Economic and Social Justice: Environmental Justice
The Environmental Justice Law Team promotes environmental equity for low-income communities through litigation, outreach and community education. Members of the Practice Area Team work with social justice groups to disseminate workplace and community "right to know" information about toxic chemicals and to build community capacity to protect human and environmental health.
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Laws
- Environmental Law: An Overview provides access to the relevant federal and state statutes, regulations, and court decisions. Courtesy of the Cornell Legal Information Institute
Federal Agencies and Resources
- Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- Forest Servicemanages national forests and grasslands
- Natural Resources Conservation Serviceworks to conserve and sustain natural resources on private lands
- Rural Information Centerprovides information and referrals to rural communities and citizens
- Department of Commerce
- Environmental Managementprovides links to DOC programs and agencies concerned with environmental management, including the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) and the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS)
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)predicts climate and environmental changes and conserves the nation’s coastal and marine resources
- Department of Energy
- Energy and Environmental Qualitydirectory of Dept. agencies and resources concerned with environmental stewardship and environmental quality
- Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)works to prevent exposure to hazardous substances, especially from waste sites. Site includes a list of hazardous waste sites in each state
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)responsible for preventing and controlling disease, injury, and disability
- National Center for Environmental Healthworks to prevent disease and death resulting from the interaction between people and their environment
- Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
- E-Mapscombine data from HUD, the EPA, and the Census Bureau to provide information about the environmental quality of communities throughout the U.S.
- Department of the Interior (DOI)
- Bureau of Land Managementmanages public lands
- Mineral Management Servicemanages the nation’s natural gas, oil, and other mineral resource on the outer continental shelf
- Office of Surface Miningprotects citizens and the environment during coal mining and reclamation, and reclaims mines abandoned before 1977
- U.S. Geological Surveyprovides geologic, topographic, and hydrologic data for lands within the U.S. and around the world
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Serviceconserves, protects, and enhances fish and wildlife and their habitats
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Community-Based Environmental Protection (CBEP) approach that integrates environmental management with human needs, considers long-term ecosystem health, and highlights the correlation between economic prosperity and environmental well-being
- Concerned Citizens Resourcesprovides information about pollution and other environmental issues
- Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assuranceensures compliance with the nation’s environmental laws
- Envirofacts Data Warehouseprovides the public with direct access to the information within the EPA’s environmental databases
- EnviroJustice Mappercreates maps profiling the environmental impacts of EPA-regulated facilities
- Environmental Justice Mainpageprovides information about EPA’s environmental justice initiatives
- EPA Hotlinesfederal toll-free numbers for obtaining environmental information or reporting violations of environmental laws
- NADBankbi-national bank financing U.S. and Mexican environmental infrastructure projects
- National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC)advisory committee providing policy recommendations on matters concerning environmental justice
- Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response Environmental Justice Pageprovides information about the EPA’s efforts to ensure that the impact of environmental pollution does not disproportionately affect minority or low-income populations
- Pesticides, Toxics, and Chemical Projects & Programsguide to EPA projects and resources concerned with toxic chemicals
- Right to Know Resourcesprovides information about possible chemical exposures
- Reporting Environmental Violationsprovides instructions and contact numbers for reporting violations of environmental laws
- Toxic Release Inventoryprovides information about the toxic chemicals being used, manufactured, treated, transported, or released into the environment
- U.S.-Mexico Border Environmental Health Programbi-national program to improve environmental and human health in the border region
- U.S.-Mexico Border XXI Programbi-national program to promote sustainable development in the border region
- White House Council on Environmental Qualitycoordinates federal environmental efforts
State Agencies
- General Land Office
- Border Resourcesmanages lands in counties near the border
- Water Development Boardagency charged with state water planning and administration
- Texas Natural Resources Information Systemstate clearinghouse for natural resources data
- Texas-Mexico Borderlands Information Centerprovides environmental, climate, and census information for both sides of the border. Includes a directory of websites dealing with border issues
- Texas Water Resources InstituteTexas A&M-based center for research on Texas water issues
Legal Resources
- American Bar Association Section of Environment, Energy, and Resourcesa forum for attorneys specializing in environmental law
- Earthjustice Legal Defense Fundprovides legal services to enforce and strengthen environmental laws. Formerly the Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund
- Environmental Defenseworks to develop equitable, cost-effective solutions to the most urgent environmental problems
- Environmental Law Alliance Worldwideprovides resources and support to public interest lawyers and scientists working to protect the environment
- Natural Resources Defense Councilprovides advocacy, education, research, and litigation to protect the environment and human health
- Western Environmental Law Centerprovides legal services to protect the environment and environmental and human health
Research and Statistics
