What You Missed: Questions on Environmental Justice with Nancy Sutley and Lisa Jackson

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson and Nancy Sutley, the Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, hosted a live chat to answer your questions about the Obama Administration’s work to create a healthy and sustainable environment for all Americans. They took questions from Facebook participants and students ranging from eighth grade to doctoral candidates who were assembled at Occidental University in Los Angeles, CA, and were on the other end of the video chat.

• Opening Remarks
• What have you done about rail yard pollution and what can be done for my community?
• Why does the federal government have to give jurisdiction to the Indian Country to enforce EPA laws?
• Why hasn’t the transportation re-authorization been authored with the interest of clean air for our children at the forefront?
• How can we ensure that there are enough safe ‘green spaces’ for youth from all socioeconomic backgrounds?
• What pieces of legislation do you plan on implementing to decrease the levels of pollution?
• What contribution can the White House establish to the Green Zones Initiative?
• How will you ensure that environmental justice, particularly the issues that affect public health, is considered within highways projects like those in the stimulus bill?
• When are you going to educate Americans on what is happening to our earth?
• How can you work with the Education Department to make sure that environmental justice is part of the school curriculum?
• How is government supporting local food programs and healthy foods for our children?
• How can the Federal Government help to build a green economy?

Sahar Wali is the Communications Director at the White House Council on Environmental Quality