National Survey of Environmental Justice Groups: What Do They Look Like (Organizational Structure)? What Do They Do (Tactics)? Some Implications

Abstract

Environmental justice emerged as a grass roots movement to battle the injustices of inequitable enforcement of national environmental laws that affected people of color. A Web-based survey was conducted to gauge what these groups look like today in terms of their organizational structure and the types of tactics they use in their struggle to combat environmental racism. The findings indicated that these groups have lost many of the characteristics of social movements. They have also defied the traditional trajectory of transitioning to interest groups. Instead, the vast majority of these groups have incorporated as 501c(3) nonprofits. Their organizational structure is more institutionalized in terms of staffing, resources, budgeting, and decision making. The tactics they primarily use include: educating and training other groups, organizing other groups, and researching issues. These groups have been in existence for an average of nineteen years and serve multiple populations including Anglos. As nonprofit organizations, they have been able to gain access to the regulatory process by serving on boards and commissions; they may have contributed to the policy process by identifying problems and providing solutions although this remains unclear; and, they have excluded themselves from the political process since nonprofit organizations are barred from lobbying and, thus, attempting to influence federal environmental legislation.