[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 125 (Thursday, June 29, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33896-33899]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-15665]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Office of the Secretary
[OST Docket 50125]


Department of Transportation Final Environmental Justice Strategy

AGENCIES: Office of the Secretary: Departmental Office of Civil Rights 
and Office of Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy; DOT.

ACTION: Notice of final environmental justice strategy.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Transportation is issuing its final 
environmental justice strategy, which contains the Department's 
commitment to certain principles of environmental justice embodied in 
the Secretary's Strategic Plan, and identifies actions the Department 
intends to take to implement Executive Order 12898. The strategy is 
published as a final document; however, it should be viewed as a living 
document that may be adjusted periodically in response to insights 
acquired while implementing its various provisions.
    The strategy is issued in response to Executive Order 12898, signed 
by President Clinton on February 11, 1994. The Order directs each 
Federal agency to develop a strategy to address 

[[Page 33897]]
environmental justice concerns in its programs, policies and 
regulations. The thrust of the Executive Order is to avoid 
disproportionately high and adverse impacts on minority and low-income 
populations with respect to human health and the environment.
    Published elsewhere in this edition of the Federal Register is a 
proposed Order on environmental justice providing guidance to be 
followed by the Department of Transportation and its operating 
administrations to implement executive Order 12898.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ira Laster, Jr., Office of 
Environment, Energy, and Safety, Office of the Assistant Secretary for 
Transportation Policy, telephone (202) 366-4859, or Alyce Boyd-Stewart, 
Departmental Office of Civil Rights, telephone (202) 366-9366, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 400 7th Street SW, Washington, D.C. 
20590.

    Dated: June 21, 1995.
Antonio J. Califa,
Director, Departmental Office of Civil Rights.
Joseph Canny,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy.

Department of Transportation

Environmental Justice Strategy

Introduction

    This strategy is issued in response to Executive Order 12898, 
signed by President Clinton on February 11, 1994, on ``Federal Actions 
to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income 
Populations.'' This strategy sets forth the Department of 
Transportation's (DOT) approach to implementing E.O. 12898 in all 
relevant programs and activities sponsored, supported and undertaken by 
the Department. The Executive Order requires each Federal agency to 
develop a specific agency-wide strategy for implementing its 
provisions. The thrust of the Executive Order is to identify and 
address, as appropriate, disproportionately high and adverse human 
health or environmental effects of each agency's programs, policies, 
and activities on minority populations and low-income populations.
    The strategy contains the Department's commitment to certain 
principles of environmental justice embodied in the Secretary's 
Strategic Plan, and identifies actions the Department intends to take 
to implement Executive Order 12898. The strategy is published as a 
final document; however, it should be viewed as a living document that 
may be adjusted periodically in response to insights acquired while 
implementing its various provisions. DOT plans further opportunity for 
public comments on its strategy and implementing actions.
    DOT is committed to embracing the objectives of Executive Order 
12898 by promoting enforcement of all applicable planning and 
environmental regulations and legislation, and by promoting non-
discrimination in its programs, policies and activities that affect 
human health and the environment, consistent with Executive Order 
12898, and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. DOT is also 
committed to bringing government decisionmaking closer to the 
communities and people affected by these decisions and ensuring 
opportunities for greater public participation in decisions relating to 
human health and the environment.
    Many of the objectives of the E.O. are embodied in the missions, 
goals, and objectives of the Secretary's Strategic Plan and are briefly 
summarized as follows:
     Improve the environment and public health and safety in 
the transportation of people and goods, and the development and 
maintenance of transportation systems and services.
     Harmonize transportation policies and investments with 
environmental concerns, reflecting an appropriate consideration of 
economic and social interests.
     Consider the interests, issues, and contributions of 
affected communities, disclose appropriate information, and give 
communities an opportunity to be involved in decisionmaking.
    The Department will implement the E.O. by integrating its 
provisions into existing DOT programs, policies, activities, 
regulations, and guidance to the greatest extent possible.

Development of the DOT Strategy

1. Secretary's Directive

    Upon receipt of the Executive Order and the accompanying 
Presidential Memorandum, Secretary Pena established a Department-wide 
working group and directed the development of a Department-wide 
strategy.
    During senior level staff meetings in December 1994 and March 1995, 
Secretary Pena emphasized his commitment to comply with Executive Order 
12898 and instructed senior level staff to support the executive order 
and encouraged them to incorporate the principles of environmental 
justice in program planning, budgeting, program development, program 
activities, and program evaluation, as appropriate.
    In a recent memorandum to Secretarial offices and operating 
administrations,* Secretary Pena stated his strong personal endorsement 
of their efforts to carry out the responsibilities set out in the 
Department's Environmental Justice Strategy in an effective and timely 
manner.

