Bill > B25-0564

Introduced Session

an action taken on behalf of an applicant for failure to comply with mitigating measures or conditions of operation identified in an environmental impact statement or cumulative impact statement. The legislation would also empower the People’s Counsel to initiate a civil action on behalf of any individual or individuals for legal wrongs suffered in the preparation or disposition of an environmental impact statement or cumulative impact statement. Finally, the Environmental Justice Act would establish an Energy and Environmental Justice Division in the Department of Energy and Environment. This division would be charge with identifying and reducing environmental, energy, climate, and health burdens and cumulative impacts in overburdened communities; leading, coordinating, and tracking the incorporation of energy justice and environmental justice into the DOEE’s processes, priorities, and allocation of resources; empowering communities to exercise their rights under the District’s environmental laws and regulations; and ensuring that the District continues to make investments in energy equity and access. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Council and the Executive to advance environmental justice in the District. Please contact my Deputy Chief of Staff, Conor Shaw, at cshaw@dccouncil.gov if you have any questions about this legislation. Zachary Parker Ward 5 Councilmember Attachment A: The Centers for Disease Control’s Environmental Justice Index As introduced, the Environmental Justice Amendment Act of 2023 defines overburdened community as a census block in the top quartile of the EJI index (depicted in dark green) or a census block in the second quartile of the EJI that is adjacent to a census block in the top quartile (blue census blocks that are adjacent to green census blocks). The EJI Index can be viewed at https://onemap.cdc.gov/portal/apps/sites/#/eji-explorer. Technical documentation regarding the data that is used to compile the EJI index can be viewed here: https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/placeandhealth/eji/docs/EJI-2022-Documentation-508.pdf. _ _ Councilmember Christina Henderson Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie A BILL IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA To amend the District of Columbia Environmental Policy Act of 1989 to reform the requirements of an Environmental Impact Statement, to require a Cumulative Impacts Statement for any major action in an overburdened community or any action at an applicable facility in an overburdened community, to require a modified Cumulative Impacts Statement for any plan or policy that impacts the siting or operation of applicable facilities in the District, or any concept analysis or design of an interstate, freeway, expressway, or arterial road inconsistent with the District’s climate commitments, to require the Mayor to disapprove any cumulative impacts action with disproportionate impact unless mitigating measures are taken or a reasonable alternative is substituted, to authorize the Mayor to fine an applicant or revoke an action taken on behalf of an applicant for failure to comply with mitigating measures or conditions of operation, and to require the Mayor to maintain a file of all Environmental Impact Statements, Cumulative Impacts Statements, and supplemental Environmental Impact Statements for public review, to enhance accountability mechanisms under the Environmental Policy Act, to authorize the Mayor to impose a fee on an applicant for the cost of reviewing a cumulative impacts screening form or preparing a Cumulative Impacts Statement; and to create the Energy and Environmental Justice Division at DOEE.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Christina Henderson (I)*,  Kenyan McDuffie (I)*,  Zachary Parker (D)*, 

Public Hearing Held (on 03/18/2024)

Official Document