“Agencies shall make achieving environmental justice part of their missions by developing programs, policies, and activities to address the disproportionately high and adverse human health, environmental, climate-related, and other cumulative impacts on disadvantaged communities, as well as the accompanying economic challenges of such impacts.”
Environmental justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is committed to ensure that the principles of environmental justice (EJ) are applied to all the DOE’s programs, policies, and activities. In pursuit of our mission and goals, we treat people fairly and achieve early and meaningful involvement by our affected communities and broader stakeholder populations. Learn more about the DOE’s EJ goals and objectives in the 2007 DOE EJ Strategy, 2017 DOE EJ Strategy, 2008 DOE Environmental Justice Five-Year Implementation Plan, and 2019 DOE Environmental Justice Five-Year Implementation Plan. Read about the DOE’s EJ accomplishments in the Department’s implementation progress reports, the 2018 report on DOE Public Engagement, Education, and Outreach Accomplishments, and the LM Program Update (2nd Quarter 2020). Please see “Environmental Justice at DOE” to learn more about environmental justice at DOE.
- What is Environmental Justice?
- Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad (Executive Order 14008)
- Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government (Executive Order 13895)
- Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government (Executive Order 14091)
- History of Environmental Justice at DOE
- Environmental Justice History
- Definition and Policy
- DOE Environmental Justice Frequently Asked Questions
- DOE Environmental Justice Strategy Updates/Revisions
- DOE Environmental Justice Documents and Publications
- DOE Environmental Justice Historical Documents and Publications
- EO 12898
- EO 13895
- EO 14008
- EO 14091
- EO 14096
- MOU
- Community Guide to Environmental Justice and NEPA Methods (2019)
- Promising Practices for Environmental Justice Methodologies in NEPA Reviews (2016)
- A Review of the Department of Energy’s Implementation of Executive Order 12898 and Recommendations for a Second Five-Year Strategic Plan (2013)
- Empowering Communities in the Age of E-Government (2006)
- Environmental Justice at the U.S. Department of Energy – A Decade of Progress (2005)
- Environmental Justice Brochure
- Community Engagement Activities and Results Impacts
- Targeted Resources to Overburdened, Underserved, and Economically Distressed Communities
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Interns and Career Development
- White House Environmental Justice Interagency Council
- Notable and Innovative Place-Based Interagency Collaborative Projects
- Other Federal Agencies Strategies
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- Department of Commerce (DOC)
- Department of Defense (DOD)
- Department of Education (ED)
- Department of Energy (DOE)
- Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
- Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
- Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
- Department of the Interior (DOI)
- Department of Justice (DOJ)
- Department of Labor (DOL)
- Department of Transportation (DOT)
- Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
- General Services Administration (GSA)
Agency Contact
Melinda Downing
Office of Legacy Management
Washington, D.C.
Telephone: (202) 253-9361/(202) 586-7703
Email: melinda.downing@hq.doe.gov