Organization

Oregon Environmental Justice Task Force

Oregon Environmental Justice Task Force+description

What is Environmental Justice? How can you participate in decisions that affect you?

Environmental Justice Defined: Environmental justice is equal protection from environmental and health hazards, and meaningful public participation in decisions that affect the environment in which people live, work, learn, practice spirituality and play. "Environmental justice communities" include minority and low-income communities, tribal communities, and other communities traditionally underrepresented in public processes.

Purpose of the Environmental Justice Task Force: When state agencies make decisions that affect our environment it is critical that low-income and minority populations are not disproportionately affected. The Environmental Justice Task Force (EJTF) was created by the Legislature to help protect Oregonians from disproportionate environmental impacts on minority and low-income populations. The EJTF encourages state agencies to give all people knowledge and access to improve decisions that affect environment and the health of all Oregonians.

Make Your Voice Heard: Offer your voice in decisions made by state agencies. The EJTF encourages you to take action when you feel impacted by one or more issues listed below.

Your voice for Environmental Justice

You have a voice in decisions that affect potable drinking water and clean air.
You have a voice in decisions that may put toxic pollutants in your living and working areas.
You have a voice in decisions about toxics in schools that affect your kids.
You have a voice in decisions that affect your community's health, such as land use decisions that could increase pollution in your neighborhood.
You have a voice in asking for caution in environmental decisions that affect your community, even if absolute proof of the problem is not yet confirmed.
You have a voice in clean and healthy access to your native cultural places and usual and accustomed fishing sites.
You have a voice in decisions that will increase climate change and impact your community, such as increased flooding, drought and fires, and impacts to species, habitats or local foods.
You have a voice in all decisions about toxics in food, water, air, soil and homes.
You have a voice in any issue of concern regarding environmental issues that affect your home, work, or place of worship.