DEQ Secretary Regan Selects 'Environmental Justice' Board | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's note: The author of this post is Dan Way, who is an associate editor for the Carolina Journal, John Hood Publisher.

    DEQ Secretary Michael Regan has named a 16-member Environmental Justice and Equity Advisory Board. The group was set to be introduced during a ceremony in the agency's Green Square Lobby on Wednesday, May 2.

    A news release said the board will help DEQ achieve and maintain fair and equal treatment in developing, implementing, and enforcing environmental laws, regulations, and policies. Aiding North Carolinians of all races, religions, and incomes statewide is another aim.

    The news release did not spell out the new board's precise role in regulatory, legal, or policy arenas.

    Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper's administration has been at odds with the Republican-led General Assembly over the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, regulatory reform, budget levels, offshore drilling for oil and gas, GenX chemical releases, and a host of other environmental issues.

    Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, was traveling and could not be reached. Attempts to get a response from House Speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, were unsuccessful.

    "These board members have been tasked with working directly with me and DEQ staff to help us elevate the voices of the underserved and underrepresented as we work to protect the public's health and natural resources" Regan said.

    "I am looking forward to working with each and every one of these distinguished board members to provide science-based environmental stewardship for the health and prosperity of all North Carolinians," Regan said.

    Advisory board members are:

• UNC-Chapel Hill professor James Johnson Jr. of Chapel Hill, chairman.
• UNC-Chapel Hill adjunct professor Marian Johnson-Thompson of Durham, vice chairwoman.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency epidemiologist Dr. Danelle Lobdell of Chapel Hill.
• Naeema Muhammed of Rocky Mount, organizing co-director of the N.C. Environmental Justice Network.
• Jamie Cole of Raleigh, policy manager at the N.C. Conservation Network.
• Susan Jakes of Raleigh, N.C. State University assistant professor and associate state program leader for community development.
• Carrboro Alderwoman Randee Haven O'Donnell of Chapel Hill.
• Angela Esteva of Cary, business development and operations manager at aktaPD pharmaceutical company.
• William Barber III of Durham, a student at UNC School of Law and the son of the Rev. William Barber II, who led the "Moral Monday" marches protesting actions of the GOP legislature.
• Jeff Anstead of the Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe, Warrenton.
• Joseph Owle of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Cherokee.
• Author and editor the Rev. Rodney Sadler Jr. of Charlotte.
• Marilynn Marsh-Robinson of Knightdale, a manager at the Raleigh office of the Environmental Defense Fund.
• Mercedes Hernández-Pelletier of Fuquay-Varina, a manager with the East Coast Migrant Head Start Project.
• Veronica Carter of Leland of the N.C. Coastal Federation.
• Yu Yang of Cary.