Environmental Justice
What is Environmental Justice?
Environmental justice is defined as 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.
Environmental justice efforts focus on improving the environment in communities, specifically minority and low-income communities, and addressing disproportionate adverse environmental impacts that may exist in those communities.
Please Note: The purpose of this office is to serve the environmental needs of minority and low-income communities. It is not intended for general environmental inquiries unrelated to the issues of Environmental Justice. Please consult the list of phone numbers and addresses for DEC programs to determine appropriate DEC contacts.
More about Environmental Justice:
- News from the Office of Environmental Justice - Current projects and information from the DEC Office of Environmental Justice to help residents of environmental justice communities and members of the general public in New York State
- DEC Environmental Justice Policy CP-29 - Commissioner Policy CP-29 provides guidance for incorporating environmental justice concerns into the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) environmental permit review process, the DEC application of the State Environmental Quality Review Act, and some aspects of the DEC's enforcement program, grants program and public participation provisions.
- Office of Environmental Justice Staff - New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Environmental Justice Program Staff
- Environmental Justice Hotline - New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Environmental Justice Hotline
- Environmental Justice Community Impact Grant Program - Provides grants from $2,500 to $50,000 to community-based organizations for research and education projects that address multiple environmental harms and risks
- Geospatial Information System (GIS) Tools for Environmental Justice - Links to Geographic Information System (GIS) Tools for environmental justice information
- County Maps Showing Potential Environmental Justice Areas - Maps of New York State counties showing census block groups that qualify as Potential Environmental Justice Areas under NYSDEC criteria
- Environmental Justice Interagency Task Force - Office of Environmental Justice Interagency Task Force
- Environmental Justice Network - NYSDEC program staff who work closely with the Office of Environmental Justice
- Environmental Justice Advisory Group - New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Environmental Justice Program Citizen Advisory Group
- Environmental Justice Work Group Reports - Reports by the NYSDEC Environmental Justice Advisory Work Groups on Disproportionate Adverse Environmental Impact Assessment and Health Outcome Data
- Environmental Justice Links - Links to Environmental Justice programs of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, several states, and some national non-profit organizations
- Local and Regional Environmental Advocacy Organizations in New York State - Contact information and website links for over 400 environmental justice advocacy organizations in New York State, arranged by DEC Region and county
