Environmental Justice Links
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On February 11, 1994, the President issued Executive Order 12898, Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations. This EO directs each Federal agency to make achieving justice part of its mission by identifying and addressing, as appropriate, disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects of its programs, policies, and activities on minority populations and low-income populations. The EO and accompanying Presidential Memorandum emphasize that agencies should use existing laws, such as the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, to achieve this mission. DOT issued its own Environmental Justice (EJ) Order, in February 1997, which provides that it is the DOT's policy to promote the principles of EJ through their incorporation in all DOT programs, policies, and activities.
The role of FRA in achieving the national goal is to assure that projects and activities, including those funded, regulated, and approved by FRA in the transportation segment of the national economy and infrastructure, do not have the prohibited and other discriminatory effects. DOT works with other agencies to share expertise and resolve jurisdictional overlaps and duplications, principally through the Interagency Working Group, chaired by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
