WTC site damage assessment map, Sept 21, 2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

a total annual household income of $12,674 (U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census 2001).

According to the U.S. EPA’s Guidancefor Incorporating EnvironmentalJustice Concerns in EPA's NEPA Compliance Analyses and the U.S. EPA’s Region 2 document Interim EnvironmentalJustice Policy (U.S. EPA 1998; U.S. EPA 2001), disproportionately high and adverse effects on minority or low-income ponulations generally means an adverse effect that is predominantly borne by a minority population and/or low-income population; or would be suffered by the minority population and/or low-income populate j, and is appreciably more severe or greater in magnitude than the adverse effect that would be suffered by the non-minority population and/or non-low-income population. For the purpose of analysis within this PEA, disproportionate adverse impact to minority or low-income populations occurs when the population within the given community of concern (COC) is adversely and disproportionately impacted, and the percentage of the population that is minority and/or low-income within the COC is more than double the percentage of the population that is minority and/or low-income within the appropriate statistical reference area (Council on Environmental Quality [CEQ] 1997; U.S. EPA 2001).

The U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, provides much of the relevant data on demographics and housing. Although only conducted every 10 years, the U.S. census provides the most accurate and detailed information for the years that data were acquired. In addition, the census provides the basis for most projections and estimates prepared by national, state, local, and private organizations. State, county, and city provide census data for political subdivisions of the country, for example. In addition, census data are provided by statistical subdivision that includes (in order of decreasing size) tracts, block-numbering areas, block groups, and blocks. These statistical subdivisions of counties were delineated to be homogeneous with respect to demographics, economic status, and living conditions.

Environmental Impacts

The proposed alternatives would not require additional right-of-way (ROW) along existing streets and there would be no residential or business displacements as a result of the implementation of the proposed alternatives. The project would not restrict long-term access to any existing public or commimity services, businesses, commercial areas, or employment centers. There may be short-term, localized effects to air quality (e.g., increase in dust) and noise levels (e.g., generated by construction equipment and activities) in the immediate area of the WTC during building, roadway, and bridge construction or repair and utility installation, repair and replacement; however, these effects would be temporary and would not be selectively limited to minority and low-income communities, but would potentially affect all residential and business communities located in the immediate area of the proposed projects.

While individual minority and low-income persons may be affected by the project and/or minority and/or low-income population reside within some of the Census Block Groups surrounding the WTC, it cannot be shown that the implementation of the project would

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