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Agency Snapshot of Programs and Activities for AAPIs
(A PDF version of the Agency Snapshot of Programs and Activities for AAPIs is also available [24KB, 5pp.] )
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U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
AGENCY SNAPSHOT
Mandate - The mission of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is to protect human health and to safeguard the natural environment -- air, water, and land -- upon which life depends.
Overview of EPA - EPA is the lead federal agency for educating the public on environmental issues and enforcing environmental laws. Since the agency was established 30 years ago, the United States has experienced dramatic improvements such as:
- 92% of all American households have tap water clean enough
to drink
- Two-thirds of the nation's waters are safe for fishing and
swimming
- Today's automobiles are 95% cleaner than those in 1970
- Lead levels in the air have decreased by 98%; lead levels
in children's blood has decreased by 75%
- Half of all Superfund site clean-ups have been completed
- Promoting environmental justice is now part of each government
agency's mission
- Since the cancer-causing pesticide DDT was banned, a number
of rare animal species are recovering in their natural habitat
and have been removed from the Endangered Species list (such
as the bald eagle)
- Recycling activities, including composting and curbside collections,
now diverts 57 million tons of material away from landfills
and incinerators
- The use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which deplete the
ozone layer, has declined by 99%
- More than 15 million homes have been tested for radon, a
leading cause of lung cancer, and 1.6 million new homes are
built with radon-resistant features
- The federal government, the largest purchaser of goods and
services in the nation, is required to make environmentally-preferable
products its first choice
- Energy Star programs are saving consumers more than $4 billion in energy bills each year, which saves the average household $400 annually
EPA's headquarters is located in Washington, DC and there are ten regional offices (Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Dallas, San Francisco, and Seattle) and several laboratories nationwide. EPA has approximately eighteen thousand employees, and over 5% of this workforce are Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders.
The agency's budget of more than $7 billion (FY2000) is primarily distributed to state, local, and tribal governments, as well as to research institutions and non-profit organizations to promote public health and environmental efforts. EPA programs foster activities such as research, education and outreach, technical assistance, and small business opportunities.
EPA provides up-to-date information on the state of the environment, such as air and water quality in areas around the country. Communities can also find out when toxic chemicals are used and released into the air and water. Access to this environmental information helps communities make informed decisions to improve the health and well-being of their residents.
EPA is collecting information on programs and services that could meet the needs of the AAPI community. It is important to note that although the agency does not have programs designed exclusively for the AAPI population, there are several examples of AAPI-specific activities within EPA's established programs and services.
Current Selected EPA Activities Affecting AAPIs - The following list highlights some examples of EPA's current program activities for AAPIs.
A. Direct Services - Environmental Programs
- EPA Region 9's Pacific Insular Area Program is the focal point
for Pacific Islander efforts. Region 9 (San Francisco) also
manages an annual consolidated program to insular area environmental
protection agencies with considerable flexibility in program
design and priority setting, and sponsors an annual environmental
conference for Pacific Islanders.
- The Superfund Program offers site clean-up, technical assistance,
and community outreach to AAPI areas affected by hazardous
waste contamination. Superfund sites have affected AAPI populations
particularly in Regions 1, 4, and 9. Fact sheets, advisories,
and posted warning signs are translated into several languages,
including Vietnamese, Hmong, Khmer, Laotian, and Chinese.
- The Office of Water, in cooperation with the U.S. Public
Health Service, developed and published the brochure Should
I Eat the Fish I Catch? in Hmong language. This brochure
provides information to consumers about how to reduce their
exposure to the contaminants found in the fish they eat. A
letter transmitting these brochures was mailed to all members
of the American Academy of Pediatricians, the American Academy
of OBGYNs, and the American Academy of Family Physicians and
certain health organizations such as women and infant clinics
(WICs). Up to 1 million of these brochures have been distributed
to health care providers and other health care organizations
nationwide.
- The Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances
established the Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxics (PBT) Initiative
and the Mercury Action Plan which are geared toward overall
reduction of mercury in the environment. This should help
reduce the risk to AAPIs from eating mercury-contaminated
fish which are caught non-commercially.
- The Lead Program has a very strong education campaign aimed
at the abatement worker community, and at parents, particularly
those in low income residential areas where lead paint and
pipes are prevalent.
- The Design for the Environment (DfE) Program provides information
on the potential health risks (due to chemical exposure) to
shopworkers and the surrounding communities. DfE was instrumental
in educating the drycleaning industry on the health impacts
from exposure to perchloroethylene ("perc" - a possible carcinogen
and neurotoxin). More than one-third of all shop owners and
workers are Korean. Project findings, technical information,
and other key outreach materials were translated into Korean
(e.g.,, "Plain Korean Guide to Perc Use"). Since 1995 there
has been a 60% decline in perc usage.
