CALIFORNIA AIR RESOUCES BOARD ADOPTS
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE POLICIES

The California Air Resources Board recently adopted precedent setting Environmental Justice Policies that were endorsed by the LWVS Board in November. The goal of these guidelines is to ensure that everyone in California can live, work, learn, and play in a healthful environment. The Policies include a goal of reduced health risks in all communities, especially low-income and minority communities.

The ARB Environmental Justice Policies are as follows:

1. It shall be the ARB’s policy to integrate environmental justice into all of our programs, policies, and regulations.
2. It shall be the ARB’s policy to strengthen outreach and education efforts in all communities, especially low-income and minority communities, so that all Californians can fully participate in our public processes and share in the air quality benefits of our programs.
3. It shall be the ARB’s policy to meet health-based air quality standards and reduce health risks from toxic air pollutants in all communities, especially low-income and minority communities, through the adoption of control measures and the promotion of pollution prevention programs.
4. It shall be the ARB’s policy to work with the local air districts in our respective regulatory jurisdictions to strengthen enforcement activities at the community level across the State.
5. It shall be the ARB’s policy to assess, consider, and reduce cumulative emissions, exposures, and health risks when developing and implementing our programs.
6. It shall be the ARB’s policy to work with local land-use agencies, transportation agencies, and air districts to develop ways to assess, consider, and reduce cumulative health risks from air pollution through general plans, permitting, and other local actions.
7. It shall be the ARB’s policy to support research and data collection needed to reduce cumulative emissions, exposure, and health risks in all communities, especially low-income and minority communities.

The ARB should be thanked for adopting these important Policies. All concerned Californians should support the ARB in their effort to implement their Policies.

For more information contact Rick Bettis
September 2002