Mercury Reduction

• In March 2003 several EJAM members traveled with the Sierra Club to Chicago for a hearing on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) mercury MACT (Maximum Available Control Technology) rule to raise the issue of environmental justice for communities of color, low-income communities, and Indigenous Peoples. EJAM members also testified at a local community hearing at the Martin Luther King Center on the EPA’s mercury plan.
• EJAM secured the first-ever Public Utilities Commission (PUC) hearing on energy in North Minneapolis in September 2003. With the highest turnout in the state, 150 people participated and sent a clear message - it’s time to clean up the metro area coal plants. The PUC heard that message and in December 2003 approved the Metro Emissions Reduction Project (MERP), a voluntary plan to clean up three metro area coal plants.
• In 2006 EJAM, as a member of Mercury-Free Minnesota, advocated for the successful passage of landmark state legislation to reduce mercury emissions from Minnesota’s three largest coal plants 90% by 2014.
• EJAM also worked with the Minneapolis City Council to pass a comprehensive mercury reduction ordinance for the city in 2006.

Lead Poisoning Prevention

• EJAM drafted an environmental justice policy for the state of Minnesota and worked closely with EJAM leader Rep. Keith Ellison to pass legislation in 2005 to reduce household lead hazards by offering tax incentives to pay for clean-up.
• In addition, EJAM and Rep. Ellison fought to reduce the blood lead level of concern from 15 to 10 ug/dl, so that more children will receive appropriate intervention and treatment for lead poisoning.
• EJAM continues working to prevent lead poisoning in North Minneapolis.

Arsenic Clean-Up

• EJAM partnered with the Women’s Environmental Institute (WEI) and East Phillips Neighborhood Organization to advocate for communities affected by arsenic contamination in the Phillips neighborhood in South Minneapolis. The contamination was caused by a pesticide company polluting for decades in the heart of this community. Over time, the pollution spread, creating a vast plume of soil contamination throughout the neighborhood. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently testing and cleaning up yards.
• EJAM and our partners sponsored a community forum in June 2006 to inform community members about the problem and EPA’s testing and clean-up activities. Following the meeting we gave feedback to the EPA on future removal of additional contaminated soils and children’s health concerns.
• EJAM also successfully advocated for a new City of Minneapolis ordinance requiring that renters, in addition to homeowners, receive information about arsenic problems. In support of the ordinance, we held a press conference at the home of an affected family in solidarity with the national Environmental Justice for All Tour in September 2006.

Pesticide Awareness

• In October 2006, EJAM co-sponsored a forum on pesticides with Centro Campesino in Owatanna, MN.
• EJAM continues to promote organic farming methods through our urban farming initiative.

Healthy Legacy

• EJAM was a Steering Committee member of Healthy Legacy, a statewide coalition working on safer products and safer production methods.
• As a Healthy Legacy partner, EJAM trained youth leaders to advocate on these issues. These youth leaders worked with Rep. Karen Clark to pass a pilot project on reducing scented products in Minneapolis schools.
• In 2008, EJAM Executive Director Michael Neumann prepared comments on proposed permanent rules relating to health risk limits for groundwater.

Climate Justice

• Based on community interest generated by the 2008 Founder’s day, EJAM and Women's Environmental Institute (WEI) assembled a climate justice working group which developed strategies to tackle global warming.
• In August 2011, EJAM brought North Minneapolis community members together to discuss the impacts of climate change in their neighborhoods today and in the future.  The community expressed an interest in entrepreneurial solutions to environmental challenges, including access to sustainable, affordable housing. The community told stories of cooperation and mutual support in responding to the recent tornado in North Minneapolis. See notes below.