City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works/Northeast Interceptor Sewer Project Challenge: The severe 1997/98 El Niño rainy season caused an extraordinary number and volume of wet weather sewer overflows throughout the City of Los Angeles.  To correct this problem and to replace the original sewer, which was over 70 years old and decaying, the City of Los Angeles decided to undertake the second largest public works project in its history – the Northeast Interceptor Sewer (NEIS) project. The NEIS project is a major 6-mile sewer line under construction in the Northeast Los Angeles communities of Boyle Heights, Lincoln Heights and Cypress Park. The Department of Public Works is working closely with Councilmembers Ed P. Reyes (CD 1) and Antonio Villaraigosa (CD 14) in addition to local residents and businesses, to keep community members informed regarding NEIS construction activities. Valencia, Perez & Echeveste (VPE) was retained by the Los Angeles Department of Public Works to implement an extensive mitigation plan drafted by the Department. This plan was established to minimize disruption to neighboring communities while the NEIS project is under construction.  The objectives of the plan included: informing residents, non-profit organizations and local businesses about the NEIS project and the positive impacts it will have on their community, encouraging public support of the NEIS project, and raise media awareness about the NEIS project. Selected Results: VPE successfully implemented a media relations, community outreach and education plan for the NEIS project. A Power Point presentation was developed and presented to nearly 100 community organizations. Materials were developed in English, Spanish and Chinese, the three main languages spoken in the Northeast area. Materials were mailed to residents, hand delivered to businesses and distributed during community presentations. An elementary school campaign was developed to involve local school children with NEIS. Three classrooms won a contest to name three machines to be used during construction. The classes received recognition from the Los Angeles City Council and Board of Public Works during two special ceremonies. As a result of VPE’s efforts, NEIS has received more than 300,000 print impressions, support of the NEIS project has grown to nearly 100 community organizations, and members of the Los Angeles City Council and Board of Public Works have become involved in the community outreach process.