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The term Environmental Justice (EJ) is relatively new but the concept has been in public discussion for decades. Environmental Justice has also been known as environmental racism and environmental equity. It acknowledges that the quality of our environment affects the quality of our lives and negative environmental impacts should not disproportionately burden low income or minority communities. Such impacts, associated with transportation projects, may include disruptions in community cohesion, restricted commercial access, presence of hazardous materials, raised noise levels, or increased water and or air pollution among others. The Presidential Executive Order 12898 lists three major principles of environmental justice:
Avoid, minimize or mitigate disproportionately high and adverse human health and environmental effects, including social and economic effects, on minority populations and low-income populations.
Ensure the full and fair participation by all potentially affected communities in the transportation decision-making process.
Prevent the denial of, reduction in, or significant delay in the receipt of benefits by minority and/or low-income populations.
Why does WSDOT Care?
WSDOT's environmental policy acknowledges "the state's vital interests in protecting and preserving natural resources and other environmental assets and its citizens' health and safety".The WSDOT executive order on context sensitive solutions states "that a proposed transportation project must be planned not only for its physical aspects as a facility serving specific transportation objectives, but also for its effects on the aesthetic, social, economic and environmental values, needs, constraints and opportunities in a larger community setting". WSDOT is a public agency created to provide transportation facilities for all citizens in this state.
What are the Applicable Statutes and Regulations?
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is the main federal law that prohibits discrimination. The federal agencies are tasked with oversight of EJ compliance when federal money is involved for transportation projects. Following are the main statutes and regulations that apply to environmental justice.
Two types of training are available for transportation project compliance with environmental justice.
FHWA has a national two-day training available that can be scheduled locally.
WSDOT conducted informal regional workshops focused on Environmental Justice Analysis during the spring of 2004. Review of the frequently asked questions on this website will give you an overview of the training. Contact Kathleen McKinney (360) 705-7304 for more information.
