Environmental Justice

Environmental Justice (EJ) means ensuring that the environment and human health are fairly protected for all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income. EJ is an integral part of the Department's mission. HUD's EJ Program works with states, tribes, local communities, other grantees, and staff at other federal agencies to seamlessly incorporate EJ awareness and planning considerations into program activities.

Executive Order 12898, "Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-income Populations" (2/94) requires certain federal agencies, including HUD, to consider how federally-assisted projects may have disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects on minority and low-income populations.

EPA defines Environmental Justice as "the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies". In considering Environmental Justice (EJ) and site-suitability issues in the environmental analysis, there are a significant number of other statutory and regulatory authorities - including the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act, and the Clean Air Act - that may be considered and are available to address environmental justice issues, especially during permitting of facilities.

EJ is an integral part of HUD's mission. The Department works with multiple stakeholders and other federal agencies in its efforts to assure environmental justice concerns are addressed and part of the environmental review for HUD-assisted projects.

The environmental justice sites listed here access federal and non-governmental contacts and programs, grassroots, community and religious organizations, and other information for persons interested on learning more about how environmental risk is distributed throughout society, and what can be done to ensure environmental justice.

Is the project located in a neighborhood or community where the proposed action is likely to raise environmental justice issues?

Threshold: Executive Order 12898 - "Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations," applies in low-income or minority neighborhoods where the grantee proposes the acquisition of housing, the acquisition of land for development, and new construction. Environmental justice issues may include, but are not limited to new, continued or historically disproportionate potential for high and adverse human health and environmental effects on minority or low-income populations. The grantee will need to determine if the site or neighborhood suffers from disproportionate adverse health and environmental effects relative to the community at large. [See the Executive Order]

Documentation: Grantees should select A_ or B_ for the condition that best describes their project and document the source of the information.
 

1. The project is likely to raise environmental justice issues and has the potential for new or continued disproportionately high and adverse human health and environmental effects on minority or low-income populations. The grantee must consider mitigation or avoidance of adverse impacts from the project to the extent practicable.

• The grantee provides HUD with a finding that the project is not likely to raise environmental justice issues.