Launch the EJ Screening Tool

What are Underserved Communities?

​​State law defines Underserved Communities as “any census tract in which, according to the most recent U.S. census bureau survey: 

(I) at least 25% of the residents qualify as low-income; 

(II) at least 50% of the residents identify as nonwhite; or

(III) at least 15% of the residents have limited English proficiency.”

​What are Overburdened Communities?

​​State law defines Overburdened Communities as “any census tract in which three or more of the following environmental health indicators are above the 75th percentile statewide: 

(I) particulate matter (PM) 2.5; 

(II) ozone; 

(III) National Air Toxic Assessment (NATA) diesel PM; 

(IV) NATA cancer risk; 

(V) NATA respiratory hazard index; 

(VI) traffic proximity; 

(VII) lead paint indicator; 

(VIII) national priorities list superfund site proximity; 

(IX) risk management plan facility proximity; 

(X) hazardous waste proximity; 

(XI) wastewater discharge indicator; 

(XII) proximity to a concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO); 

(XIII) percent of the population lacking broadband coverage; 

(XIV) asthma emergency room discharges; 

(XV) myocardial infarction discharges; 

(XVI) low-birth-weight infants; 

(XVII) proximity to emitting power plants; 

(XVIII) proximity to a toxic release inventory (TRI) facility; 

(XIX) proximity to a brownfields site; 

(XX) proximity to mining operations; and 

(XXI) proximity to a hazardous waste landfill”

• ​​Pollution burden exposure
• Pollution burden environmental effects
• Sensitive populations

• Socioeconomic/Demographic indicators

The definition of an overburdened community was used to calculate pollution burden exposure, pollution burden environmental effects, and sensitive populations. The definition of an underserved community was used to calculate socioeconomic/demographic factors.​

Pollution Burden Exposure 

MDE calculates the pollution burden exposure score as any census tract in which the following indicators are above the 75th percentile statewide:

• particulate matter (PM) 2.5
  
• ozone
• National Air Toxic Assessment (NATA) diesel PM
• NATA cancer risk
• NATA respiratory hazard index
• traffic proximity
• proximity to a toxic release inventory (TRI) facility
• proximity to a hazardous waste landfill

Pollution Burden Environmental Effects

MDE calculates the pollution burden environmental effects score as any census tract in which the following indicators are above the 75th percentile statewide:

• lead paint indicator
• risk management plan facility proximity
• hazardous waste proximity
• national priorities list superfund site proximity
• wastewater discharge indicator
• proximity to a brownfields site
• proximity to emitting power plants 
• proximity to a concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) 
• proximity to mining operations

Sensitive Populations

MDE calculates the sensitive populations score as any census tract in which the following indicators are above the 75th percentile statewide:

• low-birth-weight infants*
• asthma emergency room discharges*
• myocardial infarction discharges*
  
• percent of the population lacking broadband coverage⁺
  

*These indicators are not tracked on the 2020 census tract level; this data was derived from the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the University of Maryland who crosswalked back the 2020 data that was provided to them at the tract level. However, at the time of analysis the data was crosswalked back to the 2010 census tracts. This data is the best available data provided by hospitals, however, due to Heath Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), some areas may appear as ​being overburdened for sensitive populations due do a community's proximity to a hospital. Therefore this should be taken into consideration when reviewing this data.⁺The broadband coverage data was derived from the American Community Survey.