Huntsville Board of Education Risks The Health of the Next Generation: What Does Environmental Justice Mean?

...probably asthma's next little johnny got a funny knob in his neck

so what the problem with that?...
On it, on it, we're so on it Gotta be on it if we ain't on it we're a goner
Who?
Me, you, everyone and their mama
It's our world, so defending it with honor On it, on it, we're so on it
If you ain't on it, this a warning Take a look at the world around..."

Excerpted lyrics courtesy of Black Educator Blogspot

Activists in Huntsville continue to protest the relocation of existing neighborhood middle and high school students' schools near a dust-ridden location with debilitating, lifelong consequences from exposures to unknown levels of potentially toxic levels of particulate matter.

What is environmental justice? Is there such a thing?
According to the EPA, environmental justice is "the distribution of environmental risks across population and income groups, and the policy responses to these distributions."

Dig a little deeper, and new parameters emerge. "The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines environmental justice, as fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national 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, governmental, or commercial operations, or the execution 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."

Back around a couple of decades ago, "...on May 6, 1993, Administrator Browner affirmed the need to address environmental justice: as we undertake programs to reduce risks, we must explicitly recognize the ethnic, economic, and cultural makeup of the people we are trying to protect. We now believe that people of color and low income are disproportionately affected by some environmental risks: the risk of living near landfills, municipal waste combustors, or hazardous waste sites; the risks posed by lead or asbestos in old, poorly maintained housing; the risk of exposure to pesticides in farm fields; and the risk of eating contaminated fish when fish is a mainstay of their diet.(2)"

Now we have a definition, and a direction. So, where are the children of Huntsville in this mix? Sounds like the Feds are on board to protect the children of Huntsville.
Huntsville is in Region 4, where environmental justice is "...is an integral part of Region 4's mission."

Super! What about the state?
Hmmm..."The Air Division has primary jurisdiction over all air emission sources within the State, except those emission sources located within Jefferson County or the City of Huntsville. The Air Pollution Control Programs in these areas are administered by the Jefferson County Department of Health and the City of Huntsville Department of Natural Resources, respectively. Air emission sources in these areas should contact these agencies for information regarding applicable regulations and permitting requirements."
Got it. The Feds turned it over to the State, who turned it over to the county and city, where the Board of Education muzzles parental input. Submit your question in writing before the meeting, so we have time to decide whether we want to answer it, or how we want to answer it. We're good, but on our feet? Well, you might be better. Don't want to take any chances, ya know? Might get folks thinkin' there's something rotten in the cotton, as the old sayin' goes.
How's that working out for Huntsville's children and their parents? In terms of environmental justice? Or, in terms of an "appropriate opportunity to participate in decision-making about a proposed activity" that will affect their childrens' health and well-being, who are the future citizens and workers of Huntsville?