|
|
ELM Home |
Collaborative |
Issues |
Jobs and Volunteering |
Join/Donate |
Activist Tools |
Links |
Directions |
Earth Night |
Massachusetts' Environmental Justice Bill
Fact Sheet
It's about time
We've known all along that some communities have more than their fair share of pollution. It's not just one factory, or one abandoned lot. It's everything taken together: the trucks rumbling past with another load of trash or hazardous waste… more and more kids needing inhalers to breathe freely…everything coated with a fine black dust from the nearby power plant…
The legislature is considering a bill that would empower these communities to direct their own environmental future. The bill would direct more state money and programs to communities that say for themselves, "enough is enough."
All Massachusetts children should have a right to grow up in a safe and healthy neighborhood. Nationwide, nearly one in 13 school-aged children has asthma - even more in cities and towns with polluted air. Our legislators should pass this bill, which guarantees clean air and clean water for all Massachusetts children.
It's only fair: Saving our children and our families
With this bill, the state would create a new program to protect people where they live, work, and play. The bill, based on existing state policy, directs the state Office of Environmental Affairs to develop statewide regulations that give communities greater protections from even more pollution.
The Environmental Justice Bill: Good for our Health
It will call more attention to local health concerns.
It will keep new polluting facilities from locating nearby.
The Environmental Justice Bill: Good for our Communities
It will allow communities to make real choices for themselves
It will require tougher review of new, polluting development.
It will encourage cleaner development on abandoned lots (brownfields).
It will help attract new jobs to old neighborhoods.