The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) is convening the Environmental Justice Council (EJC) for its next meeting on Thursday, January 11, 2024 at 7:00 pm. Council members will discuss EJ office priorities and strategies during this meeting. There is also time allotted for general comments from the public.

Please register for the meeting using this link: www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_7ZPi42UIScOAi2Yp5Hdhpw

Logistics. This hybrid meeting will be hosted both virtually on Zoom and in person in Mashpee, MA at the Mashpee Senior Center. The meeting is estimated to last 90 minutes. The address is 26 Frank Hicks Dr, Mashpee MA 02649, and the building is accessible using the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority bus route Sealine, Patriot LTD, or Bourne Run. The closest bus stop is at Bates Rd and Mashpee Commons. Parking is available behind the building.

Interpretation Support. Interpretation will be provided virtually in Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Cape Verdean Creole, and American Sign Language (ASL). If you require interpretation in a language not stated above, or any additional accommodations, please include that request in an email to meetings@erg.com. Requests must be submitted 48 hours prior to meeting start time. Interpretation will be provided in-person in Spanish and Portuguese.

Open Meeting Law. The EJ Council operates under the Open Meeting Law [www.mass.gov/the-open-meeting-law] and welcomes members of the public who wish to observe its formal meetings. During the meeting, an observer may address a comment or question to the EJ Council with permission of the Chair.

More Information About the EJC: The EJC is appointed by the Governor to advise and provide recommendations to the Secretary of EEA on relevant policies and standards to achieve environmental justice principles. Such principles are defined by state law as “principles that support protection from environmental pollution and the ability to live in and enjoy a clean and healthy environment, regardless of race, color, income, class, handicap, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnicity or ancestry, religious belief or English language proficiency, which include: (i) the meaningful involvement of all people with respect to the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies, including climate change policies; and (ii) the equitable distribution of energy and environmental benefits and environmental burdens.” The law is stated at Section 62L at this link: [malegislature.gov/Laws/SessionLaws/Acts/2021/Chapter8].

Additional information about the EJC, future meeting agendas, and past meeting recordings can be found here: www.mass.gov/orgs/environmental-justice-council. Please click “Select Language” on the top right of the webpage to translate the page.