Virginia Environmental Justice Advisory Board

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

Governor McAuliffe 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 Virginia’s six Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) districts, with representation from grassroots organizations, faith communities, business, and academia. The Council held its first meeting in December 2017, with support from the University of Virginia’s Institute for Environmental Negotiation. Governor Northam affirmed the Council’s continued relevance upon taking office.

Today, the VCEJ serves as an official advisory body to the Governor and executive branch agencies. Its mission is to identify environmental justice concerns and recommend strategies that promote equity in environmental governance and resource distribution.

Relevance to Coal Dust Exposure

The VCEJ 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 (EJ) advocates, the VCEJ is an important—though limited—tool in the broader struggle for environmental equity. Engaging with the Council 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: EJ 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 VCEJ:

• 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.
• Operates with limited funding and administrative support, which can restrict the frequency and depth of its interventions.

Despite these limitations, the Council 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.