DENVER (CO) The Colorado Department of Health and Environment has announced Monday that it is pre-launching a new interactive map called Colorado EnviroScreen. It allows the state to create a more targeted approach to environmental health within local communities. The interactive tool is currently in beta testing and will be available to the public from April 18 through May 1. Encouraged Coloradans try the tool.
This tool is designed to highlight areas in Colorado most likely to suffer from “higher environmental injustices.” According to the map’s website. It will also identify areas which meet the criteria for a “Disproportionately Indicated Community”, allowing the state prioritize resources to reduce pollution or address environmental health infractions.
According to the website, the tool doesn’t identify “all” areas affected by environmental issues. It also doesn’t provide information on individual health problems that may be caused by environmental health.
Jill Hunsaker Ryan of the Environmental Justice Project stated that “EnviroScreen can be a valuable tool in our work towards environmental justice.” In a press release, the CDPHE executive director. “Everyone, regardless of where they live, work or play, deserves clean air and clean water to breathe. EnviroScreen information will help us focus our efforts and our community grants program on areas that have been suffering from environmental issues for too long.
Colorado EnviroScreen uses environmental and population factors in order to calculate a score. This score will be calculated for each county, census block group, and census tract in the state, according to the website. A higher score indicates that the area is more likely to be affected or harmed by environmental injustice.
“Developing a trusted resource for Colorado’s environmental injustices is our No. 1 goal.” David Rojas Rueda is the project leader for the CSU team, and a member of the Environmental Justice Advisory Board. “One of the key lessons from our community engagement sessions was that EnviroScreen only serves communities if it is reflective of their input and lived experiences. We know this is fundamental to our goal.
