This week EPA released the newest version of its environmental
justice (EJ) screening and mapping tool, EJScreen 2.3. EJScreen is
a mapping tool that combines environmental and socioeconomic data
and is used to screen for potentially overburdened communities that
may be affected by federal government programs and activities. The
major changes revealed in EJScreen 2.3 include: (1) two new
environmental indicators, (2) a shift from presenting air toxics
health risks as indicators, (3) new map layers, including for
extreme heat and drinking water, and (4) modifications to the
Supplemental Index to replace unemployment data with data on
disabilities.
The two new environmental indicators address noncompliant
drinking water systems and nitrogen dioxide levels. Version 2.3
also removes air toxics cancer risk and air toxics respiratory
hazard index as environmental indicators. The version does,
however, maintain toxic releases to air as an environmental
indicator and a
