Look at These Questions about Environmental Racism:

• What are environmental racism and environmental justice?
  Environmental racism can be defined as racial bias in imposing environmental threats. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines environmental justice as the “fair treatment and meaningful involvement of people regardless of race or color, national origin or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.” By providing environmental justice, we can successfully combat environmental racism.
  
• Who are the victims of environmental racism?
  More often than not, low-income communities and communities of color bear a disproportionate share of negative environmental consequences. This is largely due to the fact that such individuals are considered to be politically powerless.

• What office deals specifically with environmental justice issues?
  In 1992 the EPA established the Office of Environmental Justice to deal specifically with environmental justice issues.

• Are there any laws that protect me from environmental racism?
  Executive Order 12898, “Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income” was signed on February 11, 1994, to focus attention on the environmental and human health conditions of minority communities and low income populations with the goal of environmental protection for all. There is also the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which was designed to ensure a safe, productive and healthy environment for all.
  
• What can I do to prevent environmental racism?
  Get information—Find out what’s going on in your own neighborhood. There might be air, water and land pollution happening within your city that you are unaware of that might adversely impact your health.
  Get involved—there are hundreds of non-governmental organizations dedicated to achieving environmental justice for all and preventing environmental racism worldwide. You can contact your local EPA office for a list of reputable organizations dedicated to environmental justice.

• Where can I obtain more information about environmental racism and environmental justice?
  There is a plethora of information regarding environmental racism and environmental justice on the worldwide web. Some websites offer daily news updates on environmental issues. Your local library may also be useful for obtaining the latest books concerning environmental issues. Similarly, your local environmental protection agency office serves as a good resource and is required bylaw to make certain documents available to the public. Newspapers, magazines, and journals also serve as excellent sources of information.
  
• This fact sheet was adopted from the following sources:
  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.) Environmental Justice. Retrieved April 18, 2004, from http://www.epa.gov/compliance/environmentaljustice/index.html.
  Environmental Justice Resource Center. (n.d.) Executive Order 12898 Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-income Populations. Retrievied April 18, 2004, from http://www.ejrc.cau.edu/execordr.html.
  The White House. (n.d.) National Environmental Policy Act. Retrieved April 18, 2004, from Council on Environmental Quality http://www.whitehouse.gov/ceq/.