January 20, 2016
By:
Walter G. Wright
Category:
Arkansas Environmental, Energy, and Water Law
Arkansas Environmental, Energy, and Water Law
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The United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) is circulating a draft update of the agency’s Environmental Justice Strategic Plan (“Plan”).
USDA is inviting public comment on the draft Plan.
Executive Order 12898, Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-income Populations (February 11, 1994) requires each federal agency to achieve environmental justice as part of its mission by identifying and addressing, as appropriate disproportionately high adverse human health or environmental effects of its programs, policies and activities on minority populations and low-income populations. The Executive Order required each federal agency to prepare a strategy for environmental justice. USDA formulated environmental justice strategy in 1994.
USDA states that the draft four-year plan establishes goals to increase outreach and participation by historically underserved communities for the years 2016-2020 and outlines the ways each USDA agency plans to accomplish them. A news release released by the agency states in part:
… USDA works to meet the needs of historically underserved communities by reducing environmental burdens and increasing access to environmental benefits that help make all communities safe, vibrant, and healthy places to live and work.
Click here to download a copy of the news release and the draft Plan.
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