vvEPA
December 2021
EJ ACTION PLAN
Building Up Environmental Justice
in EPA's Land Protection and Cleanup Programs

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OLEM Environmental Justice Action Plan
EPA 502/P-21/001
WELCOME
In 2021, President Biden issued two executive orders - Executive Order 13985 (Advancing Racial Equity
and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government) and Executive Order
14008 (Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad) - that give direction to federal agencies to
promote and work toward proactively achieving environmental justice. Federal agencies have been
directed to develop and implement policies and strategies that strengthen compliance and
enforcement, incorporate environmental justice considerations in their work, increase community
engagement and demonstrate that at least 40% of environmental benefits occur in disadvantaged
communities. EPA's Office of Land and Emergency Management (OLEM) has taken this direction
seriously and developed this Environmental Justice Action Plan. The Action Plan includes projects, tools
and practices that will occur across all parts of OLEM. It has been shared with OLEM's Regional EPA
partners, other national programs and EPA leadership.
The Action Plan builds on the best lessons of the past in
existing and new programs and projects and is working toward
the implementation of higher-value policies, programs and
practices that will improve OLEM's achievement of its
environmental justice goals. OLEM is taking this opportunity to
examine its programs and practices in a manner that enhances
the focus on and benefits to communities with environmental
justice concerns. OLEM's Action Plan seeks to engage a wide
range of programs with thoughtful and effective strategies to
initiate or enhance nearly two dozen projects.
The projects in this Action Plan address a wide range of areas
under OLEM's purview and some which overlap with other
National Program Offices. Many of them will identify and
address OLEM programs where there are opportunities to
improve implementation of existing environmental laws and
regulations. Others use existing tools, resources and
investments to improve the environmental outcomes of OLEM
programs from the perspective of affected stakeholders and
communities. Some of the projects will use improved
community engagement to meet the environmental and public
health challenges facing communities. OLEM will incorporate
those communities' needs into strategies and approaches
employed to meet the projects' goals. Using the last 25 years
of EPA's experiences, success stories and lessons learned from
working toward environmental justice, the OLEM programs will
invigorate their projects, practices and objectives with new
approaches and investments of time, staffing and funding that
will increase quality of life in communities with environmental
justice concerns.
Below, OLEM has identified many projects to address environmental justice challenges while relating to
the priorities identified by the Biden Administration and EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. While
some of the details of how those projects will operate have been truncated in this document, OLEM has
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OLEM Environmental Justice Action Plan
EPA 502/P-21/001
identified the categories the efforts relate to, the goals of the projects and prospective environmental
justice benefits expected to come from them. Some of these projects are already underway. Others will
require time and more resources prior to initiation. EPA is a partner in environmental protection with
other federal agencies, tribal and state governments, communities, and other stakeholders. The projects
below have, in many cases, identified their current and future partners and other partnerships will
emerge as the projects go forward. All of the OLEM programs have made initial estimates of the amount
of time involved in executing these projects; the estimates vary from months to years. With the support
of EPA and OLEM leadership and resources, all of the projects can begin in 2021.
In the Action Plan, the categories of environmental justice
focus provided by the Biden Administration are referenced
in relation to which projects tie most closely to each
priority category. OLEM used those categories as an
organizing principal for its projects. The projects are
referenced by category, program office, project number
and title. In the body of the Action Plan, the projects are
referenced with an abbreviated version of the categories so
the reader can gain a quick and concise understanding of
the focus of each project, including its goals and benefits.
We have also included a timeline to show when the
projects start to give a sense of immediacy with which
OLEM is addressing these issues. We are also undertaking
an effort to develop common approaches and baseline
criteria for identifying communities with environmental
justice concerns and disadvantaged communities, and
addressing certain challenges and concerns during
engagement activities.
During the development of the Action Plan, OLEM's
Regional program partners and other reviewers were
provided with the opportunity to review, comment and
share concerns. While there was strong support for the
programs and projects identified, several shared concerns
were raised regarding common definitions and resource
needs. Their concerns pointed out the need for standard
definitions for terms such as "community with
environmental justice concerns" and "disadvantaged
community". They highlighted the need for greater
consistency in the analytical approaches used to make
determinations using tools such as EJSCREEN and other data resources. Another common area of
concern was the potential for projects to require greater Regional staff time commitments, and costs
not accounted for in existing budgets. OLEM is taking these concerns seriously. These broad concerns
and other more project-specific issues are being addressed as EPA moves toward implementation of
these actions. For example, OLEM is working with EPA's Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ) directly on
gathering, sharing and using consistent terminology and data analytic methodologies throughout the
Agency. OLEM is also drawing input from the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and
relevant recommendations made by the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council (WHEJAC)
in its report on Executive Order 12898.
The Action Plan builds on the
best lessons of the past in
existing and new programs and
projects and is working toward
the implementation of higher-
value policies, programs and
practices that will improve
OLEM's achievement of its
environmental justice goals.
OLEM is taking this
opportunity to examine its
programs and practices in a
manner that enhances the
focus on and benefits to
communities with
environmental justice
concerns.
OLEM's Action Plan seeks to
engage a wide range of
programs with thoughtful and
effective strategies to initiate
or enhance nearly two dozen
projects.
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The Action Plan will not be finalized until representatives from affected and concerned external interests
have a chance to weigh in. The next iteration of the OLEM Environmental Justice Action Plan will benefit
from review and comments from external stakeholders in communities as well EPA's environmental,
tribal, state and local government partners.
"Too many communities whose residents are predominantly of color,
Indigenous or low income continue to suffer from disproportionately high
pollution levels and the resulting adverse health and environmental
impacts. We must do better. This will be one of my top priorities as
Administrator, and I expect it to be one of yours as well."
- EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan, in a message to all EPA staff

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OLEM Environmental Justice Action Plan	EPA 502/P-21/001
Agencies, Offices and Programs | Acronyms
Agencies, Offices and Programs
EPA
ECAD	Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division
FFEO	Federal Facilities Enforcement Office
FFRRO	Federal Facilities Restoration and Reuse Office
HQ	Headquarters
OA	Office of Administration
OBLR	Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization
OCSPP	Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention
OECA	Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance
OEJ	Office of Environmental Justice
OEM	Office of Emergency Management
OGC	Office of General Counsel
OGD	Office of Grants and Debarment
OGWDW	Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water
OITA	Office of International and Tribal Affairs
OLEM	Office of Land and Emergency Management
OMS	Office of Mission Support
OP	Office of Policy
OPA	Office of Public Affairs
ORCR	Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery
ORD	Office of Research and Development
OSRTI	Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation
OUST	Office of Underground Storage Tanks
OW	Office of Water
RID	Regulations Implementation Division
SRP	Superfund Redevelopment Program
Other Agencies and Organizations
ASTSWMO Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials
ATSDR	Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
CEQ	White House Council on Environmental Quality
DOE	U.S. Department of Energy
DOT	U.S. Department of Transportation
FEMA	Federal Emergency Management Agency
GSA	U.S. General Services Administration
HUD	U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
NOAA	National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
OPM	U.S. Office of Personnel Management
USACE	U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
USDA	U.S. Department of Agriculture
WHEJAC	White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council
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Acronyms
ASPECT
Airborne Spectral Photometric Environmental Collection Technology
CAG
Community Advisory Group
CCR
Coal Combustion Residuals
CEM
Continuous Mission Evaluation
CERCLA
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
EJ
Environmental Justice
EPCRA
Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act
FRP
Facility Response Plan
FY
Fiscal Year
HRS
Hazard Ranking System
LEPC
Local Emergency Planning Committee
LUST
Leaking Underground Storage Tank
MSW
Municipal Solid Waste
NCP
National Contingency Plan
NEJAC
National Environmental Justice Advisory Council
NPL
National Priorities List
NTCRA
Non-Time-Critical Removal Action
OSC
On-Scene Coordinator
RCRA
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
RMP
Risk Management Plan
RPM
Remedial Project Manager
SEMS
Superfund Enterprise Management System
SOP
Standard Operating Procedure
SPCC
Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure
TAB
Technical Assistance to Brownfields
TASC
Technical Assistance Services for Communities
TSDF
Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facility
UST
Underground Storage Tank
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OLEM Environmental Justice Action Plan
EPA 502/P-21/001
Table of Contents
1.	Strengthen Compliance	9
1.1	Good Governance Referral Lists	9
1.2	Strengthen RMP Prevention and Emergency Response Requirements in Communities with
Environmental Justice Concerns	10
1.3	Analysis of SPCC/FRP Inspection Data to Target Future Inspections in Communities with
Environmental Justice Concerns - Phase 1	11
1.4	Analysis of SPCC/FRP Inspection Data to Target Future Inspections in Communities with
Environmental Justice Concerns - Phase 2	12
1.5	Use of ASPECT to Provide Continuous Evaluation Missions (CEMs) for Disadvantaged
Communities, the Climate and Enforcement: Phase 1	13
1.6	Enhanced Tribal Oil Spill and Chemical Accident Prevention/Preparedness Program
Implementation	14
1.7	Facility Specific Compliance Assistance for UST Facility Owners and Operators in
Communities with Environmental Justice Concerns in Indian Country	15
2.	Incorporate Environmental Justice Considerations	16
2.1	RCRA Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facilities Universe Analysis and Mapping	16
2.2	Strengthened Community Resiliency through Natural Disaster Debris Planning and
Management	17
2.3	EPA's National Recycling Strategy and Implementation Plan	18
2.4	Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR)	19
2.5	SEMS EJ Flag and EJSCREEN Training for Site Teams	20
2.6	Advancing Support to Underserved Communities in the Superfund Site Assessment
Program and National Priorities List (NPL) Designation	21
2.7	Consideration of Environmental Justice Concerns and Selection of Response Actions that
Address the Concerns to the Extent Practicable and Consistent with Statutory
Requirements and Regulations	22
2.8	Equitable Redevelopment and Community-Wide Revitalization in Superfund
Redevelopment Work	23
2.9	Provision of Funding to EPA Regions to Address Environmental Justice Considerations in
PFAS Projects at Federal Facility NPL Sites	24
2.10	Documentation/White Paper of Current Practices Considering EJ in Risk Assessment Across
EPA Programs	25
2.11	Tips and Tools for Applying Environmental Justice Considerations at Federal Facility NPL
Sites	26
2.12	Development of Enhanced Criteria and/or an Environmental Justice-Specific Award
Category during EPA's 2022 Award Cycle	27
2.13	Training Resources for Regional OSCs	28
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2.14	Promoting EJSCREEN Use among Brownfields Program Staff and Grant Applicants	29
2.15	Development of Data Tools to Enable Environmental Justice Analyses	30
2.16	Pilot Environmental Justice Analysis of UST and LUST Sites	31
2.17	Development of OUST-Specific EJSCREEN Training for Stakeholders to Learn More about
the Application and How It Can Be Used in Their Programs	32
2.18	Environmental Indicator with UST and LUST Data in EJSCREEN	33
3.	Improve Community Engagement	34
3.1	Technical Support and Engagement with Communities	34
3.2	RCRA Environmental Justice Community of Practice	35
3.3	EPA/HUD Proximity Analysis: Assessing and Cleaning Up Superfund Sites Near HUD Housing
	36
3.4	Pilot Superfund Community Workshop	37
3.5	Superfund Site Profile Page Update	38
3.6	TASC Program Funding at the EPA HQ Level for Communities with Environmental Justice
Considerations Next to Federal Facility NPL Sites	39
3.7	Technical Assistance Outreach	40
4.	Justice40	41
4.1	New Grant Solicitation: Supporting Anaerobic Digestion in Communities	41
4.2	Exploration of Potential Revisions to RCRA Hazardous Waste State Grant Terms and
Conditions to Better Prioritize and Support State Activities to Address Environmental
Justice Concerns	42
4.3	Analytical Needs Assessment	43
Compendium of EJ-Related Terms	44
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i. Strengthen Compliance
EPA*s Coal: To strengthen compliance with cornerstone environmental statutes and civil rights
laws in communities overburdened by pollution.
