Environmental Justice

On June 22, 2005, the United States Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") issued a notice in the Federal Register (PDF 52.9KB, 2 pages) seeking public comments on a draft "Environmental Justice Strategic Plan Outline" and "Framework for Integrating Environmental Justice," (collectively, the "Environmental Justice Strategic Plan"). EPA appreciates the comments that it received. Based on these comments, the Agency has concluded that it can most effectively address environmental justice concerns by directly integrating the issue into the Agency's planning and budgeting processes, rather than establishing separate environmental justice strategic plan.

This approach was highlighted by Administrator Stephen L. Johnson in his memorandum, "Reaffirming the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Commitment to Environmental Justice." (PDF 3,560KB, 2 pages) By incorporating environmental justice considerations into EPA's strategic planning and budgeting process, EPA can significantly address issues facing communities with potential environmental justice concerns. Specifically, the Agency will include environmental justice considerations, strategies, commitments, and/or measures into the following:

• EPA's Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2006-2011; and
• Each Headquarters program office and Region's Environmental Justice Action Plans for Fiscal Year 2006

These commitments, strategies and measures will address, among others, eight national environmental justice priorities that are relevant nationwide and which environmental justice advocates and others have identified as critical environmental justice issues. The eight priorities include:

Air Reduce Asthma Attacks Reduce Exposure to Air Toxics	Water Fish and Shellfish Safe to Eat Water Safe to Drink
Enforcement and Compliance Ensure Compliance	Healthy Communities Revitalization of Brownfields and Contaminated Sites
Toxics Reduced Incidence of Elevated Blood Lead Levels	Cross-Cutting Collaborative Problem-Solving

EPA issued its Strategic Plan on September 29, 2006.

Many elements in the Strategic Plan address the national environmental justice priorities and focus on at-risk populations ( i.e. , Sub-objective 1.2.2: Asthma , Sub-objective 4.1.1: Reduce Chemical Risks). In addition, explicit environmental justice commitments and strategies are identified throughout the document.