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Environmental justice and cleanup justice studies have been combined indiscriminately, using Superfund as an indicator of environmental equity However communities of color should be given an opportunity to weigh in on what the remediation and cleanup should address. Environmental Justice communities should be give the same access as other communities on the land use designation of such superfund site after the clean up. Furthermore community may request an environmental health assessment and thorough community impacts associated with the hazard.

Citation:

O'Neil SG. Superfund: evaluating the impact of executive order 12898. Environ Health Perspect. 2007 Jul;115(7):1087-93. doi: 10.1289/ehp.9903. Erratum in: Environ Health Perspect. 2007 Aug;115(8):A399. PMID: 17637927; PMCID: PMC1913562.

Abstract:

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) addresses uncontrolled and abandoned hazardous waste sites throughout the country. Sites that are perceived to be a significant threat to both surrounding populations and the environment can be placed on the U.S. EPA Superfund list and qualify for federal cleanup funds. The equitability of the Superfund program has been questioned; the representation of minority and low-income populations in this cleanup program is lower than would be expected. Thus, minorities and low-income populations may not be benefiting proportionately from this environmental cleanup program. In 1994 President Clinton signed Executive Order 12898 requiring that the U.S. EPA and other federal agencies implement environmental justice policies. These policies were to specifically address the disproportionate environmental effects of federal programs and policies on minority and low-income populations

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