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South Phoenix Residents File Complaint Charging Arizona Department of "Inequality" With Violations of Title VI of the U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1964 See Also Greenaction joins Community in Demanding Shut Down of Toxic Facility in Community of Color
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"We Are Tired of Being a Toxic Dumping Ground" Title VI Complaint Asks U.S. EPA to End Federal Funding for State Agency Due to Discriminatory Practices Phoenix, Arizona -- Residents of South Phoenix and environmental justice organizations held a press conference August 8, 2000 to announce the filing of an administrative complaint with the federal government charging the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) with violation of Title VI of the United States Civil Rights Act of 1964. Following the press conference, residents and supporters marched into the ADEQ offices to deliver the complaint. Latino and African-American residents of this low-income community denounced the ADEQ's complicity in allowing and perpetuating the presence of so many toxic waste facilities in their neighborhoods. The complaint alleges that the ADEQ has repeatedly violated the civil rights of the low income people of color residents of South Phoenix by participating in the discriminatory siting and permitting of toxic waste facilities located disproportionately in that community. The primary focus of the complaint is the ADEQ's role in allowing the Innovative Waste Utilization (IWU) toxic waste facility to operate in South Phoenix without proper public or environmental review as well as discriminatory actions during the recent permit process. The IWU Negotiating Committee is the community group filing the Title VI complaint. Title VI of the United States Civil Rights Act of 1964 (and its implementing regulations) prohibit agencies that receive federal funding from engaging in actions that have a discriminatory and disproportionate impact on people of color and other low-income populations. The Center on Race, Poverty and the Environment - the nation's leading environmental justice law advocates - are representing the community in this civil rights complaint. Greenaction worked with the community and the legal team to prepare the complaint, and attended the press conference and protest at ADEQ headquarters. Residents and their environmental justice supporters demand that ADEQ deny new permits for IWU. Residents have vowed to file a second complaint against ADEQ - and escalate protests - if a new permit is issued. "South Phoenix is tired of being a toxic dumping ground for toxic waste facilities no rich community would want," said Marvin Martin, resident and spokesperson for the IWU Negotiating Committee. "We hope the USEPA will answer our plea for justice and stop funding state-sponsored environmental racism and injustice." |
