EJSCREEN: EPA’s Environmental Justice Screening Tool

EJSCREEN: EPA’s Environmental Justice Screening Tool
September 18, 2018September 18, 2018

Environmental Justice Defined
EPA has defined environmental justice as, “the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.” Fair treatment means that no group of people should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, governmental and commercial operations or policies. All groups should have equal access to the decision-making process to maintain a healthy environment in which to live, learn, and work. EPA’s definition of EJ is in line with the federal executive order on EJ. On Feb 11, 1994, President Bill Clinton signed Executive Order 12898, "Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations," to focus federal attention on the environmental and human health conditions of minority and low-income populations with the goal of achieving environmental protection for all communities. The Order directed federal agencies to develop environmental justice strategies to help federal agencies address disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects of their programs on minority and low-income populations. In general, EPA’s efforts are more effective and efficient if they are informed by an understanding of where the impacts of existing pollution may have the greatest impact on the most vulnerable people. Screening tools like EJSCREEN can also help ensure that such areas are not overlooked, and receive appropriate consideration, analysis or outreach. EJSCREEN Overview Presentation

EJSCREEN Overview Presentation
Background of EJSCREEN EPA’s new tool for nationally consistent EJ screening and mapping Web-based Geographic Information System (GIS) tool and data Product of Plan EJ 2014 Builds upon National Environmental Justice Advisory Committee report on EJ screening, and prior EPA experience Peer reviewed by experts in 2013 EJSCREEN is EPA’s new tool that provides consistent data and methods for EJ screening and mapping. The tool was created to help EPA consider environmental justice issues in all of EPA’s work, and help us be more transparent about how we look at EJ. It is a web-based tool provided via a website, so you just need a web browser – you don’t have to install special software to use it. It is a geospatial information or “GIS” tool and covers the entire US. EPA developed the tool as one of several commitments EPA made under Plan EJ Plan EJ 2014 is a roadmap that has helped integrate environmental justice considerations into the agency’s programs, policies and activities. EJSCREEN is informed by EPA’s prior research, analysis and outreach in developing previous EJ screening tools such as the EJ Strategic Enforcement Assessment Tool (“EJSEAT”). EPA conducted an letter review with 5 experts on environmental justice and geospatial data mapping tools for EJSCREEN, in order to provide feedback about the tool’s utility and other design aspects. The feedback has helped modify EJSCREEN to more efficiently and accurately screen areas for potential EJ concerns. EJSCREEN Overview Presentation

Key Features 12 EJ Indexes – one for each environmental indicator Annually updated demographics – from most recent U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) Web accessible Standard printable reports, maps, and bar graphs Higher resolution maps Raw data downloads will also be available There are several ways EJSCREEN represents progress relative to prior efforts. There are 12 environmental justice indexes in the tool. I will explain what these are in much greater detail later, but EJ indexes are basically an attempt to combine demographic and environmental data to assist in identifying areas where there are potential environmental burdens and vulnerable populations. We use the US Census’ Annual Communities Survey, or ACS, to update the demographic data annually and as different environmental datasets are updated we will incorporate those to make sure that the data is as current as we can make it. Additionally, EJSCREEN will be made available on EPA’s website - you don’t have to download anything. And the data in the tool is available in easy to access standard reports, maps, and bar graphs. The data in EJSCREEN is also available at the block group level, which is about 3 X greater resolution than EPA has used in past tools. There is a ton of available data in this tool and when we give a brief demo you will see that more. And finally, when we go public we will make the data and code for EJSCREEN available to the public so you can build on our platform, or use the data to supplement your existing tools. EJSCREEN Overview Presentation

