EJScreen
The EPA's Environmental Justice Screening and Mapping Tool. It overlays environmental burdens (Superfund proximity, traffic, toxic discharges) with demographic vulnerabilities to identify disadvantaged communities.
Related terms
Overburdened Community A term officially adopted by the EPA and state governments to describe minority, low-income, tribal, or indigenous populations that experience a disproportionate amount of environmental harm and health risk compared to the general population. Environmental Justice The principle that all people, regardless of race or income, deserve equal protection from environmental hazards and equal access to a healthy environment. American Community Survey An ongoing U.S. Census Bureau survey collecting detailed annual data on income, race, education, language, and housing across the country. Cumulative Burden Threshold A scoring cutoff (for example, the top 5% nationally for both poverty and pollution exposure) above which a neighborhood becomes officially designated as a disadvantaged or overburdened community, qualifying it for federal cleanup funds and protections. Environmental Protection Agency The U.S. federal agency responsible for setting and enforcing pollution standards for air, water, and soil, and for regulating hazardous chemicals.