Environmental Justice

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Environmental Justice is a guiding principle in decision making that HUD uses to address disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects on minority communities and low-income populations.

On February 11, 1994 Executive Order 12898 was signed. The Executive Order directs each Federal agency to 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 populations and low-income populations".

HUD's Environmental Justice Strategies

Environmental Justice Strategies at HUD assert that:

1. HUD will promote sound environmental considerations in community development and housing policies that, at the same time, will preserve housing affordability and encourage rural and urban economic growth and private sector investment.



2. HUD will promote environmental quality in public housing, federally-assisted rental housing, and homeownership programs to ensure that low-income and minority families and individuals will have a safe and healthy start to greater self-sufficiency.



3. HUD will champion the principles of environmental justice as we rethink how HUD programs and services can be designed and delivered to create the conditions of real opportunity where people can take action to improve their own lives.

HUD's Approach to Environmental Justice

1. Implementation of programs designed to strengthen communities and empower residents, including:

   	Empowerment Zones/Enterprise Communities
   	Office of Lead Hazard Control
   	Brownfields Redevelopment
   	HUD E-MAPS
   	Farmworkers and Colonias

   
   
2. Inforcement of Title VI (and Title VIII) of the Civil Rights Act; For Title VI Contact:
   

   Ms. Diana Ortiz, Director
   Office of Enforcement
   Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity
   Tel: 202.708.2904 ext. 5361 Fax: 202.708.4886

3. Compliance with HUD's Environmental Regulations 24 CFR Part 50-Protection and Enhancement of Environmental Quality and 24 CFR Part 58-Environmental Review Procedures for Entities Assuming HUD Environmental Responsibilities.