Document

In May 2022, U.S. EPA published their EPA Legal Tools to Advance Environmental Justice. This resource is intended to help EPA, together with its state, tribal, and local partners, achieve the shared goal of protecting the health and environment of all personas across the United States and in all communities.

In April 2022, U.S. EPA published their Equity Action Plan. EPA has identified six priority actions as the core of its Equity Action Plan. These priority actions form a critical foundation on which to build meaningful engagement with underserved communities; achieve more equitable and just outcomes, including pollution reductions in communities with environmental justice concerns; and deliver other tangible benefits to underserved communities, consistent with applicable legal authorities.

In March 2022, the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) and U.S. EPA Region 8 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to advance environmental justice through enforcement and compliance assurance efforts in and effecting communities disproportionately impacted by pollution and/or historicallly marginalized, overburdended, and underserved communities.

In September 2021, the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) and U.S. EPA Region 9 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to enhance collaboration efforts on enforcement and compliance assurance in overburdened communities.

This document provides information to EPA, federal, tribal, state, and local environmental permitting programs on how to integrate EJ into their permitting processes. It also outlines how recipients of EPA financial assistance are obligated to comply with federal civil rights statutes, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, in their permitting processes