EJSCREEN: Environmental Justice Screening and Mapping Tool
Contact Us

EJSCREEN Map Descriptions

The below provides basic descriptions for the data included in the mapping layers available through EJSCREEN. EJSCREEN data are updated periodically. To see which years of data are in the current version, see Overview of Environmental Indicators in EJSCREEN or check the metadata.

EJ Indexes

  • EJ Index
    There are eleven EJ Indexes in EJSCREEN reflecting the 11 environmental indicators. Each EJ index is a combination of environmental and demographic information. The EJ Index highlights block groups with the highest intersection of low-income populations, people of color, and a given environmental indicator. To calculate a single EJ Index for one block group, EJSCREEN multiplies the environmental indicator by demographic information. This demographic information includes percent low-income and percent people of color (as the Demographic Index), and total population of the block group. This is the formula for the index:
    EJ Index = (Environmental Indicator) X (Demographic Index for Block Group – Demographic Index for US) X (Population Count for Block Group)

Demographic Indicators

  • Percent people of color
    The percent of individuals in a block group who list their racial status as a race other than white alone and/or list their ethnicity as Hispanic or Latino. That is, all people other than non-Hispanic white-alone individuals. The word "alone" in this case indicates that the person is of a single race, not multiracial. Source: The Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-year summary estimates.
  • Percent low-income
    Percent of individuals whose ratio of household income to poverty level in the past 12 months was less than 2 (as a fraction of individuals for whom ratio was determined). Source: The Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-year summary estimates.
  • Percent less than high school education
    Percent of individuals age 25 and over with less than high school degree. Source: The Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-year summary estimates.
  • Percent in linguistic isolation
    Percent of households in which no one age 14 and over speaks English "very well" or speaks English only (as a fraction of households). Source: The Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-year summary estimates.
  • Percent over age 64
    Percent of individuals over age 64 as a fraction of the population. Source: The Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-year summary estimates.
  • Percent under age 5
    Percent of individuals under age 5 as a fraction of population. Source: The Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-year summary estimates.
  • Demographic Index
    The Demographic Index in EJSCREEN is a combination of percent low-income and percent minority, the two demographic factors that were explicitly named in Executive Order 12898 on Environmental Justice. For each Census block group, these two numbers are simply averaged together. The formula is as follows: Demographic Index = (% people of color + % low-income) / 2. Source: The Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-year summary estimates.

Environmental Indicators

  • Air Toxics Cancer Risk (NATA Cancer Risk)
    Lifetime cancer risk from inhalation of air toxics, as risk per lifetime per million people. Source: EPA National Air Toxics Assessment
  • Air Toxics Respiratory Hazard Index (NATA Respiratory HI)
    Air toxics respiratory hazard index (the sum of hazard indices for those air toxics with reference concentrations based on respiratory endpoints, where each hazard index is the ratio of exposure concentration in the air to the health-based reference concentration set by EPA). EPA National Air Toxics Assessments
  • Diesel Particulate Matter level in air (NATA Diesel PM)
    Diesel particulate matter level in air in micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3). Source: EPA National Air Toxics Assessments
  • Ozone level in air
    Ozone summer seasonal avg. of daily maximum 8-hour concentration in air in parts per billion. Source: EPA Office of Air and Radiation
  • PM2.5 level in air
    Particulate matter (PM2.5) levels in air, micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3) annual average. Source: EPA Office of Air and Radiation
  • Traffic Proximity and Volume
    Count of vehicles per day (average annual daily traffic) at major roads within 500 meters (or nearest one beyond 500 m), divided by distance in meters. Calculated from U.S. Department of Transportation National Transportation Atlas Database, Highway Performance Monitoring System.
  • Lead Paint Indicator (% pre-1960 housing)
    Percent of housing units built before 1960, as indicator of potential exposure to lead paint. Calculated from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-year summary estimates.
  • Proximity National Priority List Sites (NPL)
    Count of proposed and listed NPL sites within 5 km (or nearest one beyond 5 km), each divided by distance in km. Count excludes deleted sites. Source: Calculated from EPA CERCLIS database.
  • Proximity to Risk Management Plan (RMP) Facilities
    Count of RMP (potential chemical accident management plan) facilities within 5 km (or nearest one beyond 5 km), each divided by distance in km. Calculated from EPA RMP database.
  • Proximity to Hazardous Waste Facilities
    Count of hazardous waste management facilities (TSDFs and LQGs) within 5 km (or nearest one beyond 5 km), each divided by distance in km. Calculated from EPA RCRAInfo database.
  • Wastewater Dischargers Indicator (Stream Proximity and Toxic Concentration) 
    RSEI modeled Toxic Concentrations at stream segments within 500 meters, divided by distance in kilometers (km). Calculated from RSEI modeled toxic concentrations to stream reach segments.

