Program Management:
Environmental and Economic Equity (EEE)

Program Management Plan:

 

The USACE (and other federal agencies) is required to "...make achieving environmental justice part of its mission by identifying and addressing, as appropriate, disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects of its programs, policies, and activities on minority populations and low-income populations..." and to develop an agency wide environmental justice strategy (59 F.R. 7629, Feb. 16, 1994). Additionally, programs, policies, and activities that substantially affect human health or the environment, operate "in a manner that ensures that such programs, policies, and activities do not have the effect of excluding persons (including populations) from participation in, denying persons the benefits of, or subjecting persons to discrimination under, such programs, policies, and activities, because of their race, color, or national origin.

The Environmental and Economic Equity (EEE) Program's purpose is to ensure that the CERP civil works projects are implemented in ways that do not result in disproportionate impacts on any community(s); and to assure that all Americans, including the unique cultural and ethnic diversity of south Florida's populations, live in safe, healthful and aesthetically and culturally pleasing surroundings. The CERP EEE Program Management Plan deals with the social, cultural, behavioral, historical and/or economic subjects involved with CERP. The plan's purpose is to maximize the potential benefits, both system-wide and project-specific, resulting from CERP activities and to minimize any adverse social or economic impacts that may arise. The USACE and SFWMD co-chair the CERP EEE Program.

The USACE and the SFWMD attempted to identify acquisition policies, procedures and regulations which can be utilized by both agencies to procure services and award construction contracts. However, no simple unified procedures were found and consequently, each agency is using their own procedures. While the initial intent was to award a significant share of CERP construction projects to local small businesses, the magnitude of certain construction projects did not always make this possible. However, subcontracting and employing local small business community members was accomplished to the highest extent possible.

The EEE program strategy therefore focuses on evaluating individual and cumulative system-wide changes in socio-economic, socio-ecological and human health effects to ensure that a healthy and safe environment exists, and that associated benefits are realized and maintained for all projects located in the south Florida Everglades -- including any impacts to minority populations or low-income populations. To that end, the partners will operate in accordance with the following principles:

  • Promote partnerships with all stakeholders
    Identify and address the impacts of CERP activities on the people of south Florida including minority and low-income populations, and the Miccosukee Tribe and the Seminole Tribe
  • Create an Advisory Board dedicated to ensuring that the EEE mandate is fulfilled within the USACE, Jacksonville District, and overseeing the implementation of, and compliance with socio-economic and environmental justice and Executive Order 12898
  • Coordinate with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Justice office, sponsors, stakeholders, other federal, state, and local offices
  • Foster environmental and economic equity in future CERP and non-CERP projects, as appropriate
  • Create and maintain an internal administrative process for EEE program activities

The EEE Project Management Plan is undergoing revision that will result in more effective and more meaningful community engagement and participation and should be finalized soon. Efforts in education and training, community engagement, partnering with community-based organizations, and providing assistance to small businesses will be refined and expanded to include gathering of updated census data and advanced training courses. In addition, contracting to small local businesses will be expanded for the longer term maintenance of constructed CERP projects. The EEE program may eventually cover both CERP and non-CERP projects.

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