How Texas is Addressing Environmental Justice
Contents
- How Does Texas Define Environmental Justice and Environmental Justice Communities?
- How Does Texas Consider Environmental Justice in its Substantive Actions?
- How Does Texas Address Environmental Justice in its Procedures?
- Additional Texas Environmental Justice Provisions
- Texas Environmental Justice Contacts
- Where to Find Texas Environmental Justice Laws, Policies, and Tools
(with full citations) All States & Territories
How Does Texas Define Environmental Justice and Environmental Justice Communities?
Environmental Justice Definitions
N/A
Environmental Justice Mapping Tools
EPA’s EJSCREEN tool may be used to assess communities in Texas.
How Does Texas Consider Environmental Justice in its Substantive Actions?
Environmental Justice as a Policy of the Environmental Agency or Across All Agencies
N/A
Consideration of Environmental Justice in Permitting
No. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality does not consider EJ in permitting. When EJ issues are raised in permit comments, TCEQ issues responses like the following:
No TCEQ permitting rules address environmental equity issues such as the location of permitted facilities in areas with minority and low-income populations, disparate exposure to pollutants of minority and low-income populations, or the disparate economic, environmental, and health effects on minority and low-income population. Therefore, the environmental justice issue cannot be addressed in proceedings on this application and cannot be considered relevant and material to the commission’s decision on this application.
Texas has a web page explaining how people may participate in the permitting process.
Consideration of Environmental Justice in Enforcement
N/A
Consideration of Environmental Justice in Land Use
N/A
State Environmental Policy Act “Mini-NEPA”
N/A
Dedicated Funding to Environmental Justice Communities
N/A
Consideration of Cumulative Impacts
N/A
Prohibitions on Disparate Impact Discrimination
N/A
Established Environmental Rights
N/A
How Does Texas Address Environmental Justice in its Procedures?
Environmental Justice as Part of Environmental Agency’s Mission
N/A
Environmental Justice as Part of Other Agency’s Mission
N/A
Processes and Procedures (including Title VI)
Non-Discrimination Policy
TCEQ’s website provides information about Title VI compliance. It includes the agency’s non-discrimination policies, how to report discrimination and file a complaint, and its Grievance Procedure Policy.
Grievance Procedures
TCEQ’s grievance procedures are posted on the agency’s Title VI compliance webpage.
Enhanced Public Participation and Information Access
TCEQ’s Public Participation Plan and Disability Nondiscrimination Plan are posted on the agency’s Title VI compliance webpage.
Language Access
TCEQ Language Access Plan is posted on the agency’s Title VI compliance webpage. Additionally, TCEQ’s website includes links to lists of information available in Spanish.
TCEQ has established rules regarding when public notices should be published and signs should be displayed in multiple languages and evaluates on a case-by-case basis whether translators should attend meetings and hearings. TCEQ’s alternative language requirements are codified at 30 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Sec. 39.426.
Consultation with Indigenous Communities and Tribal Nations
N/A
Governmental Environmental Justice Structures, Positions, and Funding Streams
Environmental Justice Coordinating Agency
N/A
Environmental Justice Coordinator
N/A
Environmental Justice Advisory Board
N/A
Funding for Environmental Justice
N/A
Additional Texas Environmental Justice Provisions
N/A
Texas Environmental Justice Contacts
N/A
Where to Find Texas Environmental Justice Laws, Policies, and Tools
Constitutional Provisions
N/A
Executive Orders
N/A
Legislation and Statutes
N/A
Regulations
N/A
Policies/Guidance
N/A
Mapping Tools
N/A
Other
N/A
