Human Rights Assessment Reports

Reports Prepared for Government Agencies

• Title: A Human Rights Impact Assessment of Auckland Transport’s Road Corridor Vegetation Control
  Remarks to Auckland Transport: by Hana Blackmore and Dr Meriel Watts (video)
  Date: December 16, 2014
  Commissioned by: Weed Management Advisory
  Prepared for: Dr Lester Levy, Chairman, Auckland Transport and Len Brown, Mayor Auckland Council
  Matter of concern: Human health impacts associated with Auckland Transport’s chemical vegetation control programme
  Purpose of the report: To provide Auckland Transport and the Weed Management Advisory a list of international human rights norms of concern in respect to Auckland Transport’s road corridor vegetation control programme, to outline AT’s potential liabilities with respect to the programme and to recommend measures AT should take to minimize those liabilities and meet its human rights obligations.
  Outcome: pending
• Title: A Human Rights Assessment of Hydraulic Fracturing and Other Unconventional Gas Development in the United Kingdom
  Date: October 30, 2014
  Synopsis: A synopsis of the full report.
  Media release: The Bianca Jagger Human Rights Foundation media release, and a video of the launch event at the University of London.
  Commissioned by: The Bianca Jagger Human Rights Foundation, London.
  Prepared for: UK government Departments of Treasury, Energy and Climate Change, Health, Communities and Local Government, and Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
  Matter of concern: Environmental, Human Health and Climate Impacts Associated with Hydraulic Fracturing Operations
  Purpose of the report: to urge the UK Government to investigate the human rights implications of fracking before authorising any exploratory or extractive fracking operations in the UK, and to recommend a moratorium on fracking until a full, industry-independent, publicly funded Human Rights Impact Assessment has been completed and placed in the public domain.
  Media coverage: “Fracking–human rights must not be ignored!,” in The Ecologist“ by Anna Grear 30th October 2014. “New Report: Fracking a ‘Violation of Our Basic Human Rights,'” in Common Dreams by Richard Heasman, 28th November 2014. “205 UK citizens groups deliver letter to Cameron, calling for moratorium on fracking,” in ejolt, December 10, 2014.
  Outcome: pending

• Title: A Human Rights Assessment of Hydraulic Fracturing for Natural Gas in New York
  Date: December 12, 2011
  Press release: Earthworks’ press release about the report
  Commissioned by: Earthworks’ Oil and Gas Accountability Project, Washington, DC
  Prepared for: New York State’s Department of Environmental Conservation
  Matter of concern: Environmental and Human Health Impacts Associated with Hydraulic Fracturing Operations
  Purpose of the report: to provide the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)and Earthworks’ Oil and Gas Accountability Project a list of human rights norms of concern associated with hydraulic fracturing operations for natural gas, to outline DEC’s potential liabilities, and to outline measures DEC can take to reduce those liabilities
  Outcome: Governor Andrew Cuomo declares fracking banned in New York state, December 2014.
• Title: A Human Rights Assessment of Aerial Herbicide Applications Near and Adjacent To Triangle Lake, Oregon
  Cover letter: to the Oregon Board of Forestry, et al
  Date: July 18, 2011
  Commissioned by: Beyond Toxics
  Prepared for: The Oregon Board of Forestry, Oregon Department of Forestry and Oregon Department of Agriculture
  Matter of concern: Aerial herbicide applications over forested areas near and adjacent to family residences near Triangle Lake, Oregon
  Purpose of the report: to provide the Oregon Board of Forestry (BOF), the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA), and the residents of Triangle Lake, Oregon a list of formal human rights norms of concern associated with aerial herbicide applications over forested areas near and adjacent to Triangle Lake; to outline BOF’s, ODF’s and ODA’s potential liabilities; and to describe pathways BOF, ODF and ODA can take to reduce those liabilities
  Outcome: pending
  