How Can EJSCREEN Be Used? A tool for everyone – a basis for further dialogue, engagement, and examination EPA is not requiring our state and tribal partners to use EJSCREEN in any context EPA uses EJSCREEN in various contexts Outreach and engagement Many aspects of environmental programs Geographically-based initiatives EJSCREEN will be released to the general public in 2015 in an effort to be transparent about how we are considering EJ. Anyone is free to use or not use EJSCREEN. By Sharing EJSCREEN with the public we hope it will also provide a basis for communication that can further the dialogue on environmental justice issues. To the extent possible, EPA will work together with partners and stakeholders who are interested in using EJSCREEN, and we encourage our tribal partners to provide feedback to the agency in regards to their needs and concerns. However, it is important to note that there is no mandate or guidance expressed or implied by EPA that state governments or others “should” use the tool or its underlying data. It is up to state and local permitting, enforcement, and other officials to choose whether EJSCREEN’s outputs or information are relevant and useful to them. EPA uses EJSCREEN for a variety of purposes in addition to other information & tools from the agency, community & states for various contexts: EPA may use the tool as the agency develops programs, policies and activities in communities. In the past, the agency has employed EJ screening tools in a wide variety of circumstances. A few examples of what EJSCREEN supports across the agency include: Enhanced outreach to areas with low educational attainment or high linguistic isolation. Prioritizing cleanups or compliance activities in overburdened communities. Review of grant programs to ensure we are working in communities with the greatest needs. EPA is already using EJSCREEN to help highlight areas that may warrant additional consideration, analysis, or outreach in aspects of enforcement, compliance, Superfund removal actions, permitting, and voluntary programs. We are also using EJSCREEN in developing retrospective reports of EPA work, and to enhance geographically based initiatives. EPA outreach meeting after Hurricane Katrina (2006) EJSCREEN Overview Presentation

Limitations For Using EJSCREEN EJSCREEN is a starting point. It is a pre-decisional screening tool; does not direct final outcomes for EPA. EJSCREEN highlights places for further review for the potential for EJ concerns. Baseline screening should be supplemented with local information and experience. Should not be used to label areas as “EJ Communities.” EJSCREEN is intended for screening purposes, to highlight areas that may be candidates for further review, such as additional consideration, analysis, or outreach. It can suggest where to take a closer look. Screening tools can be misused or misinterpreted if you are not careful to understand their limitations. EJSCREEN limited to Nationally Consistent data sets there may be local data available. EJSCREEN is “pre-decisional” and therefore it cannot be used as a sole basis for directing final outcomes for EPA’s work. Additionally, should be understood as providing a snapshot of an area being studied, not as a comprehensive risk assessment. There are a lot of additional data, considerations, and on the ground information that are necessary to understand communities concerns holistically, and EJSCREEN cannot supplement this work. Thus, screening results are not used to identify “EJ communities” and results should be understood as a gradient, not a bright line. EJSCREEN Overview Presentation

Limitations For EJSCREEN Data Demographics are based on 5-year averages of US Census American Community Survey data. Environmental and proximity indicators are screening-level proxies for exposure or risk –not actual exposure or risk. EJ Indexes do not cover all environmental or community issues. Always consider additional local information. We use ACS as a 5yr running average to make sure that the results are more accurate. Remember that surveys are potentially less accurate in places with fewer people such as rural areas with low populations. The vintage of environmental indicators varies and is not the same as the vintage of the demographic data. Some of the environmental indicators in EJSCREEN are based on data from 2005 or 2011, and may no longer be as representative of current conditions as they were at the time the data was collected. The 2005 NATA air toxics indicators, and the 2011 PM2.5 and ozone indicators in particular should be viewed with this in mind, because emissions related to PM2.5, ozone, and air toxics generally have decreased in the intervening years. Every attempt will be made to use the most recent appropriate data available in future updates of EJSCREEN. There is always a delay between the release of raw data and their eventual incorporation into any models, tools, or maps. Demographic and environmental indicators for a single block group may have high uncertainty. Environmental indicators, especially proximity indicators, are mostly screening-level proxies and only tell us there is a potential for exposure or risk and don’t give us information on actual exposure or risk. So small differences in numbers between places should not be relied upon as definitive. The difference between 94th and 95th percentile may not be meaningful – You cannot say with much confidence how to rank two places that are estimated to be at the 81st and 82nd percentiles. Many environmental concerns are not yet included in comprehensive, nationwide databases. For example, data on environmental factors such as drinking water quality, occupational exposures and indoor air pollutants are not available with adequate quality, coverage and/or resolution to be included in EJSCREEN. Local concerns will clarify general screening data in EJSCREEN. For example, high scores for air concentrations may be an ongoing issue for an entire area; whereas relatively lower scores for potential exposures to lead paint may be a more immediate issue in a given area of interest. Potential pesticide exposure is one of many environmental issues that is not in EJSCREEN because of insufficient data coverage. EJSCREEN Overview Presentation

