Denver — ECMC staff introduced the commission July 9 to their newly hired environmental-justice community liaison team and described outreach so far and a set of engagement goals intended to implement Colorado’s Environmental Justice Act and the cumulative-impact rule changes.

Yessica Chavez, the commission’s front-range environmental justice community liaison, and Steven Arauza (Western Slope liaison, represented in the meeting by remarks cited by staff) have begun work to implement community outreach in disproportionately impacted (DI) communities, staff said. Chavez described outreach the liaisons have done in the first four months of operation: three public open houses (Denver, Glenwood Springs and virtual); community trainings and presentations; creation of an internal community-engagement audit; media interviews in Spanish; and attendance at county, community and stakeholder events.

Why it matters: The Environmental Justice Act (2021) and subsequent rulemaking created new consultation and DI-mapping processes in Colorado. Stakeholder groups and commissioners told ECMC they wanted dedicated liaison staff to build trust in impacted communities, ensure materials are accessible in plain language and Spanish, and to make it easier for residents to engage in permitting and rulemaking.

Core engagement goals: Chavez said ECMC wants to "meet community where they are" by attending local events, producing plain-language summaries, building a DI work group (quarterly or annual advisory group), creating a single community resource book that explains permitting steps and complaint/participation processes, and offering community training similar to what operators receive. The liaisons will give the director written input on community outreach plans that operators submit (a new regulatory step tied to certain setbacks and pre-application meeting requirements), and sit on listening sessions, open houses and county briefings. Chavez said the liaisons will prioritize outreach in DI census-block groups and translate resources when appropriate.

Public comment and requests: Public commenters representing environmental-justice organizations (20 signatories called out in a letter) urged ECMC to adopt additional measures: community impact tours with commissioners, a denial guidance document explaining when staff or commissioners should deny an application, routine community trainings and meetings, and easier access to spills and well-location data. Commissioners encouraged the liaisons to continue outreach, bring commissioners to community meetings where appropriate and ensure the new work group concept is implemented.

Ending: The liaisons said their immediate priorities include refining website content and plain-language fact sheets, attending community events on invitation, establishing the DI work group and continuing partner work with CDPHE and local governments. Staff asked commissioners and public groups to send event invitations or suggestions for places the liaisons should attend.