1.1 Good Governance Referral Lists
To advance the Agency's goal of enhanced enforcement in overburdened communities, OLEM works
closely with OECA (information on environmental justice [EJ] enforcement initiatives is available here).
OLEM and OECA collaborate on projects that can support the Agency's EJ goals. EPA field staff and
contractors often initiate contact with the public during Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
activities such as obtaining signatures on site access agreements or
conducting public meetings. Often, a citizen may raise an issue or ask	Environmental
a question beyond our authorities. This project will provide an
approach to ensure that issues raised by citizens during these
interactions get communicated to people who can help. The missions
of ORCR and several other EPA offices, as well as many other federal
agencies, are strategically aligned. Yet, during site work in
communities, we often arrive with individual program purposes
stemming from our authorizing statutes.
This project seeks to create a more collaborative multi-media working
relationship, establishing a referral list for points of contact for
agencies and authorities who can be informed of community concerns
that are not within RCRA's authority to address. Project management
could include aligning resources, funding and expertise to address
issues when appropriate.
Project Goals
Development of a Good Governance process, including a referrals list
to be shared across offices/agencies to enable follow-up actions on
communities' environmental concerns that are not within our
authorities for action.
Organizations Involved
ORCR (lead), EPA HQ, EPA Regional offices, DOT, HUD, USDA, states.
Timeline | Next Steps
Project start: August 2021.
Project completion: September 2022.
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Environmental issues that are
not within RCRA's authority to
address are flagged for the
appropriate EPA response or
response(s) from other federal,
state or local partners. Holistic
understanding of community
needs will clarify project
planning efforts and budget
and resource needs.
The project reflects a
comprehensive, cutting-edge
approach to addressing
community concerns,
cumulative risk concerns and
the needs of vulnerable
communities. Long-term
benefits include building trust
and addressing community
needs.

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OLEM Environmental Justice Action Plan
EPA 502/P-21/001
1.2 Strengthen RMP Prevention and Emergency Response
Requirements in Communities with Environmental Justice
Concerns
Environmental
Justice Benefits
Propose and finalize revisions to the Risk Management Plan (RMP) regulation to strengthen prevention
and emergency response program requirements in EJ areas.
The project involves proposing and finalizing changes to the
RMP rule to reincorporate key prevention and response
measures of the 2017 RMP Amendments rule, as well as
incorporating additional requirements to strengthen accident
prevention programs at RMP facilities that are in or near
communities with EJ concerns.
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Project Goals
Enhance accident prevention and emergency response
requirements at RMP-regulated facilities in or near
communities with EJ concerns and reduce the frequency and
severity of accidental releases in such communities.
Organizations Involved
OEM/RID (lead), OA, OECA, OEM (contract support), OGC,
other EPA Headquarters (HQ) and Regional offices. EPA
Regional office involvement in the rulemaking will be decided
by each Regional office. OEM will include workgroup
participants from Regional Enforcement and Compliance
Assurance Divisions (ECADs) that choose to participate.
Timeline | Next Steps
Project start: May 2021.
Project completion: summer 2023 (estimated final rule
publication).
RMP facilities are more often
located in or near communities
with Ej concerns. Therefore,
strengthening the prevention
and response programs at RMP
facilities in general will benefit
many communities with EJ
concerns by reducing the
frequency and severity of
accidental releases at facilities
in or near these communities.
Additionally, EPA will propose
applying key restored
prevention measures to
additional facilities in or near
communities with Ej concerns.
OLEM and OECA are
committed to RMP inspections
and enforcement.
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OLEM Environmental Justice Action Plan
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1.3 Analysis of SPCC/FRP Inspection Data to Target Future
Inspections in Communities with Environmental Justice
Concerns - Phase 1
Analysis of Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plan and Facility Response Plan (FRP)
inspection data to target future inspections in EJ areas and improve oil program implementation in
these areas. The project involves analysis of past oil inspection program data to inform the impacts of
the SPCC and FRP programs on communities with EJ concerns and the SPCC and FRP inspection
program's future implementation activities relative to these communities. Phase 1, at the EPA HQ level,
involves an initial analysis of SPCC and FRP data relative to communities with EJ concerns to understand
the distribution of SPCC and FRP facilities in these areas and identifying their compliance patterns. This
project will build on OECA's work overall on inspection in communities with EJ concerns. As a
companion to OLEM inspections, OECA carries out any necessary enforcement actions.
«k I J» 	:	i.. I
Project Goals
Measure the SPCC/FRP facilities compliance rates in
communities with EJ concerns to establish a baseline for
improving targeting and inspection rates.
Organizations Involved
OECA, OEM, EPA Regional Oil Program Managers, Regional
ECADs, OW - OGWDW, external stakeholder organizations.
Timeline | Next Steps
Project start: fiscal year (FY) 2022.
Project completion: FY 2022 (one year).

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Justice Benefits
By increasing the SPCC/FRP
facility inspection rate in
communities with Ej concerns,
facility SPCC and FRP plans will
improve, resulting in fewer and
less severe oil spills affecting
nearby communities.
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OLEM Environmental Justice Action Plan
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1.4 Analysis of SPCC/FRP Inspection Data to Target Future
Inspections in Communities with Environmental Justice
Concerns - Phase 2
Analysis of SPCC/FRP inspection data to target future inspections in EJ areas and improve oil program
implementation in these areas. Project involves analysis of past oil inspection program data to inform
the impacts of the SPCC and FRP programs on communities with EJ concerns and the SPCC and FRP
inspection program's future implementation activities relative to these communities. Phase 2 involves
using the results of these analyses to identify sectors or locations that are more likely non-compliant and
to focus future inspections and compliance efforts on these areas. This project will build on OECA's work
overall on inspection in communities with EJ concerns. As a companion to OLEM inspections, OECA
carries out any necessary enforcement actions.
Project Goals
Analyze SPCC/FRP inspection data and increase the SPCC/FRP compliance rate in communities with EJ
concerns. Improve the inspection rate, targeting and
compliance rate at SPCC/FRP facilities in communities with EJ
concerns.
Organizations Involved
OEM/RID (lead), OECA, OEM contract support, OGWDW (for
surface water intake information), EPA Regional Oil Program
Managers, Regional ECADs, external stakeholder
organizations.
Timeline | Next Steps
Project start: FY 2022 (after Phase 1 ends).
Project completion: FY 2025 (three years).
T >•
Environmental
Justice Benefits
By increasing the SPCC/FRP
facility inspection rate in
communities with Ej concerns,
facility SPCC and FRP plans will
improve, resulting in fewer and
less severe oil spills affecting
nearby communities.
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OLEM Environmental Justice Action Plan
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1.5 Use of ASPECT to Provide Continuous Evaluation
Missions (CEMs) for Disadvantaged Communities, the
Climate and Enforcement: Phase 1
EPA's Airborne Spectral Photometric Environmental Collection Technology (ASPECT) is an aerial
surveillance platform providing wide-area chemical, radiological and nuclear detection as well as
infrared photometric and advanced imagery products. Use ASPECT to provide continuous evaluation
missions (CEMs) for disadvantaged communities, climate change and enforcement. Characterize
chemical pollutants over prioritized disadvantaged communities of concern. Produce EJ-focused data
products highlighting data coverage over disadvantaged
communities. Collect air quality data to support state/federal
air standard violations enforcement, improve regulated
facility compliance and improve air quality.
T y»
if:
Environmental
Justice Benefits
Project Goals
•	Show direct disadvantaged community alignment via
direct fiscal resource allocations to support this mission
profile. (100% alignment to EJ)
•	Directly serve disadvantaged communities by collecting
and publishing products to a publicly accessible data
platform within one to two weeks post mission.
•	Enhance public trust and relationship through marketing
campaigns, publication of data and commitment of fiscal
resources.
Organizations Involved
OEM (lead), OECA, OEJ, OLEM, OPA, EPA Regional offices.
Timeline | Next Steps
Initial operating capability is likely two to four years away,
with final operational capability achieved in five to seven
years. This timeframe could be accelerated, depending on
resource allocation and prioritization.
Overlaying of ASPECT data on
a geospatial view of historically
overburdened communities
will illustrate to the public
where data was collected with
respect to their location.
This transparent access to data
aids with the development of
trust within historically
overburdened and
disadvantaged communities
and demonstrates how the
EPA is adapting our screening
methodologies equitably to
the nation.
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OLEM Environmental Justice Action Plan
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1.6 Enhanced Tribal Oil Spill and Chemical Accident
Prevention/Preparedness Program Implementation
Improve OEM oil and chemical program implementation in Indian country through enhanced outreach,
training, inspection targeting and coordination with tribes. The project involves tracking regional tribal
participation in Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) activities; educating tribes about the SPCC,
FRP, Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), and RMP programs and
opportunities for tribal involvement; tribal outreach to aid in targeting inspections at high-risk SPCC, FRP
and RMP facilities on Indian lands; and working with OLEM, EPA Regional offices and tribes to meet the
priorities of the Tribal Waste and Response Committee.
Project Goals
Increase compliance with the SPCC, FRP, RMP and EPCRA
regulations by regulated facilities in tribal communities by
improving coordination/partnering with state, local and tribal
partners.
Organizations Involved
OEM/RID (lead), OECA, Regional oil and chemical program
managers, Regional ECADs and program officials, OLEM tribal
coordination officials, state, local and tribal government
officials, tribal organizations.
Timeline | Next Steps
Project start: FY 2022.
Project completion: ongoing.
T *
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Environmental
Justice Benefits
Improving implementation of
OEM's oil and chemical
programs in Indian country
will help prevent and minimize
adverse impacts from oil spills
and chemical accidents in
Indian country.
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OLEM Environmental Justice Action Plan
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1.7 Facility-Specific Compliance Assistance for UST Facility
Owners and Operators in Communities with
Environmental Justice Concerns in Indian Country
OUST will develop a facility-specific compliance assistance tool for UST facility owners and operators in
communities with EJ concerns in Indian country.
Project Goals
The project will provide targeted compliance assistance,
which will make it easier for owners and/or operators to
comply with federal requirements. Better compliance will
reduce the chance of a release, to avoid further
contamination in disadvantaged communities.
Organizations Involved
OUST (lead), Regional programs, others TBD
Timeline | Next Steps
OUST plans to initiate contract work in 2021, with a goal of
having a final tool available by the end of FY 2022.
•> T ^
Environmental
justice Benefits
Targeted compliance
assistance works by helping
UST facilities with convenience
stores, which provide
economic benefits in their
communities and meet
compliance requirements.
Improving compliance
assistance specific to facilities
in communities with Ej
concerns will reduce the
chance of a release and further
burden on these communities.
