Title VI Administration - Environmental Justice

In 1994, President Clinton issued Executive Order 12898, Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations. The Executive Order focused attention on Title VI by providing that "each Federal agency shall make achieving environmental justice part of its mission by identifying and addressing, as appropriate, disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects of its programs, policies, and activities on minority populations and low-income populations." In support of Executive Order 12898, the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) issued an Order on Environmental Justice (DOT Order 5610.2) in 1997, followed by a Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Order on Environmental Justice (FHWA Order 6640.23) in 1998.

Over the years, U.S. DOT and FHWA have encouraged a proactive approach to the implementation of Title VI, aimed at preventing discrimination in its programs, policies, and activities. This proactive approach can reduce conflicts and also reinforce compliance with other related requirements; such as, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, 23 U.S.C. 109(h) (which addresses social and economic impacts), and public involvement in statewide and metropolitan planning and project development. By being proactive, federal, state, local, and tribal agencies can better serve all of the public, who rely on transportation systems and services to enhance their quality of life.

Additional Resources

To obtain additional information on environmental justice, visit some of the following links:

• Title VI Requirements in Metropolitan and Statewide Planning
• Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act
• Title VI Regulation 49 CFR 21
• 23 U.S.C. 140 -- Nondiscrimination
• DOT Order on Environmental Justice
• FHWA Order on Environmental Justice
• 23 CFR 200.5 -- Title VI Definitions
• 23 CFR 200.7 et.al. -- Title VI Policy and State Responsibilities
• Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970
• Impacts of the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987 on FHWA Programs
• Title VI Legal Manual, US. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division
• DOT Order on Environmental Justice
• EPA Smart Growth
• Environmental Justice Case Studies
• FHWA Environmental Justice
• FHWA Environmental Research: A Decade of Accomplishments 1990-2000
• Public Involvement Techniques for Transpiration Decision Making
• Transportation Civil Rights and Environmental Justice Links