Last week, the Biden Administration presented the final version of an environmental justice (EJ) tool that will help identify “disadvantaged communities.” The purpose of the tool will be to ensure that these communities receive 40% of the total benefits from new projects relating to climate and clean energy as part of the Biden Administration’s implementation of its Justice40 Initiative. Law360 discusses these developments in “White House Unveils Final Climate Environmental Justice Tool.”

The Council on Environmental Quality's (CEQ) Chair Brenda Mallory said, "Every community, regardless of ZIP code, should have clean water to drink, healthy air to breathe, and protection from extreme climate events. The Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST) identifies communities that have faced historic injustices and have borne the brunt of pollution so we can ensure they're some of the first to see the benefits of climate action."

B&D’s EJ Practice Co-Chair and Principal Julius Redd (Washington, DC) said the “CEJST should be a useful tool for industry to consider when it is evaluating environmental justice risks and opportunities, along with other available tools.”

He added that "We continue to see agencies demand various types of environmental justice-related information in various applications, whether it be permits [or] applications for federal funding to access certain programs."

B&D's Environmental Justice practice has been at the forefront of EJ issues for decades, bringing specialized private sector and government experience to bear. We represent multinational companies and municipal clients in complex disputes and high-profile project development, corporate ethics and governance, environmental compliance, and investigations related to EJ and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 enforcement. For more information on how your company can best use the CEJST and any other assessment tools for upcoming projects, please contact Julius.