Environmental justice is 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.
Fair treatment means no group bears a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences from industrial, governmental, and commercial operations or policies, or from the execution of federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and policies.
Meaningful involvement means that people have an opportunity to participate in decisions about activities that may affect their environment and/or health, that their input can influence the decisions, and that their concerns will be considered in the decision-making process, and that decision makers will seek out and facilitate the involvement of those potentially affected.
The Department of Justice seeks to advance environmental justice in underserved communities that have been historically marginalized and overburdened, including low-income communities, communities of color, and Tribal and Indigenous communities. The Middle District of Alabama is committed to ensuring safe living and working conditions for our entire community.
DOJ’s Five Goals for Achieving Environmental Justice:
- Protect environmental quality and human health in all communities;
- Use environmental, civil rights, criminal, and civil laws to achieve fair environmental protection;
- Promote and protect community members' rights to participate meaningfully in environmental decision-making that may affect them;
- Analyze data that will assist the Department in law enforcement, mediation, and counseling efforts involving environmental justice matters; and
- Promote full and fair enforcement of the laws, increase opportunity for access to environmental benefits, and minimize activities that result in a disproportionate distribution of environmental burdens.
You can make a difference: Notifying the U.S. Attorney’s Office about environmental justice concerns helps us protect the community from harmful violations of federal law. Click here for more information about who to contact with environmental justice concerns or email the U.S. Attorney’s Office at USAALM.Environment@usdoj.gov.
- DOJ Office of Environmental Justice
- Report Environmental Violations to the Environmental Protection Agency
- National Response Center
- File a Complaint with Occupational Safety and Health Administration
- Local U.S. Corps of Engineers
- Report potential violations in waters of the United States to the Army Corps of Engineers
- Contact the Food and Drug Administration
- Contact the Fish and Wildlife Service