EPA Mulls How to Defend Environmental Justice Decisions in Court

The EPA is taking a hard look at its legal authorities for enforcing its environmental justice agenda across the US, and is encouraging states to team up and do that work as well, agency officials said on Thursday.

That push comes as environmental justice advocates across the country face tough battles to put additional protections on the books, especially in states with Republican-controlled legislatures.

“It’s going to be challenged,” said Robin Morris Collin, the Environmental Protection Agency’s environmental justice senior adviser. “And I think it’s only fair to acknowledge that.”

But states in a coalition, including New Jersey, New York, ...