Areas of Concern

The "Areas of Concern" layers represent Census block groups where one or more of the eleven EJ Indexes is at or above either the 80th, 90th or 95th percentile.  The layers offer a cumulative outlook on the EJ indexes featured in the tool and a foundation upon which to consider additional information.  As a reminder, the formula for the EJ Index = (Environmental Indicator) X (Demographic Index for Block Group – Demographic Index for US) X (Population Count for Block Group).

  • Over 95th Percentile
    Block groups where at least one of the EJ indexes is at or above the 95th percentile, when compared to either the state or the nation. Approximately 14% of block groups are highlighted when considering the 95th percentile in the nation. 
  • Over 90th Percentile
    Block groups where at least one of the EJ indexes is at or above the 90th percentile, when compared to either the state or the nation. Approximately 23% of block groups are highlighted when considering the 90th percentile in the nation.
  • Over 80th Percentile
    Block groups where at least one of the EJ indexes is at or above the 80th percentile, when compared to either the state or the nation. Approximately 34% of block groups are highlighted when considering the 80th percentile in the nation.

 

Additional Layers

Climate

Wildfire Hazard Potential
An index that quantifies "the relative potential for wildfire that may be difficult to control" in the conterminous United States. These data can be used to identify areas of potential wildfire risk that are proximate to socially and economically vulnerable communities.
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Spatial Metadata: Wildfire Hazard Potential for the United States (270-m), version 2020
Drought
This map shows how drought conditions have changed across the contiguous 48 states from 1900 to 2020. The data are shown for small regions called climate divisions, as defined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Blue areas represent increased moisture; brown areas represent a decrease or drier conditions. These data can be used to identify social and economically vulnerable communities that are found in drier conditions.
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Spatial Metadata: Average Change in Drought (Five-Year SPEI) in the Contiguous 48 States, 1900–2020
Coastal Flood Hazard
This map depicts areas in coastal counties in the United States along the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean that are most prone to coastal flood hazards. These data can be used to look for locations of social and economic vulnerability that are also prone to coastal flood hazards.
Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Spatial Metadata: NOAA Office for Coastal Management
Estimated 100-year floodplains
This map depicts the estimated 100-year floodplains for the Conterminous US for 2016. These data can be used to look for socially and economically vulnerable communities located within the estimated 100-year floodplains. 
Source: Enviroatlas
Spatial Metadata: Enviroatlas
Sea Level Rise (NOAA)
This dataset depicts land at risk of permanent flooding when sea level rises. There are six map layers showing the area inundated at one, two, three, four, five and six feet of sea level rise. Over the next 30 years, scientists estimate a one to three-foot rise along most of the U.S. coastline. These data can be used to look for areas of potential permanent inundation based on chosen sea level rise estimates (i.e., 1 to 6 feet) in relation to locations of social and economic vulnerability.
Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Spatial Metadata: NOAA Office for Coastal Management

Health

Low Life Expectancy
Average life expectancy data developed as a collaboration between NCHS, the National Association for Public Health Statistics and Information Systems, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. This data is available at the tract level.
Source: U.S. Small-area Life Expectancy Estimates Project (USALEEP)
Heart Disease
Heart disease prevalence among adults aged 18 years or older. The term "heart disease" refers to several types of heart conditions. This data is available at the tract level.
Source: CDC Places Data
Asthma
Asthma prevalence among adults aged 18 or older. This data is available at the tract level.
Source: CDC Places Data

Critical Service Gaps

Food Desert
Low income and low access tract measured at 1 mile for urban areas and 10 miles for rural areas. This data is available at the tract level.
Source: USDA
Medically Underserved
Medically Underserved Areas/Populations are areas or populations designated by US Health Resources & Services Administration as having too few primary care providers, high infant mortality, high poverty or a high elderly population. More information can be found at: Health Resources & Services Administration.
Unemployment
All those who did not have a job at all during the reporting period, made at least one specific active effort to find a job during the prior 4 weeks, and were available for work (unless temporarily ill).
Source: The Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-year summary estimates

Sites Reporting to EPA

The below includes information EPA collects through various databases about facilities or sites subject to environmental regulation.

