#Middlebury #EnvironmentalJustice #DEEP
(HARTFORD) – The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is seeking nominations and applications for membership on a new advisory council that will provide advice on current and historic environmental injustice, pollution reduction, energy equity, climate change mitigation and resiliency, health disparities, and racial inequity. The deadline for nominations and responses is Friday, February 25, 2022, at 5 p.m.
The Connecticut Equity and Environmental Justice Advisory Council (CEEJAC), created out of Gov. Lamont’s Executive Order 21-3 signed in December, and proposed by the Governor’s Council on Climate Change, aims to provide mechanisms for environmental justice communities to have a meaningful opportunity to participate in decisions regarding the expansion or placement of certain types of facilities which, by the nature of their activity, could negatively impact public and environmental health in such communities.
“Equity and environmental justice have been a priority of DEEP’s and the Lamont Administration, and with the creation of the CEEJAC, our understanding and our efforts in this critical area will be greatly enhanced,” DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes said. “For too long, certain communities have been disproportionately impacted by pollution and increasingly, the changing climate, and it is essential that the lived experiences of all of our state’s residents be considered to better inform decisions and policy-making to address those disparities. I look forward to working with our partners on this council as we engage in this important work to improve our environment for all residents.”
The CEEJAC will advise DEEP on current and historic environmental injustice and further integrate environmental justice considerations into the programs, policies, and activities of DEEP, providing Environmental Justice Communities with a meaningful opportunity for participation and engagement in key issues and decisions that impact their communities.
DEEP is actively considering resources the agency can provide to support participation in the CEEJAC. Support will include technical assistance to CEEJAC members, advance invites including the time, date, and location of meetings, and potential compensation for participating.
More information about the CEEJAC, including nomination and application forms, can be found on the DEEP Connecticut Equity and Environmental Justice Advisory Council webpage (portal.ct.gov/DEEP-CEEJAC). Forms can be sent to Edith Pestana, DEEP’s Environmental Justice Program Administrator, at Edith.pestana@ct.gov.
