What are the origins of CIA and how did it evolve?
After the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and the Federal-aid Highway Act in 1970 were enacted, transportation departments started conducting in-depth assessments of the environmental impacts caused by transportation projects. The Federal-aid Highway Act of 1970 contains wording in 23 U.S.C. 109(h) that encourages consideration of impacts on the human environment. As anticipated, much attention was initially given to the assessment of natural resource impacts, with their many laws, permits, and oversight organizations. FHWA and transportation departments have become more sensitive over time to developing transportation projects that better fit our many diverse communities. As a result, there has been a better understanding and assessment of community issues in relation to transportation actions. When President Clinton’s Executive Order 12898 (1994) on Environmental Justice (EJ) covering minority and low-income populations was issued, many practitioners raised concerns.
