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The absence of a clear definition of environmental justice areas has been cited as one of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's major deficiencies in managing federal environmental justice programs. Several states have explicitly defined potential environmental justice areas and integrated targeted efforts into the policy-making process. At the block-group level, this study evaluates the effects of New York State's environmental justice policy, which defines communities of concern in terms of demographic and socioeconomic characteristics as well as mandates supplemental regulatory enforcement activities for these neighborhoods, on the agency's policy implementation practices under the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act. The empirical findings suggest that there is inconclusive evidence regarding race/ethnicity- and class-based environmental inequity. Also, the state's policy intervention is not universally effective. Moreover, task environments of a given community are a consistent determinant of the agency's regulatory compliance monitoring and assurance activities. This study then derives broader implications regarding the adoption of a policy instrument that defines and screens potential environmental justice communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the concept of symbolic politics for disempowered communities in America, and it mentions the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the history and evolution of state environmental justice policies in places such as New York. A proposed "environmental equity" legislative bill in the New York State Assembly is mentioned in relation to minorities and the potential links between health problems and environmental factors in low-income communities.

To date, only a limited number of studies have examined the impact of ambient pollutant policy on respiratory morbidities. This accountability study examined the effect of a regional pollution control policy, namely, the US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) nitrogen oxides (NOx) Budget Trading Program (NBP), on respiratory health in New York State (NYS). Time-series analysis using generalized additive models was applied to assess changes in daily hospitalizations for respiratory diseases in NYS after the implementation of the NBP policy. Respiratory end points in the summers during the baseline period (1997-2000) were compared with those during the post-intervention period (2004-2006). Stratified analyses were also conducted to examine whether health impacts of the NBP differed by socio-demographic, regional, or clinical characteristics. Following the implementation of EPA's NBP policy, there were significant reductions in mean ozone levels (−2% to −9%) throughout NYS. After adjusting for time-varying variables, PM2.5 concentration, and meteorological factors, significant post-intervention declines in respiratory admissions were observed in the Central (−10.18, 95% confidence interval (CI): −14.18, −6.01), Lower Hudson (−11.05, 95% CI: −16.54, −5.19), and New York City Metro regions (−5.71, 95% CI: −7.39, −4.00), consistent with wind trajectory patterns. Stratified analyses suggest that admissions for asthma, chronic airway obstruction, among those 5-17 years old, self-payers, Medicaid-covered, and rural residents declined the most post-NBP. This study suggests that the NOx control policy may have had a positive impact on both air pollution levels statewide and respiratory health in some NYS regions. However, the effect varied by disease subgroups, region, and socio-demographic characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports on actions taken and rulings issued by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as of May 1999. Civil rights investigation into the environmental and health concerns of African-American and Hispanic communities in New York City; Proposal of the relaxation of dumping rules for lead paint debris; Plan to focus more on `inert' ingredients in pesticides.