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environmental contribution are continuing. The REACH team would like to coordinate these
efforts with IEPA for potential areas of overlap and joint use.
Region 5's EJ goal is to "Ensure that all Region 5 citizens are protected from
disproportionate impacts of environmental hazards and have adequate opportunity to
participate in environmental process". With regard to EJ, Region 5 will focus on three key
areas of emphasis: 1) continue EJ policy development and implementation into regional
policies and programs; 2) decrease human health and environmental impacts; and 3) enhance
stakeholder outreach and partnerships. Examples of Regional efforts include sponsorship of
informational/training forums with community groups, States, business and industry;
development of enhanced GIS mapping capabilities; and provision of grant opportunities and
grant writing software. USEPA will also continue to support human health research efforts
related to environmental justice and children's programs.
Region 5 will continue to use its June 1998 revised interim EJ guidelines for identifying and
addressing potential environmental justice concerns in federal activities, including permit
issuance and enforcement reviews. USEPA will implement Title VI of the Civil Rights Act
and will consider environmental justice issues through the review of and comments on other
federal agencies' proposals and actions under the National Environmental Policy Act and
Section 309 of the Clean Air Act.
G. Reduction of Toxics, Especially Mercury
Releases of toxic substances have caused serious adverse effects in humans and damage to
the environment. The laws, regulations, and multiple programs of USEPA and the states
traditionally have been devoted in large part to investigating and reducing releases of toxic
substances, most often in single-medium contexts. Consequently, Region 5 has created a
multi-media Toxic Reduction Team to promote coordination of toxics reduction efforts,
while the Toxics Program Section within Region 5's Waste Division has primary
responsibility for PCBs, TRI and lead. IEPA has a similar multi-media focus on addressing
toxic pollutants. Some areas of initial emphasis are: the reduction of releases of mercury;
implementation of the Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy; the investigation of endocrine
disruptors and toxaphene; and the reduction of lead. The Region 5 Toxic Reduction Team,
the Toxics Program Section, and the IEPA will work on areas of common emphasis by
providing technical support, sharing information, and by coordinating and disseminating
results of scientific research. Particular areas of emphasis include the following:
1. Reduce mercury levels - To meet release and use reduction goals, federal actions for FY
2002 include: outreach to industry, organizations, and citizens on pollution prevention
and risks; studying alternative use and treatment/disposal options; clearinghouse support
and information; and implementing maximum achievable control technology standards
(MACTs), the Great Lakes Water Quality Initiative (GLI), and the Great Lakes
Binational Toxics Strategy. For example, USEPA will develop outreach materials aimed
at the construction and demolition industry to encourage proper disposal of mercury-containing
devices found in buildings. The Binational Toxics Strategy mercury
workgroup will explore options to reduce mercury releases from utilities through
