The Department of the Interior and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, in collaboration with the White House Council on Environmental Quality and Office of Science and Technology Policy, have announced new resources aimed at supporting voluntary community-driven relocation due to severe environmental hazards. These resources include two reports: "Opportunities for Federal Support of Community-Driven Relocation" and "Community-Driven Relocation: Guide for Communities to Federal Programs and Resources."

These documents were developed by the federal interagency Community-Driven Relocation Subcommittee, co-led by the Interior Department and FEMA, with input from 14 federal agencies and seven Executive Offices of the President.

The "Opportunities for Federal Support of Community-Driven Relocation" report provides an overview of voluntary community-driven relocation in the United States. It emphasizes that planned relocation projects should be based on a community's ability to define its future. The report outlines steps for federal agencies to develop a coordinated strategy to support communities facing persistent climate impacts or pollution hazards. It also highlights challenges in receiving communities that must be addressed for holistic support.

Brenda Mallory, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, stated, “The Biden-Harris Administration has made historic investments to help communities facing catastrophic climate impacts, and today’s announcement will continue to help those in need access critical resources if they determine relocating is their only option.” She added that identifying next steps and best practices will bridge gaps between at-risk Tribes and communities seeking assistance.

This initiative marks the first federal effort to create an all-of-government strategy considering both climate and legacy pollution-based relocations together. The report aims to advance collaborative interagency support for communities needing relocation.

Key aspects of the report include:

- A whole-of-government approach outlining a unified vision, goals, and guiding principles.

- An explanation of community-driven relocation as an adaptation strategy.

- Ways existing federal authorities can support these communities.

- Actions for improving federal support through near-term, intermediate-term, and long-term measures.

Additionally, the "Community-Driven Relocation: Guide for Communities to Federal Programs and Resources" serves as a tool for communities exploring relocation options. It details programs, activities, eligibility criteria but does not capture all program intricacies.

For more information, visit the White House’s website.