How Georgia is Addressing Environmental Justice

Environmental Justice Definitions

Georgia has adopted the EPA’s definitions as they relate to environmental justice.

Georgia Environmental Justice Act of 2021 (Proposed HB 432) was introduced in February and would create an environmental justice commission, provide for consideration of environmental justice in the development of targeted ZIP codes and consideration of environmental justice under GEPA.

Environmental Justice Mapping Tools

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Environmental Justice as a Policy of the Environmental Agency or Across All Agencies

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Consideration of Environmental Justice in Permitting

Georgia has regulatory criteria for Nonpoint Source Implementation Grants (awarded by the EPA under Section 319(h) of the Clean Water Act). It states that additional priority will be given to projects that “[d]emonstrate environmental benefits beyond addressing NPS impairments. These benefits may include but are not limited to: environmental justice, protection of healthy streams, air quality, water conservation, energy conservation, stream flow profile, habitat connectivity, and others.”

Georgia also has limitations on the number of solid waste facilities which may be permitted within any given area.

Consideration of Environmental Justice in Enforcement

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Consideration of Environmental Justice in Land Use

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State Environmental Policy Act “Mini-NEPA”

Georgia has a Mini-NEPA statute⸺the Georgia Environmental Policy Act (GEPA). GEPA requires that a responsible official of any “government agency shall determine if a proposed governmental action is a proposed governmental action which may significantly adversely affect the quality of the environment. If the responsible official determines that the proposed governmental action is a proposed governmental action which may significantly adversely affect the quality of the environment, the government agency responsible for such project shall prepare an environmental effects report . . . .” It also has provisions for public hearings and comment and contains exemptions for certain public roads and airports. The federal Council on Environmental Quality has published a memo comparing GEPA with NEPA.

Dedicated Funding to Environmental Justice Communities

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Consideration of Cumulative Impacts

Georgia has considerations of cumulative impacts for Landfill Design and Operations, Surface Water Withdrawals, and Coastal Marshlands Buffer Variance Procedures and Criteria.

Prohibitions on Disparate Impact Discrimination

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Established Environmental Rights

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Environmental Justice as Part of Environmental Agency’s Mission

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Environmental Justice as Part of Other Agency’s Mission

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Processes and Procedures (including Title VI)

Non-Discrimination Policy

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Grievance Procedures

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Enhanced Public Participation and Information Access

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Language Access

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Consultation with Indigenous Communities and Tribal Nations

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Governmental Environmental Justice Structures, Positions, and Funding Streams

Environmental Justice Coordinating Agency

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Environmental Justice Coordinator

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Environmental Justice Advisory Board

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Funding for Environmental Justice

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Constitutional Provisions

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Executive Orders

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Legislation and Statutes

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Regulations

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Policies/Guidance

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Mapping Tools

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Other

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