In July, FTA released final guidance in the form of a Circular on incorporating environmental justice (EJ) principles into plans, projects, and activities that receive funding from FTA. This final guidance provides recommendations Metropolitan Planning Organizations, public transportation providers, State Departments of Transportation, and other recipients of FTA funds on how to fully engage EJ populations in the public transportation decision-making process; how to determine whether EJ populations would be subjected to disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects as a result of a transportation plan, project, or activity; and how to avoid, minimize, or mitigate these effects. FTA’s Webinar on the Circular will explore the details of these recommendations and provide specific guidance for how FTA grant recipients should incorporate EJ review into their transportation planning and NEPA efforts.

• Introductory Remarks
  • Therese McMillan, FTA Deputy Administrator

• Speakers:
  • Lucy Garliauskas, Associate Administrator, Office of Planning and Environment
  • Cecelia Comito, Regional Counsel, Office of Chief Counsel
  • Maya Sarna, Environmental Protection Specialist, Office of Planning and Environment

In May 2012, USDOT issued an updated Departmental Order, Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations, for the first time since 1997.  This order was developed in response to the 1994 Presidential Order on environmental justice (EJ) and lays out how the department will address EJ in all its programs, policies, and activities.  In addition, FHWA released its own EJ order in June 2012, and FTA released a detailed EJ circular in July 2012 (separate from a Title VI circular in August).

These three EJ orders provide guidance to transportation agencies receiving federal funds on complying with the agency’s policies and regulations.  In the webinar, federal agency specialists reviewed how each of the new orders provide a significant legal framework for conducting transportation planning at the local level, within MPOs and RTPOs, and in state DOTs, as well as for consultants conducting work under contracts using federal funds.

View the slides here (PDF), or watch the recording below.

Addressing Environmental Justice in Transportation Planning Practice from NADO on Vimeo.

More resources on USDOT, FHWA, and FTA’s recent orders on environmental justice are here.
In addition, FTA will hold the webinar, “Environmental Justice: What does it mean?” on October 11, 1 – 3 p.m. ET.

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FTA has also developed a new web page with information to help FTA grant recipients understand and comply with Title VI Civil Rights requirements and environmental justice principles.  Visit http://www.fta.dot.gov/T6EJ.

FTA will announce webinars and other training opportunities at http://www.fta.dot.gov/civilrights/12328.html.  The Circular and Federal Register notice are available at http://www.fta.dot.gov/legislation_law/12349_14792.html. This information was released separately from its Environmental Justice Circular.  More information on the environmental justice guidance is online here.

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In addition, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) released its own EJ order, number 6640.23A, in June 2012 to more clearly define its roles in ensuring nondiscrimination.  The FHWA order is online at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/legsregs/directives/orders/664023a.htm.

USDOT’s agency-wide order was issued in May 2012 and outlines how the objectives of environmental justice will be integrated into planning and programming, rulemaking, and policy formulation.  It clarifies certain aspects of the original Order, including the definitions of minority populations and also the distinction between a Title VI analysis and an environmental justice analysis conducted as part of a NEPA review.  For the USDOT order and other EJ resources, visit http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/environmental_justice/ej_at_dot/order_56102a/.

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This training will be held on Tuesday July 17th, from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., at U.S. DOT headquarters in Washington DC (1200 New Jersey Ave SE). Registration will open at 8:30 a.m.  There is no cost to participate but space is limited. (Note: A boxed lunch will be available to purchase on-site for $10).   Please RSVP to EJ@dot.gov and include your name, organization, title, email address, and phone number.