Understand the Age of Data Vary by Indicator – Especially with Air Data 2014 The inclusion of a dataset in EJSCREEN does not imply it is the newest or best estimate of actual conditions or risks. Estimates are based on historical data and may not reflect current or future conditions. Percentiles are much more likely to be reasonably representative of today’s conditions in most locations than raw values. 2013 The vintage of environmental indicators varies and is not the same as the vintage of the demographic data. Some of the environmental indicators in EJSCREEN are based on data from 2005 or 2011, and may no longer be as representative of current conditions as they were at the time the data was collected. The 2005 NATA air toxics indicators, and the 2011 PM2.5 and ozone indicators in particular should be viewed with this in mind, because emissions related to PM2.5, ozone, and air toxics generally have decreased in the intervening years. This version of EJSCREEN incorporated the most recent data that were available at the time of indicator development (2013), and the 2005 NATA data are still the latest available in Every attempt will be made to use the most recent appropriate data available in future updates of EJSCREEN. There is always a delay between the release of raw data and their eventual incorporation into any models, tools, or maps. It is also useful to note that although the raw numbers for some indicators do not represent current conditions, the percentiles are much more likely to be reasonably representative of today’s conditions in most locations. This is because even if emissions have been significantly reduced overall, for example, the differences between various locations are unlikely to have changed as dramatically, especially when the reductions have come from national regulations and other trends affecting entire industries or sectors in many locations. For this reason, the percentiles may be more representative of current conditions than the raw values of the indicators. 2012 EJSCREEN Overview Presentation

Geographic Unit is the Block Group Over 217,000 block groups in the U.S. The average block group has about 1,400 residents. Highest resolution available for most EJSCREEN data. The small colored irregular polygons are block groups EJSCREEN Overview Presentation

Results Are Ranked as Percentiles Percentiles put indicators into common units of 0 – 100. For example, a place at the 80th percentile nationwide means 20% of the US population has a higher value. Ranking values as percentiles allows comparison of indicators measured with different units. It does not mean the risks are equal or comparable. Remember that Environmental indicators, demographic indicators, and EJ Indexes are presented as percentile ranking of all the block groups in the U.S. which puts all 12 into common units of 0 to This allows us to compare relative differences in different data sets with different units of measure. Putting values into common units also helps compare the area you are studying to different geographic locations. So for example, you can compare your area of investigation to the state or region it is in, or compare it to the rest of the country. If two indexes are at the same percentile, it simply means those two scores are equally common (or equally rare) in the United States. It does not mean the risks are comparable. It is therefore critical when interpreting EJSCREEN percentiles to also look at the actual raw numbers for the environmental and demographic indicators. EJSCREEN Overview Presentation

EJSCREEN Data 12 EJ indexes, which combine environmental data and the demographic index. 12 environmental indicators that measure potential exposure, hazard/risk, and proximity. 6 demographic indicators from the ACS 5 Year Annual Survey. Remember that ACS means the American Community Survey that is done annually. Proximity to traffic is one of the 12 environmental indicators EJSCREEN Overview Presentation

Environmental Indicators Environmental Indicator Raw Data Type (Units) Indicator Descriptor Year Data published Particulate Matter (PM2.5 in µg/m3) Potential Exposure 2011 Ozone (ppb) * National Air Toxics Assessment (NATA) Diesel PM in (µg/m3) N/A * NATA Air Toxics Cancer Risk (risk per million people) Hazard/Risk * NATA Respiratory Hazard Index * NATA Neurological Hazard Index Lead Paint Indicator (% pre-1960s Housing) Traffic Proximity (daily traffic count/distance to road) Proximity Proximity to National Priority List sites (count/km distance) 2013 Proximity to Risk Management Plan facilities (count/km distance) Proximity to Treatment Storage Disposal Facilities (count/km distance) Proximity to Major Direct Water Dischargers (count/km distance) This is another good location to call attention to the data vintage or year. This will change with up dates. The table on this slide shows each of the 12 environmental indicators and has a description of the raw data that was used to estimate the indicator values for (almost) all census block groups in the U.S. Notice that the first 4 of these are really indicators of potential exposure, so they don’t try to estimate actual risk. They are estimates of PM2.5, ozone, diesel PM levels in air, and % pre- 1960s housing. We say potential because we cannot predict how all people may get exposed to these potential environmental burdens. The next 3 here are indicators of hazard or risk. These indicators provides estimates of the risk of cancer and other serious health effects from inhaling toxic air pollutants. The next 5 proximity metrics are just rough indicators of the potential for proximity to selected facility types that are regulated by EPA. The proximity indicators are not able to directly estimate actual exposure or risk from proximity to a facility. For example, someone may live upwind or upstream of a facility and have almost no exposure, or the facility may not release any pollutants at all. Another example are RMP facilities (Risk Management Plan) that may never have any accidental spills or other releases. But the proximity metrics are very useful because they quantify the distance and the number of nearby facilities. This helps us understand the potential burden to a community and this is better than just seeing them on a map and having no quantifiable indicator to describe their proximity to residents. EJSCREEN Overview Presentation