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2. Incorporate Environmental Justice Considerations
EPA's Coal: Take immediate and affirmative steps to incorporate environmental justice
considerations into our work, including assessing impacts to pollution-burdenedunderserved and
tribal communities in regulatory development and to maximize benefits to communities.
2.1 RCRA Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facilities
(TSDFs) Universe Analysis and Mapping
ORCR will map out and analyze the RCRA TSDFs universe to support EJ considerations in Corrective
Action cleanups and TSDF permits. With a more in-depth understanding of facility location, demographic
and environmental factors, and U.S. and state trends, ORCR can better ensure fair treatment and
meaningful involvement of stakeholders in the Corrective Action and permitting universe. Identifying
potentially vulnerable communities and likely barriers to community engagement will likewise support
program implementors in ensuring EJ and climate change considerations are embedded in the selection
and upkeep of cleanup remedies as well as the issuance of permits. The project is an initial analysis of
about 3,777 Corrective Action facilities using EJSCREEN indicators and a longer-term RCRA TSDF universe
mapping effort and analysis of about 8,000 facilities. The
longer-term analysis includes demographic and
environmental indicators beyond EJSCREEN and introduce
community characteristics (economic performance, access to
decision makers, migration in and out). It will also include
profiles of communities near certain RCRA facilities.
Project Goals
Making sure the National Program Manager understands the
demographic, environmental and economic characteristics of
communities where RCRA Corrective Action cleanups and
TSDF permitting are occurring. Analyze RCRA TSDFs with EJ
tools to identify potentially vulnerable communities and
areas that would benefit from increased funding and support.
Organizations Involved
ORCR (lead), other OLEM cleanup programs, state agencies.
Timeline | Next Steps
Corrective Action universe analysis: April 2021.
RCRA Corrective Action and Permits universe analysis: July
2021 to October 2022.
«. T x»
Environmental
Justice Benefits
Further research into the
corrective action and TSDF
permitting universes may
provide insight into national
and state-leve! trends
regarding RCRA facilities. In
turn, greater understanding of
potential vulnerabilities will
enable more effective efforts to
protect communities through
the RCRA corrective action and
permitting programs, as well
as improved community
outreach support and more
effective public engagement.
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2.2 Strengthened Community Resiliency through Natural
Disaster Debris Planning and Management
Climate change is causing an increase in the severity and frequency of natural disasters. These disasters
disproportionally affect communities with EJ concerns. Lower income people are more likely to live in
neighborhoods that are more susceptible to disasters and are near industrial areas and hazardous waste
sites, leaving them more vulnerable to toxic leaks from storm damage and the mental and physical
impacts of contaminated, unmanaged disaster debris.
ORCR will scope an analysis to examine the benefits and cost savings of building stronger, more-resilient
buildings and mitigating risk from a disaster by decreasing the generation of and improving the planning
and management of disaster debris. A central part of this analysis will be looking at the costs and
benefits to communities with EJ concerns within the context of debris planning and management. This
work will inform a companion guide to EPA's Planning for Natural Disaster Debris guidance. It will focus
on resiliency, including a special emphasis on the impacts of disasters on overburdened communities
and how they can mitigate impacts before disasters occur.
Project Goals
Provide communities with EJ concerns and decision-makers
with an economic rationale and tools to create resilient
communities that recover faster, contain less harmful
materials, generate less debris and use fewer resources
during rebuilding.
Organizations Involved
ORCR (lead), OEM, EPA Regional offices, USACE and other
federal agencies, states, local governments and external
stakeholders (to be invited).
Timeline | Next Steps
Present - end of FY 2022 (may be a multi-year project).

Environmental
Justice Benefits
This analysis and companion
guide will arm decision-makers
with a strong economic
rationale about why an
investment in hazard
mitigation before a disaster
makes economic sense,
particularly for investing in
communities with EJ concerns.
The companion guide will
provide information and tools
based on the economic
analysis and other research
that will help communities
become more resilient.
Resilient communities recover
faster, contain less harmful
materials, generate less debris
and use fewer resources during
rebuilding.
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2.3 EPA's National Recycling Strategy and Implementation
Plan
EPA is releasing the National Recycling Strategy (the 2021 Strategy) as part one of a series dedicated to
building a circular economy for all. This substantially revised version of the 2020 draft Strategy focuses
on improving the nation's municipal solid waste (MSW) recycling system and broadens the future vision
to include the full impact of materials. Over the next few months, EPA will work collaboratively with
stakeholders to develop a plan for implementing the 2021 Strategy. EPA will ensure communities have a
seat at the table and are involved in developing the implementation plan as well as executing the
actions in this Strategy as well as future updates. EPA is also committing to develop a new goal to reduce
climate impacts from materials use and consumption that will complement existing national goals on
recycling and reduction of food loss and waste. EPA plans to collaborate across all levels of government,
including tribal nations, and with public and private stakeholders to achieve these ambitious goals.
Project Goals
The vision of this project is to transform waste and materials
management in the U.S. and abroad. The Strategy identifies
actions to address the challenges facing the recycling system
both domestically and internationally and is the product of
over two years of collaboration by stakeholders that began
under the 2019 National Framework for Advancing the U.S.
Recycling System. In implementing the Strategy, EPA
envisions EPA HQ and Regional offices working together to
ensure local and tribal communities are engaged and
involved so that materials management strategies are
designed and implemented in ways that are responsive to
their needs.
Organizations Involved
Implementing the 2021 Strategy will require cross-EPA
engagement (OCSPP, OP, OW, others) as well as coordination
with other federal agencies (DOE, NOAA, the National
Institute of Standards and Technology, the U.S. Department
of State, others). State, tribal and local governments will be
involved in implementation as will the nonprofit and private
sectors. Community-based organizations and recycling
industry stakeholders (nonprofits, waste management
companies and brands) are also anticipated to be involved.
Timeline | Next Steps
•	Strategy finalization and release: May 2021.
•	Updates on Strategy and actions to respond to various
Congressional deadlines in SOS 2.0: September 2021 to
December 2022.
•	Strategy implementation plan: public release in
November 2021 (some activities already underway).
•	Strategy implementation: next several years.
* T *
•Jfr
Environmental
Justice Benefits
Increasing the environmentally
protective management of
materials will decrease the
negative environmental
impacts of waste on
communities with EJ concerns.
We recognize the burden that
living near waste and waste-
related facilities can have on
communities when waste is
not properly managed, which
can lead to higher levels of
chronic health issues.
Communities whose residents
are predominantly persons of
color, Indigenous or low
income continue to be
disproportionately affected by
high pollution levels, resulting
in adverse health and
environmental impacts.
We must be more thoughtful
about managing materials in
this country and abroad.
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2.4 Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR)
The 2015 final CCR regulations established a regulatory framework to ensure the safe operation, closure
and cleanup of releases from CCR disposal units. The broad reach of CCR universe (over 700 units at 300
facilities in 43 states and Puerto Rico) means there is
significant potential for intersection with many communities,
including communities with EJ concerns. The CCR program
continues to evolve in important ways, including more
regulatory development. Some of these rulemakings (e.g.,
federal permitting and legacy units) offer opportunities to
identify how EJ may be addressed as part of the rulemaking
and rule implementation process.
Project Goals
Rulemaking changes will provide opportunities to strengthen
community protections for CCR permits and legacy units.
Organizations Involved
ORCR (lead), cross-agency workgroup members as part of
action development process.
Timeline | Next Steps
The Federal Permitting Final Rule and the Legacy Unit
Proposed Rule are under development. Completion is
targeted for those phases in FY 2022.
* J *
¦Y*
Environmental
justice Benefits
Where new CCR regulations
are developed, there can be
opportunities to identify and
address, where appropriate
within the statutory and
regulatory framework, Ej
issues for communities near
CCR facilities. This may include
access to information by
citizens during permitting and
public participation in
decisions made by federal and
state agencies and by facility
owners and operators,
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2.5 SEMS EJ Flag and EJSCREEN Training for Site Teams
We propose to develop nationally consistent language and criteria for EPA Regional offices to use when
entering information regarding the EJ status of sites in the Superfund Enterprise Management System
(SEMS). This will include developing a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for applying these criteria to
sites, including the use of Superfund site boundaries or other geography when using EJSCREEN, EPA's
Environmental Justice Screening and Mapping Tool, as well as improvements to how this information is
stored in SEMS. We are also proposing providing EJSCREEN training for site teams as part of the
Community Involvement University curriculum.
Project Goals
•	Promote consistency and transparency.
•	Promote understanding of potential cumulative impacts
in communities.
•	Improve risk communication
Organizations Involved
OSRTI (lead), Superfund site teams.
Timeline | Next Steps
Modifications to SEMS for EJSCREEN: by October 2021.
Addition of EJSCREEN training: by March 2022.
T
Environmental
Justice Benefits
Applying a consistent approach
for identifying sites where
there is the potential for EJ
concern and improving how
the information is stored in
SEMS promotes equity and
transparency and helps to
ensure respectful
characterizations of
communities.
Providing EJSCREEN training
to our site teams promotes
awareness of the additional
burden communities may
experience. In turn, this helps
us identify a holistic approach
to managing those concerns.
This project aligns with the
following recommendations in
the NEJAC Report: "strengthen
and standardize the use of
EPA's successful community
engagement tools and
resources" and "provide
community engagement
mentoring for EPA staff".
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2.6 Advancing Support to Underserved Communities in the
Superfund Site Assessment Program and National
Priorities List (NPL) Designation
Based on the baseline review and Hazard Ranking System (HRS) evaluation, the workgroup will make
recommendations on program improvements, such as national models for EJ consideration in site
assessment reports; maximizing identification and evaluation of communities with EJ concerns during
HRS scoring; maximize identification and evaluation of EJ communities during HRS scoring, and
guidance to improve characterization of community attributes during site inspections and the use of
EJSCREEN; options for incorporating underserved community information when setting site assessment
priorities (e.g., addressing current inventory, new proactive discovery, making final assessment
decisions). The project will rely on a mix of a national workgroup and contractor support.
Project Goals
Establish current baseline and initial significant
improvements that advance the support to underserved
communities.
Organizations Involved
OSRTI (lead), OECA, OGC, Superfund site teams.
Timeline | Next Steps
The project can start immediately, with recommendations
finished within six months.
V %
«. T *
Environmental
Justice Benefits
The project will develop
recommendations for
improving the consideration of
Ej information in the
Superfund Site Assessment
Program and more explicitly
when identifying candidate
sites for the NPL.
The project will establish the
baseline of current practices
(over the last decade)that
incorporate Ej information in
the site assessment and listing
programs.
The project will also evaluate
EJ considerations that are
inherent in the HRS and
identify EJ limitations.
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2.7 Consideration of Environmental Justice Concerns and
Selection of Response Actions that Address the
Concerns to the Extent Practicable and Consistent with
Statutory Requirements and Regulations
Update and issue a policy memorandum that clarifies that EJ can and should be considered and
documented as part of remedy and non-time-critical removal action (NTCRA) selection and provides
guidance on how to document that information in the decision documents.
