Executive Order 12898, Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations, directed the federal government to make environmental justice a part of the federal decision-making process.

The executive order focused attention on health and environmental conditions in minority and low-income communities with the goal of achieving environmental justice and fostering nondiscrimination in programs that substantially affect human health or the environment. Federal agencies were directed to make environmental justice an integral part of their missions. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is fully committed to including environmental justice and public involvement in its programs, and to creating an open and accessible decision-making process that results in decisions that are:

Environmental justice means fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race, ethnicity, culture, income, or education level with respect to development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. Fair treatment means that racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic groups should not bear a disproportionate share of negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, municipal, and commercial operations, or from the execution of federal, state, or local laws, regulations, and policies.

At the very core of environmental justice is the concept that all stakeholders should have their voices heard. DOE has numerous programs to promote environmental justice and public involvement in its programs. While some activities are complex and technical, stakeholders should participate as permitted by law. Often small towns, rural areas, and minority and low-income communities are limited in their ability to participate in decisions relating to the environment due to the lack of access to information, technology, expertise, and decision-makers. DOE conducts programs to build the capacity of these communities to participate effectively in the decisions that affect their community. DOE-conducted programs include:

Dr. Samuel P. Massie Chairs of Excellence – a team of world-class scholars, researchers, and educators from nine Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and one Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) who conduct research, provide advice and assistance to municipalities, and promote collaboration among federal agencies, the private sector, research institutions, and other HBCUs. The Massie Chairs are key elements of DOE's community capacity building efforts and support Brownfields economic development and environmental projects.

Environmental Justice Classes – produced and conducted to help DOE federal and contractor personnel gain a greater awareness of environmental justice issues, communication styles for various stakeholders, and strategies for incorporating environmental justice concerns in DOE decision-making. The classes—Public Participation, Environmental Justice, and Communicating With the Public—were designed to help personnel communicate more effectively with the public in settings such as public meetings, advisory committee meetings, or briefings. The classes support DOE's goal of having an open, transparent, and inclusive decision-making process. This program supports other DOE sites around the complex.

Building Community Capacity Through Technology – this partnership with Tennessee State University and the National Urban Internet, provides technical assistance to the communities near DOE Oak Ridge and the DOE Savannah River Site. This program distributes excess and surplus computers and creates technology centers. The centers help community groups, public schools, small towns, and rural communities address energy, environmental, economic, academic, and other challenges. The partnership has donated approximately 5,000 computers to groups to enhance environmental justice.

Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) – convenes the Community Leaders' Institute to address other environmental justice issues. The Community Leaders' Institute introduces community leaders to resources and information that will help them address environmental and other issues in their communities. While important to all communities, these resources and skills are particularly lacking in small rural, tribal, and environmental justice communities that historically have been subjected to disproportionate levels of environmental risk with comparatively little in the way
of recourse or reward.

United Negro College Fund Special Programs Corporation/Department of Energy Mentorship for Environmental Scholars Summer Internship Program (UNCFSP) – DOE provides the UNCFSP finances to support a summer internship/mentorship program for undergraduate students attending minority institutions. DOE entered into a memorandum of agreement with UNCFSP to conduct a program that brings students to DOE laboratories for hands-on mentoring experiences in the fields of environmental science and engineering.

All of DOE's environmental justice activities are designed to meet the demands of Executive Order 12898, and to ensure that our stakeholders have informed participation in decisions that affect their communities.

For more information, contact Melinda Downing, DOE Environmental Justice Program Manager, at (202) 586-7703, or e-mail at Melinda.Downing@hq.doe.gov.