"Environmental justice" means the just treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of income, race, color, national origin, Tribal affiliation, or disability, in agency decision-making and other Federal activities that affect human health and the environment so that people: (i) are fully protected from disproportionate and adverse human health and environmental effects (including risks) and hazards, including those related to climate change, the cumulative impacts of environmental and other burdens, and the legacy of racism or other structural or systemic barriers; and (ii) have equitable access to a healthy, sustainable, and resilient environment in which to live, play, work, learn, grow, worship, and engage in cultural and subsistence practices.
"Fair Treatment" is the principle that no group of people, including a racial, ethnic or socioeconomic group, should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences from industrial, municipal and commercial operations or the execution of federal, state, local and Tribal programs. EPA has expanded the concept of fair treatment to include not only consideration of how burdens are distributed across all populations, but the distribution of benefits as well.
"Meaningful involvement" means providing timely opportunities for members of the public to share information or concerns and participate in decision-making processes; fully considering public input provided as part of decision-making processes; seeking out and encouraging the involvement of persons and communities potentially affected by activities; and providing technical assistance, tools, and resources to assist in facilitating meaningful and informed public participation, whenever practicable and appropriate.
To help put this definition into action, GLRI agencies will advance environmental justice so that all communities, including disadvantaged and other communities with environmental justice concerns, can equitably benefit from the GLRI. Remediating contaminated sediment benefits nearby communities by reducing potential exposures to contamination. Benefits of restoration activities can also include improved access to restored areas for recreation and cultural uses. Further, benefits can also include a reduction in flooding in disadvantaged or overburdened communities using green infrastructure or wetland restoration.
It is equally important that the communities that may benefit from the GLRI are able to provide input on restoration activities, especially within disadvantaged and other communities with environmental justice concerns. For example, within AOCs, GLRI agencies and local Public Advisory Committees are committed to having meaningful involvement with communities by supporting opportunities that promote engagement. GLRI agencies and partners will support engagement opportunities with disadvantaged and other communities with environmental justice concerns to provide a general understanding of the GLRI and identify where their needs and priorities intersect with GLRI objectives. GLRI agencies will initiate job training activities that could give residents the opportunity to work on the restoration activities in their community.
The Justice 40 Initiative set the goal that 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain Federal climate, clean energy, water and wastewater infrastructure, and other covered investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. GLRI agencies will work to implement this 40% goal for GLRI IIJA investments, that will benefit disadvantaged communities and report on results in the annual GLRI Report to Congress.
Under Action Plan IV, current benefits in disadvantaged and other communities with environmental justice concerns will continue and grow. In 2024, EPA created five Great Lakes Environmental Justice Grant Programs with more than $41 million of GLRI funds. Each Program will develop and oversee their own subgrant competition that will fund environmental restoration projects that advance the goals of the GLRI in disadvantaged and other communities with environmental justice concerns throughout the Great Lakes Basin. Many communities lack the resources needed to apply for, obtain and oversee the implementation of federal grant projects. These new programs will ease these administrative barriers and help disadvantaged and other communities with environmental justice concerns more effectively access federal funding for important local projects. This investment will encourage even greater environmental, economic, health and recreational benefits for disadvantaged and other communities with environmental justice concerns in the Great Lakes.
Continue reading about the Action Plan IV: