Executive Order 12898 issued February 16, 1994, directs  federal agencies to focus attention on environmental and human health impacts of federal actions by incorporating environmental justice as part of its mission. Subsequent Executive Orders have followed such as 14008 and 14096. By identifying and addressing the disproportionately high and adverse effects of federal funded  programs, policies, and activities on "minority populations and low-income populations,” the goal federal government aims to achieve environmental protection for all communities  The U.S. Department of Transportation's environmental justice initiatives aim to accomplish this directive by involving the potentially affected communities when developing transportation projects. This attempts to protect the overburdened communities by ensuring projects  enterwine harmoniously within  communities without sacrificing safety or mobility.

Environmental justice and Title VI often go hand-in-hand are not new policies. However, because of the evolution of the transportation planning process, they  receive greater emphasis in consideration and enforcement throughout the life of a project. Effective transportation decision making depends upon understanding and  addressing the unique needs of  diverse communities throughout the nation which  requires actively involving the impacted communities. The U.S. Department of Transportation is committed to this  comprehensive and inclusive approach to ensure  every transportation project nationwide considers the human health and environmental impact. Use  this brochure to  promote environmental justice and ensure nondiscrimination in your community.

What is Environmental Justice

There are three fundamental environmental justice principles:

• To avoid, minimize, or mitigate disproportionately high and adverse human health and environmental effects, including social and economic effects, on minority populations and low-income populations.
• To ensure the full and fair participation by all potentially affected communities in the transportation decision-making process.
• To prevent the denial of, reduction in, or significant delay in the receipt of benefits by minority and low-income populations.