Executive Order 12898, signed by President Clinton in February 1994, directs all federal agencies to identify and address disproportionately high and adverse environmental and health impacts on minority and low-income populations. It establishes an Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice, led by the EPA, to coordinate agency strategies, data collection, and research. Each federal agency was required to develop and finalize an environmental justice strategy within 12 months, ensuring that federal programs do not discriminate based on race, color, or national origin.Open full document
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Executive Order 12898 issued by President Clinton establishing federal agency responsibilities for environmental justice, requiring agencies to identify and address disproportionately high adverse environmental effects on minority and low-income populations. Creates an Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice and mandates development of agency-wide environmental justice strategies.