OSRTI convened a workgroup to develop an EJ remedy and NTCRA memorandum from 2015 to 2017. A
draft product was developed but not finalized. This effort builds on this 2017 work with more recent
information. Because much of the work has been done, the memorandum should be able to be
expedited so that EPA Regional offices would have an initial guidepost for how to consider and
document EJ in accordance with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act (CERCLA) and the National Contingency Plan
(NCP) early in FY 2022. As our understanding of EJ evolves
and tools are developed, the EJ considerations memorandum
could be revised.
K a *
Environmental
Justice Benefits
Project Goals
Issue guidance to EPA Regional offices in early FY 2022 to
consider and document EJ concerns as part of remedy and
NTCRA decisions.
Organizations Involved
OSRTI (lead), FFEO, FFRRO, OECA, OEM, OSRE, EPA Regional
office representatives (three to four Regions).
The previous workgroup that developed a draft EJ response
selection document consisted of OSRTI/FFRRO/OSRE and
several EPA Regional offices (Regions 4, 6, 8 and 9). This
effort would reconstitute the workgroup to update the
memorandum in an expedited manner such that decision
documents in 2022 could begin to document EJ
considerations.
Timeline | Next Steps
Draft guidance: November 2021.
Final guidance: January 2022.
This guidance would clarify
that Ej can and should be
considered in accordance with
the NCP and CERCLA as part of
remedy and NTCRA selection
and provide guidance as to
how to document that analysis
as part of response selection.
This would provide greater
assurance that EJ concerns are
considered in response
selection and that the
decisions are consistent with
CERCLA and the NCP such that
the decisions would be
enforceable.
i§®


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2.8 Equitable Redevelopment and Community-Wide
Revitalization in Superfund Redevelopment Work
For over three decades, EPA's Superfund program and its partners have remediated contaminated
hazardous waste sites and supported community efforts to redevelop them. Effective and inclusive
engagement as early as possible in the cleanup process is the foundation of equitable and successful
reuse outcomes, in addition to being critical for the long-term protection of community members'
health.
Project Goals
•	Expand emphasis on equitable redevelopment and
community-wide revitalization during Superfund
Redevelopment work with communities.
•	Increase collaboration across EPA programs and EPA's
work with tribes, federal and state agencies, and
localities, to enhance community-wide approaches to
Superfund Redevelopment.
•	Explore how external resources and incentives,
combined with EPA's redevelopment tools, can
encourage Superfund Redevelopment projects that
address challenges, such as gentrification and access to
jobs, faced by many communities with EJ concerns.
•	Through use of powerful visual tools, provide specific
information about communities and sites that enables
stakeholders and EPA site teams to explore site reuse
opportunities that promote equitable redevelopment
and community-wide revitalization.
•	Document effective redevelopment approaches and
update Superfund Redevelopment tools and resources
regularly to include the most effective approaches and
share information as part of a national outreach
strategy.
•	Engage with communities affected by Superfund sites
and climate change, supporting sustainable
redevelopment efforts and climate change resiliency.
Organizations Involved
SRP (lead), Regional Superfund programs, and other
programs, agencies and organizations.
* i *
Environmental
Justice Benefits
Communities reuse Superfund
sites in many ways, including
parks, shopping centers, sports
fields, wildlife habitat,
manufacturing facilities,
homes and infrastructure.
These reuse outcomes can
provide significant benefits for
underserved and
overburdened communities.
In communities with EJ
concerns, EPA's Superfund
Redevelopment Program, or
SRP, helps community groups
build their capacities and
supports community efforts to
advocate for equitable,
protective redevelopment of
Superfund sites through reuse
planning and redevelopment
support activities. In turn,
these efforts help address
many longstanding, local
priorities.
Timeline | Next Steps
This work is ongoing. Specific project activities can start immediately, with accomplishments in 2022 and
beyond.
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2.9 Provision of Funding to EPA Regions to Address
Environmental Justice Considerations in PFAS Projects
at Federal Facility N PL Sites
This project will provide funding to Regions to address EJ considerations in PFAS projects at federal
facility NPL sites.
Project Goals
Promote the application of an EJ lens by EPA remedial project
managers (RPMs). Communicate the importance to other
federal agencies. Improve the incorporation of EJ
considerations into the CERCLA process to benefit
communities with EJ concerns.
Organizations Involved
FFRRO (lead), EPA Regional offices and their contractors.
Timeline | Next Steps
We have circulated a request for proposals to EPA Regional
offices. We have provided more information on suggestions
for how to apply the EJ lens to make the case for funding.
Next, we will receive proposals and make selection decisions.
Environmental
Justice Benefits
Designating certain funds that
are contingent on an Ej
component will be an
important signal, internally
and externally, that this issue
is important.
This will also allow us to make
a positive impact in
underserved communities.
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2.10 Documentation/White Paper of Current Practices
Considering EJ in Risk Assessment Across EPA Programs
This project focuses on identifying and highlighting current best practices in considering EJ in all phases
of risk assessment across EPA, documenting effective tools and methods, and identifying obstacles and
challenges through the use of surveys and focus group
dialogue.
Project Goals
•	Identify and compile existing tools, methods and
approaches.
•	Identify opportunities for improvement, including
development of new tools, methods and approaches.
Organizations Involved
FFRRO (lead), OEJ, EPA risk assessors and others using risk
assessment to inform decision-making.
Timeline | Next Steps
Project started during fall 2020, with development of a
survey. Survey and discussions started in May 2021. Draft
summary document expected in winter 2021.
* i *
Environmental
Justice Benefits
Understanding current best
practices in addressing EJ
considerations in risk
assessment is the first step in
identifying opportunities for
expansion.
In addition, understanding
different approaches used in
other offices can promote
cross-pollination of ideas.
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2.11 Tips and Tools for Applying Environmental Justice
Considerations at Federal Facility N PL Sites
The goal is to develop tips and tools to help RPMs identify, track and consider implications of potential
EJ-related factors as we review and comment on documents throughout the Superfund process.
Project Goals
•	Facilitate application of an EJ lens by RPMs.
•	Communicate the importance to other federal agencies.
•	Ensure that EJ considerations are included during all
phases of the Superfund pipeline.
•	Enhance cleanups that better meet community needs.
Organizations Involved
FFRRO is working with several EPA Regional offices that are
developing and/or piloting approaches to characterizing
communities to identify those with EJ concerns. FFRRO will
draw on the experience of these Regions and consult with
OECA and OSRTI, including community involvement
coordinators (CICs) and staff from ORD and OEJ, to identify
best practices, and build out SOPs and Review Templates to
promote consistency across the Regions.
*• J *
Environmental
justice Benefits
Communities with EJ concerns
will benefit from a more
systematic inclusion of the
considerations of underserved
or overburdened community
members during all phases of
the Superfund pipeline.
FFRRO will develop EJ analysis
templates, SOPs and tip sheets
for distribution to EPA
Regional offices.
Timeline | Next Steps
The criteria and tools can be developed and piloted in late FY 2021 and early FY 2022. Full
implementation will be later in FY 2022.
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2.12 Development of Enhanced Criteria and/or an
Environmental Justice-Specific Award Category during
EPA's 2022 Award Cycle
The category can be used to demonstrate how the nominees have addressed EJ in federal facility site
reuse.
Project Goals
•	Promote application of an EJ lens by RPMs.
•	Communicate the importance to other federal agencies.
•	Improve incorporation of EJ considerations into CERCLA
process to benefit communities with EJ concerns.
•	Promote successful cleanup that result in economic or
ecological benefits to local communities with EJ
concerns.
•	EPA, other federal agencies and state agencies are
expected to view the announcement as recognition of
cooperative work, partnerships and financial
investments that achieved both environmental cleanup
and beneficial reuse at communities with EJ concerns.
They are also expected to view the awards as positive
examples of potential economic benefits at other
federal facility sites across the county.
•	Elected officials are expected to applaud the
accomplishments of the award winners and encourage
similar cleanup and reuse opportunities at other federal
facility sites.
T *
Environmental
Justice Benefits
EPA will highlight the
importance of partnering with
communities to remediate and
restore federal facility sites in
communities with EJ concerns,
emphasizing to other federal
agencies that EJ is a top
priority.
The criteria developed can be
informed by what EPA uses in
related programs (e.g., EJ
grants), promoting consistent
application of EJ
considerations across
programs.
Organizations Involved
FFRRO (lead), other federal agencies, state and local agencies and officials, local reuse authorities and
developers, members of Congress, the public.
Timeline | Next Steps
Criteria can be developed now for inclusion in the next call for nominations (fall 2021) for selection in
spring 2022.
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2.13 Training Resources for Regional OSCs
Provide EJSCREEN training for on-scene coordinators (OSCs). Basic EJSCREEN knowledge will assist EPA's
Emergency Response and Removal Program in analyzing prevention, preparedness and response actions
with an EJ lens. Identify areas that need more focus to address disproportionate impacts of
environmental hazards.
Project Goals
Train all OSCs not already trained. Other training for EJ-
related databases and tools will be available to enhance
OSC's knowledge and applicability of EJSCREEN in the field
Organizations Involved
OEJ, OEM, Emergency Response and Removal Program, OSCs.
«. T >•
Environmental
Justice Benefits
Promote EJ awareness among
oil and removal managers and
OSCs.
Timeline | Next Steps
Assuming trainers can be provided in a timely fashion by OEJ, two online training opportunities will be
scheduled by the end of 2021. Starting next year at the OSC Readiness Training Conference, an EJ
discussion will be added to the plenary lineup.
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2.14 Promoting EJSCREEN Use among Brownfields Program
Staff and Grant Applicants
This project will help brownfields grant applicants understand how to use EJSCREEN. OBLR will record a
demonstration of how brownfields grant applicants could use EJSCREEN to identify specific EJ-related
issues around their brownfield sites. This information may be helpful to grant applicants as they
describe their community needs and challenges. OBLR will also encourage program staff to use
EJSCREEN to identify communities for targeted outreach when sharing information about brownfields
resources and grant opportunities.
Project Goals
Promote broader understanding of how EJSCREEN can be
used to help brownfields grant applicants describe their
community needs and how these needs relate to brownfields
challenges.
Organizations Involved
OBLR (lead), Brownfields and Land Revitalization Regional
Program staff.
Timeline | Next Steps
EJSCREEN use among grantees: July to November 2021 (to be available while FY 2022 brownfields grant
solicitations are open).
EJSCREEN use among OBLR staff: ongoing.
T *
•tfr
Environmental
Justice Benefits
Brownfields grant applicants
and program staff will have a
clearer understanding of how
to use EJSCREEN as a tool for
community analyses of EJ
needs near brownfield sites.
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2.15 Development of Data Tools to Enable Environmental
Justice Analyses
OUST is working with EPA Regional offices to consolidate all underground storage tank (UST) and leaking
underground storage tank (LUST) data from Indian country into one database by spring 2021. This data
will then be included in UST Finder, the first-ever national mapping application of UST and LUST sites,
released in September 2020.
Project Goals
The goal of the project is to combine all Indian country data
into a single database. This will be the first time all Indian
country/LUST data is combined and will provide us the ability
to conduct an EJ analysis of UST facilities and LUST sites in
Indian country.
The Indian country data will also be included in UST Finder,
the first-ever national mapping application of UST and LUST
data. The application provides users with geospatial
information about UST facilities and LUST sites, resulting in a
better understanding and assessment of vulnerability to
human health and the environment. This allows us to look at
UST facilities and LUST sites in relation to EJ criteria, surface
and groundwater public drinking water protection areas,
estimated number of private domestic wells and number of
people living nearby, and flooding and wildfires. Once the
Indian country database is complete, it will be included in the
national picture of the UST and LUST universe.
