In February 1994, President Clinton issued Executive Order 12898, Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations directing the NRC to include environmental justice in their mission by identifying and addressing any disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects of their programs, policies and activities on minority and low-income populations.

The new policy statement emphasizes that the disproportionately high and adverse effects of a proposed action, which fall heavily on a particular community, call for close scrutiny under the National Environmental Policy Act.

A draft policy statement was issued for public comment on Nov. 5, 2003. A copy of the final statement will be published in the Federal Register. Visit www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/news/2004/04-098.html.