Why is the NATA Data Greyed Out?
In an effort to make the tool as up-to-date as possible, the 2005 National-scale Air Toxics Assessment (NATA) data have been temporarily removed from the interim public version of EJSCREEN. The updated 2011 NATA dataset will be put into the tool upon the next update to EJSCREEN. EPA is removing the 2005 NATA indicators and EJ indexes, which include cancer risk, respiratory hazard, neurodevelopment hazard, and diesel particulate matter, from the initial interim public version of EJSCREEN in the interest of sharing a tool that is as current and useful for our partners and stakeholders as possible. EPA anticipates the 2011 NATA dataset will be published late in 2015 and placed back into EJSCREEN during the next update of the tool, which is anticipated to be released in early 2016. EJSCREEN Overview Presentation

Demographic Indicators Demographic Indicator Description (Source: ACS Estimates) Low-Income % of block group population at or below twice the federal “poverty level.” Minority All people other than non-Hispanic white-alone individuals. Less than high school education % of people age 25 or older without a high school diploma. Linguistic isolation % of people in household in which all members over age 14 years speak English less than “very well.” Individuals under age 5 % of people in a block group under the age of 5. Individuals over age 64 % of people in a block group over the age of 64. This slide lists the 6 types of demographic indicator data reported for specific areas of interest plus the Demographic Index which is the combination of %low income and %minority. The first type of data shown above is the demographic index data, which combines data from the low income indicator and the minority population indicator. <point to these bullets in the slide> In the next slide, I will describe why the demographic index is important, how it combines the two types of information, and why. % Low-Income is the percent of a census block group’s population living in households where the household income is less than or equal to twice the federally-defined poverty level. % Linguistic isolation is the percent of people in a census block group living in a household where all members age 14 years and over speak a non-English language and also have difficulty with English. % Minority is the percent of individuals in a census block group who self-identify their race as something other than “white alone” (“alone” means only one race) and/or identify their ethnicity as Hispanic or Latino. % less than high school is as a % of those age 25 plus. % under age 5 and % over 64 represent a part of the population that we know are more sensitive to environmental pollutants EJSCREEN Overview Presentation

Demographic Index Demographic Index = (% low-income + % minority) 2
Example Calculation - Demographic Index 77% = (92% + 62% = 144%)/2 92% 77% 62% The demographic index is used in combination with each of the 12 environmental indicators to create each of the 12 EJ indexes. The demographic indicator for a census block group is simply the average of the % low-income and % minority for that block group. It combines them into one number that will be used to calculate the EJ indexes. The bar graph above Shows how the two demographic indicators can contribute to the average score for the Demographic Index. Next, we will see how this demographic index is used in combination with the raw data from each environmental indicator to create 12 EJ indexes. EJSCREEN Overview Presentation

What does the EJ Index mean? The EJ index combines environmental and demographic data to highlight areas where vulnerable populations may be disproportionately impacted by pollution. It also considers the population of the block group. It helps identify areas that may have higher pollution burdens and vulnerable populations present. We combine demographic and environmental information because we want to know where people are most vulnerable or likely to be exposed to different types of pollution. We know that low income and minority communities are disproportionately located in areas with greater environmental burdens and pollution problems. The purpose of the Executive Order on Environmental Justice was to acknowledge this reality and therefore to prioritize work in the federal government to address these injustices. Additionally, low income and minority communities may be more susceptible, or at risk, to a given level of exposure to environmental pollutants. For example, research shows individuals may be more susceptible when they are already in poor health, have increased stress levels, have reduced access to care, lack resources or language skills or education that would help them avoid exposures or obtain treatment, or are at susceptible life stages. The EJ indexes help us identify areas where there are the highest potential for exposure to different types of pollution and increased potential for those people to be more susceptible to exposures. It helps us better understand areas in need of environmental protection, health care access, housing, infrastructure improvement, community revitalization and climate resilience. So, for example, lets say you know there is a disparity in environmental indicator scores for lead paint, meaning that low income / minority residents on average have a higher lead paint score than the rest of the US population. Let’s say you had limited resources and could only “clean up” or lower the lead paint scores in 1% of block groups, to start with. If you started with the top 1% as ranked by the lead paint EJ index, that strategy would have the biggest possible impact on reducing the existing demographic disparity in those average environmental indicator scores. Obviously there are many other considerations in the real world, such as the cost of any actions, the true risks rather than the indicator scores, the importance of places with very high environmental scores regardless of demographics, etc. But the EJ index gives you one important piece of information to work with. EJSCREEN Overview Presentation

