Clean Air Council Statement on Termination of EPA Environmental Justice Grant

PHILADELPHIA, PA (March 12, 2025) Today, Clean Air Council received notice that our EPA grant to monitor air quality and protect residents from harmful pollution from the Delaware City Refinery (DCR) in Delaware City, DE was terminated. The project works to reduce health conditions like asthma and cancer that can be caused by air pollution from the DCR while also establishing a community-driven disaster response network in the neighborhoods surrounding the DCR in all directions, which could prevent potential harm to the health and safety of residents. The rationale EPA provided for canceling this funding is that it is inconsistent with agency priorities to support “programs or organizations that promote or take part in diversity, equity, and inclusion (“DEI”) initiatives” or “environmental justice initiatives. 

Clean Air Council Executive Director Alex Bomstein issued the following statement:

“Environmental justice initiatives are critical to ensuring that everyone, regardless of their race, income, or background, has equal access to a clean and healthy environment. The termination of this program will have real life impacts for those in Delaware City being exposed to harmful pollution every day. Despite this termination notice, we are doing everything we can to continue this fight for Delaware City and all the communities we serve.”