A document required by federal and state agencies under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). An EIS is required for major projects or legislative proposals that may significantly affect the environment. A tool for decision making, it describes the positive and negative effects of the undertaking and identifies alternative actions.
Environmental Justice is defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, as the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, culture, education, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. Fair treatment means that no group of people, including racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic groups, should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, municipal, and commercial operations or the execution of federal, state, local, and tribal environmental programs and policies. Meaningful involvement means that: (1) potentially affected community residents have an appropriate opportunity to participate in decisions about a proposed activity that will affect their environment and/or health; (2) the public's contribution can influence the regulatory agency's decision; (3) the concerns of all participants involved will be considered in the decision-making process; and (4) the decision-makers seek out and facilitate the involvement of those potentially affected.
The federal regulatory agency responsible for administering and enforcing federal environmental laws related to air quality, water quality, solid waste, and hazardous waste.
Transit service designed to speed up longer trips in major metropolitan areas during busy peak commuting hours by traveling long distances without stopping. Examples include routes between suburban park-and-ride lots and the central business district that operate on freeways or express buses that operate as local service buses until a certain point and then operate non-stop to the central business district.