A city (or county) is not an accident but the result of coherent visions and aims

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Environmental Justice Element 
Introduction
Over 9 million Californians are exposed to and at risk from high pollution, according to the Office of Environmental Health 
Hazard Assessment’s Cal Enviroscreen tool.
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 In addition to examining environmental hazards, Cal Enviroscreen and other tools 
look at assets that help protect communities from poor health. Legislation adopted in 2016, 
Senate Bill 1000,
 now requires both 
cities and counties that have disadvantaged communities to incorporate environmental justice (EJ) policies into their general 
plans, either in a separate EJ element or by integrating related goals, policies, and objectives throughout the other elements. 
This update, or revision if the local government already has EJ goals, policies, and objectives, must happen “upon the adoption 
or next revision of two or more elements concurrently on or after January 1, 2018.” 
Government Code Section 65302(h) 
(1)  An environmental justice element, or related goals, policies, and objectives integrated in other elements, that identifies 
disadvantaged communities within the area covered by the general plan of the city, county, or city and county, if the city, 
county, or city and county has a disadvantaged community. The environmental justice element, or related environmental 
justice goals, policies, and objectives integrated in other elements, shall do all of the following:
(A)  Identify objectives and policies to reduce the unique or compounded health risks in disadvantaged communities by 
means that include, but are not limited to, the reduction of pollution exposure, including the improvement of air 
quality, and the promotion of public facilities, food access, safe and sanitary homes, and physical activity.
(B)  Identify objectives and policies to promote civil engagement in the public decisionmaking process.
(C)  Identify objectives and policies that prioritize improvements and programs that address the needs of disadvantaged 
communities.
(2)  A city, county, or city and county subject to this subdivision shall adopt or review the environmental justice element, or the 
environmental justice goals, policies, and objectives in other elements, upon the adoption or next revision of two or more 
elements concurrently on or after January 1, 2018.
(3)  By adding this subdivision, the Legislature does not intend to require a city, county, or city and county to take any action 
prohibited by the United States Constitution or the California Constitution.
(4)  For purposes of this subdivision, the following terms shall apply:
(A)  “Disadvantaged communities” means an area identified by the California Environmental Protection Agency pursuant 

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Equity and environmental justice may mean different things in different communities. Equity can serve as a larger framework 
and is closely related to EJ. See the 
Equitable and Resilient Community Chapter 
for an expanded discussion. Similarly, local 
governments may address those issues in different ways in their general plans. A stand-alone EJ element may make it easier 
for the public and decision-makers to see EJ policies in one place. Alternately, an integrated approach puts EJ policies into the 
elements that address them; for example, including siting of industries in the 
land use element
 could make implementation 
more actionable. Regardless of approach, the EJ policies must meet internal consistency rules set forth in 
Government Code 
section 65300.5
. Ultimately, the best format will depend on the local context, community interest, and practicality of updating 
future general plans, and should complement the current update and vision. Whether incorporated into a separate element or 
addressed throughout the document, explicitly considering siting compatibility, 
community engagement
, location of polluting 
facilities, and access to important amenities are all ways to move towards more equitable and healthy communities.
to Section 39711 of the Health and Safety Code or an area that is a low-income area that is disproportionately affected 
by environmental pollution and other hazards that can lead to negative health effects, exposure, or environmental 
degradation.
(B)  “Public facilities” includes public improvements, public services, and community amenities, as defined in subdivision 
(d) of Section 66000.
(C)  “Low-income area” means an area with household incomes at or below 80 percent of the statewide median income 
or with household incomes at or below the threshold designated as low income by the Department of Housing and 
Community Development’s list of state income limits adopted pursuant to Section 50093.
Jurupa Valley
Jurupa Valley adopted a separate Environmental Justice Element in November 2014. 
A city with almost 100,000 community members and  a history of high pollution burden, they created an element to address:
• Community Engagement   
 
 
• Mobility and Active Living
• 
Air 
Pollution 
    • 
Affordable 
Housing
The EJ movement existed for several decades at a grass root, city, county, state, and federal level before gaining institutional 
support by President Clinton’s 
Executive Order 12898, “Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations 
and Low-Income Populations”
 in 1994.
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 Environmental Justice as defined by 
Government Code section 65040.12(e)
“means 
the fair treatment of people of all races, cultures, and incomes with respect to the development, adoption, implementation, and 
enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.” 

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