EPA to Ponder Cumulative Impacts for Environmental Justice

The EPA said Wednesday it aims to boost the consideration of cumulative impacts when deciding new rules or permits, a move that will help address needs in low-income communities.

The Environmental Protection Agency aims to fit the long-term effects “into our statutory authorities, which aren’t necessarily written from a cumulative-impact perspective,” said Janet McCabe, the EPA’s deputy administrator.

The new understanding of cumulative effects could play a role in EPA decisions on regulations and permits, said Matthew Tejada, director of the agency’s Office of Environmental Justice.

Low-income people of color have voiced concerns about cumulative effects of agency decisions because ...