WASHINGTON, Jan. 11, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights will hold a briefing to further its 2016 statutory report project on environmental justice. The briefing will examine the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) work under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Order (E.O.) 12,898, with a focus on the civil rights implications of the placement of coal ash disposal facilities near minority and low income communities. 

Commission Chairman Martin R. Castro stated, "Too often our nation's communities of color bear the brunt of toxic substances generated by nearby plants and processes. We intend to shine a light on the civil rights implications of toxic coal ash, as well as other environmental conditions, on communities most in need of protection."

Commissioners and panelists will have the opportunity to address a variety of questions including how to reduce the backlog of Title VI complaints, what more can be done to address the current disproportionate placement of coal ash impoundment sites and landfills in areas with primarily minority and low income residents, and what can be done to prevent such placements in the future. The briefing will also address the first coal ash rule published in spring of 2015, the EPA and other agencies' collaborative work on environmental justice, including that enforced under Title VI.

Panelists will include the EPA's Director of the Office of Civil Rights, Velveta Golightly Howell and Associate Director of the Office of Environmental Justice Mustafa Ali, the Executive Director of the American Coal Ash Association (a consortium of Coal Ash producers), Tom Adams, and environmental attorney David Ludder.

WHAT: Briefing on Environmental Justice: Toxic Materials, Poor Economies, and the Impact on the Environment of Low-Income, Minority Communities

WHEN: January 22, 2015 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET

WHERE: U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
1331 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 1150
Washington, DC 20425 (Entrance on F Street NW)

Deaf or hearing-impaired persons who require the services of a sign language interpreter should contact Pam Dunston at (202) 376-8105.            

The public may submit written comments on the topic of the briefing to comments@usccr.gov within 30 days after the briefing.

The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (http://www.usccr.gov) is an independent, bipartisan agency charged with advising the President and Congress on civil rights matters.

Contact: Lenore Ostrowsky
Acting Chief, Public Affairs
(202) 376-8591
publicaffairs@usccr.gov

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SOURCE U.S. Commission on Civil Rights