Shifting the burden of permit approval in the United States: the case for improved state action

 Federal regulations in the United States are in the process of being reimplemented and redeveloped after years of roll-back under the Trump Administration. This opinion recommends three steps that states can take to support stronger environmental policies rooted in environmental justice while the federal government reworks its own standards. These steps focus on:

• Adopting a revised definition of EJ communities that includes environmental hazards.
• Creating new permit requirements that build upon the revised definition of EJ communities.
• Commenting on EPA’s rulemaking to ensure it reflects principles of EJ.