- EPA regions conduct pesticides education and outreach sessions,
and develop educational materials written in AAPI languages
about the safe use of pesticides in the home.
- The Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances Farm Workers Protection Program requires farm owners to communicate pesticide safety information to all workers. Warning signs are posted at points of entry to pesticide treated fields, including translations in Korean, Cambodian, Laotian, Tagalog, Chinese, Thai, and Vietnamese.
B. Procurement and Assistance Programs (Contracting and Grant Opportunities)
- The Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances
awards grants AAPI community and business organizations for
pollution prevention activities.
- The Office of Air and Radiation awarded a grant to the Association
of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO) to
reduce risk from indoor air pollutants in AAPI communities.
This grant raises awareness about indoor air pollution and
provides skills and resources to community-based organizations
that serve AAPI needs. These activities include translation
of outreach brochures, distribution of radon test kits (technical
assistance and results provided), and training on indoor air
quality issues. Several documents and public service announcements
are translated into Vietnamese, Korean, and Chinese.
- Through the Office of Water's Nonpoint Source Program, grants
are allocated to Hawaii, Northern Marianas, American Samoa,
Guam, and Palau. These grants support a wide variety of activities
including technical assistance, financial assistance, education,
training, technology transfer, demonstration projects, and
monitoring to assess the progress of nonpoint source implementation
projects.
- Information on contracting opportunities and requirements are provided at small business fairs throughout the country and through EPA's Web site.
C. Educational Programs
- The Nevada Fuel Emissions Laboratory's student program provides
outreach to AAPI communities. Ten percent of the students
are AAPIs.
- The Office of Air Radiation's Indoor Air Program established the Alliance for Learning and Vision of Under-represented Americans (ALAV) which supports local AAPI students attending the University of Nevada at Las Vegas.
D. Employment Opportunities and Career Advancement
- Through the agency's Senior Environmental Employee (SEE) Program
grants are awarded to organizations for retired persons, including
National Asian Pacific Center for Aging. NAPCA employs grantees
in a variety of activities from clerical to professional services
(e.g., engineers, chemists, statisticians, etc.). The SEE
Program utilizes the skills and expertise of retired and unemployed
older Americans, and enables them to contribute to the workforce.
- The Office of Civil Rights' Affirmative Employment Program
established a Special Emphasis Program (SEP) for Asian-Pacific
American Employment. A national SEP manager provides advice
and assistance to agency management, and coordinates activities
such as internal networking, community outreach, education/training,
and recruitment. There is a SEP Program in each main office
in headquarters and in each of EPA's regions and laboratories.
- The agency officially recognizes the Asian Pacific American Council (APAC), a non-labor employee group, and supports APAC activities to promote awareness of diversity issues. Activities include sponsoring the annual Asian Pacific Cultural Heritage Month events and providing career advancement training. APAC has over 450 members, representing 50% of all AAPI employees.
Preliminary Projected EPA Activities Affecting AAPIs - EPA plans to broaden its programs and services to meet the special needs and cultural sensitivities of minority populations. The following list highlights some examples of EPA's preliminary projections for activities to address AAPI needs.
A. Direct Services - Environmental Programs
- The Office of Water, in cooperation with other EPA offices,
is planning a National Risk Communication Conference to be
held during the summer of 2000. The conference will consider
communication methods on environmental risks that are most
effective in reaching ethnically and economically diverse
populations.
- The Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response will participate
in a Multicultural Career Fair sponsored by the University
of Maryland at their College Park campus and a similar fair
at the Baltimore County campus.
- The Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances
will provide technical assistance and training on the use
of exposure models and other risk assessment/management tools
for communities and local governments with large AAPI populations.
- Region 9 (San Francisco) will continue to manage the consolidated program for insular area environmental protection agencies and will sponsor the annual environmental conference for Pacific Islanders.
B. Procurement and Assistance Programs (Contracting and Grant Opportunities)
- The Office of Air and Radiation plans to renew the AAPCHO grant to develop education and training curriculum focused on asthma management.
C. Educational Programs
- EPA supports all ongoing student and intern programs, particularly
those that encourage minority students.
- EPA plans to diversify support for educational institutions to reflect the needs of minority communities. The agency welcomes suggestions on developing criteria to identify schools and Asian serving institutions that warrant financial support.
D. Employment Opportunities and Career Advancement
- The Office of Civil Rights and the Asian Pacific American Council expect to issue a draft report in May 2000 on the job satisfaction of AAPI employees. The survey is a snapshot of the current conditions and satisfaction of employment and identifies ways to support diversity within the agency
EPA is actively supporting and participating in the White House Initiative for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (WHIAAPI) to increase the AAPI participation in EPA programs, services, and other environmental activities where they may be underserved.
Additional information on the agency's AAPI initiative will be available in the future through the EPA Web site at http://www.epa.gov/aapi/.