Supporting Community Capacity Building for Environmental Justice in US EPA Brownfields Redevelopments

Keywords: environmental justice, brownfields, disadvantaged communities, technical assistance, capacity building
Abstract Type: Virtual Paper Abstract

Abstract

Our research explores: What constitutes adequate technical assistance (TA) for environmental justice (EJ) communities under The Biden Administration’s Justice40 initiative? The Justice40 initiative is part of the Climate Crisis executive order that seeks to distribute 40% of federal “benefits” to “disadvantaged communities” regarding climate, clean energy, remediation, and reduction of legacy pollution. We use the EPA Brownfields Program (BP), a Justice 40 covered program, as a case study to illustrate the TA needs of EJ communities as they navigate federal programs. EJ scholars and activists have discussed how the program leads to inequitable outcomes for EJ communities, namely environmental gentrification. We examine what it means for the BP to be reframed and expanded as an EJ program through Justice40. Secondly, given our roots in EJ praxis, we are interested in understanding how the EJ movement interprets adequate TA for EJ communities, which is presently undertheorized in the academic literature. We draw from EJ dimensions of capabilities and recognition to create a framework for evaluating the BP's technical assistance components. Capabilities are real opportunities available to people to do things or achieve states of being. Recognition is understood as acknowledging cultural differences and protecting environmental resources that allow for cultural expression. This ongoing research includes a public document review, interviews with EJ activists who have first hand experience participating in BP site redevelopments, and thematic analysis.