Incorporating environmental justice measures during environmental impact statement scoping

摘要

Executive order 12898, "Federal Actions to Address Enviromental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations," directs Federal agencies to make environmental justice part of their mission by involving minorities and low-income populations and by identifying and addressing as appropriate disproportionately high and adverse human health and environmental effects of their programs, policies, and activities, on minority and low-income populations. In the Presidential Memorandum transmitting the Executive Order~2 it was stated that environmental justice should be taken into consideration under the national Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (ENPA)~3. NEPA, with its systematic approach and requirements for alternatives analysis and comprehensive public participation, has served as one of the main mechanisms for involving the public in environmental decision-making. This paper addresses challenges faced by the Departement of Energy in involving minority and low-income populations in the public inolvement activities associated with a national-level environmental impact statement (EIS) and suggests ways to improve agencies' incorporation of environmental justice considerations in NEPA scoping.