Department of Commerce Seeks Input on Draft Environmental Justice Plan

On September 18, 2024, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) published a notice in the Federal Register requesting feedback on its Strategic Plan to Advance Environmental Justice. The goal of the strategic plan is to identify “opportunities through regulations, policies, permits, or other means to improve accountability and compliance with any statute the agency administers that affects the health and environment of communities with environmental justice concerns.”

Specifically, the agency is seeking feedback on the following questions:

  • Do the draft environmental justice strategic goals address general interests and concerns about the advancement of environmental justice by Commerce? Why or why not?
  • What actions should Commerce undertake to advance environmental justice?
  • What performance measures or metrics should Commerce establish to monitor progress towards advancing environmental justice?
  • What are examples of successful collaborations between Federal agencies and Tribal, territorial, local, and State governments or communities with environmental justice concerns?
  • How can Commerce better engage and collaborate effectively with Tribes, both federally and non-federally recognized, Native Hawaiian organizations, and Indigenous Peoples, including Indigenous migrant communities?

Comments on the strategic plan are due October 18, 2024.

Read the Federal Register Notice and submit comments.

Advocacy contact: Send an email to Nick Goldstein at nick.goldstein@sba.gov.