Research Team Gia Grier - SNRE, Resource Policy & Behavior, Environmental Justice

1. Environmental Justice for Arab Americans?Health and Social Impacts of the Detroit Intermodal Freight Terminal (DIFT) on Southwest Detroit and Dearborn, Michigan A cooperative project between the School of Natural Resources & Environment, the Arab Community Center for Economic & Social Services, and the Environmental Justice Initiative

2. Research Team Gia Grier - SNRE, Resource Policy & Behavior, Environmental Justice Sarah Lashley – SNRE, Resource Policy & Behavior, Environmental Justice Amy MacDonald – SNRE, Resource Policy & Behavior, Environmental Justice Cari Varner – SNRE, Resource Policy & Behavior, Environmental Psychology Kimberly Wetzel – SNRE, Resource Policy & Behavior, Environmental Justice Lauren Zajac - School Public Health, Environmental Health Sciences

3. Advisors • Professor Bunyan I. Bryant, Jr., Ph.D. - SNRE, Professor of Natural Resources, Environmental Justice and Sustainability, Climate Justice • Professor Elaine Hockman- Statistician, Wayne State University - Professor, SNRE – Associate Professor, Environmental Justice Initiative

4. Client Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) Kathryn Savoie Director of Environmental Health Program

5. Problem • The Michigan Department of Transportation has proposed an expansion of the existing rail facilities located in Southwest Detroit and Dearborn, a project commonly known as the Detroit Intermodal Freight Terminal (DIFT). • Because Arab Americans are not recognized by the Federal Government as a minority group, they are not eligible for an Environmental Justice Assessment during the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process of the project.

6. Problem • Current federal environmental justice policy does not provide the primarily Arab American community with an adequate impact assessment, which would include an environmental justice assessment, health impact analysis, and social/cultural study. • This is a case study that should be examined by those in policy- making positions so as to acknowledge and address gaps in current environmental justice policy.

7. Proposed site of DIFT:Detroit-Livernois option

8. Storage Containers

9. CN (48220) : Moterm Terminal DL (48209) : Detroit-Livernois and CP Expressway Terminals CP (48223) : CP Oak Terminal

10. CN (48220) : Moterm Terminal DL (48209) : Detroit-Livernois and CP Expressway Terminals CP (48223) : CP Oak Terminal

11. CN (48220) : Moterm Terminal DL (48209) : Detroit-Livernois and CP Expressway Terminals CP (48223) : CP Oak Terminal

14. Cumulative Pollution Indices

15. Project Methodology • DIFT Background & Significance • History of Arab Americans in the Detroit Area • Environmental Justice Policy • Psychological Well-being Analysis • Health Impact Analysis • Dissemination Products

16. Environmental Justice Policy • History of EJ Movement through grassroots mobilization • Federal EJ Policy • EPA Office of Environmental Justice (1992) • NEJEC (1993) federal advisory committee • Executive Order #12898 (1994) “Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-income Populations” • Michigan EJ Policy implementation

17. Psychological & Well-being Analysis • Behavioral impacts of the environment are rarely considered in EJA • Case Study Methodology • Interviews with community members • Literature review • Critique of Social/Cultural Effects Evaluation (Community Inventory)

18. Psychological & Well-being Analysis • Environmental psychology literature points to profound effects on well-being due to: • Increased traffic • Noise pollution • Loss of green/community space • Dispersion of community

19. Health Focus • Prospective Risk Analysis to determine potential impact of DIFT in context of existing pollution burden and health status of population. • Analyze the shortcomings of the Environmental Impact Statement (does not examine health impacts by law). • Environmental health issues of the DIFT in the context of Environmental Justice.

20. Health Impacts of the DIFT • Trucks are mobile sources of air pollution • Diesel Exhaust (DE) is a major health concern • Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) (less than 2.5 micrometers) that can penetrate deep into the lung • Air Toxics

21. Health Impact Study of DIFT? • EIS approach is limited because it does not consider: • Susceptible populations • Known health effects at levels below set standards • Cumulative impacts • Community wants health impacts examined

22. Air Quality and Health in Detroit Area Non attainment area for ozone Will be designated as a non attainment area for PM2.5 in April 2004 under new federal standards Asthma prevalence in Detroit area is estimated at 12-17% National prevalence is approximately 6% Dearborn recognized as “medically underserved” by state of Michigan

23. Dissemination Products • Poster Presentations at Conferences (pending): • American Public Health Association (APHA) Washington, DC - November 6-10, 2004 • Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP) Portland, OR - October 21-24, 2004 • Environmental Justice Conference in Tucson, AZ- September • Press Conferences: • May 4, 2004 National Asthma Day, ACCESS exposing problems with MDOT’s Social/Cultural Effects Evaluation • Fall, 2004 ACCESS exposing problems with MDOT’s Environmental Impact Statement

24. Dissemination Products • Publications • Brochure for ACCESS providing EJ Assessment (health & pollution) information in English, Arabic & Chaldean for the community • Articles for peer-reviewed journals • A comprehensive book to be used and distributed by ACCESS and the EJ community

25. Budget • Contractual $10,249.00 • Travel $6,999.00 • Supplies $1,046.00 • Production $ 175.00 • Meeting Expenses $ 209.00 TOTAL: $18,678.00

26. Strategies for Achieving Funds • EFA Funding • SPSSI • Environmental Justice Initiative • School of Natural Resources & Environment • Rackham

27. Timeline

28. Any Questions???