Panel Discussion

The year 2007 marks the twentieth anniversary of the seminal report, Toxic Wastes and Race in the United States, the first national study of the demographic characteristics of communities surrounding hazardous waste sites. When Toxic Wastes and Race was published, nobody could have predicted that words like race, equity, and justice would become standard lexicon in the environmental discourse. Many of the report’s recommendations have now been implemented. The landmark report sparked an enduring discourse about social justice in environmental policy that has proven to be both widespread and deep-rooted. Twenty years, in some instances, signal the passage of a generation. The report inspired the development of a first generation of environmental justice leadership, both within communities and institutions. Moderated by Richard Moore, Director, Southwest Network for Environmental and Economic Justice, the panel will feature four renowned authorities in the areas of environmental health and justice: Kenneth Olden, former Director, National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences; Peggy Shepard, Director, West Harlem Environmental Action; Howard Frumkin, Director, National Center for Environmental Health; and Charles Lee, Acting Director, EPA Office of Environmental Justice, and principal author of Toxic Wastes and Race. The speakers will provide their unique insights regarding the EJ movement’s abiding contributions to the environmental health field, and how these contributions help address critical environmental health challenges of the 21st century. These challenges include, but are not limited to: (1) environmental health disparities; (2) children’s health; (3) land use and the built environment; and (4) climate change and sustainability.

Session Objectives: 1. To learn about key developments in environmental justice research, policy, advocacy, and organizing over the past twenty years and how they have impacted the field of environmental health. 2. To gain insight on the enormous historical legacy of the landmark report, Toxic Wastes and Race in the United States, from the unique perspective of its principal author. 3. To examine how an environmental justice paradigm can contribute to addressing the environmental health challenges of the 21st century, and possible strategies to develop a second generation of environmental justice leadership.