Environmental Justice

Environmental Justice is defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. Pima County Department of Environmental Quality is committed to this same goal for all communities within Pima County. Environmental Justice will be achieved when everyone enjoys the same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards, and has equal access to the decision-making process to have a healthy environment in which to live, learn, and work.

EPA Environmental Justice Web Pages

EPA Region 9 Environmental Justice Program

Environmental Justice Resource Guide - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Justice Resource Guide, a handbook for community organizers and decision-makers, is now available from the EPA’s Pacific Southwest Environmental Justice Office.

“The EPA’s Environmental Justice Resource Guide provides information on funding sources and other resources that can help communities understand, prioritize, and address their specific environmental concerns", said Enrique Manzanilla, Director of the Communities and Ecosystems Division at EPA’s Pacific Southwest Regional Office.

The Guide contains success stories achieved by communities disproportionately impacted by environmental burdens, such as the West Oakland Toxic Reduction Collaborative, which helped reduce port-related diesel pollutants, and the Torres Martinez Collaborative, which helped remove tons of refuse from tribal lands. These successes were achieved when community groups partnered with EPA, state, tribal and local agencies.

The Guide also lists a helpful list of funding sources, tools, and resources available to community organizers.

The EPA’s Environmental Justice Resource Guide is available online at the link above. To request a hard copy, please contact Sharon Murray at murray.sharon@epa.gov, (415) 947-4250.

Environmental Justice in Pima County

One of Pima County’s goals is the equal and fair treatment of all its citizens. The following Environmental Justice study by Ms. Barbara Tellman is one of the most extremely important research documents in the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan series. This study examines the impacts to minority and low income individuals in Pima County of past governmental decision making in the areas of air quality, transportation, water quality, water supply, land use, housing, fiscal decision making, and matters of cultural sensitivity.

Environmental Justice in Pima County Report
Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan Reports

Pima County Department of Environmental Quality, PDEQ, has established a grievance procedure to ensure prompt and fair resolution of complaints alleging violations in the administration of PDEQ's programs and activities.

AQ-201 - Environmental Justice Grievance Procedure (Justicia Ambiental Procedimiento De Agravio - Léalo en Español)

At Pima County Department of Environmental Quality, our Environmental Justice Program Coordinator is Beth Gorman. Beth can be reached at 740-3343.