THE BIRTH OF THE OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
In July, 1990, the EPA Administrator created the Environmental Equity Workgroup
in response to concerns raised by EPA staff and the public [the Michigan Coalition,
Congressional Black Caucus, and others]. The Environmental Equity Workgroup
was to assess the evidence that “racial minority and low-income populations
bear a higher environmental risk burden than the general population.”
The final report produced by the workgroup, Environmental Equity: Reducing
Risk in All Communities, contained several major findings supporting the allegation
of the existence of environmental injustice. One of the recommendations made
by the workgroup was to create an office to address these inequities; therefore
the Office of Environmental Justice was established on November 6, 1992. EPA
defines environmental justice as the fair treatment and meaningful involvement
of all people, regardless of race, color, national origin, culture, education,
or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement
of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. EPA defines this fair treatment
to mean that “no group of people, including racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic
groups, should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental
consequences resulting from industrial, municipal, and commercial operations
or the execution of federal, state, local, and tribal environmental programs,
and policies.”
(EPA, Retrieved March 19, 2004 from http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/faqs/ej/index.html)
EXECUTIVE ORDER 12898
Executive Order 12898: “Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice
in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations” was signed on February
11, 1994, by former President Bill Clinton. The goal of the order is to achieve
environmental protection for all communities. It directs federal agencies
to develop environmental justice strategies in order to identify and address
disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects
of their programs, policies, and activities on minority and low-income populations.
(EPA, Retrieved March 19, 2004 from http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/faqs/ej/index.html)
A SEATTLE COMMUNITY TAKES ACTION
South Park community in Seattle, Washington, can be described as a low-income
and heavily minority community. Long Painting Co., the Northwest’s largest
industrial painting company, has one of its facilities located within South
Park. The residents had been persistently complaining to regulators about
Long’s construction noises, on-site chemical spills, and emissions.
Some have had to wear gas or surgical masks while working outside in their
yards. Some residents also claim that over the past two decades, ventilation
stacks and outdoor-painting operations at the Long’s facility have caused
them ailments including headaches and respiratory complications. Inspection
of the facility by city inspectors, revealed that the company did not possess
30 city permits required for construction and use of 11 structures as well
as four Seattle Fire Department permits. The company paid the city $30,000
to settle some claims and faced $575 daily fines and other penalties if it
failed to obtain these necessary permits by set deadlines. The city stated
the company would be gone by the next summer. In response, Yolanda Sinde of
the Community Coalition for Environmental Justice posed the following question,
“Is it a victory if they move to another community and pollute there?”
(Seattle Weekly, Retrieved March 19, 2004 from http://www.seattleweekly.com/features/0134/news-anderson.shtml)
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE TIMELINE