Moore is an urban geographer, and she joined DNREC last year as an ombudsman.
As Environmental Justice Coordinator, Moore will work with the state’s underserved communities, who have experienced disproportionately adverse human health and environmental impacts to their minority and low-income populations.
As Moore takes over, she has a vision for what she wants to accomplish.
"People are going to make environmental justice consideration just as part of their workflow, and then I think externally is that we do have inroads and relationships in communities where if we do want to let's say there is an action that we need to take or whatever we know the right people to go to bring to the table, right,” said Moore. “And so I think that maybe that would be my end goal."
What is environmental justice? Moore says for her it encompasses the many things impacting people’s lives based on where they live.
"Environmental burdens, health disparities, access to food, educational opportunities, political engagement, jobs, all those things to me are the environmental justice kind of aspects," said Moore.
A new DNREC environmental justice webpage has been created, and DNREC hopes it’s a two-way communication between the Department and residents, especially those in underserved communities.
The webpage will also include a mapping tool that DNREC is developing enabling residents to use a wide range of screening criteria for pinpointing areas that have been vulnerable to contaminants and other pollution to land, air, and water.
