Such as burning, Alumagel, Pesticides , Nitrates, Diesel fuels & other toxins in our Air that we breathe. ************About FOEJN************
The Fort Ord Environmental Justice Network (FOEJN) was formed in 1995, as an outgrowth of community concerns over the cleanup and reuse efforts of the Fort Ord Army Base. which is highly contaminated & has caused major illnesses in Active Soilder’s, Veterans
& Civilian, populations
FOEJN is a qualified non-profit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Since its inception, FOEJN has advocated for the participation of disenfranchised communities in the activities and decisions made regarding the cleanup of toxins, contaminated groundwater, 8,000 acres of military munitions and other contaminants that cause adverse health effects to impacted residents. FOEJN also strives to involve local residents in reuse plans, and economic development recovery efforts. FOEJN has stressed the need to use Brownsfields funds to assist with clean-up and recovery efforts at the Fort Ord facility, and in surrounding communities. Fort Ord, an Army post that has been in existence since 1917, in the Monterey Peninsula of California, was decommissioned in 1991. This former Army base, like many military installations across the country, houses environmentally contaminated sites, due to past environmental practices of the Department of Defense (DOD). Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) has listed Fort Ord on the National Priorities List (NPL), as one of the most contaminated Superfund sites.
***********Mission Statement*********
Balancing the needs of the People with the care of the environment.
************Founders of FOEJN********
Evangelist LeVonne Stone, and her husband, Pastor Donald Stone, are co-founders of Fort Ord Environmental Justice Network (FOEJN). LeVonne has been involved in the Facility Restoration/cleanup and Re-use Program since 1992. She works hard to improve participation of affected minorities and the low-income community, in the cleanup and re-use of the former Fort Ord. LeVonne worked as a civil service employee for the Directorate of Logistics, BRAC Property Book Office, and the Department of Defense Accounting Services of the former Fort Ord. She also worked for the Oceanography Department at the Naval Postgraduate School, where she received the Unsung Hero Award. Pastor Donald L. Stone, Jr. is a veteran of the Seventh Infantry Division, based out of the former Fort Ord. Pastor Stone trained at Ford Ord, for his role in "Operation Just Cause" (Panama 1989).
**********Our Purpose**************
The purpose of FOEJN is to serve the public as an independent source of verification of cleanup operations of hazardous waste at the former Fort Ord. We also act as a voice and source of unity for those effected by the cleanup of Toxins and other hazardous substances on the entire central coast. We work with the various agencies involved with the clean-up, health effects, and economic recovery of the surrounding communities. A large part of our activities involve the contracting of environmental scientists to monitor tests of soil and water, and the air on the former Army base. Our monitoring helps to alert officials to disagreement from the local affected communities of the need for better cleanup, and the need for health monitoring of residents. Our monitoring serve as a second set of eyes for the general public. We conduct research on the effects of hazardous waste in landfills, groundwater and drinking water contamination, lead-based paint, asbestos in structures, and unexploded ordinance safety and removal. Our other activities include:
• Research on environmental and economic impacts affecting jobs and housing, and how these issues effect the lives of minority people in impacted areas
• To speak to other environmental justice issues among minorities and low income community members such as the need for jobs, real affordable housing, and economic development
• To educate teachers and students concerning possible exposure to hazardous substances and unexploded ordinances
• To create a participatory-based community involvement plan with resources to organize the community and inform the minority and low income communities concerning the cleanup of this superfund, hazardous waste site. We also intend to get the disenfranchised, impacted community involved in the re-use planning process, so that they benefit from those efforts.
**********What is Environmental Justice?**********
The Environmental protection Agency (EPA) defines environmental justice, as fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race, color, nation origin or income, with respect to development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies. Fair treatment means that no group of people should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, government or commercial operations, or ex*****on of federal, state, local and tribal programs and policies. Meaningful involvement means that potentially affected community residents have an appropriate opportunity to participate in decision-making about a proposed activity that will affect their environment and/or health. http://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/
*********Accomplishments**********
FOEJN is the first organization in the Monterey Peninsula area of California to focus on environmental justice issues, and to coordinate a forum for the public and local officials. Since 1994, FOEJN has sought to increase awareness of environmental health impacts and economic issues impacting communities of color, low-income populations and other impacted communities on the Monterey Peninsula, including Fort Ord (CSUMB), the cities of Seaside, Marina, Salinas, etc. FOEJN has been successful in advocating the infusion of environmental justice into the decision-making processes of governmental agencies involved in the reuse and cleanup of the former army base, and throughout the State of California. Some of our accomplishments include:
• Organized the first Environmental Justice Community Symposium held April 2001 in Monterey, California
• Keynote Speaker UC Santa Barbara, Conference on Environmental Justice
• Met with 25 full time EPA Interns who traveled to the Peninsula to learn about the need to organize the FOEJN, and local environmental justice issues
• Leading the charge to start community stress program related to exposures from toxic substances
• Spearheaded expanding Unexploded Safety program for Monterey School District to alert youth at all grade levels to the dangers of encountering UXO
• Led a successful community-based organizing campaign to secure community representation on the Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) for the Fort Ord Army Base
• Advocated for and subsequently established a program for the Fort Ord RAB to increase the representation of disenfranchised communities on the Fort Ord RAB
• Provided testimony at the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC) on the need to hold the Department of Defense accountable to ensuring the environmental health and safety of communities affected by cleanup and re-use decisions
• Participated on national level committees and advisory councils, including the Department of Defense National Munitions Dialogue Committee; and the Agency of Toxic Substances and Disease Registry's (ATSDR) Community Tribal Subcommittee
• Organized community workshops since 1995 with local community, local government leaders, Smart Team Leader and Congressman Sam Farr
• Organized the Fort Ord Environmental justice Network Youth Forums, in which youth can participate at the local, regional and national levels
• Provided technical training for communities on hazardous materials and environmental cleanup process
