Environmental Justice Coalition

109th CONGRESS
1st Session

H. R. 427 To require Federal agencies to develop and implement policies and practices that promote environmental justice, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 26, 2005

Mr. UDALL of Colorado (for himself, Ms. SOLIS, and Mr. ANDREWS) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL To require Federal agencies to develop and implement policies and practices that promote environmental justice, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; PURPOSES.

(a) Short Title- This Act may be cited as the `Environmental Justice Act of 2005'.

(b) Purposes- The purposes of this Act are--

(1) to focus Federal agency attention on the environmental and human health conditions in minority, low-income, and Native American communities;

(2) to ensure that all Federal agencies develop practices that promote environmental justice;

(3) to increase cooperation and coordination among Federal agencies as they seek to achieve environmental justice;

(4) to provide minority, low-income, and Native American communities greater access to public information and opportunity for participation in decisionmaking affecting human health and the environment;

(5) to mitigate the inequitable distribution of the burdens and benefits of Federal programs having significant impact on human health and the environment; and

(6) to hold Federal agencies accountable for the effects of their projects and programs on all communities.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

For purposes of this Act:

(1) ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE- (A) The term `environmental justice' means the fair treatment of people of all races, cultures, and socioeconomic groups with respect to the development, adoption, implementation, and enforcement of laws, regulations, and policies affecting the environment.

(B) The term `fair treatment' means policies and practices that will minimize the likelihood that a minority, low-income, or Native American community will bear a disproportionate share of the adverse environmental consequences, or be denied reasonable access to the environmental benefits, resulting from implementation of a Federal program or policy.

(2) FEDERAL AGENCY- The term `Federal agency' means--

(A) each Federal entity represented on the Working Group;

(B) any other entity that conducts any Federal program or activity that substantially affects human health or the environment; and

(3) WORKING GROUP- The term `Working Group' means the interagency working group established by section 4.

(4) ADVISORY COMMITTEE- The term `the Advisory Committee' means the advisory committee established by section 6.

SEC. 3. ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE RESPONSIBILITIES OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.

(a) Environmental Justice Mission- To the greatest extent practicable, the head of each Federal agency shall make achieving environmental justice part of its mission by identifying and addressing, as appropriate, disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects of its programs, policies, and activities on minority, low-income, and Native American populations in the United States and its territories and possessions, including the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the Commonwealth of the Mariana Islands.

(b) Nondiscrimination- Each Federal agency shall conduct its programs, policies, and activities in a manner that ensures that such programs, policies, and activities do not have the effect of excluding any person or group from participation in, denying any person or group the benefits of, or subjecting any person or group to discrimination under, such programs, policies, and activities, because of race, color, national origin, or income.

(c) Environmental Analyses- (1) Each analysis of environmental effects of Federal actions required by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 321 et seq.) shall include analysis of the effects of such action on human health and any economic and social effects on minority, low-income, and Native American communities.

(2) So far as feasible, any environmental assessment, environmental impact statement, or record of decision prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 321 et seq.) shall include measures to mitigate any significant and adverse environmental effects of proposed Federal actions on minority, low-income, and Native American communities.

(3) Each Federal agency shall provide opportunities for community input in processes under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 321 et seq.), including identifying potential effects and mitigation measures in consultation with affected communities and improving the accessibility of meetings, crucial documents, and notices.

SEC. 4. INTERAGENCY ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE WORKING GROUP.

(a) Creation and Composition- There is hereby established the Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice, comprising the heads of the following executive agencies and offices, or their designees:

(1) The Department of Defense.

(2) The Department of Health and Human Services.

(3) The Department of Housing and Urban Development.

(4) The Department of Labor.

(5) The Department of Agriculture.

(6) The Department of Transportation.

(7) The Department of Justice;

(8) The Department of the Interior.

(9) The Department of Commerce.

(10) The Department of Energy.

(11) The Environmental Protection Agency.

(12) The Office of Management and Budget.

(13) The Office of Science and Technology Policy.

(14) The Office of the Deputy Assistant to the President for Environmental Policy.

(15) The Office of the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy.

(16) The National Economic Council.

(17) The Council of Economic Advisers.

(18) Any other official of the United States that the President may designate.

(b) Functions- The Working Group shall--

(1) provide guidance to Federal agencies on criteria for identifying disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects on minority, low-income, and Native American populations;

(2) coordinate with, provide guidance to, and serve as a clearinghouse for, each Federal agency as it develops or revises an environmental justice strategy as required by this Act, in order to ensure that the administration, interpretation and enforcement of programs, activities, and policies are undertaken in a consistent manner;

(3) assist in coordinating research by, and stimulating cooperation among, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and other Federal agencies conducting research or other activities in accordance with section 7;

(4) assist in coordinating data collection, maintenance, and analysis required by this Act;

(5) examine existing data and studies on environmental justice;

(6) hold public meetings and otherwise solicit public participation and consider complaints as required under subsection (c);

(7) develop interagency model projects on environmental justice that evidence cooperation among Federal agencies; and

(8) in coordination with the Department of the Interior and after consultation with tribal leaders, coordinate steps to be taken pursuant to this Act that affect or involve federally-recognized Indian Tribes.