EPA Releases "Environmental Justice" Mapping Website

This was in the Chesapeake Bay listserve today, along with about 10 stories of the Kent Island Osprey couple forced to adopt stray chicks. Yes, they call it a "environmental justice" mapping tool:

EPA releases environmental justice mapping tool

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently released EJSCREEN, an environmental justice mapping tool that combines demographic and environmental data to help identify communities who may face a higher risk of environmental harm.

The tool allows users to select a region by drawing on a map, searching by city or selecting a census area. Reports on the selected area relate environmental hazards—including air pollution, lead paint and toxic waste sites—to demographic factors, such as the percentage of the population that is low-income or minority.

Environmental justice supports equal access to a clean and healthy environment. EJSCREEN could help target programs, policies and funding toward communities in need of increased environmental protection, access to health care, improved infrastructure and climate resilience. Promoting environmental justice is one of the guiding principles of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement. The tool will help guide the Chesapeake Bay Program’s work under the Agreement in engaging diverse communities and mitigating toxic contaminants.

The EPA is looking for feedback on the tool from users, and plans to release a revised edition next year.

Learn more.

"Environmental justice" is one of those words that liberals use that gives me the heebie jeebees, because it doesn't mean anything in particular, but can be used to justify almost any action they want.

I played with the tool a little bit, and determined that our area has a problem with ozone under the 2008 standard, but no problems with lead or particulates.