Council reviews environmental-justice population definitions and complaint process after residents raise outreach concerns

The Environmental Justice Council spent the bulk of Meeting No. 25 reviewing how the state defines ‘‘environmental justice’’ populations and how residents can file a complaint seeking designation and protections.

At the meeting consultant Yin Benson outlined the draft criteria that staff is using to identify EJ populations, citing triggers such as a neighborhood with "35% minority residents, 25% foreign-born residents, or 25% with limited English proficiency." Benson said the definition is built on decades of prior mapping work and a periodic review cycle.

Commissioner Stacy Rubin and other council members described the historical and statutory context for the policy, noting that mapping and census-based tools have been updated periodically and that the definition is meant to be reviewed every 10 years.

Several public commenters told the council the outreach process has been inadequate. "We have been ignored," said Kathy Rodriguez, who said community submissions were not acknowledged and that many non-English speakers lacked meaningful access to meetings and materials. Marian Babinski, who identified herself as an advisor and longtime participant, urged the council to ensure that previously submitted materials be properly considered.

Staff walked the council through the proposed complaint and designation steps: an initial petition requires support from at least 10 residents in the defined geographic area; the secretary's office will assess whether the petition meets threshold criteria within 45 days; if the petition passes threshold review, the council will hold a public hearing and the office will issue a final decision within 60 days of that hearing. Staff noted petitions may be resubmitted if denied.

Members debated whether a single distance metric (for example, a five-mile radius used in some outreach guidance) is appropriate. Staff and participants argued a fixed radius can be misleading: an urban center will contain far more people within five miles than a rural area, and local conditions and multiple indicators should guide decisions. The discussion emphasized tailoring geographic scope to local conditions rather than applying a uniform distance.

The council did not adopt any formal changes during the session; members and staff indicated the presentation was introductory and additional review and public engagement would follow. The chair said the council will continue discussing the metrics and outreach approach in subsequent meetings and invited further written input and comments via the portal.

The meeting concluded with an announcement of the next meeting date and an adjournment at 8:02 p.m.