&EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency EJ 2020 Action Agenda The EJ 2020 Action Agenda (EJ 2020) is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) strategic plan for environmental justice for 2016-2020. EJ 2020 will build on the foundation established by EPA's previous plan, Plan EJ 2014, as well as decades of significant environmental justice practice by the Agency, communities and our partners. VISION By 2020, we envision an EPA that integrates environmental justice into everything we do, cultivates strong partnerships to improve on-the-ground results, and charts a path forward for achieving better environmental outcomes and reducing disparities in the nation's most overburdened communities. Achieving this vision will help to make our vulnerable, environmentally burdened, and economically disadvantaged communities healthier, cleaner and more sustainable places in which to live, work, play and learn. "Clean water and clean air don't just happen, especially in low-income and minority communities. These are essential resources that we have to invest in protecting and that starts with communities, cities, states I and tribes. This problem isn't We won't fix it overnight. inly when we work together we will be able to deliver e basic rights to every American, no matter who they iiuch money they make. Everyone .mi protected from environmental exposures. - Administrator Gina McCarthy GOALS & KEY AREAS We will achieve this vision through three goals, eight priority areas, and four national challenges: Goal I: Deepen environmental justice practice within EPA programs to improve the health and environment of overburdened communities Priority areas: (1) Rulemaking, (2) Permitting, (3) Compliance and Enforcement, and (4) Science Goal II: Work with partners to expand our positive impact within overburdened communities Priority areas: (1) States and Local Governments, (2) Federal Agencies, (3) Community-Based Work, and (4) Tribes and Indigenous Peoples Goal III: Demonstrate progress on significant national environmental justice challenges Challenges: (1) Lead Disparities, (2) Drinking Water, (3) Air Quality, and (4) Hazardous Waste Sites www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/ej-2020-action-agenda Office of Environmental Justice environmental-justice@epa.gov (202)564-2515 ------- ACTIVITIES Implementation EJ 2020 will be implemented over the next four years using a cross- agency approach. The various goals and actions in this plan will be carried out by many different EPA offices and regions in an effort to incorporate environmental justice into everything we do. Some work on actions included in EJ 2020 is already underway. Stakeholder Outreach Stakeholder engagement is an integral part of EJ 2020. In addition to providing an opportunity for the public and stakeholders to comment on the draft framework and the draft final versions of EJ 2020, EPA is also working to expand other avenues of communication. We have held and will continue to hold numerous webinars and meetings to share information on the plan as well as to solicit input and feedback on EJ 2020. If you are interested in participating in these dialogues, please contact us. A list of the EPA's EJ 2020 regional and program contacts is available on our website. Annual Reporting EPA will produce annual reports on our EJ 2020 progress starting at the end of 2017 through 2020. We are doing this in an effort to be transparent and accountable to the public in our implementation of these important efforts. KEY AREAS & LEAD EPA OFFICES Rulemaking - Office of Policy, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, Region 6 Compliance and Enforcement - Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, Region 8 Science - Office of Research and Development, Region 1 States and Local Governments - Office of Water, Region 5 Federal Agencies - Office of Land and Emergency Management, Office of Environmental Justice, Region 4 Community-Based Work - Office of Land and Emergency Management, Office of Environmental Justice, Region 3, Region 10 Tribes and Indigenous Peoples - Office of International and Tribal Affairs, Office of Environmental Justice, Region 6 National Measures - Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Region 9 Through EJ 2020, EPA will advance EPA's environmental justice efforts to a new level in improving the health and environment of overburdened communities. By 2020, we will: Improve on-the-ground results for overburdened communities; Institutionalize environmental justice integration in EPA decision- making; Build robust partnerships with states and co-regulators; Strengthen our ability to take action on environmental justice and cumulative impacts; and Better address complex national environmental justice issues. United States Environmental Protection Agency May 2016 Office of Environmental Justice 300S16001 ------- |