By Jarrett Renshaw and Valerie Volcovici
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said on Tuesday it will name college professor and lawyer Robin Morris Collin to lead the agency’s efforts to advance environmental justice in communities disproportionately harmed by pollution.
Her selection as senior EPA advisor on environmental justice is part of the Biden administration's effort to deliver on a promise to ensure environmental decisions and rules are fair to low-income and minority communities that have historically borne the brunt of pollution from power plants, refineries and other industries.
EPA Administrator Michael Regan described Collin in a statement sent to Reuters as "one of the nation's foremost experts and lifelong advocate for overburdened communities."
Collin, a law professor at Willamette University in Oregon, served as founding chair of Oregon's Environmental Justice Task Force, which was created by the state legislature over a decade ago. The task force has increased engagement between low-income and minority communities and state policymakers on environmental policy.
"I am honored to serve in this role to protect our land, air and water and, as part of that work, lift up underserved communities so that we may all thrive together,” Collin said in a statement.
The EPA has spent months trying to identify a candidate for the senior advisor position, hoping to find someone with credibility in pollution-affected communities as well as the ability to navigate a complex federal regulatory environment.
The EPA’s proposed fiscal 2022 budget also calls for a new national environmental justice office under a newly created assistant EPA administrator, which would potentially elevate the senior advisor position and require senate confirmation.
Congress has yet to approve the new position.
The EPA plays a key role in delivering on the environmental justice goals set by President Joe Biden's administration, which promised to deliver at least 40% of overall benefits from federal investments in climate change action to disadvantaged communities. Last month EPA announced surprise inspections https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-plans-surprise-inspections-protect-communities-burdened-by-pollution-2022-01-26 at facilities that are suspected of polluting.
Beverly Wright, executive director of the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice, said she looks forward to working with Collin "to address the urgent needs of underserved communities that have been left behind for way too long.”