                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

DEFINITIONS (§ 2.2-234)

For purposes of this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:
		&#8220;Community of color&#8221; means any geographically distinct area where
the population of color, expressed as a percentage of the total population of
such area, is higher than the population of color in the Commonwealth expressed
as a percentage of the total population of the Commonwealth. However, if a
community of color is composed primarily of one of the groups listed in the
definition of &#8220;population of color,&#8221; the percentage population of
such group in the Commonwealth shall be used instead of the percentage
population of color in the Commonwealth.
		&#8220;Environment&#8221; means the natural, cultural, social, economic, and
political assets or components of a community.
		&#8220;Environmental justice&#8221; means the fair treatment and meaningful
involvement of every person, regardless of race, color, national origin, income,
faith, or disability, regarding the development, implementation, or enforcement
of any environmental law, regulation, or policy.
		&#8220;Environmental justice community&#8221; means any low-income community
or community of color.
		&#8220;Fair treatment&#8221; means the equitable consideration of all people
whereby no group of people bears a disproportionate share of any negative
environmental consequence resulting from an industrial, governmental, or
commercial operation, program, or policy.
		&#8220;Fenceline community&#8221; means an area that contains all or part of a
low-income community or community of color and that presents an increased health
risk to its residents due to its proximity to a major source of pollution.
		&#8220;Low income&#8221; means having an annual household income equal to or
less than the greater of (i) an amount equal to 80 percent of the median income
of the area in which the household is located, as reported by the Department of
Housing and Urban Development, and (ii) 200 percent of the Federal Poverty
Level.
		&#8220;Low-income community&#8221; means any census block group in which 30
percent or more of the population is composed of people with low income.
		&#8220;Meaningful involvement&#8221; means the requirements that (i) affected
and vulnerable community residents have access and opportunities to participate
in the full cycle of the decision-making process about a proposed activity that
will affect their environment or health and (ii) decision makers will seek out
and consider such participation, allowing the views and perspectives of
community residents to shape and influence the decision.
		&#8220;Population of color&#8221; means a population of individuals who
identify as belonging to one or more of the following groups: Black, African
American, Asian, Pacific Islander, Native American, other non-white race, mixed
race, Hispanic, Latino, or linguistically isolated.
		&#8220;State agency&#8221; means any agency, authority, institution, board,
bureau, commission, council, or instrumentality of state government in the
executive branch of government.

HISTORY: 2020, cc. 1212, 1257.