Superfund
The Superfund Enterprise Management System (SEMS) provides information regarding sites under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act -- otherwise known as CERCLA or Superfund. CERCLA provides a Federal "Superfund" to locate, investigate, and clean up uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous-waste sites as well as accidents, spills, and other emergency releases of pollutants and contaminants into the environment. The National Priorities List (NPL) is the list of national priorities among the known releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants throughout the United States and its territories.
Source: EPA's Envirofacts
Toxic Releases
The Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) contains information on toxic chemical releases and waste management activities reported annually by certain industries as well as federal facilities. The database also contains links to compliance and enforcement information.
Source: EPA's Envirofacts
Water Dischargers (NPDES)
As authorized by the Clean Water Act, the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program controls water pollution by regulating sources, such as municipal and industrial wastewater treatment facilities, that discharge pollutants into waters of the United States. EPA tracks water discharge permits through the Permit Compliance System (PCS) and Integrated Compliance Information System (ICIS) databases, which includes information on when a permit was issued and when it expires, how much the company is permitted to discharge, and the actual monitoring data showing what the company has discharged.
Source: EPA's Envirofacts
Air Pollution (ICIS-AIR)
The air pollution data (ICIS-AIR) contains compliance and permit data for stationary sources of air pollution (such as electric power plants, steel mills, factories, and universities) regulated by EPA, state and local air pollution agencies. The information in ICIS-AIR is used by the states to prepare State Implementation Plans (SIPs) and to track the compliance status of point sources with various regulatory programs under Clean Air Act.
Source: EPA's Envirofacts
Brownfields (ACRES)
The Assessment, Cleanup and Redevelopment Exchange System (ACRES) captures grantee reported data on environmental activities and accomplishments (assessment, cleanup and redevelopment), funding, job training, and details on cooperative partners and leveraging efforts for the Brownfields Program. The information in ACRES is provided at the property and grant level.
Source: EPA's Envirofacts

Hazardous Waste (TSDF)

Hazardous waste information contained in the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Information (RCRAInfo) includes an inventory on all generators, transporters, treaters, storers, and disposers of hazardous waste that are required to provide information about their activities.
Source: EPA's Envirofacts

Superfund (NPL)

The Superfund Enterprise Management System (SEMS) provides information regarding sites under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act -- otherwise known as CERCLA or Superfund. CERCLA provides a Federal "Superfund" to locate, investigate, and clean up uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous-waste sites as well as accidents, spills, and other emergency releases of pollutants and contaminants into the environment. The National Priorities List (NPL) is the list of national priorities among the known releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants throughout the United States and its territories.
This maps contains only the point locations used to create the Superfund Environmental Indication in EJSCREEN.
Source: EPA's Envirofacts

RSEI

RSEI Pounds
Only certain releases and transfers are modeled in RSEI (direct air and water releases, and transfers to publicly-owned treatment works (POTWs) or off-site incineration). Pounds for those releases and transfers are labeled "RSEI Modeled Pounds" in charts and tables to emphasize that the value may not match the total pounds listed in TRI for a facility or a geographic area.
Source: EPA's RSEI
RSEI Hazard
RSEI Hazard, also called toxicity-weighted pounds, is a result that accounts for the size of the release and the chemical’s toxicity. Unlike RSEI Score, RSEI Hazard does not include fate and transport modeling or adjustments for population exposure. RSEI Hazard should be interpreted carefully; in some cases, high RSEI Hazard may not be associated with high potential risk for human exposure.
Source: EPA's RSEI
RSEI Score
A RSEI Score is a unitless value that accounts for the size of the chemical release, the fate and transport of the chemical through the environment, the size and location of the exposed population, and the chemical's toxicity. A RSEI Score is calculated as toxicity weight multiplied by the exposed population multiplied by the estimated dose. RSEI Scores are only meaningful in comparison to other RSEI Scores.
Source: EPA's RSEI

