National Environmental Justice Advisory Council Overview

In response to public concerns, EPA created the Office of Environmental Justice in 1992, and implemented a new organizational infrastructure to integrate environmental justice into EPA's policies, programs, and activities. An Executive Steering Committee made up of senior managers represents each headquarters office and region. It provides leadership and direction on strategic planning to ensure that environmental justice is incorporated into agency operations; the most active group is the Environmental Justice Coordinators Council which serves as the frontline staff specifically responsible to ensure policy input, program development, and implementation of environmental justice through the Agency. This new structure has established a clear commitment from EPA's senior management to all personnel that Environmental Justice is a priority. NEJAC Fact Sheet: English (PDF 149KB) en Español (PDF KB)

Obtaining Stakeholder Advice
The National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC) was established September 30, 1993. The functions of the NEJAC cannot be performed within the Agency. This council is the first time that community, academia, industry, environmental, indigenous, and state/local/tribal government groups have been brought together where a dialogue can define to "reinvent" solutions to environmental justice problems. It is essential that such a dialogue occur. In addition, NEJAC provides a valuable forum for integrating environmental justice with other EPA priorities and initiatives.

NEJAC Subcommittees
The NEJAC is made up of 26 members, and one Designated Federal Officer (DFO), who serve on a parent council that has seven subcommittees. Along with the NEJAC members who fill subcommittee posts, an additional 27 individuals serve on the various subcommittees.

Each subcommittee, formed to deal with a specific topic and to facilitate the conduct of the business of NEJAC, has a DFO and is bound by the requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) of October 16, 1972. Subcommittees of the NEJAC meet independently of the full NEJAC and present their findings to the NEJAC for review. Subcommittees cannot make recommendations independently to EPA. In addition to the seven subcommittees, NEJAC has established a Protocol Committee, the members of which are the chair of NEJAC and the chairs of each subcommittee.

NEJAC Membership
The Executive Council membership (PDF 109KB) is rotated to provide the greatest possible opportunity for a variety of individuals to serve on the NEJAC. To ensure that all views are represented, membership is comprised of a balanced representation of the following groups: Academia, Community Groups, Industry/Business, Non-Government Organizations/Environmental Organizations, State/Local Governments, and Tribal Governments/Indigenous Groups.

NEJAC Charter
The 2003 charter (PDF 68KB) renews the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC) in accordance with the requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), 5 U.S.C. App. § 9 (c). NEJAC is in the public interest and supports EPA in performing its duties and responsibilities.

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