Proximity Buffer
A mapped zone (often a 1-mile or 3-mile radius) drawn around a hazardous site to define the area of primary impact. Used by regulators to identify which homes and people are most at risk.
Related terms
Fenceline Community A neighborhood immediately adjacent to an industrial plant, refinery, or military base. Residents literally share a fence line with the polluter and are the first to be hit by chemical spills, noise, or toxic plumes. Risk Management Plan Facility A facility that handles large quantities of high-risk hazardous chemicals and is required by the EPA to file a public plan describing safety procedures and worst-case spill scenarios. Geographic Boundary The defined edges of an area being studied or regulated—often a zip code, census tract, county line, or a custom radius around a polluting facility.