Goal: EPA's commitment to the principles of environmental justice and our goal of reducing risk from toxic air pollution is reflected in Region 8's support of the community-based Healthy Air for Northeast Denver project. The goal of HAND is to reduce toxic air emissions in NE Denver through voluntary and community-selected projects.

Why Northeast Denver? NE Denver is affected by significant numbers of permitted facilities and diesel trucks in the area, a number of current and former Superfund Sites, and highways and train tracks. During EPA Listening Sessions in 2002, the community listed air pollution as its number one environmental concern.

Implementation: EPA is funding a contractor to interview representatives of community groups, government agencies, industry associations and others to learn about issues and needs related to air quality. HAND stakeholders will be convened from community organizations, industry, state and local governments and others to recommend a process for moving forward. The group will review air quality data collected by the State and modeled by the City and County of Denver. The group will select strategies to reduce emissions. Strategies could include diesel retrofit projects, anti-idling campaigns; pollution prevention workshops for small businesses; and indoor air education and toxic reduction efforts. EPA and other stakeholders will work to secure funding for as many projects as possible. Projects will be implemented collaboratively with community, industry, academia and government of all levels. The group will measure and track improvements to learn how best to implement similar projects in other areas.

Project Boundaries: The HAND project area is about 20 square miles, tentatively bound on the south by Martin Luther King Boulevard; 64th Street to the north; Pecos Street to the west; and Dahlia Street to the east. It includes the neighborhoods of Globeville, Sunnyside, Elyria/Swansea, Cole, Clayton and part of Commerce City. Local leaders will be asked to refine the project boundaries.

Guiding Principles: Guiding principles that have proven successful in other projects across the country include: a focus on action, rather than study; addressing risk from mobile and stationary source air toxics as well as indoor air; funding to support citizen participation; and decision making at the stakeholder level. The project is designed to engage the community, both citizens and industry, in a process to reduce emissions while relying on community leadership.

HAND Partners: Strong partnerships will be required to be successful with the HAND project. To date, our partners include the City and County of Denver, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Cross Community Coalition, Groundwork Denver, the NE Metro Pollution Prevention Alliance and the CO Department of Transportation.

For more information on HAND, please contact:.

Karen Kellen, 303-312-6518
Deldi Reyes, 303-312-6055