Environmental Justice

What is justice?• Brainstorm:– Right– Moral– Legal– Balance– Restoring Order– Fair – Compensation– Proper punishment

• Justice is a concept of moral rightness based on ethics, rationality, law, natural law, religion, or equity. It is also the act of being just and/or fair.

Environmental Justice• The fair treatment and

meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, sex, national origin, or income with respect to development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.

An Example:

• Oak Park in Kerrville, TX– Location of the city

landfill, city pound, and the city wastewater treatment plant.

Sierra Blanca, Texas

• Small town in west Texas near El Paso.• 16 miles from Mexico• 2/3 Hispanic• Very poor community• Proposed site for the 3rd low level nuclear

waste storage site in the US

Why is it Environmental Injustice?

• The community seems to have been targeted due to:– High percentage of Hispanic residents– High percentage of households living below the

poverty level– Low education level.