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Environmental Justice
The Environmental Justice program, established by Presidential Executive
Order 12898, requires Federal agencies to ensure that all environmental policies
and the disposal of toxic waste do not adversely impact minority and low-income
communities. The common concern is that these communities are exposed to unfair
levels of environmental risk arising from multiple sources, often coupled with
inadequate government response.
The goal of environmental justice is to ensure that all people, regardless of
race, national origin or income, are protected from disproportionate impacts of
environmental hazards. To be classified as an environmental justice community,
residents must be a minority and/or low income group; excluded from the
environmental policy setting and/or decision-making process; subject to a
disproportionate impact from one or more environmental hazards; and experience a
disparate implementation of environmental regulations, requirements, practices
and activities in their communities.
Montana’s Environmental Justice Communities
The following is a listing of some of the communities and other areas in
Montana with Environmental Justice issues:
- Anaconda (Deer Lodge County) - Superfund site, mining contamination
- Libby (Lincoln County) - Superfund site, asbestos contamination and
exposure
- Zortman-Landusky Area (Phillips and Blaine Counties) - pollution from
mine tailings
- Butte/Silver Bow Creek (Silver Bow County) - mining contamination
- Blackfeet Reservation (Glacier Homes - HUD housing) - contaminated
building materials
- Milltown Dam (Missoula County) - Superfund site, polluted reservoir
sediments
- Lockwood Solvent Plume (Yellowstone County) - Superfund site,
groundwater contamination
Web Sites with More Information
There are also many resources on the Internet that provide timely and
relevant information on Environmental Justice issues in Montana. The following
are just a few:
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