The FHWA provides formal training on the application of EJ in the transportation decision-making process through the National Highway Institute (NHI) and technical assistance offered by the FHWA Resource Center Technical Service Teams. Pre-recorded webinars, which can provide additional training opportunities, are included in this section. Examples of available EJ courses are listed below.
NHI Course – 142042 Fundamentals of Environmental Justice
Description: Addressing EJ applies to every stage of transportation decision-making. The U.S. DOT and its partners are committed to integrating the nondiscrimination principles of EJ Justice into all Federal-aid programs. Through these and other transportation programs, many opportunities exist to establish partnerships with other public and private organizations to create livable communities that meet the needs of all people. This course presents participants with a framework for using a variety of approaches and tools for accomplishing EJ goals in Federal-aid programs and other transportation projects.
Outcomes: Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to:
Target Audience: Civil rights, environmental, engineering, and planning staff from the following agencies: Federal, State, regional organizations, municipalities, transit agencies, and consultants who act on their behalf. Others who interact with minority communities and low-income communities, provide community services, and elected officials and their representatives.
For questions about these courses and other National Highway Institute (NHI) training opportunities, please contact NHI at nhicustomerservice@dot.gov or 1-877-558-6873
NHI Course – 142005 NEPA and the Transportation Decision-Making Process
Description This comprehensive, 3-day, instructor-led course presents the historical background and evolution of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and related environmental laws. It discusses their influence on FHWA's policies and procedures for the transportation project development and decision-making process. The course examines how the framework of laws, regulations, policies, and guidance integrate social, environmental, and economic factors in making transportation project decisions that are in the best overall public interest.
The course emphasizes the Council on Environmental Quality and FHWA's regulations; FHWA policy and guidance for implementing NEPA, Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act, and related environmental requirements. It discusses the NEPA Essential Elements in detail, including purpose and need, alternatives, impacts, mitigation, public involvement, interagency coordination and documentation. The course presents the requirements and considerations used to decide whether to prepare an environmental impact statement, an environmental assessment or determination that a project is categorically excluded from either. While this is not a course in environmental document writing, it presents the key principles for preparing high quality environmental documents, including the core principles from the FHWA/AASHTO/American Council of Engineering Companies Improving the Quality of Environmental Documents (IQED) and the FHWA IQED initiative. The course also includes group exercises that allow participants to apply the course concepts to a realistic project scenario involving several transportation, social and environmental considerations.
Objectives: Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to:
Target Audience: The target audience for this course includes FHWA, State departments of transportation (including consultants acting on behalf of the State), Federal and State environmental resource agencies, local governments, and metropolitan planning organizations who participate in the transportation decision-making process. We strongly encourage the sponsoring organization to invite a mix of planning and environmental staff from these agencies. For questions about NHI training, please contact NHI at omerservice@dot.gov or 1-877-558-6873
Preventing Discrimination in the Federal-aid Program: A Systematic Interdisciplinary Approach
FHWA Civil Rights Technical Service Team
Description: This training emphasizes the utilization of an interdisciplinary approach for the early recognition of potential adverse impacts that might be discriminatory so as to avoid these impacts and work for alternative solutions in all phases of the Federal-aid Highway Program, e.g. planning, project development, construction and research. It also stresses the need for interdisciplinary staff to be involved in the development and implementation of Title VI plans that recipients are required to meet their nondiscrimination obligations.
Objective: Upon completion of course, participants will be able to: 1. Identify nondiscrimination laws, Executive Orders, and regulations and their application to the Federal-aid program. 2. Identify a methodology for developing and implementing a Title VI Plan using an interdisciplinary approach.
Target Audience: This 2 ½ day course is intended for Federal, State, and local transportation staff to explain the implications of Title VI and related statutes in all aspects of planning, project development, construction, and research in the Federal-aid program.
Customizable Civil Rights Courses are offered by the Resource Center Civil Rights Team. Additional information pertaining to these opportunities can be found on the Civil Rights Team page.
Contacts
For more information on training opportunities available through NHI, please contact
The following are links to webinars supported by FHWA that promote EJ.
