Environmental Justice Compliance

Authority from the Consent Decree

• "[The Greenway Acquisition Project must]… include an environmental justice component which provides for the establishment of a SEP Advisory Committee ("SAC")." (Section VIII.B)
  
• "Particular emphasis will be placed on input from minority communities adjacent to the Designated Streams and other streams affected by the discharges… [from the City's CSO control facilities]." (Section VIII.B)
  
• "The Greenway Acquisition Plan shall contain or provide for the following minimum elements:…(viii) public participation processes that involve the SAC and include minority outreach in the development, implementation, and management of the Greenway Acquisition Project in accordance with Section VIII." (Section VIII.D.2.j)

The Environmental Justice Subcommittee (EJS)

During the greenway planning process, an Environmental Justice Subcommittee (EJS) was formed, chaired by Eric Wilson, and included both SAC members and citizens. The EJS identified low-income and minority neighborhoods within the vicinity of the Designated Streams, prepared a presentation to inform these communities about the project, suggested ways of participating in the project, and collaborated with the Greenway Acquisition Subcommittee (GAS) in reviewing and commenting on the criteria used to rank properties.

The EJS met on the following dates:

• March 3, 1999
  
• March 17, 1999
  
• April 14, 1999
  
• May 12, 1999
  
• June 7, 1999
  
• July 7, 1999
  
• September 8, 1999
  
• October 19, 1999 (Jointly with the Greenway Acquisition Subcommittee)
  
• January 18, 2000
  
• February 9, 2000
  
• March 2, 2000
  
• March 8, 2000

The EJS hosted a total of nine informative meetings in minority and/or CSO affected communities throughout the City of Atlanta. The objective of these meetings was to inform and educate citizens in minority communities, low-income communities, and/or CSO-affected communities about the Greenway Acquisition Project, its implications to these citizens and their neighborhoods, and the methods by which the citizens could participate in the project. The following is a list of the communities in which the EJS presentation was given:

• South River Garden Community
  
• East Skyhaven Community
  
• Reynoldstown
  
• North Ormewood
  
• Lakewood Heights
  
• Ormewood/Park Community
  
• East Atlanta Community
  
• North East Proctor Creek Community

At the suggestion of the EJS, a project informational package was assembled to provide educational material about the Greenway Acquisition Project to community leaders. Copies were given to all Neighborhood Planning Unit (NPU) Chairpersons and City of Atlanta elected/appointed officials. The package contained the following: location of website; project fact sheet; schedule of public meetings and workshops; map of the Preliminary Greenway System Configuration; relevant Consent Decree segments; timeline of project activities; description of the public participation process; and a booklet on conservation easements.

Current Environmental Justice Activities

Although the EJS no longer exists, one member who served on the EJS during the greenway planning process, serves as a member of the SAC today, as the implementation process takes place. One of the purposes of SAC during the Implementation Phase is to assist with minority outreach and involvement.

If you are interested in participating in the Greenway Acquisition Project, please contact us directly.