Using New Online Databases to Identify Environmental Justice Issues

Abstract

Using New Online Data Bases to Identify Environmental Justice Issues During the last decade, U.S. government agencies have published multiple on-line geographical databases. Containing demographic, environmental, public health, and urban service information, they permit users to examine environmental justice issues at county, city, and census tract scales. After briefly describing the opportunities associated with these sources, we illustrate their use to inform government policy with examples drawn from the U.S. Department of Energy’s environmental management program. These examples include ranking of site areas regarding their need for environmental-justice-related assistance and the identification of opportunities to work with local colleges. The illustrations highlight the strengths and limitations of these databases and suggest ideas for increasing their utility to researchers and the general public. We strongly believe that these databases will expand and become even more useful.