
Agencies Slow to Implement Environmental Justice Order
by Guest Blogger, 9/17/2003
EPA and the departments of Interior, Transportation and Housing and Urban
Development have not fully incorporated environmental justice principles into their work as required by a Clinton-era executive order, according to a report by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (USCCR).
The USCCR found that the four agencies have made progress in addressing environmental justice but noted a number of shortcomings. Specifically:
- The agencies have not established accountability and performance outcomes for programs and activities. Not one of the agencies examined reported any comprehensive assessments of their environmental justice efforts. USCCR believes that assessments are necessary for assessing the success of environmental justice initiatives. In particular, the commission recommends that agencies identify disproportionately and adversely affected communities and create explicit goals for reducing risks.
- A commitment to environmental justice issues is often lacking from agency leadership. The commission found that EPA leaders have demonstrated support for promoting environmental justice but noted that leadership at the other three agencies has not made the same commitment.
