The EPA defines environmental justice as the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people in environmental decision-making, regardless of race, color, or income. Fair treatment means no groups should bear a disproportionate share of negative environmental consequences, while meaningful involvement gives communities an appropriate chance to participate in decisions affecting their environment or health. Environmental justice aims to give everyone equal environmental protection and participation in the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws and policies.

1. ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE:
IT STARTS WITH YOU!

2. DEFINITION
The Environmental Protection Agency (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…It will be achieved when everyone enjoys the
same degree of protection from environmental and health
hazards and equal access to the decision-making
process to have a healthy environment in which to live,
learn, and work.”

3. FAIR TREATMENT
Fair treatment
means that no Community Community
group of people A B
should bear a
unequal share of
the negative
consequences
resulting from
industrial or
commercial
operations, or the
execution of
governmental
policies.

4. MEANINGFUL INVOLVEMENT
Meaningful
involvement means
that potentially
affected community
residents have an
appropriate
opportunity to
participate in
decision-making
about a proposed
activity that will
affect their
environment and/or
health.

5. Environmental Justice
Fair Meaningful
Treatment Involvement
Implementation
Development Enforcement
Environmental
Laws/Regulations

6. DEVELOPMENT
Environmental
Community Action
Network (ECO-
Action), a local
Find
community group
supporters in Atlanta is
currently working
to improve
Research;
Become
community
Informed! engagement,
Recognize an
enforcement, and
issue in your drive policy to
community.
reduce and
prevent illegal
dumping of tires.

7. IMPLEMENTATION & ENFORCEMENT
Environmental Protection
Agency (Federal)
• Writes and enforces laws
passed by Congress
Georgia Environmental
Protection Division (GA EPD)
(State)
• Applies and enforces
environmental laws and
standards
• State reports to EPA
The EPA and GA EPD are two
governmental agencies
responsible for the
implementation and enforcement
of environmental laws and

8. TAKING ACTION: 10 STEPS
1. Choose a 6. Advertise.
problem. 7. Raise money.
2. Do your 8. Carry out your
research. solution.
3. Brainstorm 9. Evaluate and
possible reflect.
solutions.
10. Don’t give up.
4. Build coalitions
of support.
5. Work with your
opposition.

9. LEARNING SCENARIO:
ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE??
In 1978, Chemical Waste
QUESTION:
Management, a subsidiary of
Waste Management Inc., Is this fair? What
purchased a landfill permit for a
300-acre tract of land near the
should have been
village of Emelle in the center of done before the
Sumter County, Alabama. In landfill was built?
Sumter County, one of the
country most impoverished
What are some
regions, one-third of the solutions to this
residents live below the poverty problem?
level. Over 65 percent of the
residents are Black and over 90
percent of the residents near the
landfill in Emelle are Black.

10. TAKE AWAY MESSAGES
 Vulnerable communities should not have to
bear a disproportionate burden of
environmental hazards.
 Environmental Justice should be the goal for all
communities. In order to achieve this goal,
community members must ban together and
organize to push for change.
 What did YOU take away from this
presentation?