednesday six open discussions with community leaders and residents around the state “to identify the most effective ways to enable Environmental Justice communities to stay safe and thrive in a changing climate.”
“As a result of more than a century of disinvestment, residents in Environmental Justice areas are often challenged by poor air quality, old housing and infrastructure, limited transportation, and other impacts,” Wednesday’s release said.
An environmental justice community is defined by PADEP as a census tract where 20 percent or more people live at or below the federal poverty line, an/or 30 percent or more people identify as a non-white minority.
Shenandoah, Mahanoy City, Mahanoy Township, Frackville, Mount Carmel, Hazleton, West Hazleton, Coal Township, and portions of Hazle Township and Shamokin are all considered environmental justice communities.
“DEP is committed to expanding proactive outreach to better understand communities’ concerns,” DEP Acting Secretary Rich Negrin said in the media release. “We’ll draw on this understanding as we develop and implement statewide greenhouse gas emission reduction strategies and fund programs that ensure Environmental Justice communities are centered in climate change mitigation and adaptation statewide.”
“I want to recognize our Energy Programs Office for coordinating these important events for Environmental Justice communities. My staff and I look forward to attending these events in a listening role, and having the opportunity to meet with stakeholders and community leaders from across the Commonwealth,” said Special Deputy for Environmental Justice Fernando Treviño.
None of the six meetings are near the Shenandoah area. The nearest meetings are an hour away at Scranton City Hall at 10:30am April 10, the Berks Nature Center in Reading at 10:30am April 11, and the Camp Curtin YMCA in Harrisburg on April 13 at 10:30am.
Other meetings are being held in Forest Hills, near Pittsburgh; Norristown, Meadville, and Philadelphia.
PADEP says residents can also attend the meetings virtually “and share their views on climate actions needed in their community through online surveys.”
Event sign-up, the link to the surveys, and more details are found at the Climate Action for Environmental Justice Communities web page.
Community feedback will be incorporated in developing a “Guide to Climate Action for Environmental Justice Communities.”
The guide will inform DEP’s statewide climate planning and may be used by other state and local leaders to prioritize the needs of Pennsylvania’s Environmental Justice communities in climate action.
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