The Environmental Protection Agency released what it calls an Equity reportEmphasizing environmental justice, and engagement with underserved communities.
The equity plan fulfills one of the following: RequirementAll agencies are required by the Biden administration to evaluate whether their programs and policies perpetuate systemic obstacles for people of color or other underserved communities.
The report reinforces the agency’s commitment to environmental justice. The strategic Four-year planThis February, the agency listed environmental justice as priority #2 after tackling climate change.
According to the report, the concept of environmental justice means that everyone is protected from all types of health hazards and has equal access to the benefits and decision-making process.
The report identified six priority areas for environmental justice advancement:
- Study of the cumulative effects of EPA decisions
- Helping underserved communities to report their experiences to the EPA
- Developing EPAs internal capacity for engaging with underserved communities
- Strengthening EPAs civil right compliance
- Integrating community science in EPAs research programs
- Make EPAs procurement more equitable and contracting more fair
The equity report is a follow-up to the September report that the agency published on social vulnerability to climate changes. It also adds to a body scientific studies that show the most adverse effects of climate change on people of color.
The social vulnerability report identified six of the most important impacts of climate changes. Then, it calculated where these climate effects are most likely. Using Census data, the EPA calculated how likely it was for socially vulnerable groups to live in these areas.
It was found that Blacks are 34% more likely, with 2 degrees of warming in place, to have their children suffer from childhood asthma. Latinx people, 43%, are more likely, to live and work in areas with high projected losses in labor hours to the weather. Indigenous people, 48%, are more likely, to live in areas where the sea level rise will cause the highest land loss.
Thereport lays out accountability mechanisms in each priority area. A staff member is assigned to look at the cumulative impactspriority. The agency also commits to sharing updates with the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council.
Sandy Bahr of the Sierra Clubs Grand Canyon chapter said that it is a step in the correct direction for EPA. And that they are able to add the accountability that they desire.
Environmental justiceClimate change is a new EPA report
Environmental activists have long called for the assessment of cumulative impacts of projects. It would require regulators, who will have to assess the overall cost of a project to the environment before granting a permit to build one.
The report also states that the agency has not used its civil rights enforcement authority and civil rights implementation authority fully to enforce federal civil law. It calls itself reactive and attributes this to the underfunding of thecivil rights compliance officer. According to the report, it will take steps towards initiating compliance activities.
The agency mentions repeatedly in the report how important meaningful engagement is to help them make progress in their priority area areas.
After public hearings, advocates urged TheEPA to quickly take short-term action. The deadline was September 2023.
The short-term deadline includes a framework for evaluating cumulative impacts of projects, guidance regarding civil rights compliance, and a set indicators to track how the EPA eliminates disparities between environmental and public health conditions.
It could take several years to achieve longer-term goals like actually implementing cumulative impact analyses.
Many environmental justice advocates, including Rashaad Tom, a Phoenix writer, stated that the EPA isn’t moving fast enough.
I am thinking about how many Black and Brown people will get cancer in the next three to four years. He said. “Or any other disease that is related to environmental justice?”
Zayna is an environmental reporter at The Arizona Republic/azcentral. Follow her tweets @zaynasyed_ to keep up with her reporting and send any tips or information regarding stories.[email protected].
The Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust grants support environmental coverage on azcentral.com as well as in The Arizona Republic. Follow The Republic environmental reporting team atenvironment.azcentral.comand @azcenvironmentonFacebook,TwitterandInstagram.
Support local journalismSubscribe to Azcentral.comtoday.
