Ayesha Rascoe had a conversation with Michael S. Regan, Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, about the Biden administration’s approach to environmental justice.

Across the United States, communities of color face a disproportionate risk of pollution. Large-scale polluting companies such as oil refineries, factories, landfills, and factory farms are usually built in non-white communities, thus exposing residents to higher health risks. Recently, the Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, Michael Regan, traveled across Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas to meet with communities facing extreme pollution. He joins us now. Welcome to the show.

Michael Reagan: Well, thank you very much. It is a pleasure to be here.

RASCOE: During the journey, you talked with residents, advocates, community leaders and others. What do you hear from people about how pollution affects their lives?

Reagan: You know, we heard a lot. I talked to mothers in Jackson, Mississippi. Their children had been exposed to lead in drinking water and visited a school—it was supposed to spend time discussing environmental education and what we did with students, but in The school was evacuated shortly before our arrival because of low water pressure. I talked to families in St. John’s parish who have been exposed to pollution from oil refineries and other pollution sources for decades. They are dealing with cancer that spans three generations in one family. So we have really witnessed some of these communities being dealt with and have been dealing with it for a long time.

RASCOE: Bobbi-Jeanne Misick, one of our member station reporters-she spoke with a resident of New Orleans during your visit. Her name is Lydwina Hurst, and she is a breast cancer survivor who lives in a former toxic landfill. What she said was that she could accept what you said, and she thought you would help, but she also said the same.

LYDWINA HURST: I hope I am not wrong again, because too many of us have done a lot of unjust things to us when we come back here, which is not fair at all.

Rasco: What is your response to this?

Reagan: You know, my answer is that there is a basis for suspicion. Governments at all levels did not provide services to these communities. This is an important opportunity for the federal government to work with state governments, local governments, and these communities to develop solutions that require early action. So we understand that we must rebuild trust, and it is time for all of us to roll up our sleeves to solve these problems.

RASCOE: You talked about how things in the past can justify reasons for suspicion. The fact is that the federal government has been aware of these environmental justice issues for decades. President Clinton signed an executive order in 1994 to solve this problem. President Obama refocused on it during his administration. However, these pollution differences still exist. Now, the Biden administration promises to take an aggressive attitude in this regard, but what is the difference now compared to all other efforts?

Reagan: You know, what is different-this administration prioritizes environmental justice, fairness and tolerance. EJ will become part of EPA DNA. This is a core principle, and we will use all our law enforcement powers to enforce the laws on the books. We will use the data we have to prove that certain communities have been and will continue to be disproportionately affected. But with the bipartisan infrastructure law, we can now make record investments to help correct some of these mistakes.

RASCOE: You mentioned the infrastructure law that was just passed. As far as I know, EPA will allocate approximately US$7.4 billion from this law in 2022 to help states and tribes upgrade their water supply infrastructure. In places like Flint, Michigan and Mississippi, this has always been a big problem. But if the states are to allocate this money, what tools does the EPA have to ensure that the money goes to the communities that need it most?

Reagan: The first thing is that I roll up my sleeves and prepare to work with every governor in these 50 states, including the Democrats and Republicans, to ensure that we provide these resources to those who need them most. The second is that almost half of the bipartisan infrastructure laws, nearly $44 billion in state revolving funds, are eligible for grants or completely forgivable loan allocations. This is different from loans that previously required some kind of matching or other criteria. Therefore, now with these grants or completely forgivable loans, some communities have never qualified before.

Therefore, at EPA, we are ready to provide technical assistance to these communities so that they can obtain these funds. Coupled with tours like Journey of Justice, where the media highlights these disproportionate impacts and the coordinated partnership between the EPA and the governor, this does create opportunities for the upward trend we are all looking for.

RASCOE: But should the states still prioritize access to these funds for these communities? Will there really be situations where the state might ignore certain communities?

Reagan: Well, you know, we will encourage states to pay attention to those who need it most. Yes, there are-there are a lot of decision-making powers that depend on the states. But when we work with these governors, when we work with these local mayors and these communities, when we raise awareness and draw attention to those who need it most, we believe the states will respond accordingly, and it The pressure will be maintained to ensure that it is our job for them to do so.

RASCOE: EPA Administrator Michael Regan, thank you very much for being with us.

Reagan: Thank you everyone for inviting me.

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