The 2017 DOE EJ Strategy demonstrates a Department-wide commitment to address EJ, consistent with the DOE mission. Three strategic goals provide the framework for achieving the DOE vision for EJ. Implementation of this EJ Strategy is dependent on the strong foundation provided by the DOE Strategic Plan, and its major goals for science and energy, nuclear security, and management and performance.

DOE is responsible for risk reduction and cleanup of the environmental legacy of the nation’s nuclear weapons program, one of the largest, most diverse and technically complex environmental programs in the world. The Department will successfully achieve this strategic goal by ensuring the safety of DOE employees and the public, acquiring the appropriate resources to complete the complex tasks, and by managing projects throughout the United States in the most efficient and effective manner.

The Department’s EJ Strategy reflects a commitment to advancing the quality of life for communities near DOE facilities. It formulates goals based on clear priorities and tangible benefits that consider programmatic, legislative, and regulatory responsibilities. It emphasizes community participation, stakeholder involvement, and community empowerment. It refocuses research to reflect the recognition of various health issues in minority populations and low-income populations, American Indian Tribes, and Alaska Natives. It encourages new approaches to occupational- and environmental-science research for high-risk populations and workers, embraces interagency coordination to facilitate EJ, and heightens the sensitivity of our managers and staff to EJ within DOE.

DOE issued its third Environmental Justice Strategy, which demonstrates the Departments commitment to comply with EO 12898 in 2017. The DOE EJ Program has performed a data call and received responses from DOE Program and Field Offices on their EJ commitments. The DOE EJ Program has prepared the Second Environmental Justice Five-Year Implementation Plan. Several DOE program offices identified and committed to develop and implement up to five EJ commitments over the five-year period of the plan. Their progress to achieve these goals is compiled on an annual basis and released as the DOE Environmental Justice Five-Year Implementation Plan.

The 2017 EJ Strategy provides a roadmap for our goals and objectives, highlights our major priorities for the next five years, and will be reflected in individual program plans.

The EJ Strategy contains the following goals:

DOE’s EJ Strategy provides an overarching vision that is reflected in our EJ goals. We have identified key priorities that will increase capacity building, public participation, and opportunities for minority populations and low-income populations, American Indian Tribes, and Alaska Natives, as well as identify the best ways to achieve results. DOE is committed to addressing the complexity of EJ in a timely, deliberate, and coordinated manner.

The DOE EJ Program will continue monitoring Departmental activities to determine whether they present a disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effect on minority populations and low-income populations, American Indian Tribes, and Alaska Natives.