Environmental Justice Council

About the Environmental Justice Council

In 2022, the Oregon Legislature passed HB 4077 that renamed and codified the then existing Environmental Justice Task Force (EJTF) as the Environmental Justice Council (EJC). The EJC, established within the Office of the Governor, is a 13-member statewide council responsible to advise the Governor and state natural resource agencies on environmental justice (EJ) issues. The statute directs the council, with staff support from the Department of Environment Quality and Oregon Health Authority, to develop an environmental justice mapping tool. The purpose of this mapping tool is to provide geospatial information about EJ impacts and to develop guidance for state agencies when adopting rules and policies. The act further requires the council to follow an inclusive community engagement process to develop the mapping tool and directs it to establish technical collaboration with the Office of Enterprise Information Services; the Institute of Natural Resources at Oregon State University; and the Population Research Center at Portland State University to develop, maintain, and make the tool publicly available.

HB 4077 expanded the definition of “environmental justice communities" to broadly include communities of color, communities experiencing lower incomes, communities experiencing health inequities, tribal communities, rural communities, remote communities, coastal communities, communities with limited infrastructure and other communities traditionally underrepresented in public processes and adversely harmed by environmental and health hazards, including seniors, youth, and persons with disabilities. Environmental justice is defined as “equal protection from environmental and health risks, fair treatment and meaningful involvement in decision making of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, immigration status, income or other identifies with respect to the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies that affect the environment in which people live, work, learn, and practice spirituality and culture."

Council Members

Chairperson, Quinn (Quynh Dien) Read
Chair

Vice Chair, Valentin Sanchez
Vice Chair

Amanda Sullivan-Astor
Member

Danny Cage
Youth Representative

Ben Duncan
OCBA Appointee

Victoria (Vee) Paykar
Member

Jim Kreider
Member

Aparna Rajagopal-Durbin
OCAPIA Appointee

Tiffany Monroe
Member

Gustavo Morales
OCHA Appointee

Katie Murray
Member

Huy Ong
Member

Vacant
Appointee of Commission on Indian Services

Upcoming Meetings

December 12, 2024

Time: 10:00am - 3:00pm
Address: Lloyd 700 Building (700 NE Multnomah St, Portland, OR 97232)

Location: 3rd Floor Conference Room
Zoom registration here

Public Comment: Verbal comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting after Leadership Updates and at the end of the meeting after the last agenda item. Written public comment may be sent in advance to van.nguyen@deq.oregon.gov no later than 5:00 PM on December 11, 2024. The Oregon Environmental Justice Council makes every attempt to hold strictly to the timing distributed agenda. Topics and public comment may move up or be delayed based on the cadence of the meeting.

Please note: Exact locations for 2025 meetings will be updated as soon as the facilities are confirmed. Please check back by the end of December 2024

February 13, 2025

Time: 10:00am - 4:00pm
Location: Salem, OR
Webinar Registration link: https://deq-oregon-gov.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_J854GCDJTeK9HptP7QSBaw
Public Comment: Verbal comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting after Leadership Updates and at the end of the meeting after the last agenda item. Written public comment may be sent in advance to van.nguyen@deq.oregon.gov no later than 5:00 PM on February 11, 2025. The Oregon Environmental Justice Council makes every attempt to hold strictly to the timing distributed agenda. Topics and public comment may move up or be delayed based on the cadence of the meeting.

April 10, 2025

Time: 10:00-4:00 PM
Location: Astoria, OR
Webinar Registration Link: https://deq-oregon-gov.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_M1icn-9oTHmH8p8eBNjRVQ
Public Comment: Verbal comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting after Leadership Updates and at the end of the meeting after the last agenda item. Written public comment may be sent in advance to van.nguyen@deq.oregon.gov no later than 5:00 PM on April 8, 2025. The Oregon Environmental Justice Council makes every attempt to hold strictly to the timing distributed agenda. Topics and public comment may move up or be delayed based on the cadence of the meeting.

June 12, 2025

Time: 10:00am - 4:00pm
Location: Newberg, OR
Webinar Registration Link: https://deq-oregon-gov.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_motV-1j7Qm6vMVk2Yrx5Pw
Public Comment: Verbal comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting after Leadership Updates and at the end of the meeting after the last agenda item. Written public comment may be sent in advance to van.nguyen@deq.oregon.gov no later than 5:00 PM on June 10, 2025. The Oregon Environmental Justice Council makes every attempt to hold strictly to the timing distributed agenda. Topics and public comment may move up or be delayed based on the cadence of the meeting.

August 14, 2025

Time: 10:00am - 4:00pm
Location: Tillamook, OR
Webinar Registration Link: https://deq-oregon-gov.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_kJixc3_-TZudF6PCgtQYpA
Public Comment: Verbal comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting after Leadership Updates and at the end of the meeting after the last agenda item. Written public comment may be sent in advance to van.nguyen@deq.oregon.gov no later than 5:00 PM on August 12, 2025. The Oregon Environmental Justice Council makes every attempt to hold strictly to the timing distributed agenda. Topics and public comment may move up or be delayed based on the cadence of the meeting.

October 9, 2025

Time: 10:00am - 4:00pm
Location: Prineville, OR
Webinar Registration Link: https://deq-oregon-gov.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_nojaRwL4S0CACUxmx46fow
Public Comment: Verbal comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting after Leadership Updates and at the end of the meeting after the last agenda item. Written public comment may be sent in advance to van.nguyen@deq.oregon.gov no later than 5:00 PM on October 7, 2025. The Oregon Environmental Justice Council makes every attempt to hold strictly to the timing distributed agenda. Topics and public comment may move up or be delayed based on the cadence of the meeting.

December 11, 2025

Time: 10:00am - 4:00pm
Location: Portland, OR
Webinar Registration Link: https://deq-oregon-gov.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_HWPacO_4R4GS6b3r4Io4rA
Public Comment: Verbal comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting after Leadership Updates and at the end of the meeting after the last agenda item. Written public comment may be sent in advance to van.nguyen@deq.oregon.gov no later than 5:00 PM on December 9, 2025. The Oregon Environmental Justice Council makes every attempt to hold strictly to the timing distributed agenda. Topics and public comment may move up or be delayed based on the cadence of the meeting.

Previous Meetings

October 10, 2024

Agenda, EJ Mapping Info Session Report, Meeting Slide Deck, Agency Presentations, Oregon EJC Adopted Decisions
Watch recorded meeting: here (Recording Passcode: EJC-1024)

August 7, 2024

Agenda, Slide Deck, Adopted Motions Correspondence
Watch recorded meeting: here (Recording Passcode: EJC-0824)

June 13, 2024

Agenda, Agenda item 3 attachments (1, 2), Agenda item 5 attachments (1, 2, 3, 4), Adopted Decisions email, Agency Assignments email
Watch recorded meeting: here (Recording Passcode: EJC-0624)