Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services

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In the heart of Houston, Texas, where communities often face the brunt of environmental pollution, Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services (TEJAS) stands as a beacon of advocacy as a non-profit organization based in eastern Houston. It was established in 1995, and is dedicated to protecting the environment through policy, community awareness, legal proceedings, and education. They believe that everyone is entitled to live in a healthy and clean environment. Some of their community involvement includes: the youth at Furr High School, where they offer internships and projects, and the Institute for Sustainable Communities at Texas A&M University. Their past efforts have included expanding language accessibility with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and making efforts against the Keystone XL pipeline.

The Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services (TEJAS) was established in 1995 by Juan Parras and Ana Parras under its original name, Unidos Contra Environmental Racism. The organization was born out of a commitment to environmental justice, focusing on addressing environmental hazards that disproportionately affect marginalized communities. One of their initial and notable campaigns aimed to halt the construction of Cesar Chavez High School, a project planned near potentially hazardous industrial plants. This effort highlighted their dedication to advocating for safe and equitable environments, particularly for vulnerable populations.

Juan Parras serves as the founder and executive director of TEJAS, while Ana Parras, his partner, contributes as the co-director. Together, they have led the organization's work in promoting environmental awareness, advocating for community health, and challenging systemic environmental racism.

TEJAS has worked with Furr High School, which has been named the "First Environmental Justice School in the Nation" by emphasizing citizen science and environmental justice work in Houston. ^[1] The Green Institute at Furr High School focuses on student education regarding the environment and health issues, such as diabetes and obesity. Partnering with organizations like the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation and the USDA Forest Service, students at Furr High School have led urban agroforestry projects, planting over 200 fruit trees and creating sustainable landscapes.^[2] Collaborating with Texas A&M, graduate students have conducted research in the community, collected data through various methods, and engaged in environmental advocacy efforts.^[3][2]

TEJAS and Furr High School have collaborated on programs to address the challenges of gentrification in Houston. Through programming in multimedia and documentary storytelling, students at Furr High School have engaged in co-designed initiatives about disappearing cultures, histories, and voices of their neighborhoods. This has been done through the creation of multimedia products such as photography, video profiles, art, blogs, and social media content. ^[2]

Below is a list of some of TEJAS's partnerships:

• Texas A&M: With the Institute for Sustainable Communities, TEJAS works with Texas A&M to create research questions about the impact of industrial emissions and other operations on air quality. TEJAS organizes the data collection and works with the institute to protect low-income and minority communities to strengthen emission standards and create policies.^[4]
• Sierra Club: Juan Parras, one of the founders of TEJAS, has worked with the Sierra Club to file a civil rights complaint against the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).^[4][5]
• Earthjustice: TEJAS collaborates with Earthjustice to file various cases, one of them being with the Sierra Club against TCEQ for violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 for not requiring public equitable meeting notices nor language services for public meetings relating to environmental permits. ^[5]
• Union of Concerned Scientists: TEJAS has worked with the Union of Concerned Scientists to address the issues of chemicals and air pollution, specifically in the Houston area. Their work is primarily directed to affected people of color and individuals who reside in low income neighborhoods.^{[6] [7]}
• Furr High School: Through partnerships with local schools like Furr High School, TEJAS has integrated environmental justice education and citizen science initiatives. Students have contributed to data collection and tree planting efforts, directly impacting local air quality. Over 200 fruit trees have been planted as part of these projects, improving green spaces and reducing urban heat.

Juan Parras, the co-founder of TEJAS, has received awards, including the CEC Synergy Award in 2008, the Sealy Center for Environmental Health & Medicine HERO Award in 2009, and the 2015 Robert Bullard Environmental Justice Champion Award from the Sierra Club.^[8] He is also part of the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council.^[9]

After TEJAS and the Sierra Club filed against the TCEQ for a Title VI complaint in November 2019, TCEQ has made some changes following their information resolution agreement (IRA) on November 4, 2020, with the EPA. Some of these changes are with regard to public notices, announcements to the public when an "entity is applying for a permit, registration, or authorization to emit or discharge a contaminant into the air or water, or to store, process, or dispose of solid waste." Below is a list of some changes:

• Moved their alternative language requirements from 30 TAC Chapter 39 to a new section, 30 TAC Section 39.426 ^[10]
• Created a website dedicated to Title VI, which they state is updated regularly ^[10]
• Since 2021, implemented three plans recommended by the EPA: Disability Nondiscrimination Plan, Public Participation Plan (PPP), and Language Access Plan (LAP). They have held three virtual meetings to educate the public about the plans and to receive input. Spanish translation was offered at all three meetings, and Vietnamese translation was offered at the third meeting.^[10]
• Started staff training relating to Title VI^[10]
• Mandated alternative language public notices if the Executive Director deems it fit based on either public interest or if students at the closest elementary/middle school to the proposed plant location:
  1. Are enrolled in a bilingual education program
  2. Go elsewhere to receive bilingual education
  3. Are not required to take bilingual exception only because of an exemption.

If the alternative language notice is required, it must be published in a newspaper based primarily in the alternative language. If no such newspaper exists, the applicant may apply for an exception. However, the alternative language notice will still be posted on the TCEQ website and sent to the receipts of TCEQ’s Office of the Chief Clerk's mailing list. This is a change from the previous rule, where an exception meant it was not necessary to post the alternative language notice on the TCEQ website.^[11]

• Hired Spanish translators for notices, permits in the Office of Chief Clerk, and important documents in the Executive Director’s office. ^[10]
• Provided a Spanish machine translation service on its website in August 2023 and will expand to other languages if successful.^[10]
• Require applicants to provide a plain language summary that will be posted on the TCEQ’s website for public use. The summary should include “the function of the proposed facility, the expected output, the expected contaminants that may be emitted or discharged by the proposed facility, and how the applicant will control those pollutants.” If the permit application is subject to 30 TAC Ch. 39 and requires translated notices, the plain language summary must also be translated.^[11]

Juan Parras is the co-founder and director of TEJAS and has spent 40 years working with environmental justice advocacy. He has worked to assist marginalized communities via environmental advocacy.^[8][12] Ana Parras is the co-founder, co-director, and administrator of TEJAS. She and Juan Parras co-founded Unidos Contra Environmental Racism, which is now known as TEJAS. Ana has experience as a legal assistant that she incorporates into her role as a co-director.^[1][12] Nalleli Hidalgo is the educational liaison and community outreach coordinator of TEJAS. She works with youths to educate them about environmental justice and equity, primarily in underrepresented communities such as at Furr High School.^[13] She educates them on ways to advocate for environmental justice. TEJAS also has many volunteers and community members who help to advocate for environmental justice and equality in Texas.^[8]

TEJAS primarily receives funding through grants from foundations, philanthropic organizations, and institutional funders focused on environmental justice. In addition to grant support, they raise funds through donor outreach, fundraising events, and online campaigns, which also help build community engagement. Funds are allocated to key initiatives like community organizing, policy advocacy, and research. TEJAS actively works to diversify its funding sources to ensure the sustainability of its mission and programs.^[1]