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Environment

Last Updated: | Press Releases

DHS Releases New Climate Action Plan to Address the Impacts of Climate Change and Ensure the Department’s Climate Resilience

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a new Climate Action Plan outlining the steps the Department is taking to tackle the climate crisis, including bolstering the Department’s ability to adapt to climate change, building national resilience, undertaking mitigation measures, and addressing key vulnerabilities.  This plan is part of President Biden’s whole-of-government approach to confronting the climate crisis. 

Last Updated: | Publication

Final Environmental Assessment of Proposed Tracer Particle and Gas Releases and Finding of No Significant Impact

The United States (U.S.) Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), in partnership with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and other stakeholders in New York City (NYC), is proposing to conduct testing events to improve resiliency of urban areas and transportation systems against chemical or biological terrorist attacks (Proposed Action).

Last Updated: | Publication

Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for El Paso Service Processing Center

ICE has prepared this Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (42 United States Code [U.S.C.] 4321 et seq.) and other relevant federal and state laws and regulations, as well as DHS Directive 023-01, Revision 01 and DHS Instruction Manual 023-01-001-01, Revison 01, Implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act. This Draft EA discloses the environmental impacts that would result from the Proposed Action and alternatives.

Last Updated: | Press Releases

Feature Article: Securing Transportation of Ammonia

S&T is studying how anhydrous ammonia behaves during a potential leak or spill, whether accidental or intentional, in order to inform planning efforts in communities across the nation.

Last Updated: | Site Page

Addressing Climate Change

The climate crisis threatens homeland security in the United States and DHS is implementing a new approach to meet the crisis.

Last Updated: | Site Page

Climate Change Action Group

The DHS Climate Change Action Group is a coordinating body comprised of the Department’s senior leadership that drives urgent action to address the climate crisis and reports directly to the Secretary.

Last Updated: | Publication

DHS Environmental Justice Strategy for Fiscal Years 2021-2025

This Environmental Justice Strategy is intended to promote a comprehensive, consistent, and adaptive method for identifying and addressing environmental justice through the activities, policies, and programs of DHS Operational and Support Components. The Office of the Chief Readiness Support Officer and the Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) began updating the DHS Environmental Justice Strategy in the fall of 2019, with the assistance of the DHS Environmental Justice Working Group. Through this process, DHS Components provided input on strategic goals and objectives to ensure alignment and consistency with Department priorities. From September 24, 2020 to November 5, 2020, DHS made the draft Environmental Justice Strategy available to the public in five languages by posting on a public website19 and distributed it among the CRCL stakeholder email list. One anonymous comment was received via email, and all comments have been taken into consideration.

Last Updated: | Publication

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Environmental Justice Annual Implementation Report for FY2020

integration of environmental justice principles throughout the enterprise and at all levels of government. Chaired by the EPA with participation from 16 federal agencies and the White House, the Environmental Justice Intra-agency Working Group strives to engage and support local communities in addressing environmental and human health impacts of federal programs, policies, and activities by promoting comprehensive solutions for addressing environmental justice.

Last Updated: | Press Releases

Secretary Mayorkas Announces New DHS Commitments to Address the Climate Crisis at Leaders Summit on Climate

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas spoke at the Leaders Summit on Climate where he reaffirmed the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) commitment to adapt and respond to the climate emergency, including by announcing several  steps the Department is taking to address this crisis.

Last Updated: | Press Releases

News Release: Research Indicates Environment is Unlikely to Affect Transmissibility of SARS-COV-2 Variants

The deactivating effects of heat and sunlight on SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, are consistent across different variants of the virus, according to new research from DHS S&T.