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Restricting Fossil Fuel Pollution in Frontline Communities

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34 resources

Resource Congress

Proposed Environmental Justice for All Act (2020)

This proposed 2020 federal bill establishes an Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice Compliance and Enforcement to help identify and address the disproportionate burden federal actions ha...
Resource States and State Governments

Massachusetts Permitting Revisions Focus on EJ Communities

In March 2023, Massachusetts amended its state air pollution regulations to require certain facilities seeking air emissions permits in or near communities with Environmental Justice (EJ) populations ...
Example States and State Governments

Pennsylvania’s EJ Mapping Tool

In September 2023, Pennsylvania unveiled a new environmental justice mapping tool. PennEnviroScreen provides an annually updated snapshot of undue environmental burden on vulnerable communities. This ...
Example Executive Branch

EPA’s Cumulative Impacts Addendum

In January 2023, EPA released a new playbook for confronting the onslaught of pollutants in low-income and minority communities across the country. The Cumulative Impacts Addendum informs how the fede...
Model Law States and State Governments

LPDD Model Law: Establishing an Environmental Advisory Board

This model law establishes a powerful platform for advocating equity and justice in historically marginalized communities. This model law addresses various environmental justice issues, by recognizing...
Example States and State Governments

Vermont’s Environmental Justice Legislation

In May 2022, Vermont adopted SB 148, which defines “environmental justice focus populations” and requires the State agencies to incorporate environmental justice into their work, rules, and procedures...
Example States and State Governments

Massachusetts’ Environmental Justice Strategy

In February 2024, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy of Environmental Affairs (EEA) unveiled the state’s first-ever Environmental Justice (EJ) Strategy. The document provides guidelines to e...
Example States and State Governments

Connecticut’s Pollution in Frontline Communities Bill

As of spring 2023, the Connecticut Legislature is considering a bill backed by the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, or DEEP, which would give that agency, as well as the Connec...
Example States and State Governments

New Jersey’s S232 (2020)

The legislation requires the Department of Environmental Protection to evaluate public health and environmental effects when certain businesses like power plants, incinerators, sewage treatment facili...
Example States and State Governments

Connecticut’s EJ Mapping Tool

In July 2023, Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, in conjunction with the University of Connecticut, unveiled a new environmental justice mapping tool. The mapping tool in...
Resource Executive Branch

Harvard’s Federal Environmental Justice Tracker

This tracker follows regulations, policies, and other federal actions that affect communities’ exposure to environmental pollution, including public health protections for workers, pollution standards...
Example States and State Governments

Michigan Law Granting PSC Additional Equity, Environmental Review Powers

In November, 2023, both houses of Michigan’s legislature passed SB 502, which makes changes to the enabling act for Michigan’s Public service Commission (PSC) to enhance its oversight over environment...
Resource Executive Branch

Executive Order 14008

EO 14088, one of the first Executive Orders signed during the Biden Administration, has been hailed as “a mini Green New Deal” in effect. It has several disparate provisions aimed at climate and clima...
Resource Congress

Proposed Climate Equity Act (2020)

Proposed 2020 legislation would: Require relevant legislation receive an equity score that is both quantitative and qualitative to estimate the impact on frontline communities. This equity score would...
Example Local Governments

D.C.’s Healthy Homes and Residential Electrification Amendment Act

In April 2024, the DC Council approved a Healthy Homes and Residential Electrification Amendment Act, which sets DC on a course to replace fossil-fuel powered appliances and home heat with electric ap...
Example Local Governments

Los Angeles County Oil and Gas Well Ban

Following a similar measure in the City of Los Angeles, in January 2023, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors officially approved an ordinance to prohibit new oil and gas wells and phase out cu...
Example States and State Governments

California Ban on New Oil Wells Near Residential

In September 2022, California imposed a statewide buffer zone to separate homes, schools, hospitals and other populated areas from new oil and gas wells. Senate Bill 1137 prohibits the California Geol...
Example States and State Governments

