By Ben Chisam.

While President Trump has only been in office for a week and half, there have already been major changes to the political landscape. Most of the action taken towards environmental policy by the Trump administration thus far has come in the form of executive orders, the majority of which were signed on Trump’s first day in office. Executive orders are different from legislation and thus do not require congressional approval. The power of an executive order varies, and is subject to review by the courts, but generally they can impact the internal affairs of federal agencies and can even circumvent legislation when the president declares a national emergency. 

Several of Trump’s executive orders explicitly target federal environmental justice programs. “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing” requires agencies to “terminate, to the maximum extent allowed by law, all DEI, DEIA, and ‘environmental justice’ offices and positions.” Agencies have 60 days to comply with the order and affected programs will likely include the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of Environmental Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Environmental Justice and Civil Rights. These offices work to build relationships with communities that face disproportionate environmental harms, providing funding and promoting fair involvement in the decision making process. 

Additionally, Trump rescinded several executive orders from previous administrations related to environmental justice, including:

• “Federal Actions To Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations,” signed February 16, 1994 by President Clinton. This landmark order stated that “each Federal agency shall make achieving environmental justice part of its mission by identifying and addressing, as appropriate, disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects of its programs, policies, and activities on minority populations and low-income populations.”
• “Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad,” signed January 27, 2021 by President Biden. This order created the Justice40 Initiative, which sought to direct 40% of federal climate and clean energy investments to disadvantaged communities.
• “Revitalizing Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All,” signed April 26, 2023 by President Biden. This strengthened Clinton’s order by supporting a “whole-of-government” approach to environmental justice. 

Beyond these, Trump revoked a Carter-era executive order that gave the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) the ability to regulate how federal agencies comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). NEPA is a law that requires federal agencies to consider the environmental impacts of major government projects. For decades, environmental organizers have used NEPA to challenge government projects that pollute communities. While NEPA is still law, its future application is uncertain as agencies have relied on the CEQ’s regulations for guidance since the 1970s. You can read a more thorough analysis of what this change means here. 

The President has made nonrenewable energy an early priority with executive orders that will open up new land in Alaska for drilling, explore drilling opportunities on other Federal lands and waters, withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Accords, and remove incentives for electric vehicles. Trump has also declared a National Energy Emergency, suggesting that the EPA use emergency powers to relax the requirements of the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act. In practice, these orders set the stage for more pollution of air, water, and soil in our future. 

While executive orders have less weight than legislation, they set the direction a presidential administration intends to take. As predicted, the Trump administration appears to be heading towards deregulation and away from environmental justice. Despite this, environmental groups across the country are already preparing to defend the environmental justice framework in court. As for CHEJ, to quote what I wrote in November, “the core of our work – grassroots community organizing – will remain the same.” Although the future remains uncertain, we always have the power to work together to create change.

By Sharon Franklin.

Cami Ferrell, reported in Environmental Health Network (EHN) in mid December 2024, Top polluters are benefiting the most from tax breaks https://www.ehn.org/tax-breaks-for-industry-cost-houston-area-1-billion-2670440965.html.  Ferrell reported on what is happening in Harris County, which includes Houston, Texas, and how it is projected that Harris County is expected to lose nearly $1 billion in revenue over the lifespan of current tax breaks.  Unfortunately, these tax breaks are given to many corporations, including top polluters, as noted by the environmental advocacy group, Texas Campaign for the Environment, who commissioned a study from Autocase https://drive.google.com/file/d/1K-BFkw4OI4hyITlMBFkBzakwG4ae0jVD/view .  Autocase is a economic analytics company that analyzes industrial companies for three types of tax code agreements given by cities or school districts.     

Who Is Benefitting From These Tax Breaks?  ExxonMobil, received the largest tax break nearly $198.2 million, or nearly 20% of all tax revenue that is being lost in Harris County.  Their Baytown, Texas facility, is the 3rd largest petrochemical complex in the United States, whose size equals approximately 2,576 American football fields.   It also accounts for several violations or noncompliance of the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). https://echo.epa.gov/detailed-facility-report?fid=110000463178.  Both have histories of environmental noncompliance. Yet, as noted in Autocase’s report, the fines from these violations total $2.46 million (less than) < 1.25% of the money they save in tax breaks.

2^nd & 3^rd are who are benefitting from these taxes breaks in Harris County are Lyondell Chemical, approximately 13% and Chevron Phillips approximately 8%. https://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac%24ext.TacPage?sl=T&app=9&p_dir=N&p_rloc=173087&p_tloc=14946&p_ploc=1&pg=2&p_tac=&ti=30&pt=&ch=101&rl=201.  This is why Jen Hadyia Executive Director of Air Alliance, said “top polluters are being met with top economic incentives.”  “The study …shows that these same industries are preventing economic benefits from returning to the communities they are polluting”.

