An Introduction to

EJSCREEN for Climate

Justice Application
Christian Braneon, PhD, EIT
Physical Scientist

Outline
Climate Change and Extreme Weather
Climate Change Impacts on Public Health
Brief Overview of Climate Justice
Introduction to EJSCREEN
City of Dallas Case Study
Group Reports and Discussion
Caveats, Conclusions and Q&A
2

Climate Change and Extreme Weather

Shift in distribution of
cold and hot weather
Climate change will result
in more heat waves in the
United States
If current emissions hold
steady, excess heatrelated deaths could
climb

Climate Change and Extreme Weather

Urban Heat Island Effect

Climate Change Impacts on Public Health

Climate Change Impacts on Public Health (2)

Climate Change Impacts on Public Health (3)

Climate Change Impacts on Public Health (4)

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EJSCREEN Background
EPAs new tool for EJ screening and mapping
Web-based GIS tool and data for EPA and the
public
Plan EJ 2014 announced EPAs plan to create
a new, nationally consistent EJ screening tool
Builds upon NEJAC report on EJ screening,
and prior work across EPA programs and
Regions
Incorporates comments from peer letter
reviews by experts on geospatial tools and
EJ
Input from Regions
Build upon previous EJ screening tools (e.g. 11

Key Features
12 different environmental factors
Updated demographics ACS every 1
year, not every 10 years
A consistent, quantified approach to EJ
Accessible and transparent to anyone
with a web browser -> http
://www2.epa.gov/ejscreen

Standard printable reports and bar

graphs
Block groups rather than census tracts
or counties.
A wealth of additional data maps; can
add more from the Web

12

Using EJSCREEN
Available to all EJ stakeholders and general
public but no requirement that
state/tribal/stakeholders use it
Place to start - basis for further dialogue
Show which places may be candidates for
further review where to take a closer look,
Wealth of additional data maps & can add
more from the Web
Raw data downloads are also available
It shows how much a block group contributes
to the nations overall disparity (between
demographic groups) in that environmental 13

US Census Categories
State
Counties
Census Tracts
Block Groups
Blocks

1-14

Current Environmental Indicators

(1) PM 2.5

Indicators of
Potential Exposure

(2) Ozone
(3) Diesel Particulate Matter
(4) Lead Paint Indicator

(5) NATA Air Toxics Cancer Risk

Indicators of Hazard (6) NATA Respiratory Hazard Index

/ Risk

(7) NATA Neurological Hazard Index

(8) Traffic Proximity

Indicators of
Proximity
NATA = National Air Toxics Assessment

(9) Proximity to Natl. Priority List (NPL)

Sites
(10) Proximity to Toxic Storage Disposal
(TSD) Sites
(11) Proximity to Risk Management Plan

1-15

Demographic Indicators
(1) Percent Minority Population

Demographic
Index

(2) Percent Low Income

(3) Linguistically Isolated

Additional Indicators

(4) Less than high school education

(5) Under age 5 years
(6) Over age 64 years

1-16

Combines Environmental & Demographic

data
EJ Primary Index (for each environmental
Indicator e.g. Ozone)
Environmental Indicator
(e.g. Ozone)

Proxy/ Predictor for

Exposure/
Env. Burden

+
Demographic Index
(% Minority, % Income)

Proxy/ Predictor for

Health Status /Potential
Vulnerability

17

Considerations and Limitations for Using

EJSCREEN
EJSCREEN CANNOT be used as:
A way to label an area as an EJ community or
EJ area
A risk assessment
The basis for EPA decision-making (it is predecisional)

18

Dallas Case Study

Developed population and
water demand forecasts
Evaluated current and
future water supply from
existing sources
First time the City of
Dallas considered climate
change in their water
planning process
Projected the increase in
evaporation from
reservoirs due to
temperature
19

Dallas Case Study (2)

20

Dallas Case Study (2)

Spatially and
temporally
downscaled
temperature

Global Climate Models (GCMs)

1/8 degree daily max.

temperature data
aggregated for Dallas
area
Multi-model mean
utilized

21

Dallas Case Study (3)

Rapid population
growth peaking
around 2050
Balance between
fossil and nonfossil energy
sources
Considered
middle of the
road scenario

22

Dallas Case Study (4) Group Activity with

EJSCREEN

23

Caveats
Uncertainty - with the American
Community Survey (ACS) demographic data
from census are estimates from surveys at
the block group level.
Proxy Measures - Environmental indicators
(for actual exposure) & demographic
indicators (health status & vulnerability).
Available data - Some indicators may be
outdated conditions change (e.g. most
recent NATA data 2005)
Environmental Issues - It does not cover
all environmental issues.
Other data/information - Local data and 24

Conclusions
We are already experiencing climate
change
There are a variety of health impacts
associated with a changing climate
Vulnerable and overburdened
communities are particularly at risk to
extreme heat now and in the future
EJSCREEN is a free, user-friendly tool
that can support climate justice
screening

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Thank you.
Questions?
http://www2.epa.gov/ejscreen
Christian Braneon
US EPA, Region 4
Office of Environmental Justice and
Sustainability
Braneon.Christian@epa.gov
404-562-9608
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APPENDIX

1-27

Important Notes About How EPA Uses

EJSCREEN
Tool and data to be shared with State/Tribal,
public, etc.
Highlights areas that may be candidates for
further review
Pre-decisional screening tool
Baseline screening should be supplemented
with local information and experience
Should not be used to label areas as EJ
community
28

Environmental and Demographic Indicators

29

Table of the 12 EJ Indexes

Traffic
Traffic
Proximity
Proximity
and
and
Volume
Volume

30

Bar Graphs

31

Maps of Selected Area of Interest

1 mile radius is
usually reasonable
and useful.
<0.5 miles has much
higher uncertainty.
>5 miles is generally
too far.
>50 square miles
generally wont work.
1
1 mile
mile
Buffer
Buffer
Ring
Ring

32

Caveats
Uncertainty - with the American
Community Survey (ACS) demographic data
from census are estimates from surveys at
the block group level.
Proxy Measures - Environmental indicators
(for actual exposure) & demographic
indicators (health status & vulnerability).
Available data - Some indicators may be
outdated conditions change (e.g. most
recent NATA data 2005)
Environmental Issues - It does not cover
all environmental issues.
Other data/information - Local data and 33

Whats Happening Now?

Updates to Demographic and
Environmental Indicators
July October 2015 - Collected feedback
from users on ways to improve and
enhance the tool and website
More in-depth conversation or engagement, email to olp.kevin@epa.gov

October December 2015 Review

feedback and begin development of
updated version of the tool
2016 Release updated version to the
public
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