The
background
papers
on
the
candidate
national
program
priorities
are
intended
to
initiate
further
discussion.
When
priorities
are
selected
more
detailed
strategies
with
in­
depth
background
information,
numerical
targets,
schedules,
milestones
and
performance
measures
will
be
developed.
______________________________________________________________________________

December,
2003
Page
1
of
1
Proposed
Priority:
Environmental
Justice
Ensure
that
no
racial,
ethnic
nor
socioeconomic
group
bears
a
disproportionate
share
of
negative
environmental
consequences
resulting
from
industrial,
municipal,
and
commercial
activities
or
from
the
execution
of
federal,
state,
and
local
programs
and
policies.
Target
one
or
more
areas
within
each
Region
for
focused
attention
on
environmental
justice
(
EJ)
concerns.

Countless
independent
studies
have
concluded
that
communities
of
color
and
low­
income
communities
are
disproportionately
exposed
to
environmental
harms
and
risks.
These
communities
are
often
required
to
host
polluting
facilities
that
no
one
else
wants.
Often,
it
is
not
just
one
pollution
generating
facility,
but
a
combination
of
incinerators,
waste
dumps,
wastewater
treatment
facilities,
refineries
and
factories
that
impact
the
same
community.
The
effects
of
these
multiple
sources
of
pollution
can
be
severe,
especially
on
children
and
the
elderly.
In
some
cases,
these
communities
are
ill­
equipped
to
address
the
problems
on
their
own
and
require
assistance
through
a
variety
of
sources.
In
the
most
severe
cases,
however,
enforcement
is
needed
to
address
chronic
concerns.

Geographic
Range
Environmental
justice
concerns
are
prevalent
in
every
region
of
the
country
encompassing
urban,
suburban,
and
rural
areas.

Environmental
Risks
There
are
a
variety
of
impacts
associated
with
multiple
sources
of
pollution
in
one
community.
Many
communities
suffer
from
cumulative
impacts
in
which
health
threats
come
from
more
than
one
source.
Further,
synergistic
impacts
are
possible
where
two
pollutants
combined
together
create
a
more
toxic
substance
and
pose
a
greater
health
threat
than
each
pollutant
would
on
its
own.
The
risk
is
often
compounded
in
communities
consisting
of
sensitive
populations
that
have
pre­
existing
illnesses
and
diseases
placing
them
at
greater
risk
from
exposure
to
pollutants.
In
addition
to
these
serious
health
risks,
communities
that
have
more
than
their
fair
share
of
industrial
and
commercial
activity
also
can
suffer
social
effects
such
as
noise
and
traffic
problems
and
economic
effects
such
as
reduced
property
values,
lost
wages,
and
medical
bills.