- Border EcoWEB provides information about environmental health and sustainable development along the U.S.-Mexico border. Includes a directory of environmental organizations along both sides of the border. The site is sponsored by the Institute for Regional Studies of the Californias
- Earthsystems.orgprovides wide-ranging environmental information and education
- Environmental Literacy Councilprovides links to environmental resources on the web
- Environmental Scorecardonline tool that allows you to find out which pollutants are being released in each community within the U.S. and who is responsible. Sponsored by Environmental Defense
- ForMyWorldonline tool delivering detailed environmental information for each community in the U.S. Sponsored by Environmental Defense and the National Wildlife Federation
- National Environmental Trust provides information about environmental problems and their affects on human health
- Texas Colonias: An Environmental Justice Case Studya report by Madeline Pepin of Our Lady of the Lake University
- Texas Environmental Profilesprovides extensive information and maps about the environmental health (including air quality, water quality, water supply, waste disposal, wildlife and biodiversity, and pesticide usage) of each county in Texas. Developed by the Texas Center for Policy Studies and Environmental Defense
National Advocacy Organizations
- American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE)advances energy efficiency to promote economic prosperity and environmental protection
- American Oceansworks to protect and restore the vitality of America’s waters
- Clean Water Networkalliance of over 1000 organizations working to protect U.S. water resources
- Earth Island Instituteprovides support and assistance in developing projects to protect the global environment
- Environmental Working Groupprovides the public with locally relevant information about the environment
- Friends of the Earth U.S.focuses on the underlying social and economic causes of environmental problems
- Greenpeaceuses non-violent confrontation to push for solutions to global environmental problems
- League of Conservation Votersbipartisan group educating voters about candidates’ environmental records
- National Audubon Societyoffers education and advocacy to protect birds and their habitats
- National Coalition for Marine Conservationdedicated to conserving ocean fish, preventing overfishing, and protecting marine habitats
- National Religious Partnership for the Environmentworks to integrate commitment to environmental justice and sustainability into religious life
- National Wildlife Federationcoalition of individuals and organizations working to protect nature and wildlife
- Nuclear Control Institutemonitors nuclear activities worldwide and pursues strategies to reverse the growth of nuclear arms
- State Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs) Working Togetherassociation of watchdog groups dedicating to safeguarding the public interest and protecting the environment
- Scenic Americaprotects scenic roads and helps people create more attractive communities
- Sierra Clubadvocates for policies promoting conservation and environmental health
- Union of Concerned Scientistsdedicated to advancing responsible public policies in areas where science and technology play a critical role
- Woods Hole Research Centerprovides scientific research and education on environmental issues
- World Wildlife Funddedicated to protecting the world’s wildlife and natural habitats
Texas Non-Profit and Advocacy Organizations
- Esperanza Environmental Justice Projectorganization furthering environmental justice organizing in San Antonio
- Rio Grande Alliancecoalition working to conserve, protect, and improve the Rio Grande Watershed. The project is funded by the EPA
- SEED (Sustainable Energy and Economic Development) Coalitionalliance of individuals, businesses, and organizations advocating for sustainable energy strategies for Texas
- Texas Center for Policy Studiesprovides research and advocacy to ensure that growth and development enhance, rather than diminish, the quality of life for all citizens
- Texas Water Foundationprovides information and education about water issues. Sponsored by the Dow Chemical Company
News
- EcoNetfeatures environmental news and reports. Sponsored by the Institute for Global Communications (IGC)
- EnviroLink Networkenvironmental news and discussions geared toward individuals and organizations working for social and environmental change
- Environmental News Networkprovides environmental news and feature articles and forums for online discussion
Other Helpful Sites
- American Society of Trial Consultantsfind ASTC members nationwide. Site provides contact information, areas of expertise and a link to the consultant’s Web site , if available
- Chilling Effectssite devoted to the legal protection of online speech; addresses topics including fan fiction, copyright and trademark, linking, parody and criticism.
- LegalVote.comsite allows a virtual jury to weigh in on a case after reviewing a summary prepared by the lawyer
- Internet Tools for Lawyershelpful site containing articles, links, how-to guides
- Skipeasesearch tool to find people quickly; research property ownership, Social Security numbers: death, birth and marriage records, professional licenses, etc.
- LexisONEfree court opinions, legal forms
- The Religious Liberty Archivevirtual library of religious freedom law, containing full texts of pertinent U.S. Supreme Court cases since 1815, federal and state laws, treatises, historical materials, news of recent developments and links to related materials.
The Economic and Social Justice: Environmental Justice Team
Our Objectives
- Educate communities on their rights and responsibilities with respect to environmental problems in the area.
- Protect at-risk families from unlawful corporate or other practices that directly affect the health and well-being of the household.
- Build relationships with social justice groups to disseminate workplace and community "right to know" information about toxic chemicals and to build community capacity to protect human and environmental health.
Our Activities:
- Provide legal advice and counsel for people with environmental claims cases including lead exposure in children, hazardous housing, and pesticide exposure.
- Hold community education events to increase awareness of issues.
- Assist clients with sustainable development projects.
- You are here:
TRLA Home- Telephone Access to Justice Office - Austin
- About The Environmental Justice Law Team