75A - PH - RESO SA-GG FIXED GUIDEWAY

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Response PH1 -7 — Madeleine Spencer An EJ analysis, which identifies minority and low- income populations and evaluates whether the adverse effects of the proposed project would disproportionately burden these vulnerable populations, was included in Section 3.5 on page 3 -36 of the EA /DEIR. This analysis was completed using prescribed methodology by the FTA, which was developed in response to Executive Order 12898 and is consistent with USDOT Order 56102(a) and FTA Circular 4703.1 . In determining the adverse effects, the project must consider both short -term and long term consequences and weigh them against the benefits of the project. As shown in Table 3.5 -2 on page 3 -49 of the EA /DEIR, and presented below, all of the communities within the Study Area are considered EJ populations. The communities closest to the alignment would benefit the most from increased accessibility and connectivity but would be subject to temporary construction effects. Section 3.5.2.3 of the EA /DEIR provides a detailed evaluation of the potential EJ effects for each community within the Study Area. In addition, the EA /DEIR determined that the proposed project would have no adverse health and environmental effects related to land use, visual quality, cultural resources, geotechnical conditions, hazardous materials, hydrology, traffic, noise and vibration, air quality and greenhouse gases, and safety and security. The EA /DEIR also discusses public outreach specific to EJ in Section 3.5 on page 3 -61 of the EA /DEIR. Extensive public outreach during the planning process has occurred in the Study Area and included specific outreach for communities of EJ concern, particularly LEP communities. The following activities were conducted specifically to ensure participation from communities of EJ concern, per requirements under Executive Orders 12898 and 13166: • Identifying and meeting with environmental justice stakeholders, including Templo Calvario, neighborhood associations, labor union members and senior centers. • Establishing a project information hotline with outgoing messages in English and Spanish. • Translating and submitting notices for publication in the following local Spanish language newspapers: • Excelsior (Spanish language weekly of the Orange County Register on May 24, 2010) • Miniondas (June 3, 2010) • Making notices and information available in the Public Law Center's website. The Public Law Center is a pro -bono law firm serving low- income communities in the City of Santa Ana and in the County of Orange ( http:// www .publiclawcenter.org /news.php ?headline= More+ Public +Transportation +Coming +to +Santa +Ana). • Translating presentation boards during scoping meetings, which followed an open house format. Exhibit 7, in the Community Impact Assessment included as Appendix C, provides samples of these boards. • Making available City of Santa Ana and subconsultant staff who were fluent in Spanish and were familiar with the proposed project and its stakeholders at the scoping meetings. Given the open house format of these scoping meetings, no real -time translation services were required as no formal presentations were given. However, Spanish- speaking staff was on hand to assist LEP community members. Santa Ana Garden Grove Fixed Guideway Project REAIFEIR P a g 01196 January 2015 75A -254