What Is The Economic Impact On Harris County?  The Autocase study revealed active tax break agreements with 83 companies in Harris County. https://www.dailyclimate.org/tax-breaks-for-industry-cost-houston-area-1-billion-2670441502.html . For corporations these tax breaks represent long term property valuations, and in return companies promise economic growth, and job opportunities.  Also, according to the study, the largest source of tax breaks are because of Texas’s Chapter 313 agreements, https://comptroller.texas.gov/economy/development/prop-tax/ch313/agreement-docs.php which limit property value increases for 10 years on businesses that promises economic development and investments in the local school districts.  The study further revealed that, on average, each job created by the industries receiving tax breaks cost $1.2 million in lost revenue.  The highest tax break per job was Occidental Petroleum, receiving $38.7 million per job.  Stefan Dindayal of Autocase who conducted the study said “We can compare how many dollars are being lost for each service,” “And this is kind of a neat way to get the community to actually understand what they’re losing.  They’re not just losing a dollar amount.  What they’re losing is dollar amounts in these potential services that could have benefited the city and the community at large.

How Are These Corporate Tax Breaks Affecting Residents of Harris County, Texas?  Houston resident, Erandi Treviño, of The Raíces Collaborative stated “We can see here that home taxes are extremely high and truly, really onerous “And when you have…billion dollar entities that are getting these tax breaks, clearly something here is off.””

At the time of the article’s publishing, Lyondell Chemical and Chevron Phillips have not responded to Environment Health Network’s (EHN) requests for comment.  Exxon Mobil responded, but did not comment.

By Gregoy Kolen II.

Each year on Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Born January 15th, 1929, celebrated on January 20th, this year), we reflect on the life and legacy of a leader whose vision of justice, equality, and dignity for all continues to inspire movements for social change. Dr. King’s enduring message of interconnectedness—that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”—resonates deeply with the environmental justice movement, which seeks to address the disproportionate environmental burdens faced by marginalized communities.

The Ties Between Civil Rights and Environmental Justice

Dr. King’s work laid the groundwork for modern environmental justice advocacy. In his pursuit of racial and economic equity, Dr. King championed the rights of workers, communities of color, and the poor—those most often subjected to systemic injustices. His fight for fair housing, access to basic resources, and a livable wage intersect with today’s calls for clean air, safe drinking water, and protection from toxic pollution.

One striking example of this connection is the Memphis sanitation workers’ strike of 1968. Dr. King joined the strike to support African American workers demanding better wages and safer working conditions. Their struggle highlighted the link between economic and environmental injustice, as many of the hazards they faced were environmental—exposure to waste, poor air quality, and dangerous workplace conditions.

Progress in the Environmental Justice Movement

Since the 1980s, the environmental justice movement has grown into a powerful force, amplifying the voices of communities disproportionately impacted by environmental harm. Activists and organizations have pushed for policies and practices that prioritize vulnerable populations, making significant strides:

• The Creation of the Office of Environmental Justice: Established within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this office focuses on integrating environmental justice principles into federal policy, ensuring that underserved communities receive attention and resources.
• Landmark Legislation and Executive Orders: In 1994, President Clinton issued Executive Order 12898, directing federal agencies to address environmental justice in their programs. More recently, initiatives like the Justice40 framework aim to allocate 40% of federal climate and clean energy investments to disadvantaged communities.
• Community-Led Advocacy: Grassroots organizations continue to lead efforts to hold corporations and governments accountable. From the fight against toxic waste facilities in Warren County, North Carolina, to ongoing battles for clean water in Flint, Michigan, these movements are rooted in Dr. King’s ethos of empowering communities to demand justice.

Continuing the Legacy

As we honor Dr. King, it’s crucial to recognize the unfinished work of achieving environmental justice. Climate change, pollution, and environmental degradation disproportionately affect low-income communities and communities of color, perpetuating cycles of poverty and health disparities. Tackling these challenges requires a holistic approach, addressing both environmental and social inequities.

Here’s how we can build on Dr. King’s legacy:

1. Advocate for Policy Change: Support legislation that addresses climate injustice, ensures equitable resource distribution, and strengthens protections for vulnerable communities.
2. Amplify Marginalized Voices: Prioritize the leadership of those directly affected by environmental harm. Their lived experiences are invaluable in crafting solutions.
3. Engage in Local Action: Volunteer with or donate to organizations working on environmental justice in your community. Small, collective actions can lead to significant change.
4. Educate and Inspire: Use platforms to raise awareness about the intersection of civil rights and environmental justice. Encourage dialogue and learning.

A Call to Action

Dr. King’s dream of a just and equitable society calls on us to address the environmental challenges that perpetuate injustice. By standing together and working for change, we can honor his legacy and ensure that future generations inherit a world where justice truly prevails—environmentally, socially, and economically.

