The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines environmental justice (EJ) 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.” EJ arises in communities that often bear a disproportionate number of hazardous waste sites, suffer poor air quality due to fossil fuel infrastructure and traffic, and face elevated lead and other contaminants in drinking water.

Originally published in Municipal Lawyer on September 2021.