NonAttainment Areas

If the air quality in a geographic area meets or is cleaner than the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS), it is called an attainment area; areas that don't meet the national standard are called nonattainment areas.  In some cases, EPA is not able to determine an area's status after evaluating the available information and those areas are designated "unclassifiable." These are areas that do not meet (or that contributes to ambient air quality in a nearby area that does not meet) the national primary or secondary ambient air quality standard for a NAAQS.
Ozone 8-hr (1997 standard)
Description: Ozone 8-hr (1997 standard)
Source and Spatial Metadata: Ozone 8-hr (1997 standard)
Ozone 8-hr (2008 standard)
Description: Ozone 8-hr (2008 standard)
Source and Spatial Metadata: Ozone 8-hr (2008 standard)
Ozone 8-hr (2015 standard)
Description: Ozone 8-hr (2015 standard)
Source and Spatial Metadata: Ozone 8-hr (2015 standard)
Lead (2008 standard)
Description: Lead (2008 standard)
Source and Spatial Metadata: Lead (2008 standard)
SO2 1-hr (2010 standard)
Description: SO2 1-hr (2010 standard)
Source and Spatial Metadata: SO2 1-hr (2010 standard)
PM2.5 24hr (2006 standard)
Description: PM2.5 24hr (2006 standard)
Source and Spatial Metadata: PM2.5 24hr (2006 standard)
PM2.5 Annual (1997 standard)
Description: PM2.5 Annual (1997 standard)
Source and Spatial Metadata: PM2.5 Annual (1997 standard)
PM2.5 Annual (2012 standard)
Description: PM2.5 Annual (2012 standard)
Source and Spatial Metadata: PM2.5 Annual (2012 standard)
PM10 (1987 standard)
Description: PM10 (1987 standard)
Source and Spatial Metadata: PM10 (1987 standard)
CO (1971 Standard)
Description: CO (1971 Standard)
Source and Spatial Metadata: CO (1971 Standard)
Ozone 1-hr (1979 standard-revoked)
Description: Ozone 1-hr (1979 standard-revoked)
Source and Spatial Metadata: Ozone 1-hr (1979 standard-revoked)
NO2 (1971 Standard)
Description: NO2 (1971 Standard)
Source and Spatial Metadata: NO2 (1971 Standard)

Water Features

Impaired Water Points
The Impaired Water Points layer includes points that are too polluted or otherwise degraded to meet the water quality standards set by states, territories, or authorized tribes. These water points are on the CWA 303(d) list and are required to develop a total maximum daily load (TMDL). This set of water points are provided by the Assessment, Total Maximum Daily Load Tracking and Implementation System (ATTAINS).
Source: EPA Office of Water ATTAINS Geospatial Data
Spatial Metadata: ATTAINS Assessment Areas
Impaired Streams
The Impaired Streams layer includes streams that are too polluted or otherwise degraded to meet the water quality standards set by states, territories, or authorized tribes. These streams are on the CWA 303(d) list and are required to develop a total maximum daily load (TMDL). These stream segments are provided by the Assessment, Total Maximum Daily Load Tracking and Implementation System (ATTAINS).
Source: EPA Office of Water ATTAINS Geospatial Data
Spatial Metadata: ATTAINS Assessment Lines
Impaired Water Bodies
The Impaired Water Bodies layer includes bodies of water that are too polluted or otherwise degraded to meet the water quality standards set by states, territories, or authorized tribes. These water bodies are on the CWA 303(d) list and are required to develop a total maximum daily load (TMDL). This set of water areas are provided by the Assessment, Total Maximum Daily Load Tracking and Implementation System (ATTAINS).
Source: EPA Office of Water ATTAINS Geospatial Data
Spatial Metadata: ATTAINS Assessment Areas
Impaired Catchment
The Impaired Catchment layer includes catchment assessment units that are too polluted or otherwise degraded to meet the water quality standards set by states, territories, or authorized tribes. These water bodies are on the CWA 303(d) list and are required to develop a total maximum daily load (TMDL). This set of water areas are provided by the Assessment, Total Maximum Daily Load Tracking and Implementation System (ATTAINS).
Source: EPA Office of Water ATTAINS Geospatial Data
Spatial Metadata: ATTAINS Assessment Areas
Streams
The Streams layer includes linear surface water features throughout the United States. The streams layer is based on the National Hydrography Dataset (NHD).
Source: EPA Office of Water
Spatial Metadata: Streams
Water Bodies
The Water Bodies layer includes area surface features such as ponds, lakes and wide rivers. The water bodies layer is from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line data.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau Areal Hydrography
Spatial Metadata: Water Bodies
Sole Source Aquifers
The Sole Source Aquifer layer includes information on the sole source aquifers (SSA) designated by EPA under section 1424(e) of the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974. SSA's supply at least 50 percent of the drinking water consumed in the area overlying the aquifer. These areas may have no alternative drinking water source(s) that could physically, legally and economically supply all those who depend on the aquifer for drinking water.
Source: SSA Locations
Spatial Metadata: Sole Source Aquifers

Places

Places of Worship
Point locations for buildings used for religious worship (e.g., chapel, mosque, synagogue, tabernacle, or temple).
Source: U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)
Spatial Metadata: Worship Places
Hospitals
Point locations for buildings where the sick or injured may receive medical or surgical attention (e.g., infirmary, clinic).
Source: U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)
Spatial Metadata: Hospitals

