Final answer:
Yes, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can make a difference in addressing environmental racism by implementing and enforcing stricter regulations to reduce the disproportionate exposure of Black Americans to environmental hazards like hazardous waste facilities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statistics indicating that Black Americans are 75% more likely to live near hazardous waste facilities highlight a significant issue related to environmental racism. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can indeed make a difference by implementing stricter regulations to prevent such disproportionate exposure to environmental hazards. The research by sociologist Robert Bullard, which found a clear link between race and the location of hazardous waste facilities, underscores the systemic nature of this issue. Moreover, cases like the Flint water crisis and pollution in the South Bronx further illustrate the ongoing environmental inequalities.
Not only can the EPA enforce existing regulations more rigorously, but it could also develop new guidelines aimed at protecting vulnerable communities. Additionally, there's a need for long-term strategies to address the aftermath of environmental disasters, such as the response to Hurricane Katrina, which revealed racial discrepancies in emergency planning and assistance. There's also the broader context of environmental justice to consider, where policies should strive for a fair distribution of environmental benefits and burdens across all communities.
Therefore, the answer to the student's question is A) Yes, the EPA can make a difference by implementing stricter regulations, ensuring enforcement and considering environmental justice in its policies and actions.