    *Operating administrations, a.k.a. modal administrations, 
include: The United States Coast Guard, the Federal Aviation 
Administration, the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal 
Railroad Administration, the National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, the St. Lawrence 
Seaway Development Corporation, the Maritime Administration, and 
Research and Special Programs Administration.
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a. National Conference on Transportation, Social Equity, and 
Environmental Justice in Chicago.
    This conference, cosponsored by the Federal Transit Administration 
and the Surface Transportation Policy Project, brought together 
approximately 150 persons, mostly community activists from around the 
country, with DOT and other public officials. The meeting, held on 
November 17-18, 1994, in Chicago identified key transportation-related 
environmental and social issues of concern to persons living in 
predominately low-income and minority communities. Suggestions for 
actions to redress these concerns were also sought.
b. Inter-Departmental Public Meeting in Atlanta
    On January 20, 1995, DOT participated, along with other Federal 
departments/agencies, in a public meeting in Atlanta to solicit 
comments on environmental justice issues as they relate to Federal 
Government programs. A portion of the meeting was televised nationwide 
by satellite to designated downlink sites.
c. Federal Register Notice
    DOT published its proposed strategy in the Federal Register on 
February 21, 1995, with a request for comment. In addition, the 
Department mailed approximately 3,000 copies of the document to 
Departmental constituent groups and representatives of the 
environmental justice community. Based on comments received, DOT 
modified its strategy and streamlined its description in this document.

Elements of the DOT Strategy

1. Public Outreach on Implementation of the Environmental Justice 
Strategy

    DOT plans, and will review with environmental justice stakeholders, 
its plans for the following activities: (1) 

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grass roots meetings to better understand community-based environmental 
justice concerns and to provide training on the transportation 
decisionmaking processes; (2) a secretarial level meeting of experts, 
traditional DOT stakeholders and environmental justice representatives 
to recommend specific policies and actions to implement Executive Order 
12898 and the Department's Environmental Justice Strategy; and (3) 
regional workshops for state and local officials on implementing the 
Strategy.

2. DOT Order on Environmental Justice

    A key component of the DOT Environmental Justice Strategy is a 
proposed DOT Order providing guidance to be followed by the Department 
and its operating administrations to implement Executive Order 12898. 
The DOT Order will apply to all appropriate DOT regulations, policies, 
guidance, and program activities as well as to any program, project, or 
activity undertaken by DOT or that receives financial assistance or 
permits from DOT, which may have environmental justice implications. 
The proposed DOT Order would ensure that all appropriate components of 
the Department will apply this strategy to appropriate aspects of their 
programs, policies, and activities in a way that integrates 
environmental justice considerations into existing agency operations 
rather than creating a separate set of requirements.
    While the precise contents of the proposed DOT Order have not yet 
been fully developed, the Department anticipates that the Order will 
achieve several objectives. First, under the proposed Order, the Office 
of the Secretary and operating administrations of DOT would review 
their regulations, programs, policies, guidance, and procedures that 
affect human health or the environment to identify those that should be 
revised and revise them, as appropriate, to comply with Executive Order 
12898. This review will include, but not be limited to, regulations, 
programs, policies, guidance, and procedures related to short and long-
range planning and programming, the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA), pollution prevention, worker safety, environmental compliance, 
hazardous materials transportation, research, data collection, 
training, public participation, and relocation.
    Second, the proposed DOT Order would set forth guidance to be used 
by DOT, its operating administrations, the recipients of DOT financial 
assistance, and state and local officials to determine whether a DOT or 
a DOT-funded program, policy, project, or activity (DOT action) is 
likely to have disproportionately high and adverse human health or 
environmental effects on low-income or minority populations. As part of 
this process, DOT, its operating administrations, and recipients of 
Federal financial assistance will provide appropriate and meaningful 
opportunities for comment by representatives of affected communities.
    Third, under the proposed DOT Order, DOT would develop potential 
strategies and measures to address, as appropriate, disproportionately 
high and adverse effects of their actions and those of recipients of 
DOT funds, consistent with requirements of other statutes and 
procedures. These measures may include pollution prevention, and health 
and safety measures, as well as mitigation and compensatory measures. 
This process would include procedures to provide meaningful 
opportunities for public involvement by low-income and minority 
populations, including community input in identifying potential 
mitigation measures for DOT actions.
    The proposed DOT Order also would provide for data collection or 
research as needed to provide information to comply with Executive 
Order 12898. Public input will be solicited regarding these activities.
    The DOT Order will provide guidance on how to achieve compliance 
with Executive Order 12898 under existing environmental and civil 
rights laws in cases where disproportionate impacts have been 
identified. (The DOT Order was distributed for public review in draft 
form on May 11, 1995, at an environmental justice conference in 
Atlanta, Georgia.)
3. DOT Training on Environmental Justice