The Indian country database project started several years ago
and will be completed in spring 2021. This tool will provide us
the ability to analyze EJ concerns in communities with UST
and LUST sites in Indian country and will help us advance our
EJ priorities.
Organizations Involved
OUST (lead) and EPA Regional offices.
Timeline | Next Steps
The project started several years ago and is ongoing. All
resources necessary for conducting the project are in place.
The resources required to complete the project include
existing staff time and effort from OUST and EPA Regional
offices.
•jgfc
Environmental
Justice Benefits
This will be the first time all
Indian country data is
combined. The database will
provide us with the ability to
conduct an EJ analysis of UST
facilities and releases in Indian
country, where EPA has direct
authority.
OUST will work with EPA
Regional offices to identify
status of LUST sites in those
communities and determine
what action can be taken to
further advance cleanups at
those sites. Future steps may
include changes in investment
and will be informed by the
Administration's
implementation of Justice^.
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2.16 Pilot Environmental Justice Analysis of UST and LUST
Sites
One analysis will be in Indian country, where EPA has direct authority, and another will be state-specific.
OUST will use UST Finder and EJSCREEN to identify UST facilities and LUST sites in disadvantaged
communities. OUST will work with Regional and state UST programs to understand the implications of EJ
concerns in communities with UST and LUST sites and develop ideas for potential programmatic
adjustments. We will work together to include state-specific information to identify the status of UST
facilities and LUST sites in disadvantaged communities and determine what action can be taken to
advance our program goals and EJ. This pilot analysis will identify questions that need to be answered to
develop more-specific guidance for EPA Regional offices and states. It will provide a launching point for a
future guidance document that tries to tackle how to integrate EJ into decision-making more broadly.
We will conduct two to three state-specific analyses, and one additional analysis in Indian country.
OUST and ORD are developing a new mapping tool to assist in
the pilot analyses, based on UST Finder and EJSCREEN data.
Previously, UST Finder did not include Indian country data.
After completing a database with EPA Regions in spring 2021,
Indian country data will now be included in UST Finder, and
will be able to supplement this analysis in Indian country. The
pilot projects will also be supplemented by state-specific data
to improve our understanding of conditions at UST and LUST
sites in areas with EJ concerns. The analyses will enable us to
learn how the data we have can be used to advance EJ as a
priority. Future steps may include changes in investment and
will be informed by the Administration's implementation of
Justice40.
Project Goals
These pilot projects will help OUST determine how the UST
Finder and EJSCREEN tools can be used to inform and
advance program efforts to promote EJ in communities with
LUST sites. There are more than 60,000 LUST sites across the
country, including over 200 in Indian country. Understanding
how these active LUST releases impact disadvantaged
communities will help us advance our EJ priorities. Similarly,
we hope to determine how these tools can be used to
advance efforts at actively operating UST sites. There are
nearly 200,000 UST sites nationwide, including nearly 900 in
Indian country.
Organizations Involved
OUST (lead), OECA, ORD, EPA Regional offices, states.
Timeline | Next Steps
Pilot project starts in summer 2021, with goal completion
date by the end of calendar year 2021.
•. T
Environmental
Justice Benefits
Conducting an EJ analysis on
UST facilities and LUST sites
will enable us to learn how the
data we have can be used to
advance EJ as a priority in
impacted communities:
•	Indian country: Since EPA has
direct authority in Indian
country, OUST will work
with the Region to identify
the status of UST and LUST
sites in communities with EJ
concerns and determine
what actions can be taken to
further advance our program
goals and EJ at those sites.
•	State-specific analysis: OUST
will work with participating
states and EPA Regional
offices to analyze the status
of UST and LUST sites in
relation to communities with
EJ concerns and determine
what actions can further
advance program goals.
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2.17 Development of OUST-Specific EJSCREEN Training for
Stakeholders to Learn More about the Application and
How It Can Be Used in Their Programs
EJSCREEN training for OUST, EPA Regional offices, states and tribes. OUST worked with ORD and
ASTSWMO to facilitate UST Finder workshops for EPA Regional offices throughout late 2020 and early
2021. These workshops provide the opportunity for tanks programs to learn more about the tool and
how it could be useful to their programs. Following UST Finder trainings with an EJSCREEN training will
promote the use of these existing tools in informing and advancing program efforts.
We will work with OLEM and OEJ on this idea to determine and develop the best path forward to make
EJSCREEN accessible to Regional, state and tribal UST
programs.
Project Goals
The goal of the EJSCREEN training is to provide regional,
state, and tribal UST programs with an understanding of how
the application can help inform and advance efforts to
promote EJ in communities with LUST sites.
Organizations Involved
OUST (lead), OECA, EPA Regional offices, tribes and states.
K i *
Environmental
Justice Benefits
Tailoring EJSCREEN trainings
to UST programs will make it
more accessible to UST
stakeholders in evaluating EJ in
communities with LUST sites.
Timeline | Next Steps
We provided OUST staff a high-level overview of EJSCREEN in March 2021. An in-depth training series
will be pursued through FY 2022.
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2.18 Environmental Indicator with UST and LUST Data in
EJSCREEN
OUST, ORD and OEJ are working together to create an
environmental indicator with UST and LUST data in EJSCREEN
The tanks indicator in EJSCREEN will include national
information from active UST and LUST sites, including sites in
Indian country.
Project Goals
The goal of the project is to include national UST and LUST
information in EJSCREEN. This will provide the ability to
consider UST facilities and releases in the screening analyses
of the application. This will bring UST and LUST information
into more EJ analyses on a national level. The tanks indicator
in EJSCREEN will include national information from active UST
and LUST sites, including sites in Indian country.
Organizations Involved
OUST (lead), OEJ, ORD.
Timeline | Next Steps
The project started in early 2021 and is ongoing. Data
migration of UST and LUST information into EJSCREEN is
anticipated by the end of calendar year 2021, to be included
in the next publicly released update to EJSCREEN in early
2022.
Environmental
Justice Benefits
EJSCREEN provides nationally
consistent data that combines
environmental and
demographic indicators in
maps and reports.
EJSCREEN currently provides
information on 11 different
environmental indicators.
Including UST and LUST data
into EJSCREEN will create an
UST/LUST indicator.
For the first time, the public
will be able to incorporate UST
and LUST sites into their
analyses with EJSCREEN.
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EPA's Coal: Take immediate and affirmative steps to improve early and more frequent
engagement with pollution-burdened and underserved communities affected by agency
rulemakings, permitting decisions and policies. Following President Biden's memorandum on strengthening
the nation-to-nation relationship with tribal nations, EPA staff should engage in regular, meaningful and
robust consultation with tribal officials in the development of federal policies that have tribal implications.
3.1 Technical Support and Engagement with Communities
ORCR will increase technical support to communities through contract channels such as the Technical
Assistance Services for Communities (TASC) program and various grants. These support channels should
focus on risk communication in communities with EJ concerns. In addition, this project would facilitate
community engagement through the identification and support of active Community Advisory Groups
(CAGs). Effective coordination and stakeholder engagement is essential to addressing community
concerns holistically.
Project Goals
ORCR will make a contract vehicle available to make it easier
for EPA Regional offices to facilitate community
understanding of technical environmental issues impacting
their environments and improve two-way communications to
ensure EPA is receiving and responding to community input.
Outputs from community assistance can include fact sheets,
facilitated meeting notes, interpretation of data, formation of
a CAG and other deliverables, some of which may be scaled-
up nationally.
Organizations Involved
ORCR (lead), EPA HQ, EPA Regional offices, communities,
CAGs.
T s
if
Environmental
Justice Benefits
Technical support will bolster
ORCR's risk communication by
helping to formulate
messaging and by providing
guidance in community-
specific public engagement.
Increased support in public
engagement will also facilitate
clearer communication with
communities.
Timeline | Next Steps
Timelines are project- and site-specific. Technical support depends on contractor availability and the
needs of each community. The project's overall start date is September 2021. The project's end date is
May 2022.
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3.2 RCRA Environmental Justice Community of Practice
Establish a forum to hold regular discussions regarding
emerging EJ issues and analyze the state of the practice and
its implementation. This forum will allow for an exchange of
ideas among EPA HQ, EPA Regional offices and states, and
examine how we can learn from each other about
incorporating EJ considerations into our respective efforts,
including permitting and cleanups.
Project Goals
The project will foster learning, collaboration and cost-
effective ways to share information and/or build a foundation
around RCRA topics applicable to vulnerable communities
(e.g., communities with EJ concerns).
Organizations Involved
ORCR (lead), EPA HQ, EPA Regional offices, states.
Timeline | Next Steps
This project is ongoing. Implementation completion is
scheduled for March 2022.
*~*
Environmental
Justice Benefits
The forum will encourage
knowledge sharing and
research, lessons learned/best
practices and collaboration.
EPA and authorized states will
develop a better working
relationship that focuses on
community benefits and
effective outreach and
engagement practices with
disadvantaged communities,
thus integrating these
practices into programs over
the long term.
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3.3 EPA/HUD Proximity Analysis: Assessing and Cleaning
UpSuperfund Sites Near HUD Housing
The purpose of the analysis is to coordinate with HUD to
address contamination from Superfund sites. This is a cross-
agency project between EPA and HUD to identify HUD
housing facilities on or near Superfund sites.
Project Goals
•	Improve the accuracy of the EPA/HUD analysis of
the locations of HUD-assisted housing, located on
Superfund sites;
•	Focus on Superfund sites where there could be
exposures; and
•	Increase HUD and EPA coordination at these sites
to address contamination.
Organizations Involved
OSRTI (lead), OBLR, Regional Superfund programs, ATSDR,
HUD.
Timeline | Next Steps
TBD based on results of 2021 proximity analysis.
Environmental
Justice Benefits
Ensuring that these already
vulnerable communities do not
have the increased burden of
being exposed to
contamination helps us
achieve our EJ goals. In
addition, our goal is to
promote equitable
redevelopment at Superfund
sites, and especially in
overburdened and
underserved communities.
Ensuring that our sites are
cleaned up to support
redevelopment helps lay the
groundwork for employment
opportunities and other
beneficial opportunities for
communities with HUD
housing.
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3.4 Pilot Superfund Community Workshop
** m *
Environmental
Justice Benefits
The goal is to develop and pilot a holistic approach to introducing Superfund to communities early in the
process. This approach would include a structure that allows
for the proper time it takes to build relationships and trust
with communities. It could include listening sessions, setting
expectations, describing resources available, and beginning
discussions about reuse. It would identify issues early in the
process that need to be addressed by other programs. The
goal is to shift the paradigm to invest in communities, instead
of always being reactive. We believe this will foster stronger
relationships between EPA and communities, use our
resources more effectively, and promote early discussions
about redevelopment and technical assistance needs before
significant decisions are made.
Project Goals
•	Assess cumulative impacts on communities.
•	Establish trust and relationships.
•	Assess technical support needs.
•	Provide paths to redevelopment.
•	Improve human health and environment.
•	Enable access to non-Superfund resources.
Organizations Involved
OSRTI (lead), Regional Superfund programs, other agencies
and organizations.
Timeline | Next Steps
Four to six months to develop the workshop, with up to three
workshops for the community over a span of one to two
months.
