Environmental Justice Chronicle

In This Issue:
DVRPC's Transportation Improvement Plan
DVRPC's Environmental Justice Web Pages
EPA Environmental Justice Grants
Celebration of Regional Excellence Dinner
Title VI/ Environmental Justice Training Opportunities
Interesting Environmental Justice Websites

Download Newsletter [ .pdf ]

In January 16, 2003, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission hosted its 8th Environmental Justice Public Involvement Task Force meeting. Over 65 individuals, representing community groups, civic associations, and governmental agencies such as the New Jersey Department of Transportation, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the New Jersey Environmental Protection Agency, attended the forum.

The focus of January's meeting was a film entitled FENCELINE: A COMPANY TOWN DIVIDED. This film chronicled the story of Norco, Louisiana, and it’s struggle to combat the environmental hazards posed by the town's refinery, owned by Shell Oil Company.

Environmental Justice stems from the fundamental concept that all individuals have a right to live in a healthy community. We all expect to live in a community where our families are safe from the harms of polluted water, polluted air, and polluted soil. Unfortunately, that is not a reality for some Americans. Environmental Justice recognizes that, historically, minority and lowincome communities have suffered from a disproportionate distribution of negative environmental impacts. The goal of achieving and maintaining environmental justice is, as one society, to recognize the mistakes of our past and ensure a healthful environmental future for all people.

As we learn more about communities that have borne the burden of environmental degradation, we become more committed to ensuring that all people, regardless of race, color, national origin, or socioeconomic status should expect to live in environmentally sound communities. At DVRPC we plan for the responsible growth of the Delaware Valley. As the metropolitan planning organization for the Southern New Jersey and Southeastern Pennsylvania region, we are committed to making Environmental Justice a part of our planning process. On the horizon, we see a Delaware Valley with an enhanced quality of life and a healthful environment for all of its residents.

A special thank you to all who attended the January 16th EJ Public Involvement Task Force Meeting. Thank you for adding both your voice and vision to this ongoing dialogue.

Improvement Projects Bloom in New Jersey

The rites of spring are noticeable everywhere. Trees are budding, people are eating lunch outdoors, and construction is evident on area transit and highway facilities. Rather than viewing this latter rite of spring as an annoyance, we at DVRPC see it as the fruits of our labors. Those construction projects likely have received funding through DVRPC's Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The TIP is the key to moving federally funded transportation projects forward and represents the transportation priorities identified for Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Mercer counties. The TIP is prepared annually in New Jersey in cooperation with NJDOT, NJ TRANSIT and DRPA (PATCO). This year's Draft DVRPC TIP for New Jersey (FY2004-2006) will be available for public review during the month of May before being adopted by DVRPC in June 2003.

The TIP is the culmination of the transportation planning process and represents a consensus among state, regional and county officials of improvements to pursue in the region. Multimodal in nature, the TIP includes highway, transit, bicycle, pedestrian, and freight related projects. The TIP lists specific projects and documents anticipated schedules and costs for the various project phases (such as design, right-of-way acquisition, and construction) that are expected to advance over the next three years. All projects that intend to use federal funds, along with non-federally funded projects that are regionally significant, must be included in the TIP. The TIP is required by federal law, most recently the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (known as TEA-21).

For more information on how you can access TIP information and submit comments on the Draft TIP, please go to our website at www.dvrpc.org and select "Transportation."

DVRPC’s Environmental Justice Web Pages

DVRPC has recently updated its Environmental Justice Technical web page (http://www.dvrpc.org/planning/ej.htm) to include all current EJ maps. Using the 2000 census data, maps were created illustrating the locations of concentrations of the following populations: minority, Hispanic, impoverished, elderly, car less households, disabled, female head of household with child, and those with limited English proficiency. Additional maps highlight the findings of the Degrees of Disadvantage analysis, the locations of day care facilities, the 2003 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Evaluation, and Disadvantaged Census Tracts With and Without TIP Projects. Separate maps highlight Degrees of Disadvantage in each of the region's core cities (Philadelphia, Trenton, Camden, and Chester). Most of the maps were originally published in "…and Justice a for All" (September 2001) and the Annual Update to "…and Justice for All" (September 2002).