On this Martin Luther King Jr. Day, let us recommit to the fight for environmental justice and celebrate the progress made by those who carry Dr. King’s torch forward. Together, we can create a more just and sustainable world for all.

By Sharon Franklin.

Recent data collected by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) during a air monitoring trip included a benzene reading that was three times the Texas hourly guideline, which is the weakest in the nation.  In two instances, benzene fumes were so strong that scientists with TCEQ, experienced headaches and had to leave the area. 

Why is this important?  The health effects of benzene can cause immune problems, nervous system conditions, and even certain cancers. Acute symptoms of relatively short-term exposure to benzene include skin, eye, and respiratory tract irritation. Prolonged exposures to even low concentrations of benzene can result in central nervous system depression and arrhythmias, as well as trigger anemia and even compromise the immune system. It has been long established that benzene exposure can cause many forms of leukemia. Industries such as oil and gas can contribute to local benzene pollution greatly. The International Agency for Cancer Research (IARC) has classified benzene as carcinogenic to humans  (IARC group 1) since 1979. https://publications.iarc.fr/Book-And-Report-Series/Iarc-Monographs-On-The-Identification-Of-Carcinogenic-Hazards-To-Humans/Benzene-2018?link_id=2&can_id=c9993a1d3ecdb976c2e3dc6e3773d7b2&source=email-toxic-tuesday-addressing-questions-about-chemical-exposures&email_referrer=&email_subject=toxic-tuesday-benzene   

Despite warnings by state regulators, for nearly 20 years, dangerously high levels of cancer-causing chemical emissions have existed outside K-Solv, a chemical distribution facility in Channelview, Texas, as reported by Public Health Watch.   

Levels of Cancer-Causing Benzene Reached New Heights in Beleaguered Channelview, Texas. Regulators Never Told Residents.

A Texas Community Is Being Bombarded by Cancer-Causing Benzene. State Officials Have Known for Nearly Two Decades.

The readings in Channelview, Texas also exceeded what is considered safe by the city of Houston, Texas. The increased benzene levels found by TCEQ monitoring team in 2021 and 2022 were especially alarming because they weren’t recorded by the state’s closest stationary monitor, whose annual readings are used to gauge residents’ cancer risk.  Public Health Watch discovered the discrepancy when it compared hourly readings collected by the field scientists with hourly readings from the stationary monitor.  Rice University Professor, Loren Hopkins, a nationally recognized expert in environmental science used data from the stationary monitor to calculate the total lifetime cancer risk from chemical exposure for residents of south Channelview.  She also suggested the Channelview residents data is more than double the state and national average.  Professor Hopkins also stated the Channelview’s benzene levels are “unacceptably high”. “I definitely wouldn’t want to be the person exposed to this”.   She further said, that should the levels found in Channelview, Texas been recorded in Houston, Texas the residents would have received  (1) evacuation order, (8) shelter-in-place orders and (8) alerts.  However, Channelview residents received (0) notifications.

For 17 years, Tim Doty, managed the TCEQ mobile monitoring team and reviewed wind directions and sample and said the data shows that the scientists looked for benzene sources throughout south Channelview and “There’s no doubt from looking at the data that the primary source of the elevated benzene concentrations was from around K-Solv,”  “It’s right there.” “It’s obvious that they didn’t want people to see these numbers. Two years later is pretty outrageous — more than pretty outrageous”.

Recent developments in Channelview, Texas and K-Solv  On November 16, 2024, K-Solv had another major chemical leak, as reported by the Channelview Fire Department.  It was discovered that a 250-gallon tank was leaking liquid butyl acetate and “creating a vapor cloud” that was approaching homes, according to the Fire Department’s report.  https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25452015-channelview-fire-department-incident-report/#document/p1

What is the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Response? The TCEQ spokesperson said the agency has reviewed the science supporting benzene guidelines used by other institutions, but none of it has “warranted a reevaluation of TCEQ’s” guidelines. “Just because a scientific study is more recent does not make it the best scientific evidence.”

By Stephen Lester.

Excerpted from Bhopal: 40 Years of Injustice, an update and report by Amnesty International

Yesterday marked the 40th anniversary of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, often considered the world’s worst chemical industrial disaster. Shortly before midnight on December 2, 1984, tons of the deadly chemical methyl isocyanate (MIC), along with other chemicals, began to leak from storage tanks on the property of the U.S. multinational corporation Union Carbide Corporation located on the outskirts of Bhopal in central India. Over the course of that night, more than 27 tons of this and other gases were released into the surrounding neighborhood exposing thousands of people.