Communities deserve to be
involved and informed about
how EPA is making decisions
regarding site cleanups and the
protection of their health and
the environment.
By engaging as early as
possible, EPA has a better
chance of establishing
relationships, supporting
information and technical
needs, identifying additional
health and environmental
burdens, and identifying and
enabling access to resources.
We can also begin early
discussions and visioning
exercises to explore
redevelopment opportunities
for sites.
We know from experience that
we make better, more
sustainable site decisions when
communities are involved in
the Superfund process.
Note: This project aligns with
the "community concerns,
challenges and opportunities"
and "strengthen community
voices in decision-making"
recommendations in the
NEjAC Report.
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3.5 Superfund Site Profile Page Update
Using contract support to update Superfund site profile pages. Each NPL site has a public website
intended to keep communities and other interested parties updated on site cleanup progress. The site
pages are also intended to be a repository of key documents, fact sheets, information about various
resources and support that communities can access, meeting notifications, and redevelopment
information. Currently, the Regional CIC and/or RPM update
the site profile pages. Keeping the site profile pages updated	«
requires a significant resource investment.	Justice Benef its
Environmental
Project Goals
•	Improved access to current site information.
•	Improved access to resources.
• Improved risk communication.
Organizations Involved
OSRTI (lead), Superfund site teams.
Timeline | Next Steps
One year to 18 months.
Providing current and accurate
information on the web is one
of the most important ways we
communicate, especially
during the COVID-19 public
health emergency.
Communities deserve to have
access to current site
information so they may stay
informed and participate in the
Superfund process. In
addition, our site information
is used by reporters, elected
officials, potential developers
and other parties who each
have a stake in understanding
current site conditions.
Our site profile pages should
provide easy access to key
documents, resources,
potential health risk
information and information
on what people should do to
prevent those risks.
Note: This project aligns with
the "strengthen community
voices in decision-making"
recommendation in the NEJAC
Report.
Visitors Welcome
WILDCAT CREEK SOCCER COMPLEX
JUU QHRWIOUS UNO TRftlNING CENTER
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3.6 TASC Program Funding at the EPA HQ (Level for
Communities with Environmental Justice
Considerations Next to Federal Facility N PL Sites
Rather than wait for communities to come to EPA with a
request, EPA Regional offices would identify potential
communities and make sure they know that TASC program
services are available to them.
Project Goals
To promote application of an EJ lens by RPMs, identify
communities with EJ concerns and provide communities with
EJ concerns with more resources for more effective
engagement.
Organizations Involved
FFRRO (lead), EPA HQ, OECA, EPA Regional offices,
community stakeholders.
Timeline | Next Steps
Contingent on funding. Expected to take up to one month to
identify communities and three to six months to get funding
in place.
Environmental
* T *
-fih
Justice Benefits
This proposal would provide
funds to EPA Regional offices
to direct TASC resources to
underserved communities who
may need assistance with
reviewing and commenting on
technical information related
to contamination and cleanup.
With this funding,
communities will have more
access to information and
assistance in understanding
technical documents, and that
will allow them to engage in a
meaningful way.
Regional RPMs will work with
Regional CICs to identify
underserved communities and
provide outreach and
engagement. The CICs can
help communities with their
scopes of work and serve as the
liaison between EPA and the
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3.7 Technical Assistance Outreach
OBLR is in the process of awarding a new grant to Groundwork USA to support equitable development
and EJ in brownfields communities and awarding 11 new grants to Regional Technic Assistance to
Brownfields (TAB) providers. To promote the availability of
these technical assistance resources, OBLR plans to work with
the technical assistance providers to ensure that
disadvantaged communities are aware of these free
resources that are available to help advance brownfields
assessment, cleanup and reuse.
T y*
Environmental
Justice Benefits
Project Goals
New communities, particularly those with EJ challenges, will
learn about how to address brownfield challenges using TAB
and Groundwork USA resources.
Organizations Involved
OBLR (lead), Brownfields and Land Revitalization Regional
Programs, brownfields communities that participate in TAB
and Groundwork USA's program offerings.
Timeline | Next Steps
October to December 2021 (timeline dependent on award
and start date for new TAB grants).
By conducting more targeted
outreach, more underserved
communities will learn about
these resources and be able to
take advantage of them to
support their local brownfields
projects.
The training and research
delivered by Brownfields
technical assistance providers
under EPA'sTAB program
assists communities in
cleaning up and reusing
contaminated brownfield
properties, while leveraging
jobs and protecting people's
health and the environment.
Groundwork USA will provide
nationwide technical
assistance to coach and train
brownfields communities on a
variety of innovative and
effective community
engagement approaches to
provide low income and
minority residents with the
opportunity to participate in
and directly benefit from
brownfields revitalization in
their communities.
These new grants will expand OBLR's outreach to brownfields communities, particularly those facing EJ
challenges.
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EPA's Coal: Consistent with the Administration's Justice40 initiative, consider and prioritize
direct and indirect benefits to underserved communities in the development of requests for grant
applications and in making grant award decisions, to the extent allowed by law.
4.1 New Grant Solicitation: Supporting Anaerobic
Digestion in Communities
ORCR announces the availability of funds and solicits applications that will demonstrate a means of
accelerating the development of new or enhance/increase existing anaerobic digestion capacity and
infrastructure in the United States from food waste. The grant includes a criterion on EJ. This funding
announcement supports the priorities detailed in President Biden's ixecutive Order 13985 (Advancing
Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government) and
Executive Order 14008 (Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad). EPA will conduct outreach to
ensure awareness of this funding opportunity. In addition,
there is a set aside of about $800,000 of the estimated total
specifically for U.S. territories, tribal governments, tribal
colleges and universities, and eligible organizations located in
persistent poverty counties.
S,V
Environmental
Justice Benefits
Project Goals
Award grants for feasibility studies, technical assistance and
demonstration projects for innovative technologies that will
accelerate the development of new or enhance/increase
existing anaerobic digestion capacity and infrastructure in the
United States from food waste to support state or local
mandates to remove food waste and organic materials from
waste streams, with considerations for EJ concerns.
Organizations Involved
ORCR (lead), OGD, EPA Regional offices (reviewers), external
stakeholders (to be determined).
Timeline | Next Steps
Present and ongoing - winter 2021 (announcement of
selected recipients).
Late spring/early summer 2022 (estimated timeframe for
awarding grants).
41
Criteria on which grant
applications will be evaluated
are how the project benefits
the community impacted and
the extent to which the project
addresses engagement with
the community to ensure
meaningful participation with
respect to the project's design,
planning and performance.
Inclusion of these criteria will
strengthen the likelihood that
grant recipients will address
the community addressed by
their proposal.

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4.2 Exploration of Potential Revisions to RCRA Hazardous
Waste State Grant Terms and Conditions to Better
Prioritize and Support State Activities to Address
Environmental justice Concerns
The EJ benefit would depend
on the scope of the new terms
and conditions but could
potentially be reflected in
enforcement, permitting,
cleanups, and community
engagement activities in
general, Because states rely on
this annual grant funding to
implement their authorized
hazardous waste programs,
developing grant terms and
conditions to add emphasis on
communities with Ej concerns
could help elevate EJ into a
routine part of business.
Environmental
Justice Benefits
EPA provides annual grant funding to authorized states and
territories to implement the RCRA Hazardous Waste
Management Program. Authorized states are the primary
implementing agency for most permitting, corrective action,
and enforcement activities. ORCR and EPA Regional offices
would explore and potentially develop proposed grant terms
and conditions focusing on state actions that support EPA EJ
priorities and goals. EPA may need to develop language in the
National Program Managers Guidance and/or the EPA
Strategic Plan to support new grant terms and conditions.
ORCR would also coordinate with efforts within other media
programs to ensure Agency-wide consistency. EPA would also
coordinate with states throughout this effort.
Project Goals
Elevate EJ focus and priorities into state grant agreements.
Organizations Involved
ORCR (lead), OECA, EPA Regional offices, states, ASTSWMO.
Timeline | Next Steps
Dependent on state budget cycles and timing of Regional
workplan negotiation with states.
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4.3 Analytical Needs Assessment
By developing an analytic needs assessment, OLEM will be able to respond to anticipated questions
about what changes are necessary to capture the benefits of reducing greenhouse gases through
improved waste and sustainable materials management and the impacts of underserved communities
within the scope of OLEM programs. As a first step to building robust analyses that support policy and
programmatic changes to meet the challenges of Executive Order 14008 and Executive Order 13990,
OLEM needs to understand the impact of the executive orders on existing program models, baseline
data and related information sources.
•	OLEM's Office of Program Management will oversee the development of an analytical needs
assessment for using health and economic impacts on underserved communities from climate
change, plus an accompanying inventory of available tools at the federal, state and local level. This
is a cross-OLEM activity and will provide EJ benefits by enabling program offices to include more
details in supporting analyses for policy and program changes to meet Executive Order 14008
objectives. This effort will include external stakeholders engaged by our consultants for community
level perspectives.
•	The Office will partner with ORCR to assess the data needs to estimate the social costs of
nonrecycling. This report will provide EJ benefits as a companion report to the ongoing updates to
the social costs of greenhouse gases. The EJ benefit will be a more complete picture of the impacts
on underserved communities when the impacts of uncontrolled disposal and secondary impacts
(traffic patterns of waste shipments) are described in
this report.
•	The Office will review existing OLEM grant and
cooperative agreement guidance, award terms and
conditions, and other relevant documents (e.g., National
Program Guidance) to create baseline data on how
OLEM grants currently support EJ activities.
Coordinating with relevant Program Offices and regional
counterparts, incorporate changes developed in
coordination with OMS/OGD, as appropriate.
Project Goals
Provide reports and analytical needs assessments to all OLEM
program offices for consideration in program work planning
this year.
Timeline | Next Steps
Internal review of draft reports: September to November
2021.
Report completion: December 2021.

Environmental
Justice Benefits
The analytic needs assessment
will provide EJ benefits by
enabling program offices to
include more robust and
defensible information under
scrutiny in their supporting
analyses for policy and
program changes that meet
both executive order
objectives.
This effort will include external
stakeholders for community-
level perspectives.
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Compendium of EJ-Related Terms
EPA 502/P-21/001
This compendium lists and describes critical words, terms and phrases that are encountered and
deployed frequently when working on EJ. The compendium is an iterative, living resource; it is not
intended to be comprehensive.
Community
Interim Justice40 Guidance - Executive Order 14008 (2021):
Agencies should define community as "either a group of individuals living in geographic
proximity to one another, or a geographically dispersed set of individuals (such as migrant
workers or Native Americans), where either type of group experiences common conditions."
Cumulative Impacts
Promising Practices for EJ Methodologies in NEPA Reviews (2016):
Cumulative impacts may result from chemical and non-chemical stressors, exposures from
multiple routes or sources, and factors that differentially affect exposure or toxicity to
communities.
•	The cumulative ecological, aesthetic, historic, cultural, economic, social or health effects
of the proposed action can arise from and also include nonchemical stressors.
•	Communities can experience cumulative impacts to one or more chemical, biological,
physical or radiological contaminants across environmental media (e.g., air, water, soil,
land use) from single or multiple sources, over time in one or more locations.
