Holder promises to protect minority areas from environmental hazards

From Andrew Restuccia of The Hill on Jan. 14:

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder pledged Friday to work to protect low-income minority communities from environmental hazards.

Low-income communities have for decades borne the brunt of the country’s environmental problems. Studies show that toxic waste sites are almost always built near poor communities that often don’t have the resources to protect themselves.

In remarks commemorating Martin Luther King Day, Holder, the country’s first black attorney general, said the Justice Department will work aggressively to enforce environmental laws to protect vulnerable communities.

“This is unacceptable and it is unconscionable,” Holder said. “But through the aggressive enforcement of federal environmental laws in every community, I believe we can — and I know we must — change the status quo."

Read more.