Disclaimer

*The MDEnviroScreen EJ score represents a combined measure of pollution and the potential vulnerability of a population to the effects of pollution. The EJ score in MDEnviroScreen does not include indicators of race,ethnicity or age; however, MDE recognizes the relationship between these demographics and pollution burden. Analysing this relationship can be used to better understand issues related to environmental justice and racial equity in Maryland.

​​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) AirToxScreen diesel PM; 

(IV) AirToxScreen cancer risk; 

(V) AirToxScreen 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

​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.

​​​How does MDE calculate an EJ Score?

MDE uses three groups of indicators to screen locations and communities based on census and health data:

• ​​Pollution burden exposure

• Pollution burden environmental effects
  

• Sensitive populations includes socioeconomic data ​
  

 MDE calculates the overall EJ Score as the average of all three factors converted to a percentile.​

Pollution Burden Exposure 

MDE calculates the pollution burden exposure score as the average percentile of the following factors:

• particulate matter (PM) 2.5

• ozone

• AirToxScreen diesel PM

• AirToxScreen cancer risk

• AirToxScreen 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 the average percentile of the following factors:

• 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 the average percentile of the following factors:

• low-birth-weight infants
  

• asthma emergency room discharges
  

• myocardial infarction discharges
  

• percent of the population lacking broadband coverage

• residents qualify as low-income*​
  

*This is the socioeconomic data included in the EJ Score​​