•	Communities can experience multiple exposures from any combination of direct,
indirect or cumulative impacts to two or more chemical, biological, physical or
radiological contaminants from single or multiple sources.
Cumulative Risk Assessment
Technical Guidance for Assessing Environmental Justice in Regulatory Analysis (2016):
Cumulative risk assessment is an analysis, characterization and possible quantification of the
combined risks to human health or the environment from multiple agents or stressors.
Direct Implementation (in Indian Country)
EPA's Direction Implementation in Indian Country Web Page:
EPA is responsible for implementing federal environmental statutes in Indian country (tribal
lands). In the absence of a federally approved tribal program, EPA retains program
implementation authority. Currently, EPA maintains responsibility for the implementation of the
vast majority of federal environmental statutes in Indian country.
Disadvantage(d) - *Note: the term "disadvantage(d)" is not a term that is widely used within EPA
in the context of identifying communities with EJ concerns. However, it is referenced in Executive Order
14008 and is intended to be used in the Justice40 initiative in tandem with the Climate and Economic
Justice Screening Tool that is currently under development.
Environmental Justice Section of Executive Order 14008:
Disadvantaged communities — historically marginalized and overburdened
Interim Justice40 Guidance - Executive Order 14008 (2021):
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Agencies should consider appropriate data, indices and screening tools to determine whether a
specific community is disadvantaged based on a combination of variables that may include, but
are not limited to:
•	Low income, high and/or persistent poverty.
•	High unemployment and underemployment.
•	Racial and ethnic residential segregation, particularly where the segregation stems from
discrimination by government entities.
•	Linguistic isolation.
•	High housing cost burden and substandard housing.
•	Distressed neighborhoods.
•	High transportation cost burden and/or low transportation access.
•	Disproportionate environmental stressor burden and high cumulative impacts.
•	Limited water and sanitation access and affordability.
•	Disproportionate impacts from climate change.
•	High energy cost burden and low energy access.
•	Jobs lost through the energy transition.
•	Access to healthcare.
Social disadvantage refers to individuals and groups, historically and in present day, subjected
abuse of power and mistreatment based on social classifications, resulting in diminished
opportunities for advancement, limited ability to influence quality of life conditions, and general
subordination relative to the broader society. Although substantial social disadvantage in the
United States has a historical and ongoing association with race, other social elements such as
sex, national origin, language, religious affiliation, gender identity and physical disability can also
be the basis of disadvantaged status.
Disproportionate Impacts
Guidance on Considering Environmental Justice During the Development of Regulatory Actions
(2015)	and Technical Guidance for Assessing Environmental Justice in Regulatory Analysis
(2016):
The determination of whether there is a potential disproportionate impact that may merit
Agency action is ultimately a policy judgment informed by analysis, and is the responsibility of
the decision-maker...examples of the type of information that may be useful to provide to
decision-makers for considering whether or not effects are disproportionate include: the
severity and nature of health consequences; the magnitude of the estimated differences in
impacts between population groups; mean or median exposures or risks to relevant population
groups; distributions of exposures or risk to relevant population groups; characterization of the
uncertainty; and a discussion of factors that may make population groups more vulnerable.
EJ 2020 Action Agenda (2016):
Disproportionate Effects is a term used in Executive Order 12898 to describe situations of
concern where there are significantly higher and more adverse health and environmental effects
on minority populations, low income populations or indigenous peoples.
Environmental Justice
EPA/Environmental Justice Website:
EPA defines environmental justice as "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."
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Environmental justice is a major part of the Agency's core mission of protecting human life and
the environment. (EPA/EJ website)
EJ 2020 Action Agenda (2016):
The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, culture,
national origin, income and educational levels with respect to the development, implementation
and enforcement of protective environmental laws, regulations and policies.
Exposure
Technical Guidance for Assessing Environmental Justice in Regulatory Analysis (2016):
Human contact with environmental contaminants in media including air, water, soil and food.
Exposure Pathway
Technical Guidance for Assessing Environmental Justice in Regulatory Analysis (2016):
The course a chemical or contaminant takes from its source to the person being contacted.
Fair Treatment
EPA/Environmental Justice Website:
Fair treatment means no group of people should bear a disproportionate share of the negative
environmental consequences resulting from industrial, governmental and commercial
operations or policies.
Plan EJ 2014(2011):
Fair treatment means that no group of people should bear a disproportionate burden of
environmental harms and risks, including those resulting from the negative environmental
consequences of industrial, governmental, and commercial operations or programs and policies.
Guidance on Considering Environmental Justice During the Development of Regulatory Actions
(2015) and EJ 2020 Action Agenda (2016):
The principle that no group of people, including a racial, ethnic or socioeconomic group, should
bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences from industrial,
municipal and commercial operations or the execution of federal, state, local and tribal
programs and policies. In implementing its programs, EPA has expanded the concept of fair
treatment to include not only consideration of how burdens are distributed across all
populations, but the distribution of benefits as well.
Federally Recognized Indian Tribe
Bureau of Indian Affairs FAQs Web Page:
A Federally Recognized Indian Tribe is an American Indian or Alaska Native tribal entity that is
recognized as having a government-to-government relationship with the United States, with the
responsibilities, powers, limitations and obligations attached to that designation, and is eligible
for funding and services from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Furthermore, federally recognized
tribes are recognized as possessing certain inherent rights of self-government (i.e., tribal
sovereignty) and are entitled to receive certain federal benefits, services and protections
because of their special relationship with the United States. At present, there are 574 federally
recognized American Indian and Alaska Native tribes and villages.
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Health Impact Assessment
Technical Guidance for Assessing Environmental Justice in Regulatory Analysis (2016):
A systematic process that uses an array of data sources and analytic methods, and considers
input from stakeholders to identify the potential effects of a proposed regulatory action, policy
or project on the health of a population and the distribution of those effects within the
population.
Hot Spot
Technical Guidance for Assessing Environmental Justice in Regulatory Analysis (2016):
A geographic area with a high level of pollution/contamination within a larger geographic area
of lower or more "normal" environmental quality.
Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA)
Technical Guidance for Assessing Environmental Justice in Regulatory Analysis (2016):
The process used to estimate the nature and probability of adverse health effects in humans
who may be exposed to chemicals or other stressors in contaminated environmental media,
now or in the future.
Impacts
Public Health Impacts are positive or negative changes in the health and wellbeing of a
population resulting from singular, aggregate or cumulative exposure to chemical, physical and
social stressors. Examples of negative changes include disease (e.g., cancer, asthma),
psychosocial stress, unemployment, poverty, changes in body burdens of contaminants, all-
cause and disease-specific mortality, and low infant birth weight. Positive changes in these
examples are also public health impacts.
Indian Country
EPA Policy on Environmental Justice for Working with Federally Recognized Tribes and
Indigenous Peoples (2014):
As defined at 18 U.S.C. § 1151, (a) all land within the limits of any Indian reservation under the
jurisdiction of the United States Government, notwithstanding the issuance of any patent, and,
including rights-of-way running through the reservation; (b) all dependent Indian communities
within the borders of the United States whether within the original or subsequently acquired
territory thereof, and whether within or without the limits of a state; and (c) all Indian
allotments, the Indian titles to which have not been extinguished, including rights-of-way
running through the same.
EPA Plan for the Federal Certification of Applicators of Restricted Use Pesticides within Indian
Country:
Indian Country is defined by federal statute as: "(a) all land within the limits of any Indian
reservation under the jurisdiction of the United States..., (b) all dependent Indian communities
within the borders of the United States..., and (c) all Indian allotments." You may also hear terms
such as "tribal lands" or "Indian lands" used interchangeably with Indian country. Defined in 18
U.S.C. § 1151.
Indian Reservation/Tribal Lands
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Bureau of Indian Affairs FAQs Web Page:
A federal Indian reservation is an area of land reserved for a tribe or tribes under treaty or other
agreement with the United States, executive order, or federal statute or administrative action as
permanent tribal homelands, and where the federal government holds title to the land in trust
on behalf of the tribe. Approximately 56.2 million acres are held in trust by the United States for
various Indian tribes and individuals. There are approximately 326 Indian land areas in the U.S.
administered as federal Indian reservations (i.e., reservations, pueblos, rancherias, missions,
villages, communities). The largest is the 16-million-acre Navajo Nation Reservation located in
Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. The smallest is a 1.32-acre parcel in California where the Pit
River Tribe's cemetery is located. Many of the smaller reservations are less than 1,000 acres.
Some reservations are the remnants of a tribe's original land base. Others were created by the
federal government for the resettling of Indian people forcibly relocated from their homelands.
Not every federally recognized tribe has a reservation. Federal Indian reservations are generally
exempt from state jurisdiction, including taxation, except when Congress specifically authorizes
such jurisdiction.
Indigenous Peoples
EPA Policy on Environmental Justice for Working with Federally-Recognized Tribes and
Indigenous Peoples (2014) and EJ 2020 Action Agenda (2016):
The term "indigenous peoples" includes state-recognized tribes, indigenous and tribal
community-based organizations, individual members of federally recognized tribes, including
those living on a different reservation or living outside Indian country, individual members of
state-recognized tribes, Native Hawaiians, Native Pacific Islanders, and individual Native
Americans.
Technical Guidance for Assessing Environmental Justice in Regulatory Analysis (2016):
The term "indigenous peoples" includes state-recognized tribes, indigenous and tribal
community-based organizations, individual members of federally recognized tribes, including
those living on a different reservation or living outside Indian country, individual members of
state-recognized tribes, Native Hawaiians, Native Pacific Islanders, and individual Native
Americans. A reference to populations characterized by Native American or other pre-European
North American ethnicity or cultural traits.
Inherent Tribal Authority
Bureau of Indian Affairs FAQs Web Page
Tribes possess all powers of self-government except those relinquished under treaty with the
United States, those that Congress has expressly extinguished, and those that federal courts
have ruled are subject to existing federal law or are inconsistent with overriding national
policies. Tribes, therefore, possess the right to form their own governments; to make and
enforce laws, both civil and criminal; to tax; to establish and determine membership (i.e., tribal
citizenship); to license and regulate activities within their jurisdiction; to zone; and to exclude
persons from tribal lands.
Life Stage
Technical Guidance for Assessing Environmental Justice in Regulatory Analysis (2016):
A distinguishable timeframe in an individual's life characterized by unique and relatively stable
behavioral and/or physiological characteristics that are associated with development and
growth that are characterized by economic resources.
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Low Income
EJ 2020 Action Agenda (2016):
A reference to populations characterized by limited economic resources. The U.S. Office of
Management and Budget has designated the Census Bureau's annual poverty measure as the
official metric for program planning and analysis, although other definitions exist.
Guidance on Considering Environmental Justice During the Development of Regulatory Actions
(2015):
OMB has designated the Census Bureau's annual poverty measure as the official metric for
program planning and analysis by all Executive branch federal agencies, though it does not
preclude the use of other measures (OMB 1978). However, unlike its treatment of poverty, the
Census Bureau does not have an official or standard definition of what constitutes "low
income." It is therefore appropriate to characterize low income in a variety of ways. Rule-writers
may examine several different low income categories, such as families whose income falls above
the poverty threshold but below the average household income for the United States, or below
two times the poverty threshold. Additional socioeconomic characteristics such as educational
attainment, baseline health status and health insurance coverage may also be useful for
identifying, characterizing and developing strategies for assessing and engaging low income
populations in the context of specific regulatory actions.
