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Thu, 28 Jul 2005 13:04:54 GMT

" BushGreenwatch " <info

Lawmakers Blast New EPA Environmental Justice Plan

 

 

 

 

 

Bush Greenwatch

 

 

 

July 28, 2005 | Back Issues

 

Lawmakers Blast New EPA Environmental Justice Plan

 

A new Environmental Protection Agency draft strategic plan on

environmental justice has generated a sharp backlash in both the House

and Senate. Last week nearly 80 legislators signed a letter denouncing

the draft plan as a step backward, urging EPA Administrator Stephen

Johnson to " take real steps to combat the environmental injustices "

that afflict communities throughout the nation.

 

Signers of the letter point out that the new EPA draft plan omits any

mention of race in dealing with environmental justice issues.

 

Instead of taking race into specific consideration, the new plan

defines environmental justice as the fair treatment and meaningful

involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin

or income, with respect to the development, implementation and

enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies.

 

" At a time when we should be working to help the communities bearing

the brunt of pollution problems, this Administration is turning the

idea of environmental justice on its head. " Sen. John Kerry (D-MA)

said of the EPA draft plan. " By ignoring our minority and low-income

communities the Bush Administration is reversing a commitment made to

communities across our country. " [1]

 

Environmental justice refers to ameliorating the environmental

conditions in low-income and minority communities that are

disproportionately affected by high concentrations of pollution.

 

In both urban and many rural areas, minority and low-income

communities mark the location of chemical plants, coal-fired power

plants, sewage disposal operations and other facilities that expose

residents to high levels of pollution and serious health problems.

 

Leading the opposition to EPA's draft plan is Rep. Alcee Hastings

(D-FL), whose legislative director David Goldenberg told

BushGreenwatch, " By eliminating race from the legislation the EPA is

missing a key component in addressing environmental justice. "

 

Hastings successfully added language to the House version of the 2006

Environment and Interior spending bill; it says EPA's plan contravenes

a Clinton-era executive order which explicitly directs federal

agencies to make environmental justice a part of their missions.

Hastings' amendment asserts that no money can be spent on efforts that

violate the executive order. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) added similar

language to the Senate version.

 

Besides the omission of race, the Congressional letter also says EPA's

plan fails to take into account an Inspector General report that

criticizes EPA's inability to identify " key recipients " of

environmental justice policies. " The EPA's failure to identify the

intended recipients in a manner that truly reflects environmental

justice communities is ultimately another attempt to de-prioritize the

importance of focusing on our nation's most vulnerable populations, "

the letter says. [2]

 

The EPA's draft plan also outlines an issues priority system which

critics say will require the EPA to select which pollution related

ailments deserve the most attention and " would automatically

de-prioritize those issues which are lower on the list. " [3]

 

Signers of the Congressional letter say the EPA plan " will do nothing

to reduce the existing disparate impacts suffered by low-income and

minority communities and may contribute to the future increase of

these impacts. " [4]

 

###

 

SOURCES:

[1] " Kerry, House and Senate environmental leaders call for

administration to reverse backwards march on environmental justice, "

Sen. John Kerry's website, Jul. 21, 2005.

[2] " Hastings calls for major changes in administration's

environmental justice " strategic plan, " Rep. Alcee Hastings' website,

Jul. 21, 2005.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Ibid.

 

Spread the Word | Back Issues

 

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