D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 10-A, § 628
628
628.1 Environmental justice refers to the fair treatment of people of all races, cultures, national origins, and incomes, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. A just community is one in which all people experience protection from environmental and health hazards and have equal access to the decision-making process for having a healthy environment.
628.2 These are particularly important principles to abide by when the goal of the Comprehensive Plan is to grow an inclusive city. Some District neighborhoods have been adversely impacted by pollution-generating uses and other forms of environmental degradation, particularly in Wards 5, 6, 7, and 8. Power stations, public works facilities, rail and highway infrastructure, and a variety of industrial uses have all been concentrated in these areas. Many were historically located in communities of color and low-income neighborhoods that lacked the resources to fight these uses. The legacy of these uses includes the pollution of the Anacostia River, contaminated sites, and continuing noise, air pollution, and hazardous cargo on roads and rail that disproportionately impact often overlapping vulnerable populations, including the young, the old, those with existing health conditions, lower income residents and communities of color. It is critical to identify and remove or mitigate these existing environmental conditions. Low-income and minority communities must not face disproportionate environmental burdens and must enjoy clean and safe places to live, work, play, and learn. As Washington, DC grows and changes, it is important to continue to focus on environmental justice through an equity lens in order to mitigate and prevent harm to current and future residents. Furthermore, all residents must have a fair and meaningful opportunity to participate in environmental decisions.
628.3 Policies and actions found throughout the Comprehensive Plan, particularly those focused on improving equity and resilience, comprise a forward-looking approach to environmental justice. It is the District government's charge to improve the environment of vulnerable communities that continue to face significant barriers to overall health, livelihood, and sustainability.
628.3a Text Box: The Environment and Health
Environmental factors such as air and water quality are fundamental determinants of people's health and well-being. These factors can also lead to disease and health disparities when the places where people live, work, learn, and play are burdened by social inequities. These social inequities, often referred to as social determinants of health, include differences in individual behaviors, socio-cultural influences, access to health services, economic status, and literacy levels. Environmental health disparities exist when communities exposed to a combination of poor environmental quality and social inequities have more
sickness and disease than higher-income, less polluted communities.
Continue to develop and refine solutions to avoid or mitigate the adverse effects of industrial, transportation, municipal, construction and other high impact uses, particularly when proximate to residential areas, and specifically identify and address impacts to vulnerable populations. These solutions include enhanced buffering; sound walls; operational improvements; truck routing; regular air, soil, and water quality assessments; and regulating specific uses that result in land use conflicts.
Identify and understand the needs of the entire community, particularly vulnerable populations, lower-income residents, communities of color, or people with characteristics such as age-related and health conditions that make them more susceptible to pollutant exposures. Incorporate these needs into plans, programs, and investments. Expand local efforts to involve and enable the equitable participation of economically disadvantaged communities—particularly those communities that historically have been impacted by power plants, trash transfer stations, and other municipal or industrial uses—in the planning and development processes.
Hot days can be unhealthy—even dangerous. Rising temperatures will increase the frequency of hot days and warm nights. High air temperatures can cause heat stroke and dehydration and affect people’s cardiovascular and nervous systems. Warm nights are especially dangerous because they prevent the human body from cooling off after a hot day. Certain people are vulnerable, including children, the elderly, the sick, and low-income residents. Because Washington, DC is warmer than surrounding areas and does not cool off as quickly at night, Washingtonians—particularly those without air conditioning—face a greater risk of heat-related illnesses. Furthermore, high air temperatures can increase the formation of ground-level ozone, a component of smog that can contribute to respiratory problems.
Rising temperatures may also increase the length and severity of the pollen season for plants such as ragweed. Lengthened pollen seasons have already been observed in other regions. The risk of some diseases may also increase. West Nile virus, transmitted by mosquitoes, could become more common due to rising temperatures, which speed up the mosquito life cycle and increase biting rates, as well as dry periods that benefit the type of mosquito that transmits West Nile. The effects are still uncertain and likely to vary by region. Increased flooding from more intense storms could lead to more indoor dampness and mold, which contribute to asthma, allergies, and respiratory infections.
Consider factors supporting environmental justice when updating the capital improvement program for existing public facilities and the development of new facilities. Plan for the equitable distribution of infrastructure improvements and public facilities and services, considering both number/size and access/distance to facilities.
See the Community Services and Facilities Element and the Infrastructure Element for further information about capital facilities.
Inform public policy decisions on the siting of municipal and industrial facilities using environmental justice principles, recognizing links between public health and the location of municipal and industrial uses such as power plants and waste treatment facilities.
See the Land Use Element regarding industrial uses and mitigation of impacts.
Clean up brownfields and Superfund sites to improve the environment and the health of surrounding neighborhoods, and so that these sites can be reused for commercial and industrial activities, housing, parks, and other community facilities that can boost local economies and improve quality of life.
Audit and eliminate environmental health threats (e.g., mold, lead, and carbon monoxide) in the District’s affordable housing. Work with the DC Housing Authority to reduce these threats, as well as threats from other contaminants, including lead in drinking water, in all District affordable housing.
SOURCE: District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984, effective April 10, 1984 (D.C. Law 5-76; 31 DCR 1049 (March 9, 1984)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984 Land Use Element Amendment Act of 1984, effective March 16, 1985 (D.C. Law 5-187; 32 DCR 873 (February 15, 1985)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1989, effective May 23, 1990 (D.C. Law 8-129; 37 DCR 55 (January 5, 1990)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1989 NCPC-Recommended Amendments, and Closing of Public Alleys in Square 669, S.O. 88-452, Act of 1990, effective May 23, 1990 (D.C. Law 8-132; 37 DCR 2213 (April 6, 1990)); as amended by District Government Land Use Temporary Amendment Act of 1994, effective October 1, 1994 (D.C. Law 10-190; 41 DCR 5360 (August 12, 1994)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1994, effective October 6, 1994 (D.C. Law 10-193; 41 DCR 5536 (August 19, 1994)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984 Land Use Amendment Act of 1994, effective March 21, 1995 (D.C. Law 10-235; 42 DCR 30 (January 6, 1995)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 1996 effective April 18, 1996 (D.C. Law 11-110; 43 DCR 530 (February 9, 1996)); as amended by Second Technical Amendments Act of 1996 effective April 9, 1997 (D.C. Law 11-255; 44 DCR 1271 (March 7, 1997)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 1998, effective April 27, 1999 (D.C. Law 12-275; 46 DCR 1441 (February 19, 1999)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 1999, effe
ctive April 12, 2000 (D.C. Law 13-91; 47 DCR 520 (January 28, 2000)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2006, effective March 8, 2007 (D.C. Law 16-300; 54 DCR 924 (February 2, 2007)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 2008, effective March 25, 2009 (D.C. Law 17-353; 56 DCR 1117 (February 6, 2009)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2010, effective April 8, 2011 (D.C. Law 18-361; 58 DCR 908 (February 4, 2011)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2021, effective August 21, 2021 (D.C. Law 24-20; 68 DCR 006918 (July 16, 2021)).