Valerie Volcovici and Jarrett Renshaw

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said on Tuesday it will name college professor and lawyer Robin Morris Collin to lead the agency’s efforts to advance environmental justice in communities disproportionately harmed by pollution.

She was appointed senior EPA advisor for environmental justice as part of the Biden administration’s commitment to ensure that rules and environmental decisions are fair to those with low incomes and communities who historically have suffered the worst effects of pollution coming from oil refineries, power plants, and other industries.

In a statement to Reuters, Michael Regan, the Administrator of the EPA described Collin as “one our nation’s foremost specialists and a lifelong advocate for overburdened community.”

Collin is a Willamette University law professor who was the founding chair for Oregon’s Environmental Justice Task Force. The task force, established by Oregon’s state legislature more than a decade ago, has been in continuous operation. This task force increased the engagement between communities of low income and minorities and state policymakers regarding environmental policy.

“I am honored to serve in this role to protect our land, air and water and, as part of that work, lift up underserved communities so that we may all thrive together,” Collin said in a statement.

The EPA spent many months searching for a senior advisor candidate. They wanted someone who could be trusted in polluted communities and can navigate a complicated federal regulatory environment.

The EPA’s proposed fiscal 2022 budget also calls for a new national environmental justice office under a newly created assistant EPA administrator, which would potentially elevate the senior advisor position and require senate confirmation.

Congress still has to approve this new position.

The EPA is a critical part of delivering the environmental justice goals established by President Joe Biden. It promised at least 40% overall benefits from federal climate change investments to disadvantaged communities. Last month EPA announced surprise inspections https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-plans-surprise-inspections-protect-communities-burdened-by-pollution-2022-01-26 at facilities that are suspected of polluting.

Beverly Wright, executive director of the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice, said she looks forward to working with Collin “to address the urgent needs of underserved communities that have been left behind for way too long.”