Components of EJ Indexes One Environmental Indicator X (Demographic Index – US Average Demographic Index) X __Block Group Population_______________________ EJ Index for Given Environmental Indicator Each EJ Index is the combination of 3 factors: the environmental data, how different the Demographic Index is different from the National average (35%), and finally how many people live there. Each of 12 EJ Indexes is created using data from one of the 12 environmental indicators in combination with the data from the demographic index shown earlier. The first element of the index is the raw score for the environmental indicator. The middle element of the equation considers the make up of the population of the block group, and how different it is from the national average. As measured by the demographic index minus the national average (which is approximately 35%). Finally by considering the population of the block group the EJ index measures the additional number of potentially susceptible individuals in the block group, beyond what you would expect for a block group with its population. For example, assume a block group with 1000 people in it. In that block group, one would expect 350 potentially susceptible individuals (1000 x 35%). However, if the demographic index for that block group is 49% then there are 490 potentially susceptible people there or 140 more than you would expect for a block group with a population of 1000. EJ indexes can be calculated to compare to the rest of the nation, EPA region, or state for each block group. EJSCREEN Overview Presentation

Viewing EJSCREEN Data You can view all of the indicators in EJSCREEN within reports or on maps. A standard report gives you all the indicators at once for a single specified location A map gives you one indicator at a time, for each of the block groups within a wider area (e.g. across several miles) EJSCREEN maps are the perfect companion to the standard EJSCREEN reports. While the reports let you see bar graphs and tables on the data , including all 12 EJ Indexes, all 12 Environmental Indicators, and all seven Demographic Indicators, within a buffer area that you select, the maps allow you to look at the color-coded percentiles of the individual block groups within your buffer area for each type of index and indicator data. In addition, the maps allow you to see the values in all of the block groups that are adjacent to the area you selected to determine of other nearby areas warrant further investigation. EJSCREEN Overview Presentation

You Can Specify User-Defined Areas to Generate Standard Reports Note: Buffer areas are highly recommended because there is less data uncertainty EJSCREEN summarizes data for all residents within a user-defined area. You can define a single area to generate a report a number of different ways: You can click on an individual block group. You can lay down a circular buffer of a point and specify the radius. Here, in this example we laid down a 1-mile buffer. If you know the specific parameters of the area you are studying, you can make irregular polygons, like the shape below our circular buffer. Additionally if you are studying an area along a river or a highway, you can also lay down a line with a buffer on each side, again like you can see in this example. All of these options give you the ability to generate bar graphs, standard reports, and other reports for your specified area around a facility, a road, or a community that you have defined. Remember because demographic information is based on survey information try not to use data for a single block group for a comparison because this is less certain than for a “buffer area” that covers multiple block groups. EJSCREEN Overview Presentation

The EJSCREEN Standard Report Report has 3 pages: Page 1 – The first place to look: 12 EJ indexes as a table (as percentiles) Bar graph of the 12 EJ indexes Page 2: Map (selected area of interest) Page 3 – for more details: Environmental indicators Demographic indicators As you saw in the previous slide, you can use various ways to generate a Standard EJSCREEN report. In general it is better to use reports generated from buffers that use more than a Single census block groups. The information in just one census block group is not nearly as accurate as that for larger areas. There are a number of technical explanations for this, but we will not go into them today. The Standard EJSCREEN Report is 3 pages long. Page 1 provides tabular and bar graph views of the percentiles associated with each of the 12 EJ Indexes calculated for the selected area. Page 2 provides a base map of the general area, and highlights the selected area addressed by the EJSCREEN Report. Page 3 provides a table that addresses Environmental Indicators and Demographic Indicators. We will review each page of the standard EJSCREEN report in the following slides. EJSCREEN Overview Presentation

