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.

Colorado’s Office of Environmental Justice launched a new Environmental Justice Grants Program Dashboard. The dashboard enhances transparency and accessibility, enabling users to explore projects from three grant cycles and visualize the Department of Public Health and Environment’s investments.

Environmental Justice Grant Program Dashboard

Established by the Environmental Justice Act, the Environmental Justice Grant Program funds projects that help measure, prevent, or reduce pollution in disproportionately impacted communities. Funds also can help pay for technical assistance to help community organizations most effectively participate in rulemaking hearings.

Environmental Justice Grant Program

The Environmental Justice Ombudsperson is a new role within CDPHE. It was created by the Environmental Justice Act (House Bill 21-1266).

The Ombudsperson is appointed by the Governor. They report directly to CDPHE Executive Director Jill Hunsaker Ryan. The Ombudsperson receives administrative support from the Environmental Justice Unit, but is otherwise independent.

Environmental Justice Ombudsperson

The Environmental Justice Advisory Board is a volunteer board. The Governor and Executive Director of CDPHE appoint its 12 members.

The Board serves Colorado by:

    Coordinating with the Environmental Justice Ombudsperson.
    Advising CDPHE on best practices for engaging disproportionately impacted communities.
    Responding to environmental justice policy matters referred by the Governor’s Office or CDPHE.
    Creating and overseeing an environmental justice grants program.

Environmental Justice Advisory Board

Directs the AQCC to develop rules to reduce GHG emissions from the oil and gas industry by at least 60% below 2005 levels by 2030.

Oil and Gas Industry GHG Emissions Reduction Goal

Directs the AQCC to develop rules to reduce GHG emissions from the industrial sector by at least 20% below 2015 levels by 2030.

Industrial and Manufacturing GHG Emissions Reduction Goal

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

Defines 'disproportionally impacted communities'

Disproportionally Impacted Communities Definition

The Environmental Justice Action Task Force (“EJATF” or “Task Force”) was created by the Colorado Environmental Justice (“EJ”) Act. The goal of the Task Force is to propose recommendations to the general assembly regarding practical means to address environmental justice inequities, particularly within DICs. The Task Force was comprised of 22 members, appointed by the Governor and legislative leadership, representing a wide variety of technical expertise and demographics. The Task Force began meeting in December 2021 and held seven full Task Force meetings through November 2022.

Environmental Justice Grant Program Dashboard

Action History

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