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Houston Reaches Settlement with DOJ over Environmental Justice Violations in Illegal Dumping Case

Summary

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and Houston have reached a voluntary agreement to settle an environmental justice complaint regarding alleged discriminatory practices in response to illegal dumping in Black and Latino neighborhoods. The settlement, announced on June 9, requires Houston to address illegal dumping through its new One Clean Houston initiative, engage in community outreach, undergo federal monitoring and data collection for three years, and develop an enforcement and educational plan. While some community organizers view the settlement as a significant step toward eliminating illegal dumping, others remain skeptical about the long-term effectiveness of the agreement. The DOJ investigation was prompted by a complaint filed in 2022 on behalf of residents in a predominantly Black and Latino neighborhood, who reported frequent instances of illegal dumping and the subsequent health hazards. Houston's One Clean Houston plan aims to expedite cleanups, enhance enforcement, and allocate more resources to prevention and education.

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