Background: This Masters project was completed in collaboration with the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA). OEHHA maintains a Pollution and Prejudice map which outlines current levels of pollution and positions this visually over a map of historically redlined neighborhoods. We were tasked with investigating how highway development contributed to current day disparities in pollution burden and propose policy solutions for California state agencies.

Objectives: To propose policy proposals for California state agencies that will relieve the disparities in pollution burden.

Design: We conducted a literature review to identify how redlining impacted highway development in California with a focus on Stockton and Los Angeles to gain an understanding of the problem. We then used spatial and statistical analysis to determine current segregation and pollution levels. And finally, we used a Criteria Alternatives Matrix (CAM) to rank policy options.

Impact/Effectiveness: We found that Stockton and Los Angeles remain segregated based on historical redlining and that areas where people of color live have statistically higher levels of PM2.5 pollution. We analyzed 13 state-level policy options and recommended eight policies for implementation.

Lessons Learned: This project took place between 2023-2024. One of the key areas of our CAM analysis was Socio-Political Feasibility. Although the recommendations are state level interventions, the policies we recommended may change if we did the analysis today based on the new political climate.

Summary: Our number one recommendation is for the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) to create a regulatory standard to identify communities overburdened by pollution and require the implementation of land uses that relieve the pollution burden in such communities.