The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency defines environmental justice as "the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies." Some have speculated that because many of Flint's residents are low-income and African American, the issues underlying Flint's drinking water problems went undressed by the government until they reached the crisis level -- that Flint residents were denied environmental justice.