Industrial Facilities, Public Parks and Community Composition: Examining Environmental Justice in Lincoln, Nebraska

Environmental injustice involves the discrimination of low-income or minority populations in regards to environmental conditions in comparison to society at large. This study uses the net-environmental equity concept to analyze the state of environmental justice in the city of Lincoln, Nebraska. To what extent are Lincoln’s environmental burdens located around lowincome/minority residents? To what extent are Lincoln’s environmental benefits located away from low-income/minority residents? To what extent do Lincoln’s policies promote environmental justice? A distributional analysis of Lincoln’s public park system and toxic releasing industries is completed along with a policy review. Lincoln’s policies and environmental conditions of minority residents evidence no issues of environmental injustice. Environmental justice issues are evidenced for Lincoln’s low-income populations regarding unequal distribution of industrial facilities.