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About the Facility Locator Map - Criteria Air Pollutants

What does the map tell me?

A Facility Locator map shows the locations of "facilities" -- stationary, point sources -- that emit criteria air pollutants and precursors. The map has a symbol at the latitude-longitude coordinates of each facility. Map shading indicates the states or counties in which facilities are located.

You can identify a particular facility in a map by moving your mouse pointer onto the map symbol representing the facility's location. A "tool tip" window opens and displays information about the facility, including its name and annual pollutant emissions. (The facility information tool tip is available in a map generated in the default, zoom-able image format. It is not available if you change map preferences to a fixed-size image format.)

Information about facilities, including locational coordinates used to create Facility Locator maps, is obtained from EPA's National Emission Inventory (NEI) database.

To generate a Facility Locator map, choose a pollutant and a year. Optionally, you may choose multiple pollutants and years, and you may select facilities based on amount of pollutant emissions or type of industry (SIC), and you may add geographic features to the map.

What does the map look like?

The locations of facilities are indicated by markers on a map of the selected state (or other geographic area). Counties with at least one facility are shaded. If the map is created using the default Java applet, moving the mouse pointer over a facility marker displays its name, address, and emissions in a "tool tip" window.

How can I customize the map?

Geographic Area
The name of the geographic area previously selected is displayed here. You can click on "change" to choose a different area.

Pollutant Emitted   (required)
Selects facilities based on the criteria air pollutants (or precursors) they emit. You may choose any one or more of these pollutants:
  • CO - Carbon monoxide
  • NOx - Nitrogen oxides
  • VOC - Volatile organic compounds
  • SO2 - Sulfur dioxide
  • PM2.5 - Particulate matter (size < 2.5 micrometers)
  • PM10 - Particulate matter (size < 10 micrometers)
  • NH3 - Ammonia

Year of Data   (required)
The calendar year of air pollutant emissions. Choose one or more of the available years. A facility is included in the map if it emitted a pollutant you select during a year you choose. EPA compiles a national emissions inventory at 3-year intervals (1996, 1999, ...) and updates the National Emission Inventory database two to three years after the inventory year. Minor database updates, to amend and correct data, take place at least twice a year. AirData uses the latest database update that has been approved for public release.

Emissions Range   (optional)
Selects facilities based on the amount of pollutant they emit. A facility is included in the map if it had emissions of any selected pollutant within the range you specify, for a year you selected. You may enter a minimum value and/or a maximum value between 0 and 10 million tons. The minimum may not exceed the maximum amount. Entering only a minimum value means "select facilities that emit more than..." Entering only a maximum value means "select facilities that emit no more than..." If you enter neither a minimum nor a maximum value, amount of emissions plays no role in selecting facilities for the map.

Standard Industrial Classification (SIC)   (optional)
Selects facilities based on Standard Industrial Classification -- the type of industry or activity. There are 2-digit SIC codes, which are major classifications, and 4-digit SIC codes, which are detailed classifications. A major classification includes all the detailed classifications whose codes match in the first two digits. You may select up to 10 classifications. Without this option selected, industry type plays no role in determining which facilities to include in a map.

Geographic Features   (optional)
Enhances a map with features such as city locations, highways, and national park outlines. Without this option selected, the map includes standard features: geographic area outlines and plant location markers.

 

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