Marginalize
Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary: "To relegate to an unimportant or powerless position
within a society or group."
Meaningful Involvement
EPA/Environmental Justice Website:
Meaningful involvement means:
•	People have an opportunity to participate in decisions about activities that may affect
their environment and/or health.
•	The public's contribution can influence the regulatory agency's decision.
•	Community concerns will be considered in the decision-making process.
•	Decision makers will seek out and facilitate the involvement of those potentially
affected.
Plan EJ 2014(2011):
Meaningful involvement means that: (1) potentially affected community members have an
appropriate opportunity to participate in decisions about a proposed activity that will affect
their environment and/or health; (2) the public's contribution can influence the regulatory
agency's decision; (3) the concerns of all participants involved will be considered in the decision-
making process; and (4) the decision makers seek out and facilitate the involvement of those
potentially affected.
EJ 2020 Action Agenda (2016):
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.
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Overburdened
Plan EJ 2014(2011):
EPA uses the term "overburdened" to describe the minority, low income, tribal and indigenous
populations or communities in the United States that potentially experience disproportionate
environmental harms and risks as a result of greater vulnerability to environmental hazards. This
increased vulnerability may be attributable to an accumulation of both negative and lack of
positive environmental, health, economic or social conditions within these populations or
communities.
EJ 2020 Action Agenda (2016):
Overburdened Community - Minority, low income, tribal or indigenous populations or
geographic locations in the United States that potentially experience disproportionate
environmental harms and risks. This disproportionality can be as a result of greater vulnerability
to environmental hazards, lack of opportunity for public participation, or other factors.
Increased vulnerability may be attributable to an accumulation of negative or lack of positive
environmental, health, economic or social conditions within these populations or places. The
term describes situations where multiple factors, including both environmental and socio-
economic stressors, may act cumulatively to affect health and the environment and contribute
to persistent environmental health disparities.
People of Color
EPA/EJSCREEN Website:
The percent of individuals in a block group who list their racial status as a race other than white
alone and/or list their ethnicity as Hispanic or Latino. That is, all people other than non-Hispanic
white-alone individuals. The word "alone" in this case indicates that the person is of a single
race, not multiracial.
EJ 2020 Action Agenda (2016):
Minority Populations - According to the Census Bureau, populations of people who are not
single-race white and not Hispanic. Populations of individuals who are members of the following
population groups: American Indian or Alaskan Native; Asian or Pacific Islander; Black, not of
Hispanic origin; or Hispanic.
Pollutant
Technical Guidance for Assessing Environmental Justice in Regulatory Analysis (2016):
An emitted substance that is regulated or monitored for its potential to cause harm to the
health of individuals or to the environment.
Population Groups of Concern
Technical Guidance for Assessing Environmental Justice in Regulatory Analysis (2016):
In this document, minority populations, low income populations and
indigenous peoples in the United States and its territories and possessions.
Potential Environmental Justice Concern
Guidance on Considering Environmental Justice During the Development of Regulatory Actions
(2015):
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A potential EJ concern refers to disproportionate and adverse impacts on minority populations,
low income populations and/or indigenous peoples that may exist prior to or that may be
created by the proposed regulatory action. The regulatory action may involve a potential EJ
concern if it could:
•	Create new disproportionate impacts on minority populations, low income populations
and/or indigenous peoples.
•	Exacerbate existing disproportionate impacts on minority populations, low income
populations and/or indigenous peoples.
•	Present opportunities to address existing disproportionate impacts on minority
populations, low income populations and/or indigenous peoples through the action
under development.
A potential EJ concern refers to lack of opportunities for minority populations, low income
populations, tribes and indigenous peoples to meaningfully participate in the development of
the regulatory action.
A potential EJ concern may arise when there is an actual or potential lack of fair treatment or
meaningful involvement of minority populations, low income populations, tribes and indigenous
peoples when implementing an agency regulatory action. Rule writers should assess how to
consider EJ not only in the development of the action, but in the implementation of the action
as well. The rule writers should consider whether and how they can craft the action to influence
its implementation in a manner that considers EJ.
Technical Guidance for Assessing Environmental Justice in Regulatory Analysis (2016):
This document describes methods for analysts to use when assessing potential EJ concerns in
national rules, enhancing our ability to perform some of the most crucial work we do. The
technical guidance presents key analytic principles and definitions, best practices and technical
questions to frame the consideration of EJ in regulatory actions. It also includes
recommendations that are designed to enhance the consistency of our assessment of potential
EJ concerns across all regulatory actions.
Proximity or Contaminant Analysis
Technical Guidance for Assessing Environmental Justice in Regulatory Analysis (2016):
An analytical approach using spatial data to estimate a population's risk or exposure to a
stressor when direct measurement of risk or exposure is unavailable.
Race / Ethnicity
Guidance on Considering Environmental Justice During the Development of Regulatory Actions
(2015):
OMB defines six distinct race and ethnic categories: American Indian or Alaska Native; Asian;
Black or African American; Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander; White; and Hispanic or
Latino.
Risk
Technical Guidance for Assessing Environmental Justice in Regulatory Analysis (2016):
The probability of an adverse effect in an organism, system or population caused under
specified circumstances by exposure to a contaminant or stressor.
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Risk Management
Technical Guidance for Assessing Environmental Justice in Regulatory Analysis (2016):
In the context of human health, a decision-making process that accounts for political, social,
economic and engineering implications together with risk-related information in order to
develop, analyze and compare management options and select the appropriate managerial
response to a potential chronic health hazard.
Sacred Sites
Executive Order 13007 (1996):
As defined in Executive Order 13007, any specific, discrete, narrowly delineated location on
Federal land that is identified by an Indian tribe, or Indian individual determined to be an
appropriately authoritative representative of an Indian religion, as sacred by virtue of its
established religious significance to, or ceremonial use by, an Indian religion, provided that the
tribe or appropriately authoritative representative of an Indian religion has informed the agency
of the existence of such a site.
Social Context
Technical Guidance for Assessing Environmental Justice in Regulatory Analysis (2016):
Refers to all social and political mechanisms that generate, configure and maintain social
hierarchies. These mechanisms can include the labor market, the educational system, political
institutions, and cultural and societal values.
Social Determinants of Health (SDOH)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Website:
Social determinants of health are the conditions in the environments where people are born,
live, learn, work, play, worship and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and
quality-of-life outcomes and risks. SDOH can be grouped into five domains:
•	Economic stability.
•	Education access and quality.
•	Health care access and quality.
•	Neighborhood and built environment.
•	Social and community context.
Source
Technical Guidance for Assessing Environmental Justice in Regulatory Analysis (2016):
The origin of potential contaminants; frequently, a facility or site.
Stakeholders
Technical Guidance for Assessing Environmental Justice in Regulatory Analysis (2016):
Broadly defined as interested persons concerned with the decisions made about how a risk may
be avoided, mitigated or eliminated, as well as those who may be affected by regulatory
decisions.
Stressor
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Technical Guidance for Assessing Environmental Justice in Regulatory Analysis (2016):
A stressor is any physical, chemical or biological entity that can induce an adverse response.
Stressors may adversely affect specific natural resources or entire ecosystems, including plants
and animals, as well as the environment with which they interact. In this document, the term is
used to encompass the range of chemical, physical or biological agents, contaminants or
pollutants that may be subject to a rulemaking.
Subsistence Populations
Technical Guidance for Assessing Environmental Justice in Regulatory Analysis (2016):
Minority populations, low income populations or indigenous peoples (or subgroups of such
populations) subsisting on indigenous fish, vegetation and/or wildlife, as the principal portion of
their diet.
Susceptibility
Technical Guidance for Assessing Environmental Justice in Regulatory Analysis (2016):
Increased likelihood of an adverse effect, often discussed in terms of relationship to a factor that
can be used to describe a population group (e.g., life stage, demographic feature, genetic
characteristic). In this document, the term refers to an individual's responsiveness to exposure.
Tribal Consultation and Coordination
EPA's Consultation and Coordination with Tribes Web Page:
A process through which EPA interacts with tribal governments when EPA actions and decisions
may affect tribal interests. EPA's tribal consultation activities are guided by two separate
sources: Executive Order 13175 - Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal
Governments (2000) and the EPA Policy on Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribes
(Consultation Policy) (2011). The Guidance for Discussing Tribal Treaty Rights (2016)
complements the Consultation Policy.
Tribal Self Determination
Bureau of Indian Affairs FAQs Web Page:
Congress has recognized the right of tribes to have a greater say over the development and
implementation of federal programs and policies that directly impact on them and their tribal
members. It did so by enacting two major pieces of legislation that together embody the
important concepts of tribal self-determination and self-governance: the Indian Self-
determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975, as amended (25 U.S.C. 450 et seq.) and the
Tribal Self-Governance Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 458aa et seq.). Through these laws, Congress
accorded tribal governments the authority to administer themselves the programs and services
usually administered by the BIA for their tribal members. It also upheld the principle of tribal
consultation, whereby the federal government consults with tribes on federal actions, policies,
rules or regulations that will directly affect them.
Tribal Treaties
Bureau of Indian Affairs FAQs Web Page:
Tribal Treaties are "contracts among nations" that recognize and establish unique sets of rights,
benefits and conditions for the treaty-making tribes who agreed to cede millions of acres of
their homelands to the United States and accept its protection. Like other treaty obligations of
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the United States, Indian treaties are considered to be "the supreme law of the land/' and they
are the foundation upon which federal Indian law and the federal Indian trust relationship is
based.
Tribes
EPA Policy on Environmental Justice for Working with Federally Recognized Tribes and
Indigenous Peoples (2014):
Federally Recognized Tribe (for the purposes of this Policy) - an Indian or Alaska Native tribe,
band, nation, pueblo, village or community that the Secretary of the Interior acknowledges to
exist as an Indian tribe pursuant to the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1944, 25
U.S.C.479a. The elected officials for the federally recognized tribe and the government structure
they administer are referred to as the federally recognized tribal government. When used in this
document, "tribes" refers to federally recognized tribes unless otherwise specified.
EJ 2020 Action Agenda (2016):
When used in this document, "tribes" refers to federally recognized tribes. Federally recognized
tribes include any Indian or Alaska Native tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village or community that
the Secretary of the Interior acknowledges to exist as an Indian tribe pursuant to the Federally
Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1944, 25 U.S.C.479a.
Trust Responsibility
Bureau of Indian Affairs FAQs Web Page:
Trust Responsibility is a legal obligation under which the United States "has charged itself with
moral obligations of the highest responsibility and trust" toward Indian tribes. This obligation
was first discussed by Chief Justice John Marshall in Cherokee Nation v. Georgia (1831). Over the
years, the trust doctrine has been at the center of numerous other Supreme Court cases, thus
making it one of the most important principles in federal Indian law. The federal Indian trust
responsibility is also a legally enforceable fiduciary obligation on the part of the United States to
protect tribal treaty rights, lands, assets and resources, as well as a duty to carry out the
mandates of federal law with respect to American Indian and Alaska Native tribes and villages.
Vulnerability
Technical Guidance for Assessing Environmental Justice in Regulatory Analysis (2016):
Physical, chemical, biological, social and cultural factors that result in certain communities and
population groups being more susceptible or more exposed to environmental toxins, or having
compromised ability to cope with and/or recover from such exposure.
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