Greetings from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ)!

We want to share some updates on the work Team OEJ has done in recent months. In this email, we delve into the progress made in the past three months, highlighting significant milestones and challenges faced in the pursuit of a just and sustainable world.

This year the Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ) began implementing the proactive community engagement approach described in the Interim-Final EJ Policy. Our goal is to increase proactive outreach and engagement across Pennsylvania and build long-lasting relationships with communities outside of individual projects. Furthermore, DEP seeks to increase strategic community education, outreach, engagement, and capacity building trust through intentional action, and increase proactive outreach to communities to help understand their concerns before issuing permits for new facilities and to provide communities with the tools to help address environmental issues. So far in 2024 Team OEJ has met with more than 96 community-based organizations, 165 stakeholders and community leaders, hosted 31 meetings/events, attended 93 events hosted by partners, and given 40 presentations.

We have also had some staffing updates. Amelia Benson, Regional Coordinator for the Southwest Regional Office, has left the position to pursue new and exciting opportunities. We thank Amelia for all her great work with OEJ. As well, OEJ Director Justin Dula, is departing DEP. Justin has been instrumental in shepherding OEJ’s interim final policy update and PennEnviroScreen. We thank Justin for his tireless and valuable contributions to advancing environmental justice within Pennsylvania. OEJ Special Deputy Secretary Fernando Trevino is forming an interview panel and will be conducting interviews this summer for replacement.

We are also welcoming two new additions to Team OEJ: Maria Ocasio is the new Regional Coordinator for the Northeast Regional office and Emily Green joins us as the Regional Coordinator for the Southwest Regional office. Please join me in welcoming them to the team!

We will return to our regular newsletter format going forward, continuing to share with you the latest developments, inspiring stories, and resources on the path to achieving environmental equity. In the meantime, here are some resources too good not to share:

Funding Environmental and Climate Justice Efforts through Community Change Grants

U.S. EPA’s Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants program (Community Change Grants) has announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for approximately $2 billion dollars in Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funds in environmental and climate justice activities to benefit disadvantaged communities through projects that reduce pollution, increase community climate resilience, and build community capacity to address environmental and climate justice challenges. These place-based investments will be focused on community-driven initiatives to be responsive to community and stakeholder input. They are designed to deliver on the transformative potential of the IRA for communities most adversely and disproportionately impacted by climate change, legacy pollution, and historical disinvestments.

Eligibility: At least two partnering community based organizations (CBOs), or a CBO partnered with a local government, institution of higher education, or federally-recognized tribe. Additional collaborators encouraged, but not required.

Deadline: Deadline to apply is November 21, 2024. Unlike many grants, applicants may submit and if they are not awarded, re-apply with no penalty.

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QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?

OEJ welcomes your suggestions or inquiries about our work, programs and/or policies. We also want to hear your ideas for newsletter topics/stories. Please contact us at RA-EPOEJ@pa.gov.
Special Deputy Secretary
Fernando Treviño
(717) 772-5633
ftrevinoma@pa.gov
Director
Vacant
Deputy Director
Andrea Fields
(717) 787-9375
afields@pa.gov
Statewide Programs Coordinator
Juan Serrat
(484) 250-5818
jserratgon@pa.gov
Special Projects Coordinator
Dong Yoon Kim
(484) 250-5639
dokim@pa.gov 
Northeast Regional Coordinator
Maria Ocasio
(717) 772-4051
jserratgon@pa.gov
Southeast Regional Coordinator
Amani Reid
(717) 783-1086
amreid@pa.gov
Southcentral Regional Coordinator
Ariana Genna
(717) 783-8731
agenna@pa.gov
Northcentral Regional Coordinator
Jordi Comas
(570) 327-3656
jcomas@pa.gov
Southwest Regional Coordinator
Emily Green
(412) 442-4042
emgreen@pa.gov
Northwest Regional Coordinator
Elspeth Koehle
(814) 332-6101
ekoehle@pa.gov
Administrative Assistant
Jennifer McLuckie
(717) 772-5633
jmcluckie@pa.gov
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, 400 Market Street Harrisburg, PA 17101 
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