DVRPC has added an Environmental Justice component to its Public Affairs web page (http://www.dvrpc.org/publicaffairs/ej.htm). Offering links to interesting EJ websites, a digital version of DVRPC's Environmental Justice Newsletter, the Environmental Justice Chronicle and many other features, this web page was created to further DVRPC's goal of continuing public outreach efforts that promote two-way communication and enhance public awareness of regional issues and DVRPC.

EPA Environmental Justice Grants

EPA offers Environmental Justice Grants. The Office of Environmental Justice's Small Grants Program, established in 1994, provides financial assistance to eligible community groups (i.e., community-based/grassroots organizations, churches, schools, other non-profit organizations, local governments, tribal governments) that are working on or plan to carry out projects to address environmental justice issues.

The new Application Guidance will be available each October 1st. For FY 2003, the EPAwill make approximately $1,500,000 in grant funds available to eligible organizations (pending availability of funds); $1,000,000 of this amount is available for Superfund projects only.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ms. Sheila Lewis, Senior Program Analyst, EPA Office ofEnvironmental Justice, (202) 564-0152, or Mr. Reginald Harris, USEPA Region 3, (215) 814-2988.

DVRPC's Annual "Celebration" Set for June 4!

DVRPC is pleased to announce its Celebration of Regional Excellence Dinner, commemorating the individuals, organizations, governments and businesses that have contributed to moving the Delaware Valley toward a progressive and economically sound future. Save the date for DVRPC's biggest annual event which will culminate in a reception, awards ceremony and dinner at the Park Hyatt at the Bellevue on Wednesday, June 4, 2003. "We invite you to support regional cooperation throughout the Delaware Valley at our Celebration!" If you would like to be a part of our celebration and attend the dinner, please contact Kendall Miller, Manager of Public Involvement at (215-238-2871) or email at: kmiller@dvrpc.org.

Title VI / Environmental Justice Training Opportunities

Environmental Justice and Title VI apply to every stage of transportation programs. USDOT and its partners, including DVRPC, are committed to nondiscrimination in all Federal aid programs. Many opportunities exist to establish partnerships with other public and private organizations to create more livable communities. The Title VI/ Environmental Justice Training course presents a framework for using a variety of approaches and tools for accomplishing environmental justice goals.

Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to:

• Define Environmental Justice and describe its relationship to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
• Explain the fundamental principles of Environmental Justice.
• Apply the principles of Environmental Justice to transportation decisions.
• Identify how Environmental Justice applies to every stage of transportation decision-making.
• Describe the benefits of Environmental Justice in transportation decision-making.
• Develop proactive strategies, methods and techniques to implement Environmental Justice in transportation programs and projects.

Classes are open to Federal, State and local transportation agency transit or planning personnel (including consultants acting on their behalf) who interact with minority and lowincome communities, State and local agency personnel providing community services and elected officials and their representatives. Courses are offered throughout the year, at various locations throughout our region.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Khan L. Mitchell, Equal Opportunity Specialist, Title VI Compliance, PENNDOT Bureau of Equal Opportunity at 800- 468-4201 or at khmitchell@state.pa.us.

Interesting Environmental Justice Websites

www.em.doe.gov/public/envjust/ - This is the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management's Office of Intergovernmental and Public Accountability web site.

www.environmentaldefense.org/ - With more than 300,000 members and a nationwide staff of 216, the EDF is at the forefront of environmental activism and politics.

www.civicus.org - CIVICUS is an international alliance dedicated to strengthening citizen action and civil society throughout the world.

www.apen4ej.org - uniting Asian and Pacific Islander communities together for civil and social justice

www.weact.org - West Harlem Environmental Action, Inc. (WE ACT) is a non-profit, grassroots, 501(c)(3) organization working to improve
environmental quality and to secure environmental justice in predominately African-American and Latino communities.

www.epa.gov/civilrights - On this Website you will find information on Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This is also the place to find the latest information on the diversity of EPA's work force.

Environmental Justice Chronicle
is a publication of the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, Office of Public Affairs, Candace Snyder, Director. Editor: Kendall Miller, Manager of Public Involvement