EPA involvement in our community

[Linda Block <lblockhead@yahoo.com>]

The EPA began an outreach effort in SE Houston to address environmental justice concerns related to the construction of a new high school.  It has been a good effort to start and well facilitated but not everyone was at the table for initial dialogues (government officials and a few environmental leaders were there but industry and community/civic group representatives were not there). This created unneeded suspicion and became an obstacle to overcome.  Make sure the real players are there from the start representing a variety of interests.  It will take time initially but save time and effort in the long run.

Despite a strong start, EPA seems to have lost momentum and we in the community have had to push to keep the process moving along.  This is not productive for trust building.