U.S. Department
of Justice
Justice Department Launches Comprehensive Environmental Justice Strategy
Attorney General Garland launches comprehensive Environmental Justice strategy.
"I am pleased to announce that we are launching the Justice Department's first-ever Office of Environmental Justice to oversee and help guide the Justice Department's wide-ranging environmental justice efforts. Like all parts of government, it will get its own acronym: OEJ. … In partnership with EPA, our new OEJ will serve as the central hub for our efforts to advance our comprehensive environmental justice enforcement strategy."—Attorney General Merrick B. Garland
EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan speaks on EPA's partnership with the Justice Department regarding the new Office of Environmental Justice.
"The burdens of environmental pollution have long been borne disproportionately by members of minority, Tribal and low-income communities. No American should have to live, work or send their kids to school in a neighborhood that carries a disproportionate share of environmental hazards. The Justice Department is committed to doing everything we can to address these disparities. That is why, as the Attorney General mentioned, we are issuing a comprehensive strategy on environmental justice to guide the work of all department components. This new strategy will ensure that the department is using every available tool to secure environmental justice for everyone."—Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland was joined by EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan in announcing a series of actions to secure environmental justice for all Americans. In addition to launching a new Office of Environmental Justice within the Justice Department, Attorney General Garland also announced a new comprehensive environmental justice enforcement strategy to guide the Justice Department's work and issued an Interim Final Rule that will restore the use of supplemental environmental projects in appropriate circumstances.