Data Collection Report - Flood Control District of Maricopa County

D. Social and Economic AssessmentThis section of the data collection report briefly describes minoritygroups and low-income populations within the project area. This reportwas completed with guidance provided by Executive Order 12898regarding Environmental Justice. The Environmental ProtectionAgency’s Office of Environmental Justice offers the following definition:Methodology“The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all peopleregardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respectto the development, implementation, and enforcement ofenvironmental laws, regulations and policies. Fair treatmentmeans that no group of people, including racial, ethnic, orsocioeconomic group should bear a disproportionate share of thenegative environmental consequences resulting from industrial,municipal, and commercial operations or the execution offederal, state, local and tribal programs and policies.”The effort described in this section outlines available “Census BlockGroup” data so that these Environmental Justice goals can be met byidentifying the areas within the project area, where low income andethnic minority groups are present in significantly higher proportionsthan exhibited by the United States as a whole. Also, areas (blockgroups) that have a significant proportion of minors (17 years and under)and elderly (65 years or older) are identified. By identifying blockgroups (hereafter referred to as “significant block groups”) within theproject area which have low median household incomes and highpercentages of ethnic minorities, minors and elderly people, this studyserves as a planning tool for avoiding adverse impacts to these groups.In order to identify the sensitive block groups within the project area, aGeographic Information System (GIS) was used. Electronic spatial anddatabase files were obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau and theArizona Department of Economic Security, pertaining to the projectarea. “Tiger File” maps were obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau, inan electronic, CD ROM format. These map coverages wereincorporated into a GIS, and show the boundaries of the Census blockgroups as well as roads, streams and other geographic features. Also,U.S. Census Bureau - STF3A database files were obtained from theArizona Department of Economic Security. The STF3A files includethat data collected during the 1990 Census and provide a variety ofsocioeconomic data on each block group within the project area. TheTiger Maps were tied to the STF3A files within the GIS, to serve as atool for socioeconomic analysis.Significance CriteriaIn order to determine the significant block groups within the projectarea, or those meeting Environmental Justice criteria, a set ofsignificance criteria were developed specifically for use during theADMP evaluation. The ADMP review committee may choose to changethese criteria to meet the needs of this project as the EnvironmentalJustice executive order does not outline specific criteria to be used forthis type of project. Therefore, in this study, for a block group to beconsidered a low income block group (or “significant” by definition inthis document), it must have a 1990 median household income of$15,000 (the official 1990 poverty rate) or less. In order for a blockgroup to be considered a “significant” ethnic minority block group, itmust have proportions of ethnic minority groups that are at least 10%greater than that tabulated for the United States in the 1990 decennialcensus. Using this formula, the following are the specific ethnicminority thresholds used during this evaluation; 1) African American -22.1% or greater, 2) American Indian, Eskimo, Aleut - 10.8% or greater,3) Asian, Pacific Islander - 12.9% or greater, 4) Persons of HispanicOrigin - 19.0% or greater, and 5) Other race - 13.9% or greater. Finally,in determining block groups that are significant in terms of age,“significance” criteria for age cohorts of 17 years or younger and 65years or older were developed. A block group is considered to besignificant for age if the percentage of these age cohorts is at least 10%greater than that tabulated for the United States in the 1990 decennialcensus. The following are the specific age cohort thresholds; Ages 0 -5 = 18.9% or greater, Ages 5 - 17 = 26.7% or greater and Ages 65 + =22.6% or greater.In the first section of this analysis, entitled “Community Profiles”, thecommunities which make up the project area are described in terms ofpopulation growth, land area, median household income and ethnicdiversity. These socioeconomic attributes for these communities arecompared to those of the State of Arizona and for the United States.This section is intended as background material, and to establish a betterunderstanding of the socioeconomic context within which the projectarea. In the second section of this analysis, entitled “Low Income andEthnic Minority Populations”, significant Census block groups areidentified and discussed.Community ProfilesThe project area consists of portions of south-western Phoenix and thecities of Tolleson, Avondale and Goodyear, a small portion of thenorthern section of the Gila River Indian Community and someunincorporated areas of Maricopa county. Table V-1 summarizes thepopulation growth and land areas for these communities.DIBBLE & ASSOCIATES 55 DURANGO ADMPDATA COLLECTION REPORT