Environmental Justice (EJ) refers to the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.

The following legislation provides a framework for environmental justice:

• Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
• Executive Order 12898 of 1964
• National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

These regulations require that all agencies that receive federal assistance, such as Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (DCHC MPO), ensure that all people in the agency's study area enjoy the same benefits of federal investments, experience the same burdens, and have equal participation in local and state issues.

The DCHC MPO incorporates EJ into all relevant aspects of the transportation planning process. Our policy is based on the three core principles:

• Avoid, minimize, or mitigate disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects, including social and economic efforts, on minority populations and low-income populations.
• Ensure the full and fair participation by all potentially affected communities in the transportation decision-making process.
• Prevent the denial of, reduction in, or significant delay in the receipt of benefits by minority populations and low-income populations.

The DCHC MPO Board adopted the 2020 Environmental Justice Report on September 9, 2020. The report contains an overview of EJ populations in the DCHC area and an assessment of the MPO's major planning activities. The populations addressed in the report are minorities, low-income households, elderly households, zero-car households, and Limited English Proficiency (LEP) individuals.

Additional Resources

USDOT Equitable Transportation Community (ETC) Explorer - Interactive mapping of underinvestment in communities across the United States using 2020 Census data. 

N.C. Equity & Transportation Disadvantage Screening Tool - Web-based tool that uses a Transportation Disadvantage Index (TDI) to address disadvantaged communities impacted across North Carolina. 

Durham Neighborhood Compass - A resource for those living in Durham County to track data such as access to child care, homes near bus stops, and access to pharmacies.

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