The agency will administer $100 million in grants to cities, states, and tribal nations as part of the Biden administration’s Justice40 initiative.
A $100 million grant package from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “the largest investment for environmental justice grants ever offered,” is aimed at helping states, cities, and tribal nations launch climate resiliency and emergency preparedness programs, particularly in underserved communities that have historically borne the brunt of pollution and the impacts of climate change.
Molly Bolan, writing in Route Fifty, describes the program’s requirements, which include partnering with a local community organization. “Special consideration will be given to projects that focus on climate change, disaster resiliency, and emergency preparedness; initiatives in rural areas; and projects that will conduct health-impact assessments, according to a release from the agency.” The grants are part of the Justice40 initiative, a White House program that pledges to direct 40 percent or more of federal climate funding to communities that have been disproportionately affected.
As Bolan explains, “In total, the EPA expects to allocate up to $1 million for 70 projects that span three years that will, among other things, conduct home audits for lead, create health education programs, and monitor water quality, according to the agency.”
FULL STORY: EPA Unveils $100 Million in Environmental Justice Grants
Democrats Call for Stronger Action on Environmental Justice
The Justice40 initiative could make a major difference for communities burdened by pollution, but only if funds are spent on projects that maintain a focus on equity.
Environmental Justice Advocates Criticize Federal Assessment Tool
A tool designed to guide federal grant distribution may not prioritize the highest-need communities, while conflicting grant guidelines create challenges for local agencies.
Report: The West Is the Worst for Air Quality
Thanks to longer fire seasons and increasingly intense blazes, Western states are experiencing the nation’s worst air quality.
‘Forward Together’ Bus System Redesign Rolling Out in Portland
Portland is redesigning its bus system to respond to the changing patterns of the post-pandemic world—with twin goals of increasing ridership and improving equity.
Plan to Potentially Remove Downtown Milwaukee’s Interstate Faces Public Scrutiny
The public is weighing in on a suite of options for repairing, replacing, or removing Interstate 794 in downtown Milwaukee.
Can New York City Go Green Without Renewable Rikers?
New York City’s bold proposal to close the jail on Rikers Island and replace it with green infrastructure is in jeopardy. Will this compromise the city’s ambitious climate goals?
700-Acre Master-Planned Community Planned in Utah
A massive development plan is taking shape for lakefront property in Vineyard, Utah—on the site of a former U.S. Steel Geneva Works facility.
More Cities Ponder the End of Drive-Thrus
Drive-thru fast food restaurants might be a staple of American life, but several U.S. cities are actively considering prohibiting the development of new drive-thrus for the benefit of traffic safety, air quality, and congestion.
Air Pollution World’s Worst Public Health Threat, Report Says
Air pollution is more likely to take years life off the lifespan of the average human than any other external factor, according to a recent report out of the University of Chicago.
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