Climate Governance and Equity

Environmental Justice Community Definitions

An environmental justice (EJ) community, also known as a disadvantaged, underserved, or overburdened community, is a group within a certain geographic location that experiences disproportionate environmental harms and risks and may share certain socioeconomic conditions. This can be the result of greater exposure to environmental hazards, vulnerability to climate impacts, lack of opportunity for public participation, and other health-related and sociopolitical circumstances. EJ community designation is often based on environmental factors, like air and water pollution and hazardous waste; socioeconomic factors, like race and income; and health factors, like rates of asthma and cardiovascular disease, and some states also designate all Tribal lands as EJ communities.

In order to identify environmental justice communities, states establish explicit, directly measurable definitions. These definitions describe the specific, quantifiable thresholds that qualify a geographical area as an EJ community, typically at the census tract or block group level within states.

States with Policy Enacted

In Progress

Partially Enacted

See States List

Key Resources

Disadvantaged Communities (DAC) Report

A 50-state survey of policies to help ensure federal investments benefit “disadvantaged communities” under Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, including federal and state Disadvantaged Community (DAC) definitions, mapping tools, and other policies.

State and Federal Environmental Justice Efforts

An overview of federal and state EJ policies and actions, including state offices and task forces, permitting reform, and EJ community identification.

Environmental Justice State Directory

A database of environmental justice laws, policies, mapping tools, and definitions across U.S. states and territories.

State and Federal EJ Communitites' Definitions

A spreadsheet that describes both official and proposed definitions and criteria to identify environmental and climate justice communities by state.
2022
Source:

Model States

California

"Disadvantaged communities" are the 25% highest scoring census tracts from CalEnviroScreen, which includes areas burdened by combinations of poverty, high unemployment, air and water pollution, presence of hazardous wastes, and/or high incidence of asthma and heart disease, as well as all Tribal lands.

Minnesota

"Environmental justice areas" are census tracts where at least 40% of the population is nonwhite, 40% have limited English proficiency, 35% of households have an income of less than 200% of the federal poverty level, or those located within "Indian Country".

"Disadvantaged communities" are communities defined as disadvantaged by the federal agency disbursing federal funds, or as "environmental justice areas" as defined by the state.

2023
Establishing Policies

New Mexico

"Disproportionately impacted communities" are communities or populations of people for which multiple burdens, including environmental and socioeconomic stressors, inequity, poverty, high unemployment, pollution, or discrimination, may act to persistently and negatively affect their health, well-being, and environment; includes tribal communities, communities of color, low-income rural communities, native people, people of color, women, immigrants, youth, formerly incarcerated people, LGBTQ people, and people with disabilities.

2021
Establishing Policies

New York

"Disadvantaged communities" are the 35% highest scoring census tracts based on 45 indicators related to environmental burdens, climate change risks, population characteristics, and health vulnerabilities, as well as all tracts containing federally designated reservations or State-recognized Nation-owned land.

Environmental Justice Community Definitions By State

Filters
Status State Sort descending Region Components YR Enacted
Not Enacted
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Environmental justice (EJ) community definitions identify the specific, quantifiable thresholds that designate a geographical area as an EJ community. These definitions account for multiple factors, including both environmental and socioeconomic stressors, that may contribute to persistent environmental health disparities.

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Southeast
Not Enacted
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Environmental justice (EJ) community definitions identify the specific, quantifiable thresholds that designate a geographical area as an EJ community. These definitions account for multiple factors, including both environmental and socioeconomic stressors, that may contribute to persistent environmental health disparities.

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West
Not Enacted
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Environmental justice (EJ) community definitions identify the specific, quantifiable thresholds that designate a geographical area as an EJ community. These definitions account for multiple factors, including both environmental and socioeconomic stressors, that may contribute to persistent environmental health disparities.

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Southwest
Not Enacted
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Environmental justice (EJ) community definitions identify the specific, quantifiable thresholds that designate a geographical area as an EJ community. These definitions account for multiple factors, including both environmental and socioeconomic stressors, that may contribute to persistent environmental health disparities.

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Southeast
Enacted
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"Disadvantaged communities" are the 25% highest scoring census tracts from CalEnviroScreen, which includes areas burdened by combinations of poverty, high unemployment, air and water pollution, presence of hazardous wastes, and/or high incidence of asthma and heart disease, as well as all Tribal lands.

