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Environmental Justice:

A Primer

National Black Law Students Association

February 8, 2012

Environmental J ustice in the 21stCentury:

Building Healthy, Sustainable andEquitable Communities

Mustafa Ali

EPA Office of Environmental Justice

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Movements in the United

States

Deliberative Pre-decisional Communication

Not Administration Policy- Do not release

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Scenes of Injustice

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MOVEMENTS

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PROGRESS

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What is your definition of

environmental justice?

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the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all

people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income

with respect to the development, implementation, and

enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and

policies.

EJ means thateveryone enjoys the same degree of

protection from environmental and health hazards and

equal access to the decision-making process to have a

healthy environment in which to live, learn, work, play and

pray.

EPA Defines Environmental Justice

As

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What is Fair Treatment?

Fair treatment will be achieved when,

in an effort to provide healthy and

sustainable communities for all people,

everyone enjoys the same:

Human health and environmental

benefitsHuman health and environmental

burdens

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Face of Environmental Injustice:

Disproportionate Impact Factors

Proximity and Exposure Cumulative Impacts Physical Infrastructure

Susceptible Populations Unique Exposure

Pathways

Ability to Participate in Decision-

Making (social capital)

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WARREN COUNTY: THE

BEGINNING OF A MOVEMENT

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PEOPLE OF COLOR

ENVIRONMENTAL SUMMIT

The SummitestablishedPrinciples of

EnvironmentalJ ustice

First National People

of Color

Environmental

Leadership Summit

October 24-27, 1991

Washington, DC

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Presidential Action

Executive Order 12898

Federal Actions to Address Environmental

Justice in Minority Populations and Low Income

Populations

Issued by Pres. Bill Clinton on Feb. 11, 1994

Directed federal agencies to consider

environmental justice in their programs and policydecision

Established the Interagency Working Group on

Environmental Justice

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Office of Environmental Justice

The Office of Environmental Justice was created in

1992

Build commitment and capacity of the agency on

environmental justice

Foster outreach between EPA and affected

communities

Coordinate EJ efforts across agency

10 Regional EJ coordinators

EJ coordinators in each national program office, (i.e.superfund, brownfields, air, water)

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How Is EPA Integrating EJ Into

Its ProgramsPlan EJ 2014

Roadmap for EPA to

integrate EJ into its programs

Goals:

Protect health in communities

overburdened by pollution

Empower communities to take

action to improve their health andenvironment

Establish partnerships with local,

state, tribal and federal

organizations to achieve healthy

and sustainable communities.

Rulemaking

Permitting

Enforcement andCompliance

Community Based Action

Administration Wide Action

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Administrative Action Through the EJ IWG

The Federal Interagency Working Group on

Environmental Justice (EJ IWG) was

established in 1994 under Executive Order (EO)

12898

The role of the EJ IWG is to guide, support and

enhance federal environmental justice and

community-based activities.

The EJ IWG is comprised of 17 federal agencies

and several White House offices.

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Reinvigorating the EJ IWG

August 2011

MOU on EO 12898

Formalizes the commitment to EJ across

the federal government

Signed by 17 federal agencies and offices

EJ strategies updated by federal agencies

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Tools and Resources

EJ Small Grants Program

Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities

program

Brownfields Grants

Urban Waters

CARE Model

HUD DOT EPA P t hi f

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HUD-DOT-EPA Partnership for

Sustainable Communities

Mission: To meet Presidents challenge for our agencies to worktogether to encourage and fully assist rural, suburban, and urban

areas to build sustainable communities

Guiding Principles for HUD-DOT-EPAPartnership

1. Provide more transportation

choices.

2. Promote equitable, affordable

housing.

3. Enhance economic

competitiveness.4. Support existing communities.

5. Coordinate policies and leverage

investment.

6. Value communities and

neighborhoods.

Developing more sustainablecommunities is important to our

national goals of strengthening our

economy, creating good jobs using

energy more efficiently to secure

energy independence, and protecting

our natural environment and human

health.

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EPA Region 4,

Jacksonville, FLEPA Region 1,

Bridgeport, CT

Integrated Planning Project, Community Health Center, Neighborhood-Industry-

Local Government Exchange Forums, Data Gathering

EJ Showcase Communities

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Success Story: Bridgeport,

CT

Players: HUD, DOT, EPA, state & local

government, NGOs

Outcomes:

programs to improve indoor air quality encourage green jobs in the community

increase recycling rates,

increase access to the natural environment,

address food insecurity, and

reduce asthma and toxic exposure in schools

and homes.

30 Million leveraged in benefits to the

community

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Building Health, Sustainable and

Equitable Communities

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One Day All Communities

Will Be Treated Equally!