Environmental Justice Audit

Resolution Text

Whereas: Environmental racism is a systemic risk that exacerbates the climate crisis and racial inequities.[1] Failure to adequately assess, mitigate, and remediate impacts on communities often results in litigation, project delays, and significant fines. For instance, Honeywell has reportedly incurred over $443 million in fines since 2000, the majority of which are related to environmental offenses.[2] A 2022 report found that 46% of Honeywell’s water pollution is located in environmental justice communities.[3] Recent controversies include: 

$2 million in cleanup costs in 2022 related to lead- and arsenic-contaminated soil in South Bend, Indiana. Residents allege Honeywell has contributed to environmental racism that has “destroyed the quality of life for many, many families generationally”;[4] 
A $65 million settlement against Honeywell and peers in 2022 for contaminating New York’s water supply with PFOA, a long-lasting chemical associated with developmental and reproductive issues, cancer, and immunological effects;[5]
A 2022 lawsuit in Georgia alleging insufficient cleanup for PCB contamination affecting a majority-Black community that houses multiple hazardous sites. This is in addition to an $18 million settlement in 2006 and a $4 million settlement in 2020 for the same site;[6]    
Allegations from a watchdog in October 2023 that Honeywell failed to disclose “super-pollutant” emissions to the EIA in an environmental justice community where air toxics cancer risk is in the 95th percentile nationally;[7] and 
A 2020 New Jersey lawsuit alleging Honeywell knowingly polluted the environment with PCBs, a probable human carcinogen.[8] The community surrounding the Superfund site is qualified as an “overburdened community” under the New Jersey Environmental Justice Law.[9]

Additionally, fenceline communities have criticized Honeywell for lack of effective community consultation surrounding pollution incidents, and for insufficient cleanup.[10] A legacy Honeywell pollution coke smoke stack in Tonawanda, NY is linked to decades of health impacts, including elevated cancer risks, cardiopulmonary disease, and birth defects.[11] Community members allege they have not been adequately consulted in cleanup efforts, and Honeywell is lobbying to reclassify the site, which may result in less comprehensive remediations.[12] 

Honeywell faces increasing regulatory risk as the Biden administration has made unprecedented commitments around environmental justice,[13] and numerous states where Honeywell operates have adopted environmental justice legislation.[14]An audit would help Honeywell avoid adverse impacts on environmental justice communities while reducing reputational risk and liabilities. 
 

[1] https://time.com/6017907/climate-emergency-racial-justice/ ; https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2021/10/confronting-climate-crisis-requires-confronting-systemic-racism-say-un 

[2] https://violationtracker.goodjobsfirst.org/parent/honeywell-international 

[3] https://peri.umass.edu/toxic-100-water-polluters-index-current 

[4] https://www.southbendtribune.com/story/news/local/2022/04/04/south-bend-racism-honeywell-remediate-lasalle-park-black-community-environment-landfill/7216689001/ 

[5] https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/medical-problems/cancer-medical-problems/residents-reach-65m-with-saint-gobain-3m-honeywell-over-tainted-water-supply/ ; https://www.twincities.com/2022/02/05/judge-approves-65m-settlement-in-polluted-water-lawsuit/ 

[6] https://prismreports.org/2020/07/03/the-georgia-town-that-was-home-to-ahmaud-arbery-has-an-environmental-racism-problem/ ; https://thecurrentga.org/2022/12/06/city-of-brunswick-sues-over-pollution-from-honeywell-lcp-site/ 

[7] https://insideclimatenews.org/news/16102023/watchdog-us-chemical-plant-isnt-reporting-climate-super-pollutants/ 

[8] https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/environment/2020/11/10/honeywell-superfund-lawsuit-nj-over-edgewater-nj-and-hudson-river-contamination/6224306002/ 

[9] https://www.nj.gov/dep/ej/docs/communities/bergen-edgewater-boro-maps-obc.pdf 

[10] https://indiancountrytoday.com/archive/onondaga-seek-voice-in-lake-cleanup-nation-wants-principled-negotiations 

[11] https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/usao-wdny/legacy/2013/09/25/Coke_49.pdf 

[12] https://www.cacwny.org/2019/07/honeywell-responsible-for-tonawanda-coke-site-remediation/ 

[13] https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/27/executive-order-on-tackling-the-climate-crisis-at-home-and-abroad/ 

[14] https://dep.nj.gov/ej/law/