• Title: Human Rights and Lane County’s Proposed Roadside Spray Program
  Date: March 9, 2008
  Commissioned by: Oregon Toxics Alliance, now Beyond Toxics, Eugene, OR
  Prepared for: Lane County Vegetation Management Program
  Matter of concern: Lane County’s Proposed roadside herbicide applications and human health effects
  Purpose of the report: to provide Lane County officials a list of human rights norms of concern in the county’s proposed roadside herbicide spray program, to outline potential liabilities of the county vegetation management program, and to describe pathways the county could take to minimize those liabilities
  Outcome: Spray plans rescinded
• Title: The LBAM Aerial Spray Program and Human Rights
  Date: April 3, 2008
  Commissioned by: California Alliance to Stop the Spray, Santa Cruz, CA
  Prepared for: California Department of Food and Agriculture
  Matter of concern: Aerial pheromone/pesticide sprays over urban areas of California’s Central Coast and San Francisco Bay Area
  Purpose of the report: to provide the California Alliance to Stop the Spray and the California Department of Food and Agriculture a list of international human rights norms of concern associated with CDFA’s proposed aerial spray program, to outline CDFA’s potential liabilities, and to describe pathways the Department could take to minimize those liabilities
  Outcome: Aerial spray plans temporarily rescinded
• Title: ODOT’s Herbicide Applications Along State Highways: Human Rights Concerns
  Date: April 23, 2008
  Commissioned by: Concerned Citizens for Clean Air and Oregon Toxics Alliance, now Beyond Toxics
  Prepared for: The Oregon Transportation Commission
  Matter of concern: Oregon Department of Transportation’s road shoulder herbicide applications and human health effects
  Purpose of the report: to provide the Oregon Transportation Commission, Concerned Citizens for Clean Air and the Oregon Toxics Alliance a list of international human rights norms of concern in respect to the ODOT’s road shoulder herbicide spray program; to outline ODOT’s potential liabilities with respect to the program; and to describe pathways ODOT could take to minimize those liabilities
  Outcome: ODOT implemented a 25 mile herbicide-free pilot project on US Highway 101 on the central coast, and a second herbicide-free pilot project on state Highway 36
• Title: A Human Rights Assessment of ODA’s Proposed Aerial Gypsy Moth Spray in Eugene, Oregon
  Cover letter: to Oregon Department of Agriculture
  Date: March 2, 2009
  Commissioned by: Oregon Toxics Alliance, now Beyond Toxics
  Prepared for: The Oregon Department of Agriculture
  Matter of concern: Oregon Department of Agriculture’s proposed aerial application of Foray 48B over urban neighborhoods in Eugene, Oregon
  Purpose of the report: to provide the Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Toxics Alliance a list of international human rights norms of concern associated with ODA’s proposed aerial pesticide application in Eugene, Oregon; to outline ODA’s potential liabilities; and to describe pathways the Department could take to minimize those liabilities
  Outcome: ODA conducted aerial sprays over some Eugene neighborhoods in April/May 2009
• Title: A Human Rights Assessment of Lincoln County’s Proposed Herbicide Sprays on Seal Rock and Cross Streets
  Cover letter: to Lincoln County Department of Public Works
  Date: June 18, 2009
  Commissioned by: Concerned Citizens for Clean Air
  Prepared for: The Lincoln County Department of Public Works
  Matter of concern: Human health impacts of Lincoln County’s proposed herbicide applications on road shoulders of Seal Rock and Cross Streets, and herbicide label violations.
  Purpose of the report: to provide the Lincoln County Public Works Department and Concerned Citizens for Clean Air a list of human rights norms of concern regarding Lincoln County’s proposed herbicide sprays on Seal Rock and Cross Streets in Seal Rock, Oregon; to outline potential liabilities of the County’s proposed spray; and to describe practical measures the County could take to minimize those liabilities
  Outcome: Spray plans rescinded
• Title: A Human Rights Assessment of the Proposed Seneca Biomass Power Generation Plant in Eugene, Oregon
  Cover letter: to Lane Regional Air Protection Agency
  Date: August 28, 2009
  Commissioned by: Oregon Toxics Alliance, now Beyond Toxics
  Prepared for: The Lane County Regional Air Protection Agency
  Matter of concern: Health impacts of Seneca power plant emissions and disproportionate impacts on adjacent low income neighborhoods
  Purpose of the report: to provide Lane Regional Air Protection Agency, Seneca Sustainable Energy, LLC and Oregon Toxics Alliance with a list of formal human rights norms of concern associated with the permitting of Seneca’s proposed power generation plant; to outline LRAPA’s and Seneca’s potential liabilities; and to describe pathways that can be taken to reduce those liabilities
  Outcome: Seneca biomass power plant in operation