“We should all be equal.”

—Virginia Jeppson, ACE Member and Brockton resident

See Virgina's story.

Our EJ Legal Services Program provides legal and technical assistance and capacity-building services to help strengthen and support grassroots groups working on environmental justice in our region. ACE coordinates the Massachusetts Environmental Justice Assistance Network (MEJAN), a network of more than 200 attorneys, law firms, public health professionals, and environmental consultants, who provide pro bono assistance to groups throughout the state.

How to Get Legal and Technical Assistance

ACE provides legal & technical assistance to neighborhood groups who:

• Are in a lower income community and/or a community of color;
• Need help with an environmental or public health problem; and
• Are willing to work together with their neighbors to fix it

 ACE and its network of volunteer professionals, the MEJAN, are available to provide services to eligible grassroots groups free of charge.

For more information download the Services Program Brochure in .pdf format.

If you have an issue that want to work on and would like to request assistance from ACE, please contact Anne Rogers at (617) 442-3343 x228 or Staci Rubin at (617) 442-3343 x236.

Environmental Professionals: Sign Up Here to Help

Attorney/Consultant Registration Form

We need volunteer attorneys, environmental consultants and public health professionals! These professionals play a crucial role in helping community groups combat environmental injustice in their neighborhoods. Please consider joining the Massachusetts Environmental Justice Assistance Network.

To find out more, complete the MEJAN Registration Form and return to ACE by mail, or call Anne at (617) 442-3343 x 228 or Staci at (617) 442-3343 x 236.

Victories

• Boston: As part of the Boston City Council's Asthma Task Force, EJLS achieved the City Council's support in developing a policy requiring city vehicles and contractors to run on clean diesel.
• Brockton: Brockton and West Bridgewater residents scored a major victory when the company proposing a power plant in Brockton agreed not to run the plant on diesel. 
• Chelmsford: Opposition from Chelmsford Advocates for a Safe Environment defeated a plan to increase the size of asphalt and oil storage tanks in the town.
• Chelsea: Community members of the Chelsea Green Space and Recreation Committee achieved a first in Massachusetts when the Administrative Magistrate allowed them to participate in a DEP Penalty Case against Eastern Minerals and Salt.
• Dorchester: The United Neighborhood Association challenged issuance of an occupancy permit for auto repair that had been denied by the Zoning Board of Appeals.
• Revere: The Mystic River Collaborative successfully convinced the EPA to bring enforcement against the city, which had contributed to water pollution by failing to maintain its sewer system.