The EPA Issues Rules for "Social Justice"

Achieving environmental justice (EJ) is an Agency priority and should be factored into every decision. Incorporating EJ considerations into the Action Development Process (ADP) represents a commitment to ensuring that all Americans, regardless of age, race, economic status, or ethnicity, have access to clean water, clean air, and healthy communities. It is vital that all Agency staff identify and address disproportionate environmental and public health impacts experienced by minority, low-income, and indigenous populations.

Thus begins a new guide issued by the Environmental Protection agency, they call it "Environmental Justice" in actuality it is talking about Social Justice. All environmental rules are now to be evaluated on how they will impact minority areas and Native American tribes. Fair Treatment means that no group of people should bear a disproportionate burden of environmental harms and risks, including those resulting from the negative environmental consequences of industrial, governmental, and commercial operations or programs and policies.

The guide states that  in the process of developing rules, policy statements, risk assessments, and other regulatory actions,  EPA managers and staffers must first ask themselves, “Does this action involve a topic that is likely to be of particular interest to or have particular impact upon minority, low-income, or indigenous populations, or tribes?”

If the answer is yes, the rule-writers must reach out to the affected minority and/or low-income communities. One section of the guide explains how EPA rule-writers may have to make “special efforts” to connect with people who may be uneducated or non-English-speaking.

Meaningful Involvement means that: 1) potentially affected community members have an appropriate opportunity to participate in decisions about a proposed activity that will affect their environment and/or health; 2) the public’s contribution can influence the regulatory agency’s decision; 3) the concerns of all participants involved will be considered in the decision-making process; and 4) the decision-makers seek out and facilitate the involvement of those potentially affected.

Taking this to its logical extension, can the EPA look at fuel efficient cars and the smog in cities such as New York and Los Angeles and rule (with the help of the President), that everyone is entitled to equal access of a Hybrid? Maybe because of the lower income of urban minorities they can sue cities to provide them at low cost to minorities because every is entitled to that low emission auto.

Will this new set of rules lead to higher taxes on non-minorities to pay for the conversion of minorities homes to fuel efficiency, using the global warming hoax a straw dog for basic redistribution of income?  Or it will it be another excuse to tax the big bad companies for the same reasons?

 The densely populated communities closest to the I-710 freeway in Los Angeles County are severely impacted by pollution from goods movement and industrial activity. The Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles are the entry point of 40 percent of all imports to the United States and 20 percent of diesel particulate emissions in Southern California. Approximately 1,200 premature deaths are associated with diesel emissions from goods movement in the South Coast Air Basin. The I-710 freeway passes through 15 cities and unincorporated areas with a population of more than 1 million residents— about 70 percent of which are minority and disproportionately low-income.The area is dense with truck traffic, industrial facilities, residences, schools, daycares, and senior centers. The region exceeds national air quality standard for 1-hour and 8-hour ozone and particulate matter 2.5 and 10. The South Coast Air Quality Management District, California Air Resources Board, and EPA are working vigorously to address the air quality issues in the region.

 It certainly can be interpreted that way. Read the report below and decide for yourself.

Considering Ej in Rule Making Guide 07 2010