After much scrutiny, the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission voted on Wednesday to approve the county’s Environmental Justice Element (EJE), a guide required by the state to identify “environmental justice communities” and address their needs.
Commissioners were initially hesitant to pass the element due to tricky wording around implying regulations, which the EJE is not intended to do. Commissioners asked that county staff make it clear that the EJE was not to produce regulations on industries or development, but rather solely guide policies to benefit low-income communities disproportionately affected by pollution and other health risks.
Environmental justice ensures everyone has the right to a healthy environment and equitable say in the decisions that affect it, which is the main idea behind the element’s objectives and policies, according to the county…