In 1994, President Clinton signed Executive Order 12898 which mandated that each federally funded agency make achieving environmental justice part of its mission by identifying and addressing, as appropriate, disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects of its programs, policies, and activities on minority populations and low-income populations in the United States. The Executive Order also mandated that the US EPA develop a strategy for incorporating Environmental Justice into its processes.
To further support the agency’s mission of improving the quality of life for all South Carolinians, representatives from SCDES and various community organizations came together in 2018 to identify and shape the following Environmental Justice “Guiding Principles.” Doing so allows us to assist our community partners with protecting, revitalizing, and sustaining the communities of South Carolina.
Promoting and protecting South Carolina's environmental resources requires consistent community involvement and ongoing communication among all of our stakeholders.
