What is the environmental justice movement? Where is it today? How does it affect brownfields cleanup and redevelopment? In two parts, this article attempts to look at these questions from the author’s perspective and to provide information that may be helpful to a wide range of stakeholders involved in successful, consensus-driven brownfields redevelopment. Part 1 will focus mainly on the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's policy and part 2 will address the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s initiative.
Managing Environmental Justice
Environmental justice is an issue that merits the attention of developers, local governments, property owners, and other stakeholders engaged in brownfields cleanup and redevelopment. The EPA defines the term as “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 Florida Legislature defines environmental justice as “the fair treatment of all people of all races, cultures and income with respect to the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws.”