Plan EJ 2014: At-A-Glance In January 2010, Administrator Lisa P. Jackson made Expanding the Conversation on Environmentalism and Working for Environmental Justice an Agency priority. This priority was incorporated into the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Strategic Plan for 2011-2015. To implement this priority, EPA launched Plan EJ 2014 as the Agency's roadmap for integrating environmental justice into its programs, policies, and activities. Plan EJ 2014, which is meant to mark the 20th anniversary of the signing of Executive Order 12898 on environmental justice, is EPA's overarching strategy for advancing environmental justice. It seeks to: 1. Protect the environment and health in overburdened communities. 2. Empower communities to take action to improve their health and environment. 3. Establish partnerships with local, state, tribal, and federal governments and organizations to achieve healthy and sustainable communities. Plan EJ 2014 has three major sections: Cross-Agency Focus Areas, Tools Development Areas, and Program Initiatives. Input from communities and all stakeholders helped to inform the development of Plan EJ 2014 and will continue to inform implementation of its initiatives. EPA will issue annual reports documenting the progress toward meeting the commitments outlined in Plan EJ 2014. The annual reports will be made available to the public through For more information on Plan EJ 2014 and how to get involved please go to: http://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/plan-ej/ (Continued on back) ------- Three Major Sections in Plan EJ 2014 1. Cross-Agency Focus Areas EPA has identified five Cross-Agency Focus Areas: 1. Incorporating Environmental Justice into Rulemaking. 2. Considering Environmental Justice in Permitting. 3. Advancing Environmental Justice through Compliance and Enforcement. 4. Supporting Community-Based Action Programs. 5. Fostering Administration-Wide Action on Environmental Justice. 2. Tools Development Areas Tools Development will focus on developing the methods, mechanisms, and systems that support environmental justice analysis, technical assistance, and community work. Plan EJ 2014 has identified four areas for tools development: 6. Science. 7. Law. 8. Information. 9. Resources. 3. Program Initiatives EPA will designate one initiative per appropriate program for inclusion in Plan EJ 2014. Existing EPA initiatives can be tailored to better integrate environmental justice and produce greater benefits for overburdened communities. What Happens in 2014? In 2014, EPA will make an assessment of its progress in achieving the goals of Plan EJ 2014. Based on this assessment, EPA will produce a report on the accomplishments, lessons learned, challenges, and next steps for continuing the Agency's efforts to make environmental justice an integral part of every decision. For more information on Plan EJ 2014 and how to get involved please go to: http://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/plan-ej/ ------- |