The United Negro College Fund supports environmental education at 12 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) because they are or may be located near metropolitan African-American neighborhoods high in levels of exposure to pollutants. Six of the HBCU's are located near hazardous waste sites which pose problems to community health and growth. On gaining more awareness, HBCU"s have established a formal partnership with the Smithsonian Institute Museum of American History to start a lecture series on environmental pollution and environmental justice.
In 1994 a total of 3,700 hot line calls were received by Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ) to request information and assistance in various issues. The OEJ responds to approximately 6,000 requests per year in information. To make information more accessible, OEJ created an Environmental Justice Bulletin on the Internet.
On February 11, 1994 President Clinton issued Executive Order 12898. This order focuses on federal attention on the environmental and human health conditions of minority communities and low-income communities. All Americans deserve to be protected from pollution, not just those who can afford it. Environmental Justice means providing a safe place for everyone to live.