Health Impact Assessment and Environmental Justice Analysis: Stakeholder Engagement at Sediment Sites

摘要

Overview. Assessment of health impacts (HIA) and environmental justice (EJ) considerationshave recently been associated with contaminated sediment sites where communitiesmay be affected by the final remedy. Traditionally, these stakeholderengagement tools have been used for permitting of new facilities or upland redevelopmentsites to evaluate social and economic impacts of planned actions. This presentationwill provide an introduction to the science of an HIA and EJ analysis, metrics typicallyused to estimate potential health disparities, and examples of outcomes. Importantly, weare starting to see these analyses enter the CERCLA process for sediment sites during theremedy decision phase, especially in Region 10. This is a new and potentially critical stepfor site decision making that should focus on both the potential positive and adverseimpacts to local communities from specific remedial actions.Background. The health impact assessment covers the broad categories of social andeconomic issues, lifestyle and behaviors, access to services and environmental conditions.It includes an evaluation of current/baseline conditions within an area and theimpact to that community resulting from a potential change in their environment (e.g.,new construction, remedial action, and redevelopment). Health disparities typicallyevaluated include diet, education, life expectancy, incidence of disease, crime potentialand low birth weight. Additionally, the presentation will outline commonalities anddifferences with Environmental Justice, defined by U.S. EPA as the fair treatment andmeaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or incomewith respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmentallaws, regulations, and policies.Results. This presentation will link these issues to emerging concerns for sediment sitesand inform the audience on the potential outcomes of such an assessment. The presentationis aimed at providing the audience with general terms, approaches, and severalexamples of potential use and applicability.