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Introduction

Communities with a large population of low-income and/or people of color are more likely to be subjected to environmental hazards. These communities are often excluded from decision-making processes by those in power and/or by deficiencies in policy, making it difficult for them to dialogue with companies, regulatory agencies, and municipalities; address double standards held by zoning codes or real estate agencies; access legal, scientific, and other technical support; or, gain full consideration of their input. Superfund sites near these communities are a low priority for cleanup, and socio-economic biases contribute to the lack of media. The environmental justice movement is growing and gaining national attention through the relentless efforts of religious and other community organizations, individuals, and families who are demanding recognition and justice for their communities.

Photo courtesy of © Sam Kittner www.kittner.com. No other use of reproduction, including print or other websites, is allowed without my written permission.

Many people across the nation have worked persistently and strategically to bring attention to the oversights of government and the environmental targeting of these communites. State legislation focusing on environmental justice gives further recognition and legal protection to communities faced with these issues, expedites action, and channels money to people and communities who have been ignored for so long.

SERC’s sample bills – one that establishes an environmental justice task force and advisory council and one that proposes public participation and environmental justice considerations in permitting procedures – offer specific and sensitive provisions to affected communities, which facilitate the rightful protection and inclusion other laws do not provide.

This web site offers the tools necessary for you to promote environmental justice in your state, including sample legislation, talking points, press clips, a fact pack, links, and other background information.

We may have other useful materials on this subject, which are not posted on our web site. Please feel free to contact us at [email protected] or call our office in Madison, Wisconsin, at (608) 252-9800.

If you’ve used this site and found it helpful or, if you have suggestions about how it could be made more helpful, please let us know. Feel free to use the sample bill text included here in your state. If you do, please notify us.

For more information, read the principles of environmental justice from the First National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit.

SERC wishes to thank Romel Pascual, Assistant to the Secretary for Environmental Justice of the California EPA, Veronica Eady, Esq. of the Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning at Tufts University and Professor Robert Collin, J.D. for their helpful comments during the creation of this package.

This package was created and developed by Andy Gussert and Kristen Stiegler.

This package was last updated on September 8, 2004.