EPA Appoints New Members to National Environmental Justice Advisory Council

Contact: EPA Press Office, press@epa.gov

WASHINGTON (Oct. 27, 2021) — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the appointment of ten new members to the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC). Established in 1993, the NEJAC provides advice and recommendations about broad, cross-cutting issues related to environmental justice to the EPA administrator.

“The NEJAC’s role in this administration is critical to ensuring that EPA is delivering on its commitment to protect overburdened and underserved communities in America,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “I’ve already gained critical insight from the NEJAC, which has informed key policy, enforcement, and granting decisions to reduce exposure to dangerous pollution. It is with great pleasure that I welcome these expert new members of the NEJAC, and I look forward to their counsel so we can go even further, together.”

These new members are coming to the NEJAC from academia, community-based organizations, non-governmental organizations, state and local governments, and tribal governments. They will serve for an initial one-year term.

EPA selected new members from a very large pool of qualified candidates. Selections were made in accordance with the NEJAC charter to achieve balance and diversity in terms of geographic location, gender, ethnicity, and stakeholder perspective.

The new NEJAC members and their affiliations are:

Academia

  • Jill Lindsey Harrison, PhD – University of Colorado Boulder

Community Based Organizations

  • Leticia Colon de Mejias – Energy Efficiencies Solutions (EES)/ Green ECO Warriors
  • Rev. Dr. Ambrose Carroll, Sr. Green – The Church
  • Sofia Owen – Alternatives for Community & Environment (ACE)

Non-Governmental Organizations

  • Brenda Torres – San Juan Bay Estuary Program
  • Andy Kricun – US Water Alliance

Tribal Indigenous Governments and Organizations

  • Jonathan Perry – Becenti Chapter
  • Scott Clow – Ute Mountain Ute Tribe

State and Local Government

  • Charles Bryson – City of St. Louis Civil Rights Enforcement Agency
  • Felicia Beltran – Arizona Department of Transportation

In addition, EPA would like to thank the following departing members of the NEJAC, who have all provided invaluable voices on environmental justice to the EPA:

  • Sacoby Wilson, Ph.D. – Community Engagement Environmental Justice and Health Initiative Maryland Institute of Applied Environmental Health 
  • Cheryl Johnson – People for Community Recovery
  • Richard Moore – Los Jardines Institute           
  • Hermila Trevino-Sauceda – Alianza Nacional de Campesinas
  • Melissa McGee-Collier – Office of Community Engagement Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality    
  • Dennis Randolph – City of Kalamazoo Depatment of Public Engineer
  • Kelly Wright – Environmental Waste Management Shoshone-Bannock Tribes      

For more information about the NEJAC: https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/national-environmental-justice-advisory-council

For more information about applying for the NEJAC: https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/nominations-nejac

To read the NEJAC Charter: https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/national-environmental-justice-advisory-council-charter