Virginia Council on Environmental Justice

The Virginia Council on Environmental Justice (VACEJ), formerly known as the Governor's Environmental Justice Advisory Council, was born out of sustained grassroots advocacy for environmental justice. In 2015, a coalition of frontline organizations that included the Southeast CARE Coalition, New Virginia Majority, Appalachian Voices, and WE ACT for Environmental Justice, proposed a state-level environmental justice advisory body. These groups formed the Virginia Environmental Justice Collaborative (VEJC). In 2017, the VEJC submitted a formal proposal during the public comment period for Executive Order (EO) 57, an EO focused on carbon mitigation from electricity generation. Reverend Dr. Faith Harris and Dr. Mary Finley-Brook played a key role in advancing the VEJC proposal, which led to the creation of the Governor's Virginia Advisory Council on Environmental Justice through Executive Order 73 in 2017 under Governor Terry McAuliffe.

Governor McAuliffe (2014–2018) announced the Council's formation with a commitment to ensuring "that every Virginian has a voice in protecting the quality of our air and water." The Council's mandate emphasized inclusive, action-oriented advice on how environmental burdens are distributed across the state. Members were selected from the six districts defined by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VA DEQ), with representation from grassroots organizations, faith communities, business, and academia. Original members of the Council included individuals engaged in activism around coal dust pollution in Southeast Newport News, specifically Angela Harris of Southeast CARE Coalition. The Council held its first meeting in December 2017, with support from the University of Virginia's Institute for Environmental Negotiation.

Governor Ralph Northam (2018–2022) affirmed the Council's continued relevance upon taking office, signing House Bill (HB) 1042 to make the Council permanent and changing its name to the Virginia Council on Environmental Justice (VACEJ).

HB 1042, identical to Senate Bill (SB) 883: "Establishes the Virginia Council on Environmental Justice, consisting of 27 members, to advise the Governor and provide recommendations intended to protect vulnerable communities from disproportionate impacts of pollution and provide such communities meaningful involvement in the decision-making process. The bill provides that 21 members of the Council are appointed by the Governor and six are specified Cabinet Secretaries."

Governor Glenn Youngkin (2022–2026) appointed eight members to the VACEJ, disregarding requirements in the Code of Virginia that at least 21 of the 27 VACEJ members represent American Indian tribes, community, nongovernmental, or civil right organizations, public health or higher education employees, or residents from impacted communities. Governor Youngkin also failed to pass the Virginia State Budget (HB 1600) in its original form, which would have provided additional authority to the VACEJ and increased travel funds from $1,500 to $10,000 per year.

In March of 2024, over two dozen environmental organizations and individuals signed a letter criticizing Governor Youngkin’s view of environmental justice saying he "mischaracterized the role of the council as a body that is 'obstructing local projects.'" There have been no updates since the letter was sent to the Virginia General Assembly to reject the governor's appointments to the council.

Accomplishments

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Relevance to Coal Dust Pollution

The VACEJ has emerged as one of the few formal state bodies to publicly recognize coal dust as an environmental justice issue. In its 2020 Annual Report, the Council highlighted Lambert's Point as a site of cumulative environmental burdens and recommended expanded ambient air monitoring, stronger dust suppression enforcement, and more comprehensive public health data collection. In subsequent meetings, members have questioned DEQ officials about the lack of data on railcar emissions and the limited regulation of fugitive dust from coal transportation corridors.

While the Council cannot enforce regulations or compel agency action, it plays a critical agenda-setting and accountability role. It elevates community concerns to the highest levels of state government, helps document environmental injustices, and builds pressure for agency responsiveness and General Assembly action. The Council has also supported legislative and policy efforts, including the Virginia Environmental Justice Act.

Engagement and Expectations

For residents and environmental justice advocates, the VACEJ is an important—though limited—tool in the broader struggle for environmental equity. Engaging with the VACEJ can take several forms:

• Public Comment: Residents can submit written or verbal testimony during Council meetings, which are typically open to the public and sometimes hosted in impacted communities.
• Data and Story Sharing: Community members can contribute health data, environmental monitoring, personal testimony, or visual documentation of coal dust impacts, which can inform the Council’s reports and recommendations.
• Partnerships: Environmental justice groups can collaborate with Council members or staff on research, site visits, or working groups related to air quality, transportation justice, or cumulative impacts.

However, it is important to temper expectations. The VACEJ does not have regulatory power and cannot enforce changes on its own, relies on voluntary engagement by state agencies and decision-makers to act on its recommendations, and operates with limited funding and administrative support, which can restrict the frequency and depth of its interventions.

Despite these limitations, the VACEJ can amplify resident voices, legitimize grassroots knowledge, and push state agencies toward more transparent, accountable, and equitable action—especially when public engagement is coordinated and sustained.

Documents

Establishment of an Advisory Council on Environmental Justice, Virginia Governor's Office, Executive Order 73, 2017