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Environmental: 8-7

Under NEPA – Environmental Justice must be addressed. We have found no references to environmental justice in the documents. Please explain/clarify.

The CREC project’s NEPA requirements will be determined by the USACE, as detailed in Response 8-3.  Environmental Justice (“EJ”) is defined as 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.  Environmental justice communities are commonly identified as those whose residents are predominately minorities or low income.  Project proponents must demonstrate that project impacts are not disproportionally impacting EJ communities.

The State of Rhode Island classifies EJ communities as areas with percentages in the top 15% of the state for low-income residents and/or non-white populations.  A figure showing the mapped EJ areas in Rhode Island can be found on the RIDEM web-site:

http://www.dem.ri.gov/envequity/graphics/ejareas.jpg

As shown on the attached figure, there are no EJ communities located within Burrillville, Glocester, Smithfield, or North Smithfield.  The nearest RI EJ communities are located in Woonsocket, more than 10 miles away from the project site.  The nearest EJ communities in Massachusetts are located in Southbridge, also more than 10 miles away from the project site.  The nearest EJ communities in Connecticut are located in Thompson, more than 5 miles away from the project site.

Based on the location of the CREC facility, its projected impacts, and the relative locations of the nearest EJ communities, the proposed impacts from the CREC will not disproportionally impact any EJ communities.