Primary Submission Category: Policy
Recommendations for Incorporation of Cumulative Impact Analysis (CIAs) in Colorado Air Quality Policy
Authors: Stephanie Pease Katherine Dickinson Collin Tomb
Presenting Author: Stephanie Pease*
Federal and state air quality regulations are intended to limit exposures to harmful pollutants and protect public health. However, current regulations are often based on single-pollutant studies, self-reported data, and single facility emissions thresholds, all of which lead to widespread failure to provide equitable access to clean air. Environmental justice advocates and health researchers have been calling for a shift in regulatory focus towards cumulative impacts (CI) in order to account for surrounding pollution levels in various media (air, water, and soil) and community vulnerabilities (demographics, chronic disease rates, housing vulnerability, etc.). The objective of this project is to make recommendations for Colorado policymakers to successfully incorporate CI analysis into Colorado air quality policy. Methods include a literature review and semi-structured interviews. The literature review will summarize and update information known about CI policies in the United States, with special emphasis on air quality policy. This review will be conducted using publicly available information located through Google searches and databases such as PubMed and EBSCO. Semi-structured interviews will be conducted with representatives of regulatory entities and advocacy groups within and outside of Colorado with special focus on states in which legislation has passed mandating incorporation of CI analysis in air quality policy. Results will be collected into a written report and presented to local advocacy groups and interagency policy. Preliminary results indicate that incorporation of CI into Colorado air quality regulations will require the establishment of cooperative interagency authority over environmental media and adequate agency funding and staffing capacity. Agency leadership and agency leadership that prioritizes environmental justice and open communication with impacted communities will further ensure successful implementation of CI policies.