Environmental Justice Considerations at Federal Facility Superfund Sites

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. For overburdened and marginalized communities, environmental justice means equal access to decision making and protections from environmental and health hazards. 

The Environmental Justice Pilot Project Report  describes the results of a pilot project undertaken to develop a process and methods to promote the consistent, systematic application of environmental justice considerations at Federal Facility Superfund sites.

EPA’s Environmental Justice Reference Guides provide tips to help Superfund project team members apply guidance, tools and strategies to identify and address concerns related to environmental justice. These concerns can indicate vulnerabilities and conditions that lead to disproportionate impacts.

• A Process for Systematically Considering Environmental Justice in CERCLA Investigations at Federal Facility NPL Sites: Environmental Justice Reference Guide
• Tools for Considering Environmental Justice in CERCLA Investigations at Federal Facility NPL Sites: Environmental Justice Reference Guide
• Utilizing EJScreen to Integrate Information About Contaminant Releases with Environmental Justice Data: Environmental Justice Reference Guide (pdf) (1.44 MB)

Today, Superfund cleanups protect some of the country’s most vulnerable and underserved communities. About 73 million people live within 3 miles of a Superfund site. Compared to the general population, the population within this range is more low-income, has more indigenous and people of color and is more burdened by other environmental stressors (e.g., poor air quality, lead paint, etc.). 

Approximately 3 million people live within 1 mile of a Federal Facility Superfund site (roughly 1% of the U.S. population), and approximately 12 million people live within 3 miles of a Federal Facility Superfund site (roughly 4% of the U.S. population). 

EPA works closely with federal partners to focus on making a visible and lasting difference in communities, ensuring that people can live and work in healthy, vibrant places. As part of that focus, EPA considers how to help other federal agencies address environmental justice concerns throughout the Superfund cleanup process.