Environmental Justice at Federal Facilities
Environmental justice is 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. EPA has this goal for all communities and persons across this nation. It will be achieved when everyone enjoys the same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards and equal access to the decision-making process to have a healthy environment in which to live, learn and work.
Federal Facilities Working Group of the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council
EPA tasked National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC) to identify key issues of concern to environmental justice communities, including tribes, related to contamination and cleanup activities at federal facilities. In 2000, NEJAC formed the Federal Facilities Working Group, which consisted of 11 ethinically and geographically diverse members representing tribal, state and local governments; private industry; community groups; academia, and non-governmental organizations.
Environmental Justice and Federal Facilities Report
In 2004, The Working Group submitted the rerport: Environmental Justice and Federal Facilities: Recommendations for Improving Stakeholder Relations Between Federal Facilities and Environmental Justice Communities. The report includes recommendations to EPA and other federal agencies on how to improve communication, cultural sensitivity, health services, lack of resources and stakeholder influence in the decision-making processes at federal facilities in communities striving to reach environmental justice.
- Environmental Justice and Federal Facilities: Recommendations for Improving Stakeholder Relations Between Federal Facilities and Environmental Justice Communities (PDF) (94 pp, 1.4 MB, About PDF)
Responses and Plan EJ 2014: