EJ in the federal government

Question 1

What was EO 12898?

Answer 1

Pretty much said that each fed. agency should be trying to achieve environmental justice as a part of its own mission to the best of its ability/the law
- Interagency working group with EPA leading it
- Develop agency strategies with annual progress reports
- not enforcable on its own

Question 2

When was it signed?

Answer 2

1994

Question 3

What were the impacts of the EO?

Answer 3

Forced fed. agencys to look at gaps

Question 4

What were the implementation/enforceability of the EO?

Answer 4

• “practical and appropriate”
• judicial review: this order was meant to improve the internal management of the executive branch - not to create any right to judicial review (only for the use of the govt. to make sure things are done right, can’t be used as grounds for people to sue”.
• Clinton EO memorandum: Any programs/activities that receive federal funding do not discriminate based on race, color, or national origin (Civil Rights Movement Title VI)

Question 5

Strengths of the EO?

Question 6

Weakness of the EO?

Answer 6

Resistance from career staff, who refused to incorporate EJ, to focus on the core EPA mission, and want “bureaucratic neutrality

Question 7

What are the impacts of the revocation of EO by Mango Mousilini?

Answer 7

• preventing discrimination (meaningful involvement of community) is no longer important (SHE IS TO ME)
• no longer need to focus on equitable/fair enforcement of laws
• Civil Rights Act: Title VI: fed. govt. money that goes to the state needs to be used in a “non-discriminatory way”
• EPA? Poof. gone.

Question 8

What are some of the other ways to address the EO being revoked?

Answer 8

• state and local govt are filling the gaps and creating their own EJ laws
• still a lot of smaller level movements (college courses, nonprofits, etc.)

Question 9

What is the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

Answer 9

a law that requires federal agencies to consider the environmental impact of their actions before making decisions

Question 10

What is the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

Answer 10

a law that allows the public to request records from federal agencies.

Question 11

Plan EJ 2014 - Obama admin

Answer 11

Rulemaking, Permitting, Compliance and Enforcement, Community-based Action, Administration-wide action, Science, Law, Information Biggest success story: Creation of
EJ Screen