Environmental Justice

The US Department of Justice is pleased to share its updated Environmental Justice Strategy and its Environmental Justice Guidance.  The Department initially prepared these documents to implement the Department’s commitments in the area of environmental justice following the issuance of Executive Order 12898 on February 11, 1994.  The Executive Order directed all federal agencies to develop a strategy that “identifies and addresses disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects of its programs, policies, and activities on minority populations and low-income populations.”  Sec. 1-103(a), Executive Order 12898.

In light of the significant and unprecedented steps DOJ has taken to ensure that environmental justice principles inform the way we perform our work and lead to meaningful results in communities, the Department conducted a thorough review of the 1995 Strategy and Guidance documents to ensure they reflect our strengthened approach to addressing environmental justice.  While much of these documents remained timely and applicable, it was appropriate to update and reissue them now.  We will continue to periodically examine the Strategy and Guidance for potential revisions and welcome comments on these documents.

The Strategy and Guidance have helped guide many activities promoting environmental justice within the Department.  This website highlights examples of the important work and accomplishments in recent years, including a series of recent environmental justice listening sessions with community members and groups across the country, as well as results achieved in particular cases.