Schools

The National Center for Education Statistics’ (NCES) Education Demographic and Geographic Estimate (EDGE) program develops annually updated point locations (latitude and longitude) for public elementary and secondary schools included in the NCES Common Core of Data. The NCES EDGE program collaborates with the U.S. Census Bureau’s Education Demographic, Geographic, and Economic Statistics (EDGE) Branch to develop point locations for schools and school district administrative offices based on these addresses. The point locations in this data layer were developed from the 2017-2018 CCD collection.
For more information about NCES school point data, see: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

Parks

Parks information broken down by the managing agency (USFS, BLM, State Fish and Wildlife, State Parks and Rec, City, NGO, etc).
For more information about PAD-US: Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US) 2.0

Transportation

Airport Points
The Airport layer includes points for landing facilities in the United States that were provided and maintained by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Source: National Transportation Atlas Database
Spatial Metadata: Airports Point
Airport Polygons
The Airport Polygons layer includes airport boundaries and airport runways within the United States.
Source: Data and Maps for ArcGIS
Spatial Metadata: Airports Polygon
Railroads
The Railroads layer includes linear features representing the United State's railway system. The Railroads layer is provided and maintained by the Federal Railroad Administration.
Source: National Transportation Atlas Database
Spatial Metadata: Railroads

EPA Tribal Areas

This layer represents locations of American Indian Tribal lands in the lower 48 states and Alaska. The areas include all lands associated with Federally recognized tribal entities--Federally recognized Reservations, Off-Reservation Trust Lands, and Census Oklahoma Tribal Statistical Areas. EPA makes no claims regarding the accuracy or precision of data concerning Indian country locations or boundaries. EPA has simply attempted to collect certain readily available information relating to Indian country locations.
Source: EPA

Boundaries

Zip Codes
The Zip Codes layer provides information and identifies each postal delivery area in the United States.
Source: Data and Maps for ArcGIS
Spatial Metadata: Zip Codes
Congressional Districts
The Congressional Districts layer includes information on the 117th Congressional Districts of the United States, and U.S. Territories.
Source: ArcGIS Map Service
Spatial Metadata: Congressional Districts
City Boundaries
The City Boundaries layer includes incorporated cities and Census Designated Places from the U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line data.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Spatial Metadata: City Boundaries
Urbanized Areas
Urbanized Areas are derived from the 2019 U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line Urban Areas. Urbanized Areas are contiguous areas of populations greater than 50,000.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Spatial Metadata: Urbanized Areas
Federal Lands
The Federal Lands layer includes information on lands owned or administered by the Federal government. This layer is downloaded from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
Source: USGS National Geospatial Program Small-Scale Data
Spatial Metadata: Federal Lands
Townships Boundary
The Townships Boundary layer portrays the Public Land Survey System (PLSS) boundaries of the United States to the township level. This layer is downloaded from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) PLSS Map Service.
Source: Bureau of Land Management PLSS Townships
Spatial Metadata: Townships Boundary
Counties
The Counties layer portrays the county boundaries of the United States.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Spatial Metadata: Counties
States
The State layer provides state boundaries of the United States.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Spatial Metadata: States
EPA Regions
The EPA Regions layer includes EPA Administrative Region boundaries derived from State boundaries.
Source: EPA Office of Environmental Information (OEI)
Spatial Metadata: EPA Regions

Prisons

The prison boundary feature class contains secure detention facilities. These facilities range in jurisdiction from federal (excluding military) to local governments. Polygon geometry is used to describe the extent of where the incarcerated population is located (fence lines or building footprints).
Source: Department of Homeland Security

Public Housing

This dataset provides the location, and resident characteristics of HUD administer public housing development buildings. Location data for HUD-related properties and facilities are derived from HUD's enterprise geocoding service.
To learn more about Public Housing visit: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Subsidized Public Housing

This layer represents the approximate locations of HUD’s Multifamily Housing. The locations of individual buildings associated with each property are not depicted here. HUD’s Multifamily Housing property portfolio consist primarily of rental housing properties with five or more dwelling units such as apartments or town houses, but can also include nursing homes, hospitals, elderly housing, mobile home parks, retirement service centers, and occasionally vacant land. The three largest assistance programs for Multifamily Housing are Section 8 Project Based Assistance, Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly, and Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities.  
To learn more about Multifamily Housing visit: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

More Demographics

Demographic information is available to add to the EJSCREEN map under the "More Demographics" button. You may click on the associated button to see metadata for that data layer. Please see the Census Bureau website for more explanations regarding the annual American Community Survey (ACS) estimates.

Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.