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West 2012
Enacted
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"Disproportionately impacted communities" are census block groups where over 40% of households are low income or non-Hispanic White, 50% of households are housing cost-burdened, 20% are linguistically isolated, and/or those with a history of environmental racism or cumulative environmental health disparities, measured as the 20% highest scoring census tracts in Colorado EnviroScreen or federally-designated disadvantaged communities; the definition also includes all Tribal lands and Mobile Home Communities.

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West 2023
Enacted
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"Environmental justice communities" are census block groups where at least 30% of the population is living below 200% of the federal poverty level, or municipalities that are the most fiscally and economically distressed, based on tax base, personal income, and residents' need for public services.

Establishing Policies
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Northeast 2012
Not Enacted
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Environmental justice (EJ) community definitions identify the specific, quantifiable thresholds that designate a geographical area as an EJ community. These definitions account for multiple factors, including both environmental and socioeconomic stressors, that may contribute to persistent environmental health disparities.

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Southeast
Not Enacted
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Environmental justice (EJ) community definitions identify the specific, quantifiable thresholds that designate a geographical area as an EJ community. These definitions account for multiple factors, including both environmental and socioeconomic stressors, that may contribute to persistent environmental health disparities.

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Southeast
Not Enacted
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Environmental justice (EJ) community definitions identify the specific, quantifiable thresholds that designate a geographical area as an EJ community. These definitions account for multiple factors, including both environmental and socioeconomic stressors, that may contribute to persistent environmental health disparities.

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Southeast
Not Enacted
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Environmental justice (EJ) community definitions identify the specific, quantifiable thresholds that designate a geographical area as an EJ community. These definitions account for multiple factors, including both environmental and socioeconomic stressors, that may contribute to persistent environmental health disparities.

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West
Not Enacted
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Environmental justice (EJ) community definitions identify the specific, quantifiable thresholds that designate a geographical area as an EJ community. These definitions account for multiple factors, including both environmental and socioeconomic stressors, that may contribute to persistent environmental health disparities.

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West
Enacted
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"Environmental justice communities" are the 25% highest scoring census block groups based on factors including environmental hazards, income, race, health, and other environmental and socioeconomic criteria used by the U.S. EPA's EJScreen; communities are also able to request self-designation as an EJ community.

Establishing Policies
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Midwest 2017
Not Enacted
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Environmental justice (EJ) community definitions identify the specific, quantifiable thresholds that designate a geographical area as an EJ community. These definitions account for multiple factors, including both environmental and socioeconomic stressors, that may contribute to persistent environmental health disparities.

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Midwest
Not Enacted
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Environmental justice (EJ) community definitions identify the specific, quantifiable thresholds that designate a geographical area as an EJ community. These definitions account for multiple factors, including both environmental and socioeconomic stressors, that may contribute to persistent environmental health disparities.

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Midwest
Not Enacted
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Environmental justice (EJ) community definitions identify the specific, quantifiable thresholds that designate a geographical area as an EJ community. These definitions account for multiple factors, including both environmental and socioeconomic stressors, that may contribute to persistent environmental health disparities.

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Midwest
Not Enacted
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Environmental justice (EJ) community definitions identify the specific, quantifiable thresholds that designate a geographical area as an EJ community. These definitions account for multiple factors, including both environmental and socioeconomic stressors, that may contribute to persistent environmental health disparities.

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Southeast
Not Enacted
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Environmental justice (EJ) community definitions identify the specific, quantifiable thresholds that designate a geographical area as an EJ community. These definitions account for multiple factors, including both environmental and socioeconomic stressors, that may contribute to persistent environmental health disparities.

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Southeast
Enacted
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"Frontline communities" are defined as those people and communities that experience the consequences of climate change first and to a greater degree than others.

The Department of Environmental Protection must also define "environmental justice populations," taking into consideration, at a minimum, median household income, race, ethnicity, and English language proficiency.

Establishing Policies
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Northeast 2022
Enacted
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"Overburdened communities" are the 25% highest scoring census tracts in 3 or more of 21 environmental health indicators, related to pollution exposure, proximity to environmental hazards, and health outcomes.

"Underserved communities" are census tracts where at least 25% of residents are low-income, 50% are nonwhite, or 15% have limited English proficiency

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Southeast 2022
Enacted
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"Environmental justice populations" are neighborhoods where the median household income is 65% or less of the statewide median, minorities comprise 40% or more of the population, 25% or more of households lack English proficiency, or minorities comprise 25% of the population and the median household income does not exceed 150%.

