WASHINGTON — In a move to enhance access to environmental justice resources, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has unveiled an unprecedented online collection of materials. The Environmental Justice Clearinghouse, as it is called, is part of President Biden's ambitious environmental justice agenda.
Theresa Segovia, Assistant Principal Deputy Director of the Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights, emphasized the collaborative effort needed to achieve the administration's environmental justice goals, stating, "Fulfilling the ambitious environmental justice agenda of the Biden-Harris administration requires shared dedication to build strong relationships and create projects focused on finding solutions. The Environmental Justice Clearinghouse is a transformative resource guide created to help us achieve our environmental justice goals throughout the agency."
The EPA's Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights will continue to add information to the clearinghouse continuously and welcomes contributions and submissions from the public for review and possible inclusion.
Dr. Jalonne L. White-Newsome, Federal Director of Environmental Justice at the White House Council on Environmental Quality, highlighted the importance of breaking down barriers to environmental resources and information, stating, "President Biden has directed the entire federal government to remove barriers to resources and information that help communities achieve environmental justice. The EPA's Environmental Justice Clearinghouse will be a useful online tool that compiles various sources of information so that all stakeholders interested in environmental justice can find resources on a single site."
The Environmental Justice Clearinghouse includes searchable categories to streamline results for the public and ensure a more efficient and accessible process for accessing information related to environmental justice.
The initiative aligns with President Biden's Executive Order 14906 signed on April 21, 2023, which established the Environmental Justice Clearinghouse as a public hub of accessible and culturally and linguistically appropriate materials related to environmental justice from across the government.
For more information on environmental justice and to explore the resources available, visit the EPA's website and suggest possible resources for inclusion.
