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Community Involvement
EPA’s definition of environmental justice includes the concept of meaningful involvement. Meaningful involvement means that (1) potentially affected community residents have an appropriate opportunity to participate in decisions about a proposed activity that will affect their environment and/or health; (2) the public’s contribution can influence the regulatory agency’s decision; (3) the concerns of all participants involved will b e considered in the decision making process; and (4) the decision makers seek out and facilitate the involvement of those potentially affected.
In her April 23, 2009 memo to EPA employees regarding transparency in operations, EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson said the following:
"EPA will provide for the fullest possible public participation in decision-making. This requires not only that EPA remain open and accessible to those representing all points of view, but also that EPA offices responsible for decisions take affirmative steps to solicit the views of those who will be affected by these decisions. This includes communities of color, Native Americans, people disproportionately impacted by pollution, small businesses, cities and towns working to meet their environmental responsibilities, and others who have been historically under-represented in EPA decision-making. EPA will not accord privileged status to any special interest, nor will it accept any recommendation or proposal without careful, critical, and independent examination."
EPA has adopted a public involvement policy and a wealth of materials on how to effectively seek out and facilitate the involvement of potentially affected communities. Additional information includes:
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- Future Mechanisms to Enhance Stakeholder Involvement and Engagement to Address Environmental Justice (PDF) (26pp, 211k) (August 2006, developed by the National Environmental Justice Advisory Committee)