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provide and summarize the most commonly used hazardous materials transport models. Zhang et
al. (2000) apply hazardous materials routing that considers risks to populations from airborne
contaminants. Mills and Neuhauser (2000) developed an assessment method to evaluate the
distributive and disproportionate effects of accidents involving radioactive materials using the
probabilistic risk RADTRAN model developed by Sandia National Laboratories. The U.S.
Department of Energy (DOE) has developed a useful handbook related to assessing the risks
associated with routing of radioactive waste shipments (DOE 2002).
Applying an environmental justice assessment of potential spills and releases may be the most
challenging hazardous materials issue. However, this subject may also be the most quantifiable
in terms of developing standardized models. A heightened public awareness and scrutiny of
hazardous and radioactive materials transport has resulted from the potential completion of the
Yucca Mountain National Nuclear Repository in Nevada. This repository would result in a large
volume of high-level radioactive waste being transported throughout the United States.
Environmental justice assessment of hazardous materials transport would include assessment of
disproportionate impacts to target populations as a result of selected alignments and
transportation facility locations. Practical development and application of standardized models is
recommended.
SELECTING AN APPROPRIATE METHOD OF ANALYSIS
The challenge before practitioners is to better integrate hazardous materials information within
the context of transportation environmental justice decision making. Traditional hazardous
materials practice in the transportation field has focused on site-specific information within a
corridor rather than on corridor-wide information. Layering of hazardous material data with
demographic information for applications to transportation environmental justice is a relatively
new and nonstandardized approach.
Desktop tools and methodologies. As previously mentioned, the information gathered during
the Phase 1 ESA may have the greatest potential for use in hazardous materials environmental
justice planning and evaluation. DOTs and MPOs regularly complete this form of assessment for
projects that involve property acquisition or construction. As such, the data required to conduct
the hazardous materials environmental justice assessment generally are readily available. In
addition, public domain databases, such as the EPA's LandViewTM III, can be accessed to
provide standardized Phase 1 ESA data and certain demographic information like that shown in
Figure 4-2. It is important to note that LandViewTM III is based on 1990 Census data. The soon-
to-be-released LandViewTM 5 will use 2000 Census data.
Computer models. A number of computer models suitable for assessing distributive hazardous
materials effects have been developed. These models can be generally categorized as follows:
· Models that assess current known or suspected hazardous materials environmental
impacts.
· Models that assess potential environmental impacts as a function of potential
environmental releases.
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