    In order to ensure that DOT managers are fully aware of their 
responsibilities under Executive Order 12898 and pre-existing statutory 
mandates, DOT will hold information seminars on environmental justice 
for selected program managers throughout the Department. 
Representatives of the environmental justice community will be 
consulted in the planning of these seminars.
    In addition, in keeping with the Department's philosophy of 
integrating environmental justice considerations into all appropriate 
departmental programs and activities, DOT operating administrations 
will review and modify existing training courses to ensure adequate 
coverage of environmental justice principles and to use training 
examples that include environmental justice aspects. These courses 
include such subjects as compliance with environmental mandates, 
infrastructure planning and development, public involvement, and 
management of departmental facilities and resources. The audience for 
these training courses includes DOT employees and recipients of DOT 
funding.

Role of Key DOT Elements in Complying With Environmental Justice 
Executive Order

    Each element of the Department will undertake specific actions 
needed to implement the DOT Order on environmental justice. The actions 
undertaken will be developed and refined as the Department's strategy 
evolves. The following organizations will have key roles to play in the 
implementation process:

a. Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy

    The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy 
maintains liaison with various elements of the Department in an effort 
to ensure that each appropriate element examines its programs and 
activities and takes appropriate actions to comply with Executive Order 
12898. This office is also responsible for monitoring implementation of 
the DOT environmental justice strategy to help keep the strategy 
relevant and foster consistency and comprehensiveness in complying with 
the principles embodied in the Executive Order. In addition, the office 
will work to keep high-level Departmental officials properly involved 
in achieving the strategy's objectives and in maintaining liaison with 
non-DOT departments and agencies as well as the environmental justice 
community.
    The Department will review and update, as appropriate, its 
Procedures for Considering Environmental Impacts, DOT Order 610.1C, to 
ensure that it is consistent with Executive Order 12898 and DOT's 
proposed order on environmental justice. Attachment 2 to Order 5610.1C 
sets forth guidance on the format and content of environmental review 
documents and compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act and 
other environmental statutes, regulations, and executive orders, such 
as Section 4(f) of the DOT Act (49 U.S.C. 303). This attachment will be 
updated to reflect the requirements of Executive Order 12898 and to 
outline the need to address potential disproportionately high and 
adverse health, or environmental impacts on affected 

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populations and communities. DOT operating administrations also will 
review and update their own environmental guidance.

b. Departmental Office of Civil Rights

    Executive Order 12898 and the accompanying Presidential Memorandum 
underscore certain provisions of existing laws that can be used to 
ensure that all persons live in a safe and healthy environment. The 
Memorandum focuses on Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which provides 
that programs and activities of recipients of Federal financial 
assistance may not discriminate based on race, color or national 
origin. The proposed DOT Order described above will provide the 
operating administrations with a framework to ensure that their 
policies, programs, and procedures comply with the intent of the 
Executive Order, including meeting the requirements of Title VI.
    In addition, the Departmental Office of Civil Rights will provide 
leadership and technical assistance to the operating administrations 
and to major recipients of DOT funds in the administration of their 
Title VI responsibilities which relate to environmental justice. This 
may take the form of guidelines, memoranda of general applicability, 
and training designed to achieve environmental justice for members of 
minority populations.

c. Operating Administrations

    DOT and its operating administrations will review the allocation of 
education and research funds to historically black colleges and 
universities and other minority institutions and minority students and 
faculty in light of E.O. 12898. In addition, DOT will review its 
research programs to determine whether and how minority and low-income 
populations may be more appropriately included in the scope of 
particular research projects. Improved outreach to affected populations 
will be developed.
    Each operating administration will implement the DOT strategy, 
including public outreach, the DOT Order on environmental justice, and 
training. Each operating administration will continue to cooperate in 
these matters with the Departmental Office of Civil Rights and the 
Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy.

[FR Doc. 95-15665 Filed 6-28-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-62-P