The Community Impact Assessment

Community Input for Creating Sustainable Communities

Session Hosts

• Laura DawoodNEPA Group Leader 14 years experience in NEPA, public involvement,

environmental justice issues, and ecology

• Lenor Bromberg, PE, LEED APAssociate VP – Environmental and Design15 years experience in transportation design, NEPA,

public involvement

Agenda

• The Community Impact Assessment (CIA) Definition and Overview

• Completed Case Study Example• Work Session – Group Break Outs• Idea Sharing

Community Impact Assessment

• What is CIA?• Where did CIA come from?• Why is CIA important?• How can CIA help your project?

Community Impact Assessment

• A process to identify and evaluate impact of an action on:– Community– Quality of life

• Should be used to help shape project outcomes• Continual process• Assessment should include all items of

importance to people in the community

Community Impact Assessment

• Began with NEPA of 1969• Continues to develop with a number of

influences

Influences of CIA

1964 Title VI of Civil Rights Act1969 NEPA1970 Federal-aid Highway Act1990/1994 FHWA Environmental Policy Statements1996 CIA: Quick Reference for Transportation1997 National CIA Design Team1998 Community Impact Mitigation Case Studies1998 1st National CIA Workshop1999 CIA Strategic Plan

Influences of CIA

2000 2nd National CIA Workshop2001 TRB CIA Joint Subcommittee2002 3rd National CIA Workshop2003 Regional CIA Workshops2004 4th National CIA Workshop2005 Penn. DOT Hosts 1st FHWA CIA Course2005 5th National CIA Workshop2005 TRB Forms a CIA Related Subcommittee2006 6th National CIA Workshop

Legal Backing

• Intermodal Surface Transportations Efficiency Act of 1991

• National Environmental Policy Act of 1969• Title VI of Civil Rights Act of 1964• 23 USC 109(h), Federal-Aid Highway Act of

1970• 23 CFR 771, Environmental Impact and Related

Procedures of 1987

Legal Backing

• TA 6640.8A Guidance for Preparing and Processing Environmental and Section 4(f) Docs

• Executive Order 12898 on Environmental Justice of 1994

• DOT Order on Environmental Justice 1996• Farmland Protection Policy Act of 1981/1994• Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real

Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970

Legal Backing

• FHWA Environmental Policies Statements of 1990 and 1994

• Recommendations of the President’s Council on Sustainable Development

CIA Philosophy

InclusiveCollaborative

CredibilityProactivePartnering

IntegratedInnovative

NetworkingAccountability

Continuous

Public Outreach

Importance of CIA

• Allows project consequences to be realized• Affected people receive appropriate attention• Leads to higher quality of life• Responsive decision-making and policies• Project integration with land use, economics• Ensures environmental justice is achieved

Completing CIA

• Define the Action and Study Area• Develop a Community Profile• Collect Data• Analyze Impacts• Identify Solutions• Partner with the Public• Document

How Can CIA Help You?

• Community consensus improves communications• Open dialog leads to sustainable solutions• Planning tool assists in decision-making• Creates a sense of community ownership

Case Study

• Pearson, GA• DOT widening of US 441 from 2 lanes to 4

lanes for 35 mile corridor• Environmental Assessment under NEPA

N

Gas Station Sub Shop

SUBDIVISION

VAC

AN

T L

OT

Wetlands

Wetlands

NRHP Eligible Historic District

NRHP Eligible Historic District

NRHP Eligible Historic District

NRHP Eligible Historic Resources

Auto Shop

Utility

MobileHome

MobileHome

A

B

RecCenter

Case Study

• Alternatives Considered– Widening along existing (symmetrical/east/west)– One Way Pair in town– Eastern Bypass– Eastern In town Bypass– Western Bypass– Western In town Bypass

Case Study

• Situation– General support for project due to economic

development/anticipated local growth– In town Bypass preferred by local government

• Reduced Cost• Reduced Environmental Impacts• Keep through traffic near existing businesses

Case Study

• Identifying Low Income/Minority Community– Phone calls– Old Community– Previously disenfranchised– Level of Engagement– Define the Community

• Physical limits• Data acquisition• Community Representatives• Best Interests

Case Study

Lessons Learned• CIA as Iterative Process• Use Best Available Information• Talk to People… Visit Project Location• Keep going• Do the right thing

Breakout Sessions

Activity• Who are the Stakeholders?• How do you Identify them?• How do you reach out to them?• Identify some potential community issues and

why they are important?

Contact Information

• Laura Dawood– ldawood@keagroup.com– (678) 904-8591 Ext. 29

• Lenor Bromberg– lbromberg@keagroup.com– (678) 904-8591 Ext. 27