1. Environmental Justice and NEPA in the Transportation Arena Five Pioneering Practices from Recent Projects January 2013

2. Purpose and Agenda  Provide an overview of EJ  Present 5 effective practices supporting EJ analysis from recent projects

3. What is Environmental Justice?  Populations addressed by EJ:  Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian, American Indian or Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander  Low-income  Three principles of US DOT’s EJ strategy:  Avoid, minimize, or mitigate disproportionately high and adverse effects  Ensure full and fair participation in transportation decision- making  Prevent the denial of, reduction in, or significant delay of benefits

4. Pioneering Practices from Recent Projects  The Cases: 1.Alston Avenue Project, Durham, North Carolina 2.Middle Harbor Redevelopment Project, Port of Long Beach, California 3.North I-25 Project, Denver to Fort Collins Area, Colorado 4.Ambassador Bridge Gateway Project and Bagley Pedestrian Bridge, Detroit, Michigan 5.Regional Tolling Analysis for the Long-Range Transportation Plan, Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas 6.I-70 East Project, Denver Area, Colorado 7.I-16/I-75 Interchange Project, Macon, Georgia 8.Newtown Pike Extension Project, Lexington, Kentucky 9.Business 40 Project, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 10.SR-520: I-5 to Medina, Seattle Area, Washington

5. Practice #1: Conduct a complete analysis of potential impacts and solutions Project Profile  Study: EA of a 1-mile corridor widening project in Durham, NC in an area with a growing Hispanic/Latino population  Key issue: Potential loss of the Los Primos Supermarket  Outcome: Public outreach combined with site comparison analysis of Los Primos and an alternative location identify impacts to vehicle-less EJ community

6. Thematic map of vehicle-less households in the Durham project area Practice #1: Conduct a complete analysis of potential impacts and solutions Alternative supermarket location (former Winn-Dixie)

7. Practice #2: Use cumulative impact assessment during planning to inform NEPA Project Profile  Study: Cumulative impacts of tolling on a regional basis in a long range plan, Dallas-Fort Worth, TX  Outcome: Results of the regional analysis supplement the cumulative impacts assessment in NEPA

8. Practice #3: Use creativity and innovation when designing mitigation for all impacts Project Profile #1  Study: EIS for the combination and upgrade of two marine container terminals at the Port of Long Beach, CA  Key issues: Construction noise and cumulative impacts on air quality and health risk  Outcome: Mitigation grant program for cumulative impacts, broad public support

9. Practice #3: Use creativity and innovation when designing mitigation for all impacts Project Profile #2  Study: EA for an interchange project in Macon, GA in a predominantly Black/African American historic community (Pleasant Hill)  Key issues: Pleasant Hill was bisected by I-75, has declined, and could be impacted again  Outcome: Community-supported Community Mitigation Plan addresses direct and cumulative impacts

10. Practice #3: Use creativity and innovation when designing mitigation for all impacts Project Profile #3  Study: EIS for the extension of a major artery in the Lexington, Kentucky area  Key issue: Anticipated indirect impacts of increased land value and redevelopment pressures could force out residents of one of the oldest Black/African American communities in the area  Outcome: Community participation leads to a Community Land Trust

11. Practice #4: Look for community improvement opportunities as part of projects Project Profile:  Study: EA for an interstate bridge project that included a pedestrian bridge component in Detroit, MI  Key issues: Mitigating impacts to the largely Hispanic/Latino Mexicantown from original interstate construction  Outcome: Bagley Pedestrian Bridge and associated enhancement projects mitigate past impacts and bring the Mexicantown community together

12. Practice #5: Go out to the public and use their input to inform every aspect of the EJ analysis  Enhanced public involvement informs all aspects of EJ analysis  Compiled practical and innovative techniques featured in the I-70 East (Colorado) and Business 40 (North Carolina) cases:  Use a “micro to macro” outreach strategy  Educate communities about EJ and the environmental process  Educate staff about EJ and the community  Maintain a consistent face for the project

13. Practice #5: Go out to the public and use their input to inform every aspect of the EJ analysis  Build trust through a consistent message  Use a high-touch/low-touch approach  Conduct meetings for maximum participation  Establish a community-outreach process feedback loop

14. Conclusions  What the practices confirm:  There is no uniform approach to addressing EJ in NEPA  The depth and breadth of analysis is context-specific  Meaningful participation of EJ populations is always essential  Visit FHWA’s EJ Website for further information (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/environmental_justice/)