Gov. Wolf Issues Executive Order For Environmental Justice

PENNSYLVANIA — Governor Tom Wolf, members of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus, and environmental advocates at the Discovery Center on Thursday announced executive and legislative actions to take steps toward "true environmental justice in Pennsylvania."

Wolf has issued an executive order designed to support low-income communities and communities of color that are adversely impacted by environmental issues, with accompanying adverse health impacts.

“We must do the hard work to prevent further climate damage, to mitigate environmental pollution and the unfair harm it causes to vulnerable communities, and to ensure every Pennsylvanian can claim their constitutional right to a clean, healthy environment," he said.

The executive order permanently establishes the Department of Environmental Protection’s Office of Environmental Justice, headed by a Director of Environmental Justice appointed by the Department of Environmental Protection secretary.

The order also formally establishes the Environmental Justice Advisory Board and an Environmental Justice Interagency Council.

"The Executive Order and proposed legislation are a critical step in building infrastructure and tools that will enable the commonwealth to address environmental justice and support communities that have been disproportionately impacted by environmental harms and environmental racism," Allison Acevedo, director of the Office of Environmental Justice, said.

The announcement took place at The Discovery Center, a nature-based environmental center located in East Fairmount Park. The center, managed by Audubon Mid-Atlantic and Philadelphia Outward Bound School, is home to the Strawberry Mansion Reservoir, a century-old, abandoned reservoir that has been transformed into a wildlife sanctuary and an important stopover location for birds migrating along the Atlantic Flyway.

State Representatives Donna Bullock, Malcolm Kenyatta, and Chris Rabb, and state Senator Vincent Hughes, have proposed bills to support the governor’s executive actions. Their bills would require a more transparent and open process before certain facilities are built or expanded within areas defined as “burdened communities,” codify the Office of Environmental Justice, and codify the Environmental Justice Advisory Board.

These actions coincide with the 30th anniversary of the National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit, which was held Oct. 24-27, 1991 in Washington, D.C. The summit led to the adoption of its defining document, the Principles of Environmental Justice. The legislators have also introduced a resolution recognizing the anniversary of the adoption of the environmental justice principles.

"Study after study has shown that race is the best predictor for whether a person lives near pollution, and Black people are more likely to be disproportionately affected by pollution and even more likely than white people to die from exposure to it," Rabb said. "This didn't happen by accident. It's a result of systemic racism that has placed Black people and other historically marginalized communities in danger and kept them there. As I have said many times before, systemic problems must be addressed with systemic solutions, and our elected officials and government must be part of the solution."

The governor and lawmakers urged the General Assembly to swiftly consider the legislation.

“On this 30th anniversary of the National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit that adopted the 17 principles of environmental justice, we need to take an honest look at our commonwealth's commitment to environmental justice,” Bullock said. “Members of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus stand with communities of color and low-income communities in the fight for clean air, clean water, healthy homes, and healthy schools."

Kenyatta shared a similar sentiment, encouraging the General Assembly to honor this history moving into the future.

"Environmental injustice is one of the most urgent issues of our time,” he said. “It is linked to racial injustice, as people of color tend to be most negatively affected by climate change. It has been 30 years since 17 principles of Environmental Justice were adopted, and where are we now? How have those principles driven our environmental decisions as a country?"

"On this anniversary of that very important adoption, we need to remember that the fight to protect our environment and the people most vulnerable to its effects is not over," he added.

Read more about the day in environmental action here.

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