Community engagement and environmental justice are essential for equitable environmental solutions. Environmental justice (EJ) seeks to avoid disproportionate impacts on underserved communities often exposed to pollution and hazardous waste. Effective community engagement ensures transparency and involves local stakeholders in decision-making processes that affect their environment and health.

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Federal environmental justice policy changed significantly in January 2025, when the executive orders directing federal agencies to address environmental justice, including Executive Order 12898, were rescinded. Many states still require environmental justice analysis. Massachusetts requires cumulative impact analysis for certain air permits near environmental justice populations, New Jersey’s Environmental Justice Law requires impact assessments for specified facilities in overburdened communities, and New York requires permitting agencies to consider disproportionate burdens. Local rules may also require public involvement before approvals are issued.

ACHIEVE ENVIRONMENTAL Can Help

ACHIEVE ENVIRONMENTAL provides a full suite of community engagement services to help clients meet environmental justice obligations. We organize stakeholder meetings, conduct social impact assessments, and implement communication strategies that foster transparency and build positive relationships with the communities affected by environmental projects.

Services

• Collaboration with public health agencies for health impact assessments

• Community outreach and communication strategy development

• Culturally relevant engagement strategies and materials

• Data collection and analysis for EJ reporting

• Environmental justice assessments and reporting

• Environmental justice compliance for state and local requirements

• Impact assessments for environmental justice populations

• Public meeting coordination and facilitation

• Social impact assessments (SIA) for proposed projects

• Stakeholder engagement planning and facilitation

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Planning a project near an overburdened community? Talk to us early about outreach, cumulative impact analysis, and state environmental justice requirements.