[CPEO-BIF] Whitman Re-Affirms EJ Commitment

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

On August 9, 2001, Christine Todd Whitman, Administrator of the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, circulated the following memo within
EPA, re-affirming the agency's commitment to Environmental Justice.

SUBJECT: EPA's Commitment to Environmental Justice

The Environmental Protection Agency has a firm commitment to the issue
of environmental justice and its integration into all programs,
policies, and activities, consistent with existing environmental laws
and their implementing regulations.

The Agency defines environmental justice to mean the FAIR TREATMENT of
people of all races, cultures, and incomes with respect to the
development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws and
policies, and their MEANINGFUL INVOLVEMENT in the decisionmaking
processes of the government. Among other things, this requires the following:

(a) Conducting our programs, policies, and activities that substantially
affect human health and the environment in a manner that ensures the
fair treatment of all people, including minority populations and/or
low-income populations;

(b) Ensuring equal enforcement of protective environmental laws for all
people, including minority populations and/or low income populations;

(c) Ensuring greater public participation in the Agency's development
and implementation of environmental regulations and policies; and

(d) Improving research and data collection for Agency programs relating
to the health of, and the environment of all people, including minority
populations and/or low-income populations.

In sum, environmental justice is the goal to be achieved for all
communities and persons across this Nation. Environmental justice is
achieved when everyone, regardless of race, culture, or income, enjoys
the same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards AND
equal access to the decision-making process to have a health environment
in which to live, learn, and work.

The purpose of this memorandum is to ensure your continued support and
commitment in administering environmental laws and their implementing
regulations to assure that environmental justice is, in fact, secured
for all communities and persons. Environmental statutes provide many
opportunities to address environmental risks and hazards in minority
communities and/or low-income communities. Application of these existing
statutory provisions is an important part of this Agency's effort to
prevent those communities from being subject to disproportionately high
and adverse impacts, and environmental effects.

In the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), Congress could
not have been any clearer when it stated that it shall be the continuing
responsibility of the Federal government to assure for all Americans
"safe, healthful, productive and aesthetically and culturally pleasing surroundings."

Integration of environmental justice into the programs, policies, and
activities via Headquarters/Regional Office Memoranda of Agreements and
Regional Office/State Performance Partnership Agreements is an Agency
priority. The Director of the Office of Environmental Justice, Barry E.
Hill, and his staff are available to assist you....

I am positive that each of you will join me in working to secure
environmental justice for all communities.

(signed)
Christine Todd Whitman

-- 


Lenny Siegel
Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
c/o PSC, 222B View St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
lsiegel@cpeo.org
http://www.cpeo.org

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