96-17811. Availability of Draft Guidance on Environmental Justice in EPA's NEPA Compliance Analysis

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 135 (Friday, July 12, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36727-36728]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-17811]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[ER-FRL-5471-4]


Availability of Draft Guidance on Environmental Justice in EPA's 
NEPA Compliance Analysis

    Responsible Agency: Office of Federal Activities.
    The Office of Federal Activities (OFA) has prepared a draft 
guidance on ``Environmental Justice in EPA's NEPA Compliance Analysis'' 
which is available for review.
    The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires all federal 
agencies to evaluate the environmental consequences of major federal 
actions. In February, 1994, the Administration issued Executive Order 
12898, Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority 
Populations and

[[Page 36728]]

Low-Income Populations. Specifically, the Executive Order requires all 
federal agencies to analyze the environmental effects, including human 
health, economic and social effects, of federal actions, including 
effects on minority communities and low-income communities, as required 
by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.
    A Presidential Memorandum accompanying the Executive Order requires 
all federal agencies to design a strategy to incorporate EJ assessment 
into ongoing projects and all future planning. In conjunction with the 
Office of Environmental Justice and the American Indian Environmental 
Office, OFA has completed draft guidance to assist EPA staff 
responsible for developing EPA/NEPA compliance documentation, including 
environmental impact statements (EISs) and environmental assessments 
(EAs) in addressing environmental justice concerns. The draft EJ/NEPA 
Guidance is available for review through September 30, 1996. At that 
time, the document will be revised to incorporate comments.
    Please contact Arthur Totten at 202/564-7164 or Karen Norris at 
202/564-7132 or write EPA, 401 M Street, SW. (2252A), Washington, DC, 
20460 to request a copy. The document can also be found on the Internet 
under OFA's home page at http://es.inel.gov/oeca/ofa/index.html.

    Dated: July 9, 1996.
Richard E. Sanderson,
Director, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 96-17811 Filed 7-11-96; 8:45 am]
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