EJSCREEN Training Module 1 of 2
7/29/2014 Maps of Environmental Indicators, Demographic Indicators, and EJ Index Data Maps of Environmental Indicators, Demographic Indicators, and EJ Indexes Data Washington, DC We should encourage each region to develop this slide for a well known local area. We might want to increase transparency a little in the mapped data and focus in more. The zoomed out map might be confusing. For instance for Northern California I would use the same example but focus on the Oakland - Piedmont area. This example is striking. Piedmont is an affluent community with old homes. Now that we have reviewed how the three basic groups of EJSCREEN data are presented in standard EJSCREEN reports, let’s look at how EJSCREEN can be used to present maps of the three groups of data. As you will remember, those groups are environmental indicator data, demographic indicator data, and EJ Index data. The maps on this slide will focus on Washington, DC. This map shows Demographic Index values in the Washington DC area. <Click the mouse for the Demographic Index map to appear> Again, each of the little boxes in this map represent a census block group, and the colors of the boxes represent a range of percentiles. This map shows a red census block group <Point to the red census block group in the Northeast and Southeast parts of DC.> where the Demographic Index is in the 95th to 100th percentile, meaning that 95 percent of the census block groups in the country have lower scores relating to low income and minority population percentages. Also note that most of the Northwest is shaded at less than the 50th percentile, meaning that they are higher income neighborhoods. This is an Environmental Indicator map <Click the mouse for the Environmental Indicator map to appear> for lead paint in the Washington DC area. In this map, the block group that was red in the Demographic Index map has turned dark gray, meaning that the lead paint in this block group is in the 70th to 80th percentile in the country. You will also notice that the distribution of block groups above the 80th percentile is dispersed pretty evenly throughout the map. Now let’s look at the EJ Index map for lead paint. <Click on the mouse to bring up the EJ Index map.> As you can see, the block group that was dark gray in the Environmental Indicators map has changed back to a red color indicating a high potential for EJ concerns with respect to lead paint exposure. However, if we review of these maps side by side, as shown in the next slide, <Click to next slide> Draft - Do not cite or distribute.

Maps of Environmental Indicators, Demographic Indicators, and EJ Index Data
Washington, DC – Demographic Index EJSCREEN Overview Presentation

Washington, DC – Lead Paint Indicator EJSCREEN Overview Presentation

Washington, DC – EJ Index for Lead Paint EJSCREEN Overview Presentation

EJSCREEN has Many Other Map Layers EJSCREEN adds many other types of data by overlaying various datasets (called “layers”) Sites and Places Boundaries Tribal Land Nonattainment Areas In addition to providing the mapping features described in the previous slides, EJSCREEN includes a wealth of additional data sets that users can add as layers onto their EJSCREEN maps. These “other” data sources/map layers are not used in calculating existing EJ indexes, and can not be used to calculate additional EJ indexes. Layer from the Web Real World Information EJSCREEN Overview Presentation

Types of Additional Layers Additional Demographic ‘Layers’ Education Geography Households Housing Income/Poverty Language Marital Status Place of Birth Population Additional Supplementary Map Layers Facilities Reporting to EPA Places (i.e. churches, hospitals, schools) Transportation Water Features EPA Tribal Areas Nonattainment Areas Boundaries Here are the major categories of different types of environmental, geographic, and demographic layers you can add. There are literally hundreds of additional map layers you can add to supplement your work in EJSCREEN. EJSCREEN Overview Presentation

Understand These Caveats Before Using the Tool Demographics and environmental indicators for a single block group may have high uncertainty. Environmental indicators are mostly screening-level proxies for actual exposure or risk. Some indicators may be outdated – conditions change. EJSCREEN does not cover all environmental issues. Other local data and concerns may be very important. Read the technical documentation for more caveats! Lastly, I want to review a couple of caveats to keep in mind while using EJSCREEN that we mentioned earlier and maybe add some more. Demographic and environmental indicators for a single block group may have high uncertainty. Environmental indicators, especially proximity metrics, are mostly screening-level proxies for actual exposure or risk. For this reason, a buffer report provides more reliable estimates than a single block group report. Buffer reports are highly recommended. Data for a single block group are less certain than for a “buffer report” that covers multiple block groups. The buffer results estimate the indicator scores for the average resident inside the buffer. [based on block-level population counts for blocks whose centroids are in the buffer]. Also, small differences in numbers should not be relied upon as definitive. The difference between 94th and 95th percentile may not be meaningful – You cannot say with much confidence how to rank two places that are estimated to be at the 81st and 82nd percentiles. Many environmental concerns are not yet included in comprehensive, nationwide databases. For example, data on environmental factors such as drinking water quality, occupational exposures and indoor air pollutants are not available with adequate quality, coverage and/or resolution to be included in EJSCREEN. Local concerns will clarify general screening data in EJSCREEN. For example, high scores for air concentrations may be an ongoing issue for an entire area; whereas relatively lower scores for potential exposures to lead paint may be a more immediate issue in a given area of interest. EJSCREEN Overview Presentation

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EJSCREEN: EPA’s Environmental Justice Screening Tool

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