&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste And
Emergency Response
5403W
EPA510-F-94-010
August 1994
UST Program Facts
Environmental Justice
What is environmental justice?
Over the last decade, concern about the impact of
environmental pollution on particular populations
has been growing. Low income and minority
communities, for example, may bear
disproportionately high and adverse risk to human
health and the environment from pollution.
Compounding the problem, these communities often
lack the legal means necessary to effectively organize
political activities on their own behalf. These
concerns have resulted in a movement to assure
environmental justice for all populations.
What is EPA doing?
Early in her tenure, Administrator Carol Browner of
the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
designated the pursuit of environmental justice one
of the Agency's top priorities. EPA's Office of Solid
Waste and Emergency Response formed a task force
in November 1993 to analyze environmental justice
issues specific to waste programs and to develop
recommendations addressing these issues. In
February 1994, President Clinton signed an
Executive Order on Environmental Justice which
focused federal agencies' attention on environmental
justice issues. In response, EPA is currently
developing an Agencywide strategy for
environmental justice.
Is there an environmental justice issue for
UST programs?
Underground storage tanks (USTs) are everywhere:
in cities, towns, and rural areas. Federal regulations
cover more than 1 million petroleum USTs at
facilities across the natioa Federal and state UST
programs are ensuring that the large universe of
regulated USTs meets all technical requirements for
preventing and detecting leaks and that cleanups
keep pace with the growing number of confirmed
releases.
No matter where they are located, leaking USTs can
threaten drinking water supplies or cause explosive
vapors to accumulate in sewers or basements. These
threats in all cases must be met with quick
emergency response.
However, USTs that leak in communities facing
potential pollution from other sources (such as
landfills, concentrated sources of air emissions,
hazardous waste treatment facilities, or Superfund
sites) can add to cumulative human health risk.
When all other factors are equal, leaking USTs in
communities facing exposure to multiple
environmental risks should receive priority attention.
UST program officials must ensure that leaking
USTs are brought under control as quickly as
possible in all communities, including economically
disadvantaged and minority communities.
How can UST programs address
environmental justice concerns?
The federal UST program is engaged in several
activities:
• Distributing information on environmental
justice to states, tribes, and local agencies.
• Incorporating environmental justice criteria into
state UST grants and cooperative agreements.
Guidance may include, for example, specific
clauses requiring states to consider
environmental justice as they develop cleanup
and compliance/enforcement strategies.
-------
• Continuing efforts on Indian lands to identify
existing UJSTs, including hazardous substance
USTs and abandoned tanks.
• Working to develop tribal capacity on Indian
lands bv providing fronds andrtechnical
assistance to tribal governments.
• Encouraging the use of minority contractors and
consultants for tank installation and removal and
for state-lead cleanups to broaden economic
redevelopment efforts in disadvantaged
communities.
State UST programs are being encouraged to:
• Consider environmental justice as a qualitative
factor when developing priority ranking systems
for state-lead cleanup and enforcement
strategies.
• Use qualified minority contractors and
consultants on state-lead cleanups.
• Encourage minority contractors to apply for
certification and ensure that minority firms are
represented on any contractor lists that the state
provides to the regulated community.
• Develop and distribute information materials on
USTs and leaking USTs to their regulated
communities, including minority populations.
Need more information on environmental
justice?
To learn more about environmental justice, contact
EPA's toll-free number for concerned citizens at 800
962-6215, or call the EPA Regional Coordinator for
your state. EPA's Office of Environmental Justice
202 260-6357 can provide regional contacts and
telephone numbers.
"EnvironmentalJustice" is one in a series of fact sheets
about underground storage tanks (USTs) and leaking
USTs. The series is designed to help EPA, other federal
officials, and state authorities answer the most frequently
asked questions about USTs with consistent, accurate
information in plain language. Keep the fact sheets
handy as a resource. This fact sheet addresses federal
regulations. You may need to refer to applicable state or
local regulations, as well. For more information on
UST publications, call the RCRA/Superfund Hotline at
800 424-9346.
Recycled/Recyclable
Printed with Soy/Canola Ink on paper that
contains at least 50% posl-oonsumer recycled fiber
------- |