PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania welcomes reporting and information from the public regarding environmental justice concerns in the District, which includes Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, Lehigh, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties. Environmental justice combines civil rights with environmental protection to focus on communities with low-income, minority, tribal, or indigenous populations that experience disproportionate and adverse environmental or human health impacts. Consistent with President Biden’s Executive Order 14008, Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, and the Department of Justice’s Comprehensive Environmental Justice Strategy, the Eastern District of Pennsylvania is committed to using all available tools at its disposal to promote environmental justice.
“Guarding civil rights and investigating civil rights violations in our district is a priority of this office, and this includes instances where minority and economically disadvantaged communities are disproportionately bearing the brunt of environmental hazards,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “Our office will be working with the Environmental Protection Agency and our other federal agency partners, and the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the Department of Justice, to incorporate environmental justice principles in our cases and investigations where appropriate, and to determine where and when we can use the tools at our disposal to address adverse environmental burdens on these communities and to protect environmental quality and human health in all communities. Additionally, members of the community are often the best sources of evidence or information about possible violations of environmental law, which is why we welcome community engagement in this area.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has designated Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Lindgren to serve as its Environmental Justice Coordinator and seeks information about polluting activities or potential violations of law, including in low-income, minority, tribal, or indigenous communities. Any members of the public who have environmental justice concerns or information are invited to contact this office by emailing USAPAE-EnviromentalJustice@usdoj.gov.