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Environmental Justice Focus Areas

Environmental Justice Requirements

In 2016, the State Legislature adopted the Planning for Healthy Communities Act, also known as Senate Bill 1000. This law requires cities and counties with disadvantaged communities to include environmental justice policies in their General Plans. To meet these requirements, San Bernardino County identifies Environmental Justice Focus Areas, or EJFAs, communities that face increased pollution burdens along with socioeconomic or health‑related vulnerabilities. SB 1000 requirements are applied directly within these areas.

How the County Applies these Requirements

San Bernardino County incorporated its environmental justice policies into the Countywide Plan, adopted in 2020. The Countywide Plan is a set of tools that guide future decisions, investments and improvements throughout the county. As part of this plan, the County identified where EJFAs are located and outlined how they should be addressed in local planning and development review.

To further support this effort, the County is proposing a Development Code amendment that would require additional public outreach and notification for certain projects within or near an EJFA.

Where are Environmental Justice Focus Areas located

EJFAs are areas more affected by pollution and other environmental hazards that can impact health or the environment. The County identified these areas using CalEnviroScreen, a tool developed by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, along with local planning data and community characteristics.

This interactive map shows all EJFAs identified in the Countywide Plan. The map can be used to look up a property, see whether it is within or near an EJFA, and explore environmental justice information across unincorporated San Bernardino County.

Enhancing Public Outreach

The County is proposing a Development Code amendment to establish additional public outreach and notification requirements for certain development projects located in, or within 1,000 feet of an Environmental Justice Focus Area. The proposed requirements are intended to provide earlier opportunities for residents to learn about development proposals, ask questions, and provide input before a project is considered at a hearing.

The specific outreach requirements would vary based on the type of project and the level of environmental review required under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The proposed amendment is summarized as follows:

Enhanced Noticing and Outreach for Projects Proposed at or Within 1,000 Feet of an EJFA
Standard Existing Code EJFA Ordinance (Proposed)
Radius Size
• 300 feet for project sites 20 acres or less.
• 700 feet for project sites 20.1 to 160 acres.
• 1,300 feet for project sites greater than 160 acres.
• 300 feet for project sites 20 acres or less. Radius size increased until a minimum of 30 properties are captured.
• 700 feet for project sites 20.1 to 160 acres. Radius size increased until a minimum of 100 properties are captured.
• 1,300 feet for project sites greater than 160 acres. Radius size increased until a minimum of 300 properties are captured.
All mailed public notices shall be provided in English and in the predominant language spoken by residents in the EJFA.
Radius Notice Recipient Property owners Property owners and occupants
On-Site Posting None 4-foot by 8-foot on-site posting sign required.
Outreach Meetings None
• Minimum of one meeting.
• Minimum of two meetings for projects involving a General Plan or Zoning Amendment, regardless of Environmental Review.

Get Involved 

San Bernardino County is conducting public outreach to explain the proposed Environmental Justice Development Code amendment and gather feedback from residents, community organizations, property owners, and other interested parties.

Upcoming outreach meetings are listed below. Meeting dates, times, and locations are subject to change. Additional information and presentation materials will be posted as they become available.

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Events

Today

  • AB 98 Muscoy Open House

    Baker Family Learning Center 2818 N Macy St, Muscoy, CA, United States

    • Frequently Asked Questions

    An Environmental Justice Focus Area, or EJFA, is an area disproportionately affected by environmental pollution and other hazards that can lead to negative health effects, exposure or environmental degradation. An EJFA is determined by CalEnviroScreen composite scores in the upper quartile, defined as census tracts with scores ranking above the 75th percentile.

    The amendment is intended to implement the environmental justice policies in the Countywide Plan by creating consistent requirements for early notification, language access, community meetings, on‑site project information and other forms of public outreach.

    The proposed requirements would apply to qualifying development projects located in, or within 1,000 feet of, an EJFA. The specific requirements would depend on the size of the project area and the type of project.

    No. Requirements would vary based on the size of the project area and the type of project.

    An outreach plan is a document describing how the applicant will notify and engage the affected community. It includes a project and Environmental Justice Focus Area map, a list of community stakeholders, a meeting schedule and agenda, proposed notice methods, language‑access measures and other required outreach information.

    Yes. Qualifying projects in an Environmental Justice Focus Area would be required to conduct at least one outreach meeting to gather community input before a project can be scheduled for Planning Commission.

    The proposed Development Code amendment would require notice to both property owners and occupants within the applicable notification area. Community organizations and other interested parties identified throughout the outreach process may also receive project information.

    When required by the proposed ordinance, notices would be provided in English and another predominantly spoken language identified for the affected community.

    No. The amendment is currently proposed and remains subject to public review, Planning Commission consideration, and action by the Board of Supervisors.

    Comments may be submitted by email to [PLACEHOLDER] or provided during a public outreach meeting or public hearing.

    • Review the Environmental Justice resources posted on this webpage.
    • Explore the interactive Environmental Justice Focus Areas map above.
    • Attend an upcoming public outreach meeting.
    • Email [PLACEHOLDER] with questions or comments.

    Resources

    Type Name Actions
    pdf EJFA Background Report (2022)
    Countywide policy Plan – Hazards Element