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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently soliciting nominations for individuals to serve on the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC), including representatives from state and local government agencies, to provide advice to the Agency on environmental justice issues. The NEJAC is a federal advisory committee that provides recommendations to EPA on broad, cross-cutting issues related to environmental justice. The NEJAC also provides a forum for discussion on integrating environmental justice with other EPA priorities and initiatives.

NACWA has long advocated that EPA’s environmental justice efforts with respect to clean and safe water issues should also include consideration of affordability and financial capability, including how the growing array of federal Clean Water Act mandates can financially impact disadvantaged and lower income families disproportionately. Although environmental justice issues have traditionally centered on siting decisions and land use issues, NACWA believes this offers a far too narrow view of environmental justice concerns. Accordingly, it would be valuable to have a representative from a public clean water agency serve on the NEJAC and provide a broader perspective to the Council’s deliberations, with a focus on financial capability and affordability concerns. EPA’s recent integrated planning framework and its decision to engage the municipal community in a discussion on Clean Water Act affordability also makes potential utility participation on NEJAC an important and timely undertaking.

NACWA encourages utility members interested in serving on the NEJAC to complete and submit an application, which can be found on the EPA website. Additional information on the NEJAC and its membership is also available on the website. NACWA would be pleased to submit a letter of recommendation in support of any utility member interested in applying to a position on the NEJAC; interested members should contact NACWA’s General Counsel, Nathan Gardner-Andrews, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 202-833-3692 for more information. Applications and nominations will be accepted by EPA through February 20.