Environmental Justice Act proposed

According to Rep. Joe Mullery (DFL-Mpls), minority communities are disproportionately affected by industrial pollution and other environmental health risks. A bill he sponsors is intended to help put an end to it.

HF205, also known as the Environmental Justice Act, would help ensure that people of all races, cultures and incomes are treated fairly in the development and implementation of environmental laws and policies in Minnesota. The House Environment and Natural Resources Committee approved the bill March 11.

The bill would establish a multi-agency Environmental Justice Task Force to make recommendations to state agencies on environmental justice issues. Local governments would be able to petition the task force to develop action plans to remediate environment-related health concerns in their communities.

Additionally, the bill would direct the Environmental Quality Board to create a 15-member Environmental Justice Advisory Council to advise the board on similar issues.

Cecilia Martinez, a leadership fellow with the Center for Energy and Environmental Policy at the University of Delaware, praised the bill and cited research showing that pollution tends to affect “those who have low incomes and those who do not have the capacity to participate in the public policy process.”

Rep. Frank Moe (DFL-Bemidji) said he supports the concept of environmental justice, adding that a federal Superfund site in his district has been neglected for years in large part because most of the residents are minorities; however, Moe said he is dubious as to whether the bill would really solve the problem.

“I hate to be cynical, but how is another commission, how is another group going to help us?” Moe said.

Martinez replied that it was a “legitimate question,” and added that Mullery’s bill is only a first step toward environmental justice.

The bill now goes to the House Governmental Operations, Reform, Technology and Elections Committee. It has no Senate companion.