State of the Science and the Future of Cumulative Impact Assessment Proceedings of a Workshop Series (2025) / Chapter Skim
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3 Liaison Virtual Town Hall
3 Liaison Virtual Town Hall
Pages 17-30
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From page 17... ...
And what would improved community and health and well-being look like? Chiu explained that the input from the virtual Town Hall, along with other public meetings, will help the committee review the evidence in a way that is mindful of the challenges that communities face.
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Some participants stated their concerns about linkage of pollution exposure with low life expectancy, effects on school performance, higher asthma rates in children, early cardiovascular disease issues in mid-adulthood, higher rates of crime and imprisonment, and poor mental health outcomes. Another impact highlighted by participants from Oregon is the threats to salmon populations because their habitat along rivers is highly contaminated.
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From page 19... ...
Participants also described how a proliferation of new pipelines, injection wells, fracking wells, and oil and gas extraction wells may negatively impact community health and well-being. Climate risks such as drought, wildfire, and heat islands also pose a concern.
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Another example is plastics and advanced recycling, which can also change pollutant mixtures. Looking ahead, some participants noted the importance of waste management, particularly hazardous waste management, and greater challenges with maintaining fresh drinking water supplies in the face of pollution challenges.
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From page 21... ...
Looking at the challenges more broadly, participants discussed how political divides and a lack of social cohesion can undermine the ability to respond to stressors, and they explored the idea that fostering empathy and a sense of shared identity could help communities address many of these issues. The group also highlighted the importance of incorporating community input into the design of interventions and adequately informing community members about the best ways to become involved.
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From page 22... ...
Referring to Chicago, participants explained that significant industrial and warehouse development around large inland container ports and intermodals has increased pollution, especially from increased truck traffic in these areas and through neighboring communities. For California, water quality was highlighted as a problem interconnected with air pollution, wildfires, and climate change.
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From page 23... ...
COMMUNITY GROUP PRESENTATIONS For the second part of the Town Hall event, representatives from community groups shared issues, insights, and activities under way related to addressing cumulative impacts in two geographic areas: Houston, Texas, and Portland, Oregon. Houston Area Issues and Perspectives Jennifer Hadayia (Air Alliance Houston)
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From page 24... ...
The Portland Harbor Community Coalition is an environmental justice group working to elevate the voices of communities disproportionately impacted by the Portland Harbor Superfund site, with a goal of securing community benefits and robust, equitable cleanup of the Superfund site. The group has been coordinating conversations with public health agencies and higher education institutions in the region about ways to address cumulative impacts, which has not been done yet in Oregon.
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From page 25... ...
The questions guiding the discussions were as follows: • What is your future vision of improved community health and well-being? • What are special considerations or concerns that should be highlighted to ensure children are properly included in cumulative impact assessments?
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The participants stressed that individuals should not have to shoulder the burden of ensuring their own safety, suggesting instead the need for stronger community protections, such as clear chemical regulations and safe products on store shelves. The group also reflected on how broader economic structures affect community health.
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In terms of the most important aspects for the committee to consider, participants commented that not all cumulative impacts are place-based. Impacts can also arise from products in housing and indoor environments.
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However, building trust among groups will be a key to these efforts to be successful. Several participants also highlighted the importance of supporting communities' response to lengthy environmental impact assessments, especially when the cumulative impacts covered in these assessments are often modest and do not sufficiently reflect community concerns.
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From page 29... ...
In addition, because children are not decision-makers, many participants said it is important to consider ways to protect them within a cumulative impact assessment framework. Some participants suggested that children or young people could be part of the assessment process by participating in a future Town Hall event or by contributing ideas about how they should be integrated into research and decision-making on cumulative impacts.
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From page 30... ...
They suggested that the committee include information on resources to support field visits and develop action steps or plans that help communities with accountability. CLOSING REMARKS Closing the Town Hall, Chiu expressed appreciation for the event's organizers and participants for sharing their experiences and perspectives to help inform the committee's process and the future of cumulative impact assessment.
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