Section 10-A625. E-4.8 ACHIEVING ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

 

625.1Environmental justice refers to the fair treatment of people of all races, cultures, and incomes with respect to the development, adoption, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. It is about equal and fair access to a healthy environment, and equal enforcement of environmental regulation regardless of community characteristics. 625.1

 

625.2These are particularly important principles to abide by when the goal of the Comprehensive Plan is to grow an inclusive city. Clearly, some District neighborhoods have been adversely impacted by pollution-generating uses and activities in the past. As the city grows and changes, a greater effort must be made to repair the damage done by these uses and to avoid their over concentrations in the future. All residents should have a fair and meaningful opportunity to participate in environmental decisions. 625.2

 

Portions of the District are within the FEMA-designated 100-year flood plain and are subject to inundation during hurricanes and other severe storms.

 

625.3Policy E-4.8.1: Environmental Justice

 

Address the over-concentration of industrial uses in the District’s lower income communities. Develop solutions to reduce the adverse effects of these uses, such as enhanced buffering, sound walls, operational improvements, truck routing, increased monitoring of impacts, and zoning changes to reduce land use conflicts. 625.3

 

625.4Policy E-4.8.2: Expanded Outreach to Disadvantaged Communities

 

Expand local efforts to involve economically disadvantaged communities, particularly those communities that historically have been impacted by power plants, trash transfer stations, and other municipal or industrial uses, in the planning and development processes. 625.4

 

625.5Action E-4.8.A: Health Impacts of Municipal and Industrial Uses

 

Continue to study the link between public health and the location of municipal and industrial uses such as power plants and waste treatment facilities. The findings of such studies should be used to inform public policy decisions and minimize future community health impacts. 625.5

 

notation

The provisions of Title 10, Part A of the DCMR accessible through this web interface are codification of the District Elements of the Comprehensive Plan for the National Capital. As such, they do not represent the organic provisions adopted by the Council of the District of Columbia. The official version of the District Elements only appears as a hard copy volume of Title 10, Part A published pursuant to section 9a of the District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1994, effective April 10, 1984 (D.C. Law 5-76; D.C. Official Code § 1 -301.66)) . In the event of any inconsistency between the provisions accessible through this site and the provisions contained in the published version of Title 10, Part A, the provisions contained in the published version govern. A copy of the published District Elements is available www.planning.dc.gov.