Sec. 4. Interagency Federal Working Group on Environmental Justice
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Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall convene, as appropriate to carry out this section, the Working Group. The Working Group shall be comprised of the following (or a designee): The Secretary of Agriculture. The Secretary of Commerce. The Secretary of Defense. The Secretary of Energy. The Secretary of Health and Human Services. The Secretary of Homeland Security. The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. The Secretary of the Interior.
The Secretary of Labor. The Secretary of Transportation. The Attorney General. The Administrator. The Director of the Office of Environmental Justice. The Chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The Chairperson of the Chemical Safety Board. The Director of the Office of Management and Budget. The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy. The Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality. The Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy. The Director of the National Economic Council.
The Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. Such other Federal officials as the President may designate. The Working Group shall— report to the President through the Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality and the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy; provide guidance to Federal agencies regarding criteria for identifying disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects— on populations of color, communities of color, indigenous communities, and low-income communities; and on the basis of race, color, national origin, or income; coordinate with, provide guidance to, and serve as a clearinghouse for, each Federal agency with respect to the implementation and updating of an environmental justice strategy required under this Act, in order to ensure that the administration, interpretation, and enforcement of programs, activities, and policies are carried out in a consistent manner; assist in coordinating research by, and stimulating cooperation among, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and other Federal agencies conducting research or other activities in accordance with this Act; identify, based in part on public recommendations contained in Federal agency progress reports, important areas for Federal agencies to take into consideration and address, as appropriate, in environmental justice strategies and other efforts; assist in coordinating data collection and maintaining and updating appropriate databases, as required by this Act; examine existing data and studies relating to environmental justice; hold public meetings and otherwise solicit public participation under paragraph (3); and develop interagency model projects relating to environmental justice that demonstrate cooperation among Federal agencies.
The Working Group shall— hold public meetings or otherwise solicit public participation and community-based science for the purpose of fact-finding with respect to the implementation of this Act; and prepare for public review and publish a summary of any comments and recommendations provided. Any person may commence a civil action— to seek relief from, or to compel, an agency action under this section (including regulations promulgated pursuant to this section); or otherwise to ensure compliance with this section (including regulations promulgated pursuant to this section).