New York’s Clean Deliveries Act

New York’s S2127C (2024) directs the state to review emissions related to large warehouses and require warehouse operators to choose from an array of actions to minimize pollution. The legislation als...
Resource States and State Governments

NY’s Environmental Equity Legislation Package 2021

In March 2021, the NY Senate approved a broad array of environmental equity legislation aimed at protecting frontline communities from fossil fuel pollution. This legislative package requires environm...
Model Law States and State Governments

LPDD Model Law: Eliminating As-Of-Right Status of Polluting Facilities in Environmental Justice Areas

This model law addresses the issue of grandfathered approval for existing polluting facilities, which can evade stringent regulatory standards and technological improvements, and are often located in ...
Example States and State Governments

Connecticut’s Cumulative Impacts Permitting Legislation

Connecticut’s SB 47 gives the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and the state’s Siting Council the ability to deny a permit for new facilities based on the “cumulative impact” of envir...
Example States and State Governments

Massachusetts’ Act Creating a Next-Generation Roadmap for Climate Policy (2021)

In January 2021, the Massachusetts State Legislature passed S.2995, which sets sweeping climate policy for the state, including greenhouse gas reduction targets of 50 percent by 2030, 75 percent by 20...
Resource States and State Governments

Illinois’ Climate and Equitable Jobs Act

This 900-page energy and climate bill, passed in September 2021, covers a variety of subject areas, listed below: On electricity: The bill raises the renewable portfolio standard to require 40 percent...
Example Executive Branch

EO 14096 on Environmental Justice

In April 2023, President Biden signed an executive order creating a new Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ) within the White House Council on Environmental Quality, which will coordinate initiatives...
Resource Local Governments

Report, Defending and Advancing Climate Justice Policies

This January 2025 report from Just Solutions aims to illuminate the potential threats to environmental and climate justice under the second Trump Administration, drawing on the first Trump Administrat...
Example States and State Governments

Massachusett’s Environmental Justice Trust

Massachusetts’ Environmental Justice Fund, established through the 2025 state budget, will receive monies from civil penalties obtained in judgments and settlements from state cases in the AGO’s Envir...
Resource Executive Branch

Frontlines Climate Justice Executive Action Platform

This platform proposes a set of actions the executive branch can take to equitably address the climate crisis without new legislation, major new appropriations, or other Congressional authority.
Model Law States and State Governments

LPDD Model Law: Requiring Indirect Source Permits for New or Expanded Facilities Generating Significant Vehicular Traffic

This model law aims to address the pollution generated by new indirect sources, which attract increased vehicle traffic and mobile sources of pollution. While the pollution from these sources may not ...
Model Law States and State Governments

LPDD Model Law: Requiring Cumulative Impact Analysis to Renew Permit of Covered Facility in an Environmental Justice Area

This model law addresses the issue of multiple pollution sources and environmental stressors affecting communities. A single source of pollution can cause severe health consequences, and when combined...
Example States and State Governments

Colorado’s Office of Environmental Justice

Passed in May, 2024, Colorado’s HB 1338 created the Office of Environmental Justice within the Department of Public Health and Environment to coordinate environmental justice (EJ) work across governme...
Example States and State Governments

North Carolina’s Executive Order 246 (2022)

This January 2022 Executive Order directs North Carolina Cabinet agencies to consider environmental justice challenges when making decisions related to climate change and their response, such as how t...
Example Private Entities

St. Louis AirWatch Project

A St. Louis Community-based Air Quality Monitoring Program, Air Watch St. Louis, aims to equitably, scientifically, and strategically site air quality monitors at identified congregations throughout S...
Model Law States and State Governments

LPDD Model Law: Identifying and Mitigating Cumulative Impacts in Environmental Justice Areas

This model law aims to curb the development of new polluting facilities in frontline communities where residents are disproportionately burdened by environmental harms and exposed to toxic pollutants ...
Example States and State Governments

New York’s Environmental Permitting In Disadvantaged Communities Legislation

In December 2022, New York State passed legislation to ensure that cumulative impacts are taken into consideration in the State’s environmental permitting processes when potentially polluting faciliti...