U.S. EPA Announces New Office Dedicated to Environmental Justice

EPA Administrator Michael Regan announced the creation of a national environmental justice and civil rights office on September 24.   The new Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights will merge three existing programs — the Office of Environmental Justice, External Civil Rights Compliance Office, and Conflict Prevention and Resolution Center.  According to the EPA press release, It will be tasked with providing technical assistance to communities and enforcing civil rights laws, among other duties. The objective is to infuse equity and environmental justice principles into everything the agency does.  The office will be placed at the same high level within the agency as offices that regulate air and water pollution, and like these offices, will be led by a Senate-confirmed assistant administrator. 

Initially, the new office will be run by Marianne Engelman-Lado, Matthew Tejada and Lilian Dorka, and will have more than 200 staff members. The office is also expected to manage a new $3 billion environmental justice block grant program, funding that stems from the new federal climate law.   Congress has directed greater work on environmental justice at the agency, providing $100 million for an environmental justice program earlier this year and pressing EPA officials to further develop their environmental justice plan.   

Regan earlier this year hired Robin Morris Collin to be his senior adviser on environmental justice He has not yet said who will be nominated to be the assistant administrator, a job expected to face an arduous confirmation process. The Biden administration has hinted at its plans in budget documents released in 2021 and 2022.