Today, for the first time in more than a decade, U.S. EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson and White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair, Nancy Sutley, reconvened the Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice (EJ IWG) in a meeting held at the White House. The meeting, attended by five cabinet members, demonstrates the Obama administration’s dedication to ensuring all Americans have strong federal protection from environmental and health hazards. Pollution like dirty air and contaminated water can have significant economic impacts on overburdened and low-income communities, driving away investment in new development and new jobs and exposing residents to potentially costly health threats.

Read Time Magazine’s article. 

Today, Administrator Jackson spoke  to the National Congress of American Indians during its 2010 Executive Council Winter Session. During her speech, Jackson highlighted EPA’s efforts to strengthen its relationships with American Indian communities in 2009, as well as current priorities for 2010, including requesting increased support for states and tribes in its annual budget. Last week, EPA announced two major Climate Showcase Community grants in tribal communities. In her speech, Jackson detailed the objectives of these initiatives, which will promote energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reductions on the Northern Cheyenne Tribe Reservation in Montana, provide technical expertise on several greenhouse gas reduction projects, and help implement curbside recycling, compact fluorescent lighting and Green Building programs. EPA is proposing a total of $1.3 billion in categorical grants to support its efforts in American Indian communities.

Last October, Administrator Jackson led the Presidential Delegation to Jakarta, Indonesia to attend the Inauguration of His Excellency Dr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of the Republic of Indonesia. During the visit, Administrator Jackson committed to helping Indonesia confront the threat air pollution poses to their citizens. Yesterday, EPA made good on that promise. Michelle DePass, EPA’s Assistant Administrator for International Affairs, joined representatives of the Government of Jakarta to launch the Breathe Easy, Jakarta” program, which aims to better understand Jakarta’s air pollution problems and to develop strategies to improve air quality for millions of residents. EPA is providing $450,000 to help Jakarta implement this program.  Read the press release