HB 21-1266: 2021 Environmental Justice Act (Environmental Justice Disproportionate Impacted Communities)

Enhances Colorado’s work by creating the Environmental Justice Action Task Force within the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), an ombuds position at CDPHE to serve as an advocate for disproportionately impacted communities, and a Community Impact Cash Fund to provide grants for environmental mitigation projects in impacted communities. The bill also defines disproportionately impacted communities and requires the Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) to engage with disproportionately impacted communities and propose recommendations to the General Assembly to address environmental justice issues. The bill also obligates utilities that own or operate generation to file clean energy plans and directs the AQCC to develop rules to reduce GHG emissions from oil and gas exploration and the industrial sector. The bill also develops the Environmental Justice Grant Program.

CO EnviroScreen is Colorado's new bilingual interactive environmental justice mapper. CDPHE developed it in collaboration with Colorado State University. CO Enviroscreen combines 35 environmental, health, and demographic indicators. It visualizes areas in Colorado with higher environmental and socioeconomic burdens. The tool also shows places that meet the legal definition of a Disproportionately Impacted Community.

CO EnviroScreen

Action History

Related Policies

Related Links