I am disappointed to see this re-definition gaining support.  This is a reactionary transformation of the environmental justice program that is outside reality.  Racism still exists in our society as a very powerful and negative force.  Creating policy that pretends the world is a ideal and everyone is on a level playing field does nothing to erradicate the very real problems of racism.  Policy must go in a different and more responsible direction, of dealing with racism as a negative reality and then attempt to erradicate it by dealing with it.

If the statistics show that people of color are at a greater risk than white folk, then policy must be implemented that deals with that.  Although I am not very familiar with the history of the EPA's environmental justice program, by what I've recently learned, it seemed to treat racism as a reality that needs to be dismantled.

This is a frightening movement that finds itself with roots that are outside reality.  Prentending that racism does not exist only serves to keep its historical power structure in place.

We often hear that concern about environmental issues is a luxury for well-off white folks, and that poorer people, (including ethnic minorities), have "more important" things to worry about.  This is simply ridiculous.  Clean air and water, and a healthy place to live, should be regarded as necessities for everyone, not luxuries for the priveleged.