EJSCREEN: Environmental Justice Screening and Mapping Tool

[BridgeTroll]

Pretty cool... check it out. 

http://www2.epa.gov/ejscreen

http://ejscreen.epa.gov/mapper/

In order to better meet the Agency's responsibilities related to the protection of public health and the environment, EPA has developed a new environmental justice (EJ) mapping and screening tool called EJSCREEN. It is based on nationally consistent data and an approach that combines environmental and demographic indicators in maps and reports.

How was EJSCREEN Developed?

The presidential Executive Order 12898, Federal Actions To Address Environmental Justice In Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations, instructs all federal agencies to "collect, maintain and analyze information assessing and comparing environmental and human health risks borne by populations identified by race, national origin or income..."


How Does EPA Use EJSCREEN?
 
EPA uses EJSCREEN as a preliminary step when considering environmental justice in certain situations. The agency uses it to screen for areas that may be candidates for additional consideration, analysis or outreach as EPA develops programs, policies and activities that may affect communities. In the past, the agency employed EJ screening tools in a wide variety of circumstances.


Purposes and Uses of EJSCREEN

EJSCREEN allows users to access high-resolution environmental and demographic information for locations in the United States, and compare their selected locations to the rest of the state, EPA region, or the nation.

The tool may help users identify areas with:
•Minority and/or low-income populations
•Potential environmental quality issues
•A combination of environmental and demographic indicators that is greater than usual
•Other factors that may be of interest

EJSCREEN may also be used to support:
•Educational programs
•Grant writing
•Community awareness efforts
•Other purposes