According to Amnesty International, more than 570,000 people were exposed to the toxic cloud that night and more than 22,000 people have died, 10,000 within the first 3 days. Those who survived developed a wide range of adverse health problems including respiratory ailments, eye disease, immune system impairment, neurological and neuromuscular damage, cancers, gynecological disorders and mental health problems, as well as miscarriages and birth defects.

The gas leak pushed already impoverished communities into further destitution. In many families, the main wage earner died or became too ill to work. Women and children suffered disproportionately. Over the years that followed, the health effects of gas exposure began to be seen in subsequent generations, with research showing a large number of children born of gas-exposed parents suffered from growth retardation, birth defects and other medical conditions.

Making matters worse, thousands of tons of toxic waste remain buried in and around the abandoned plant to this day. Studies by many organizations over the years have shown ongoing pollution around the plant site, including contamination of soil and groundwater with heavy metals. This in turn has contaminated residents’ drinking water and harmed their health, adding to the already dismal health status of gas-exposed residents.

According to Amnesty International, the catastrophic gas leak was the foreseeable result of innumerable corporate failures, but Union Carbide’s response to the disaster was woefully inadequate and callous. Despite the fact that thousands of people were dying from gas exposure, or suffering agonizing injuries, the company withheld critical information regarding MIC’s toxicological properties, undermining the effectiveness of the medical response.

To this day, Union Carbide has failed to name any of the chemicals and reaction products that leaked along with MIC on that fateful night in December 1984. The Indian government has offered free health care to gas-exposed people in government hospitals ever since the gas leak, but standards of care have been grossly inadequate, forcing many patients to pay for private treatment and medicine.

In September 1986, the Indian government filed a claim against Union Carbide seeking $3.3 billion. In 1989, without consulting Bhopal survivors, the parties reached an out-of-court settlement for $470 million. This amount was less than 15% of the initial amount sought by the government, and far less than most estimates of the damage at the time. The mechanism put in place to distribute the money was also highly inadequate. Thousands of claims were never registered and people received only $350, a paltry amount that was quickly spent on medical bills.

This year, a group of survivors of the Bhopal tragedy toured the United States to help ensure that no other community suffers another major chemical disaster and to push the U.S. Congress to declare December 3^rd as National Chemical Disaster Awareness Day. They are also asking the US Department of Justice to serve the Indian government’s summons to Dow Chemical (who purchased Union Carbide in 1999) to appear in court which they have refused to do despite repeated efforts by the Indian government. Read about the 74 organizations that signed on in support of this effort here.

By Ben Chisam.

With the recent presidential election, it’s important to anticipate the incoming administration’s approach to environmental issues. While Trump’s exact plans are unclear, we can gain some insight from Project 2025, a federal policy agenda written by former Trump officials and The Heritage Foundation. 

Project 2025 is a thorough blueprint for restructuring the federal government, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Overall, the plan would greatly reduce the size and strength of the EPA to target the economic impact of environmental regulations. In practice, Project 2025 would reduce restrictions on toxic chemicals and cut federal environmental justice programs. 

Project 2025 sees environmental regulations as a barrier to economic growth, and proposes fewer restrictions on pollutants. While landmark environmental policies like the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act would remain in place, these statutes would be interpreted very narrowly.  For example, the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) would be limited to only what is legally required by the Clean Air Act. Furthermore, they recommend revisiting the designation of PFAS (forever chemicals) as “hazardous substances” under the Superfund Law (CERCLA). This designation was put in place under the Biden administration and its reversal could have serious health consequences.

Project 2025 proposes the elimination of several EPA programs related to environmental justice, including the Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights (OEJECR) and the Office of Children’s Health Protection (OCHP). Troublingly, the plan also discusses removing race from the EPA’s decision making process. They cite Supreme Court cases that have ruled against race-based affirmative action programs in college admissions to justify this shift. As we know, environmental injustices disproportionately affect communities of color. Therefore, it’s imperative that race continue to be considered in the distribution of environmental justice funds by the EPA. 

Last week, Trump nominated former New York congressman Lee Zeldin to head the EPA. Zeldin has been a vocal advocate of Trump, but has limited experience with environmental issues. Myron Ebell, who led Trump’s EPA transition team in 2016, has described Zeldin as someone with the potential to be a “great deregulator.” Additionally, while Trump has tried to separate himself from Project 2025, recently his administration has recruited several of its key architects.

This article isn’t intended to create a sense of doom and gloom. It’s important to stay informed about what changes lie ahead, but the core of our work – grassroots community organizing – will remain the same. Our two previous posts highlight this. In Climate Change and Community Action, Leila Waid emphasizes that “even in times of great political uncertainty, we are not powerless.” In How Change Happens: A Reminder from Lois Gibbs, our founding director writes that “every struggle, every victory counts,” no matter how small. To that end, the fight continues.