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Northeast 2021
Not Enacted
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Environmental justice (EJ) community definitions identify the specific, quantifiable thresholds that designate a geographical area as an EJ community. These definitions account for multiple factors, including both environmental and socioeconomic stressors, that may contribute to persistent environmental health disparities.

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Midwest
Enacted
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"Environmental justice areas" are census tracts where at least 40% of the population is nonwhite, 40% have limited English proficiency, 35% of households have an income of less than 200% of the federal poverty level, or those located within "Indian Country".

"Disadvantaged communities" are communities defined as disadvantaged by the federal agency disbursing federal funds, or as "environmental justice areas" as defined by the state.

Establishing Policies
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Midwest 2023
Not Enacted
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Environmental justice (EJ) community definitions identify the specific, quantifiable thresholds that designate a geographical area as an EJ community. These definitions account for multiple factors, including both environmental and socioeconomic stressors, that may contribute to persistent environmental health disparities.

Empty column
Southeast
Not Enacted
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Environmental justice (EJ) community definitions identify the specific, quantifiable thresholds that designate a geographical area as an EJ community. These definitions account for multiple factors, including both environmental and socioeconomic stressors, that may contribute to persistent environmental health disparities.

Empty column
Midwest
Not Enacted
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Environmental justice (EJ) community definitions identify the specific, quantifiable thresholds that designate a geographical area as an EJ community. These definitions account for multiple factors, including both environmental and socioeconomic stressors, that may contribute to persistent environmental health disparities.

Empty column
West
Not Enacted
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Environmental justice (EJ) community definitions identify the specific, quantifiable thresholds that designate a geographical area as an EJ community. These definitions account for multiple factors, including both environmental and socioeconomic stressors, that may contribute to persistent environmental health disparities.

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Midwest
Enacted
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"Historically underserved communities" are census tracts where at least 20% of households have limited English proficiency, 50% of households are low-income, or which has a poverty rate of at least 25%; or are communities located on qualified tribal land; or are public schools in which 75% or more of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches.

Establishing Policies
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West 2021
Not Enacted
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Environmental justice (EJ) community definitions identify the specific, quantifiable thresholds that designate a geographical area as an EJ community. These definitions account for multiple factors, including both environmental and socioeconomic stressors, that may contribute to persistent environmental health disparities.

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Northeast
Enacted
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"Overburdened communities" are census block groups where at least 35% of households are low-income, 40% have limited English proficiency, or 40% of residents are minorities or members of a State recognized tribal community.

Establishing Policies
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Northeast 2020
Enacted
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"Disproportionately impacted communities" are communities or populations of people for which multiple burdens, including environmental and socioeconomic stressors, inequity, poverty, high unemployment, pollution, or discrimination, may act to persistently and negatively affect their health, well-being, and environment; includes tribal communities, communities of color, low-income rural communities, native people, people of color, women, immigrants, youth, formerly incarcerated people, LGBTQ people, and people with disabilities.

Establishing Policies
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Southwest 2021
Enacted
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"Disadvantaged communities" are the 35% highest scoring census tracts based on 45 indicators related to environmental burdens, climate change risks, population characteristics, and health vulnerabilities, as well as all tracts containing federally designated reservations or State-recognized Nation-owned land.

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Northeast 2019
Enacted
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"Underserved populations" are census block groups where (1) at least 50% of residents are non-White or which have a non-White population 10% higher than the county or state share; and (2) where 20% of the population is experiencing poverty and the share of households in poverty is at least 5% higher than the county or state share.

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Southeast 2022
Not Enacted
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Environmental justice (EJ) community definitions identify the specific, quantifiable thresholds that designate a geographical area as an EJ community. These definitions account for multiple factors, including both environmental and socioeconomic stressors, that may contribute to persistent environmental health disparities.

Empty column
Midwest
Not Enacted
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Environmental justice (EJ) community definitions identify the specific, quantifiable thresholds that designate a geographical area as an EJ community. These definitions account for multiple factors, including both environmental and socioeconomic stressors, that may contribute to persistent environmental health disparities.

Empty column
Midwest
Not Enacted
Empty column

Environmental justice (EJ) community definitions identify the specific, quantifiable thresholds that designate a geographical area as an EJ community. These definitions account for multiple factors, including both environmental and socioeconomic stressors, that may contribute to persistent environmental health disparities.

