At the February 13, 2003 statewide meeting, the California Biodiversity Council focused on environmental justice. Historically, environmental justice (or EJ) referred mainly to the problem of siting hazardous waste dumps in poor communities. Advocacy groups led by community leaders began to fight for their environmental rights—that everyone should live in an environmentally clean place.

Today the definition of EJ has broadened to include other natural resource areas, changing the face of the movement. At the February meeting, the Biodiversity Council members met to look closely at what environmental justice means in the realm of resource management and recreation.

The meeting began with a history and definition of the environmental justice movement by Sandra Salazar-Thompson, EJ Program Director for the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR). Ms. Salazar-Thompson opened her remarks by noting that the work of the CBC is very important to all people in the state. She stressed the need for the Council to link the “three E’s”—environment, equity, and economy—through its work.

The morning panel, Community Perspective on Environmental Justice, featured Mary Ann Greene, Governor’s Appointee for the Baldwin Hills Conservancy; Torri Estrada, Coalition on Environmental Justice and Water; and Carlos Porras, Executive Director, Communities for a Better Environment. The issues addressed in this panel were: development in the absence of community support; environmental racism or institutional neglect of considering affected communities when policies are developed; toxic fish consumption; sewage and contaminated outflow; distribution and cost of clean drinking water; and the siting of power plants and other energy generating facilities.

As the luncheon speaker, Felicia Marcus described her experiences with EJ during her tenure as the Regional Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Ms. Marcus offered the following advice: first, accept that environmental justice is a movement that will need to be addressed. Next, to be helpful, learn and get into the action. Third, be personal, but don’t take criticism personally—”bring yourself to the party—this is work of the mind and the heart.” Fourth, develop a core team of understanding and committed people to develop and oversee an environmental justice program. Fifth, let employees know that EJ is a priority and that the core team is always accessible. Last, remember the EJ movement is about: 1) meaningful participation in matters that are important to people’s lives; 2) reordering priorities to account for other values; and 3) people who have historically been treated poorly by government.

The afternoon panel focused on governmental EJ activities. Nancy Pfeffer, Southern California Association of Governments; Greg King, California Department of Transportation; Romel Pascual, California Environmental Protection Agency; Sedrick Mitchell, California Department of Parks and Recreation; and Enrique Manzanilla, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, formed the panel.

Each of the speakers identified ways in which their agency or department is addressing EJ. They spoke to the interpretation and implementation of the EJ statutes, retraining staff to support and incorporate EJ into program planning, addressing and righting old wrongs, learning from past mistakes and moving forward with the community, and including impacted groups into the decision making process.

The meeting closed with a case study of the recently formed CALFED Environmental Justice Subcommittee. This subcommittee was required by the CALFED Record of Decision and will advise CALFED on environmental justice issues.