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.

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 Action Task Force

Action History

Policy-Specific Details

Related Policies

Related Links