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Environmental Justice Projects, Initiatives, and Past Actions
Environmental Justice Projects, Initiatives, and Past Actions
MiEJScreen
The Office, in conjunction with the Interagency Environmental Justice Response Team, is developing an interactive mapping tool that identifies Michigan communities that may be disproportionately impacted by environmental hazards. The map will allow users to explore the environmental, health, and socioeconomic conditions within a specific community, region, or across the entire state.
MI Wild Rice Initiative
The Office coordinates the Michigan Wild Rice Initiative (MWRI). The initiative stems from a collective understanding among State and Tribal governments that the protection and restoration of wild rice in Michigan should be elevated in importance. It brings together specialist and managers from all 12 federally-recognized tribes, multiple state departments and federal agencies, and others to share information, coordinate approaches, and elevate awareness about wild rice conservation and restoration.
Air Quality in EJ Community Schools
The Office is collaborating to launch an EJ Community Schools Air Quality program to assess HVAC systems in a select number of schools in EJ communities. The fully funded assessments are designed to determine needs in public school building to protect students from air borne contaminants.
Community Resiliency Planning Pilot
The Office of the Environmental Justice Public Advocate, along with community partners, is initiating a pilot project in 48217/Southwest Detroit to build an EJ Community Resiliency plan development process. Funded through a grant from the EPA, the project is a two-year planning process designed to provide guidelines for addressing issues that impact communities to provide a blueprint for resiliency.
Mobile Air Project
The Office, in conjunction with EGLE's Air Quality Division, has launched a mobile air monitoring project utilizing a fleet of Purple Air monitors to address short term and immediate air quality concerns. The monitors can assess small particulate matter (PM 2.5) in the air.
Roundtable
The Office hosts an annual roundtable with Tribal Leaders and EGLE's Director to discuss environmental priorities, challenges, and issues. The initial meeting was held in the fall of 2019. The 2021 roundtable was held on November 9th.
Past Actions
These are some noteworthy past actions by the Office.
- Convened the Interagency Environmental Justice Response Team
- Hosted the inaugural Michigan Environmental Justice Conference
- Hosted a series of 8 Regional Roundtables across the state
- Created the state's inaugural Michigan Advisory Council on Environmental Justice
- Collaboration with the COVID Racial Disparities Task Force on Environmental Justice Issues
- Release of EGLE's first Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Plan
- Development of an updated EGLE Non-Discrimination Policy
- Development of an updated EGLE Public Participation Policy
- Development of a Tribal Consultation Policy
- Training all EGLE employees on Integrating Environmental Justice in EGLE's Work