Environmental Justice for All
SERA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
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(EPA)
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Ensuring environi
protection for all.
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U.S. Environment
ds for, and that's what
ivironmental justice
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EPA strongly believes that all people should be
able to live in a clean and healthy environment.
It is the core mission of the Agency to protect
the public's health and safeguard the natural
environment in which we live, learn and work.
EPA defines environmental justice as:
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means that no group of people (includ-
ing a racial, ethnic, or a socioeconomic group) should
bear a disproportionate share of the negative environ-
mental consequences resulting from industrial, munici-
pal, and commercial operations or the execution of fed-
eral, state, local, and tribal programs and policies.
means that:
• Potentially affected community residents have an
appropriate opportunity to participate in decisions
about a proposed activity that will affect their
environment and/or health;
• The public's contribution can influence the regulatory
agency's decision;
• The concerns of all participants involved will be
considered in the decision-making process; and
• The decision-makers seek out and facilitate the
involvement of those potentially affected.
In sum, environmental justice is the goal to be achieved
for all communities and persons across this nation.
Environmental justice is achieved when everyone enjoys
the same degree of protection from environmental
risks and health hazards and equal access to the
decision-making process.
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Addressing Envin
dee Concerns
ntal
EPA administers and enforces environmental laws
to protect human health and the environment of
all people, including residents living in minority,
low-income or tribal communities. Securing envi-
ronmental justice for all communities is a necessary
part of the Agency's work to implement these laws.
Environmental laws provide many opportunities to
address environmental risks and hazards in affected
communities. The application of these existing laws
is an important part of the Agency's efforts to pre-
vent those communities from being subjected to
disproportionately high and adverse impacts.
EPA's environmental justice mandate encompasses
the breadth of the Agency's work, including setting
standards, permitting facilities, awarding grants,
issuing licenses or regulations, and reviewing
proposed actions of the federal agencies.
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(OEJ) Jl EPA
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Offic
Justice
Environmental
The Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ) is the
entity within EPA with the primary responsibility
for coordinating the Agency's efforts to integrate
environmental justice consideration in all polices,
programs, and activities. OEJ heads a long-term
strategic initiative to incorporate environmental
justice considerations into each EPA office and
region's strategic planning and budgeting
processes. OEJ also works with all stakeholders
to constructively engage in and collaboratively
address environmental justice issues and concerns.
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800-962-62 15
www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/listserv.html
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www.epa.gov/compliance/environmentaljustice
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,, ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE RESOURCES
For general environmental justice inquiries, call the
Environmental Justice Hotline at (800) 962-6215
To receive regular environmental justice updates via e-mail,
sign up on the Environmental Justice list serverat
www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/listservthtml
For online publications and other information resources,
visit the Office of Environmental Justice Web site at
www.epa.gov/compliance/environmentaljustice
>»
Information on EPA's Environmental Justice grant and
cooperative agreement programs is also available online at*
www.epa.gov/compliance/environmentaljustice/grants
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