Social Justice Activism

provided the opportunity to comment before decisions are rendered on, are allowed to
share in the benefits of, are not excluded from, and are not affected in a
disproportionately high and adverse manner by, government programs and activities
affecting human health or the environment." Patrick Holmes, Special Assistant to the
Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment at USDA, notes that this
definition will be broadened in 2012 so that EJ also includes efforts to improve quality of
life in all communities. In other words, USDA will consider EJ to include avoiding
adverse impacts and ensuring access to environmental benefits. Further, DR 5600-002
identified USDA's goals in implementing Executive Order 12898 as:
To incorporate
environmental
justice
considerations
into USDA's
programs and
activities and to
address
environmental
justice across
mission areas;
To identify,
prevent, and/or
mitigate, to the
greatest extent
practicable,
disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects of
USDA programs and activities on minority and low-income populations; and
To provide, to the greatest extent practicable, the opportunity for minority and
low-income populations to participate in planning, analysis, and decision-making
that affects their health or environment, including identification of program needs
and designs.
DR 5600-002 is "intended only to improve the internal management of USDA,"• and
although it described concrete, mandatory actions by the agency, it did not establish
new rights or benefits enforceable in court. In April 2011, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack
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