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Southwest
Enacted
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"Environmental justice communities” are communities of color, low-income communities, communities experiencing health inequities, tribal communities, rural, remote, or coastal communities, communities with limited infrastructure, and other communities traditionally underrepresented in public processes and adversely harmed by environmental and health hazards.

Establishing Policies
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West 2022
Enacted
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"Environmental justice areas" are the 20% highest scoring census tracts from PennEnviroScreen, which includes components related to pollution burden, such as environmental exposures and effects, and population characteristics, such as indicators related to health outcomes and socioeconomic factors.

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Northeast 2018
Enacted
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"Environmental Justice Focus Areas" are census tracts where the median household income is less than 65% of statewide median income, at least 40% of the population are minorities, at least 25% of households lack English proficiency, or at least 25% of the population are minorities and the municipality's median household income does not exceed 150% of statewide median income.

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Northeast 2023
Not Enacted
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Environmental justice (EJ) community definitions identify the specific, quantifiable thresholds that designate a geographical area as an EJ community. These definitions account for multiple factors, including both environmental and socioeconomic stressors, that may contribute to persistent environmental health disparities.

Empty column
Southeast
Not Enacted
Empty column

Environmental justice (EJ) community definitions identify the specific, quantifiable thresholds that designate a geographical area as an EJ community. These definitions account for multiple factors, including both environmental and socioeconomic stressors, that may contribute to persistent environmental health disparities.

Empty column
Midwest
Not Enacted
Empty column

Environmental justice (EJ) community definitions identify the specific, quantifiable thresholds that designate a geographical area as an EJ community. These definitions account for multiple factors, including both environmental and socioeconomic stressors, that may contribute to persistent environmental health disparities.

Empty column
Southeast
Not Enacted
Empty column

Environmental justice (EJ) community definitions identify the specific, quantifiable thresholds that designate a geographical area as an EJ community. These definitions account for multiple factors, including both environmental and socioeconomic stressors, that may contribute to persistent environmental health disparities.

Empty column
Southwest
Not Enacted
Empty column

Environmental justice (EJ) community definitions identify the specific, quantifiable thresholds that designate a geographical area as an EJ community. These definitions account for multiple factors, including both environmental and socioeconomic stressors, that may contribute to persistent environmental health disparities.

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West
Enacted
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“Environmental justice focus populations” are census block groups in which the annual median household income is less than 80% of the State median household income, at least 6% of the population are people of color or Indigenous people, or at least 1% of households have limited English proficiency.

Establishing Policies
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Northeast 2022
Enacted
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"Environmental justice communities" are geographic areas in which the percentage of the population of color is higher than the statewide share, or are census block groups in which at least 30% of the population has an annual household income less than 80% of the area's median income and 200% of the federal poverty level.

Establishing Policies
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Southeast 2020
Enacted
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"Overburdened communities" are areas that (1) receive a 9 or 10 ranking out of 10 on the Washington Environmental Health Disparities (EHD) Map, are census block groups in the 90th percentile on the U.S. EPA's EJScreen, or are on Tribal land; (2) have an elevated level of at least one criteria air pollutant; and (3) meet the threshold for at least one of 8 indicators related to air pollution exposure, health impacts, or vulnerability.

Establishing Policies
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West 2021
Not Enacted
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Environmental justice (EJ) community definitions identify the specific, quantifiable thresholds that designate a geographical area as an EJ community. These definitions account for multiple factors, including both environmental and socioeconomic stressors, that may contribute to persistent environmental health disparities.

Empty column
Southeast
Not Enacted
Empty column

Environmental justice (EJ) community definitions identify the specific, quantifiable thresholds that designate a geographical area as an EJ community. These definitions account for multiple factors, including both environmental and socioeconomic stressors, that may contribute to persistent environmental health disparities.

Empty column
Midwest
Not Enacted
Empty column

Environmental justice (EJ) community definitions identify the specific, quantifiable thresholds that designate a geographical area as an EJ community. These definitions account for multiple factors, including both environmental and socioeconomic stressors, that may contribute to persistent environmental health disparities.

Empty column
West

The State Climate Policy Dashboard tracks only passed policies and does not include bills currently proposed in legislative sessions. The website is intended to illustrate the current status of policies for each state, as well as key resources and model states for each policy.

Much of the information contained in this database is derived from the public domain, with links to resources provided. The information provided is made available solely for general information purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Click here for full Terms of Use.

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