Californians can find out how environmentally challenged are the neighborhoods they live in by using a new tool from released this week by the California Environmental Protection Agency. It's an interactive map called CalEnviroScreen, which takes into account multiple pollution sources (including polluted air, water, waste facilities and contaminated soil) to identify the most impacted communities in the state. Each census tract receives a score based on 19 criteria.
The tool, developed by the California Environmental Protection Agency and the state's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, was released this week. It is currently in draft mode. Bt identifying troubled areas, officials hope the tool would spur action from regulators and pave the way for more green funding into these areas.
Guest:
George Alexeeff, Director of the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) in the California Environmental Protection Agency, which developed the new tool