Equity Action Plans (EAPs) and Community Benefit Plans (CBPs) are strategic tools that federal agencies and other organizations use to ensure that their actions and investments promote equity and deliver tangible benefits to underserved communities.
These plans are particularly relevant in the context of federal initiatives aimed at addressing systemic inequities.
What are they?
Equity Action Plans (EAPs): These are comprehensive frameworks developed by federal agencies to identify and address systemic barriers to equity. The goal is to ensure that the agency’s operations, policies, and programs are inclusive and accessible to all, particularly underserved and marginalized communities. For instance, an EAP may involve revising hiring practices to increase diversity or ensuring that procurement processes are accessible to minority-owned businesses.
Community Benefit Plans (CBPs): CBPs are commitments made by organizations, often in the context of large-scale infrastructure or development projects, to deliver specific, measurable benefits to the communities most affected by the project. These benefits can range from job creation and workforce development to environmental improvements and increased access to essential services.
Some Examples
Department of Energy (DOE): Under the Biden Administration, the DOE has been required to create Equity Action Plans as part of its broader commitment to racial equity and supporting underserved communities. The DOE’s EAP outlines strategies for integrating equity into research and development programs and ensuring that disadvantaged communities have access to clean energy technologies.
The DOE has also released templates and guidelines for CBPs and requires them for most Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding proposals.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): The EPA’s Equity Action Plan is focused on embedding environmental justice into the agency’s core functions. This includes actions such as improving data collection on environmental hazards in marginalized communities and increasing community engagement in decision-making processes. The EPA also utilizes Community Benefit Plans to ensure that local communities benefit from large-scale environmental projects, such as efforts to reduce pollution or improve water quality.
Who has to write them?
Equity Action Plans: All federal agencies are required to create Equity Action Plans under Executive Orders 13985 and 14091, which mandate advancing racial equity and support for underserved communities across the federal government. These plans help ensure that agencies are proactively working to remove barriers to equity in their policies and programs.
Community Benefit Plans: CBPs are often required as part of the approval process for large-scale development projects, particularly those receiving federal funding. These plans are typically developed by project developers in collaboration with local governments and community stakeholders to ensure that the projects deliver meaningful benefits to the affected communities.
Are they legally binding?
Equity Action Plans: While EAPs are mandated by executive orders and carry significant policy influence, they are not legally enforceable in the way that laws or regulations are. However, they are critical for holding agencies accountable to the administration’s equity goals and ensuring that progress is made toward reducing systemic inequities.
Community Benefit Plans: CBPs can be legally binding when included in contracts or agreements, particularly in federally funded projects. For example, a CBP linked to a DOE-funded infrastructure project might include binding commitments to hire a certain percentage of local workers or to take specific actions to mitigate environmental impacts.
Creating one
Creating an Equity Action Plan: Agencies like the DOE and EPA typically begin by assessing existing policies and practices to identify inequities. This involves data analysis, stakeholder engagement, and setting clear, measurable goals. For example, the DOE’s 2023 EAP includes strategies to increase access to procurement opportunities for disadvantaged businesses and to integrate justice considerations into its programs.
Creating a Community Benefit Plan: The creation of a CBP often involves collaboration between project developers, local governments, and community members to identify community needs and priorities. For instance, the EPA might include commitments to reduce pollution or improve water quality in a CBP for a new industrial project, ensuring that the surrounding communities benefit from the development.
Resources and Templates
Department of Energy (DOE): The DOE provides various resources and frameworks to assist in developing Equity Action Plans. These resources include guidelines on integrating equity into research and development, as well as templates for engaging with communities and stakeholders.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): The EPA offers technical assistance and guidance on incorporating environmental justice into project planning. The EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice provides tools and resources to help communities develop effective CBPs that align with their needs and priorities.
Documents about both of these are provided in the “Article Attachments” below.