Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice is defined 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.
What Is Meant By Fair Treatment And Meaningful Involvement?
Fair treatment means that no group of people should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, governmental and commercial operations or policies.
Meaningful Involvement:
- People have an opportunity to offer input on decisions about activities that may affect their environment and/or health;
- The public’s contribution can influence the regulatory agency’s decision;
- Their concerns will be considered in the decision making process; and
- The decision makers seek out and facilitate the involvement of those potentially affected
Primary goals for the Office of Community Engagement:
Goal 1: Develop transparent and accessible decision-making processes to enable meaningful community stakeholder participation.
Goal 2: Present information in ways that will enable community stakeholders to better understand environmental issues and offer input in an informed way during the decision-making process.
Goal 3: Be responsive to stakeholders and assist MDEQ staff in addressing the stakeholder concerns to the extent practicable.
Community Engagement Initiatives
Community engagement and collaboration are cornerstones for the protection of human health and the environment. We are dedicated to serving potentially impacted community organizations and concerned citizens through engagement activities.
Click on the links below to see our active and past engagement initiatives.
Collaborative Process, Charleston, MS
Hercules, Inc, Hattiesburg, MS
Local Government Leadership Institute, Cleveland, MS
NCL Waste, LLC, North County Line Landfill, Ridgeland, MS
Village of Eden, Yazoo City, MS
Resources
EPA Environmental Justice Screen (EJScreen)
MDEQ uses the EPA’s EJScreen to assist in finding potential environmental justice communities in Mississippi. This mapping and screening tool, while not determinative of all cases, is based on nationally consistent data that combines environmental and demographic indicators in maps and reports. Click here to view EJScreen.
Funding Opportunities
Environmental Justice Presentations
MDEQ’s OCE uses environmental education and training to assist stakeholders and decision-makers with understanding and addressing environmental concerns and making better informed decisions.
Public Input and Reporting Environmental Concerns
If you have any environmental justice concerns, comments, questions or need to report an environmental justice issue, call toll-free 1-888-786-0661.
Contact:
