Environmental and Climate Justice Solutions

ERG supports projects that promote safe and healthy places to live, work, and play for all people. We have been honored to assist in EJ efforts across the U.S., working with all levels of government to help eradicate the unjust and disproportionate impact of environmental degradation on communities of color and low-income communities. We offer government agencies trusted support to integrate environmental and climate justice approaches and solutions into their policies, rulemakings, implementation efforts, and enforcement actions. We also develop tools for governments and stakeholders to efficiently identify and address environmental concerns and disparities. At the local level, we work with EJ communities to build knowledge, elevate their voices, and engage meaningfully in public processes. We also support facilitation, training, and outreach to promote information sharing and collaborative problem solving among all entities that play a role in addressing the nation’s environmental justice challenges.

Stakeholder Engagement and Outreach

Facilitation support
Translation services
Cultural competency training
Strategic planning
Training and capacity building
Public hearings and meetings support
Social media engagement and marketing

Environmental and Public Health Analyses

Air quality monitoring and analysis
Drinking water sampling and analysis
Groundwater modeling, monitoring, and assessments
Mobile source emissions measurements
Epidemiological studies
Community-based environmental sampling
Hazard analyses
Vulnerable population assessments
Exposure analyses and investigations
Risk communication

Climate Change Impact Disparities

Greenhouse gas inventories
Climate action plans to incorporate DEI solutions
Adaptation and resiliency planning for EJ communities

Economic and Social Impact Analyses

Demographic analyses
Vulnerability assessments
Hazard mitigation planning
Community resilience studies
Performance measurement
Cost-benefit analyses
Surveys

Digital Solutions

Comprehensive data management support
Decision support tools
Geospatial analyses
Mapping and screening tools
Data visualization
Electronic reporting support

Air Quality Assessments

Fence-line monitoring data collection and analysis
Emissions inventories
Ambient monitoring analysis
Site-specific emissions investigations
Exposure and risk evaluations
Control technology assessments
Compliance investigations

Water Infrastructure Management

Water pollution evaluation and control
Inspection support and training
Sampling and analysis
Environmental impacts analysis
Regulatory development
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit development
Compliance and enforcement
Funding and financial analyses

Regulatory Support

Permitting
Preparation of public dockets
Evaluation of public comments
Compliance assistance
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance analyses
Enforcement

Projects

Presentation slide: Building a Circular Economy for All: Stakeholder Engagement and Feedback May 2022

Support for Design of EPA Solid Waste and Recycling Grant Programs

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Photo of children outside a school bus door. Flyer of the EPA Clean School Bus Program

Support to EPA’s Clean School Bus Program

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

photo of webpage showing pollution prevention environmental justice facility mapping tool

Targeting Grant Efforts to Communities with Environmental Justice Concerns

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Photo of Port in Wilmington Delaware with a cargo ship at unloading crane

Developing an Environmental Justice-Focused Community Action Roadmap to Engage the Port of Wilmington, Delaware

Delaware Community Benefits Agreement Coalition

photo of a NYC Street with tall buildings and trees in the forefront

Integrating Environmental Justice into New York’s Groundbreaking Clean Transportation Prizes Program

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority

Facilitating Community-Driven Solutions to Climate Change in Alameda, California

City of Alameda

Remote monitoring equipment deployed by ERG near a local elementary school to assess potential exposure

Addressing Community-Level Air Toxics in a Louisiana Parish

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Environmental Justice at the Fenceline: Reducing Toxic Air Pollutants at Petroleum Refineries

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Helping Border Communities Manage Scrap Vehicles

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Photo of a water treatment plant under a blue sky

Developing Guidance to Help Communities Advocate for Drinking Water Equity

River Network

Aerial photo of Winnebago, Nebraska, home to the tribal council offices of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska

Improving Drinking Water and Wastewater Systems in Tribal and Small Communities

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Photo showing colorful new homes in Raleigh, North Carolina

Developing Climate Justice Solutions in Raleigh, North Carolina

City of Raleigh

Photo from above looking down onto a street in downtown Paterson, New Jersey

Collecting Data on Air Toxins in Paterson, New Jersey

Rutgers University

Screenshot of the EJSCREEN tool, with side-by-side maps of the same place; one highlights proximity and volume, the other highlights percent ratio of income to poverty level under 2.0

Improving EJSCREEN: A Tool for Advancing Environmental Justice

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Photo of houses in Barrow, Alaska and a signpost pointing to far-away places

Saving Lives and Infrastructure in Western Alaska Native Villages

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service

Three slides from the fotonovela "INVENTARIO DE EMISIONES TÓXICAS DE LA EPA (TRI): La Familia Díaz se Entera que Tiene Derecho a Saber Acerca de las Sustancias Tóxicas en Su Barrio." The slides show a family talking to each other while hanging out at a local playground near an industrial facility.

Raising Awareness of Toxic Chemicals in Environmental Justice Communities

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Aerial view of flood water in the Cedar River running through Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Increasing Community Resilience to Climate Crises

National Institute of Standards and Technology

Service Area Leads

I’m fortunate to have interned in both the private sector and with EPA during my college years as it gave me valuable perspective that has served me well ever since. I believe I found the best of both worlds at ERG as we work to support EPA’s mission, and I’m grateful to do work that makes a real difference in solving environmental issues.

Jeanette Alvis

As an immigrant, issues of race, equity, and inclusion have always been central to my lived experience and values. As an environmental engineer and policy analyst, I feel grateful to align my convictions with my experience and to lead ERG’s environmental and climate justice solutions practice.

Shanika Amarakoon

I am passionate about community-building for equity and long-term sustainability. There is nothing more important right now than empowering communities most impacted by natural hazards with the tools they need to grow and thrive. Deep listening, strong support, and a diversity of voices can lead to skillfully facilitated decision-making processes that result in real, tangible changes to equity and inclusion.

Laura Bachle

I have dedicated my career to reducing the energy and emission footprint of vehicle travel, a major source of air pollution worldwide. Thanks to inspiration from great mentors and clients, I had the opportunity to build and manage what has become a world-class team of mobile sources experts who relish the challenge of tackling complex problems. Disadvantaged communities experience a disproportional impact from vehicle-related air pollution, and I am gratified beyond measure that our work has helped improve air quality, not only across the United States but also in other countries around the world, where we have facilitated development of customized solutions based on local conditions.

Sandeep Kishan

The most rewarding part of my work is being able to help our clients and communities from behind the scenes, reflect on their impact, and find ways to become more effective and accessible in improving community conditions for all.

Jennifer Lam

My favorite problems are the difficult ones—those sticky, multi-jurisdictional, multi-sector problems that require us to find new partners, develop new frameworks for working together, and be brave, humble, and kind. I love building frameworks that enable the person with the least amount of power and the person with the most amount of power to share their perspectives and contribute to solutions. Whatever the issue, my goals are to develop transparent, equitable, and effective solutions and to have fun along the way!

Lindy Lowe

Designing equitable solutions for sustainable environmental conservation and management efforts is a constantly challenging, rewarding endeavor. I love collaborating closely with our clients to develop strategies that promote environmental and climate resilience and justice—including evaluating environmental program effectiveness and identifying innovative best practices for coastal and ocean planning.

Diana Pietri

Clean air, safe workplaces, a stable climate for generations to follow—these are just some of the ideals that motivate my daily work. I strive to bring the best available science to our nation’s current and emerging environmental health and occupational safety issues.

John Wilhelmi