News Releases

News Releases from Region 06

EPA Workshop Empowers Oklahoma City Communities on Environmental Issues

06/15/2016
Contact Information: 
Jennah Durant or Joe Hubbard (R6Press@epa.gov)
214 665-2200

DALLAS – (June 15, 2016) This week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hosted a workshop on environmental justice and other important topics in Oklahoma City, Okla. The workshop was developed in partnership with community stakeholders and state environmental and health agencies.

“One of EPA’s most important priorities is making sure the benefits of environmental protection extend to everyone, regardless of where you live,” said Regional Administrator Ron Curry. “By closely working with and listening to communities about their concerns, we can achieve that goal.”

“Our goal is to build stronger partnerships with communities across Oklahoma, which we believe will allow us to achieve even greater environmental protection,” said Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality Executive Director Scott Thompson.

Workshop participants heard talks from scientists and officials from a variety of agencies, including EPA, the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, the Oklahoma State Department of Health and the University of Oklahoma. Participants also heard from organizations such as the Sierra Club, LEAD Agency, and Community In-power & Development Association. The workshop was developed and organized in cooperation with the Urban League of Oklahoma City.

Session topics included a variety of environmental and health issues, including hydraulic fracturing, the impact of climate change, water quality, and disaster planning and emergency response. Participants also gained insight into regulatory processes such as rulemaking, permit granting, complaints and enforcement.  

Environmental justice is the concept that all communities—regardless of race, color, national origin, or income—deserve the same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards, and deserve equal access to the decision-making process to have healthy places in which to live, learn, and work. EPA has held previous workshops on environmental justice training in Albuquerque, N.M.; New Orleans, La.; Houston, Texas; and Little Rock, Ark.

More on EPA’s work in environmental justice: /environmentaljustice

EPA’s EJ 2020 Action Agenda: /environmentaljustice/ej-2020-action-agenda

Connect with EPA Region 6:

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eparegion6  

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/EPAregion6 

Activities in EPA Region 6: http://www2.epa.gov/aboutepa/epa-region-6-south-central

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