Aug 30 -- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office requests public nominations of scientific experts to form a Panel to review the updated EJScreen methodology. EJScreen is an environmental justice (EJ) mapping and screening tool. The SAB EJScreen Review Panel will consider the EJScreen methodology and updated calculations for the EJ indexes released publicly in 2022, as well as other aspects of the calculations. The Panel will also be asked to provide recommendations and expert input on other components of the tool. Nominations should be submitted by September 20, 2022.
The SAB Staff Office is forming an expert panel, the SAB EJScreen Review Panel, under the auspices of the Chartered SAB. The SAB EJScreen Review Panel will provide advice through the chartered SAB. EJScreen is an environmental justice mapping and screening tool that provides EPA with a nationally consistent dataset and approach for combining environmental and demographic indicators to identify areas with potential EJ concerns. The data collected and screening tool may be of interest to governmental partners, the public, communities, and a variety of stakeholders as they search for environmental or demographic information. It can also support a wide range of purposes, including scientific research and policy goals.
The SAB EJScreen Review Panel will conduct a review of the updated EJScreen methodology. The current methodology underlaying EJScreen was peer reviewed in 2014. EPA is currently updating that methodology and calculations for the EJ indexes, as well as other aspects of the mapping tool calculations including the use of percentiles, representation of the scores, buffer analysis, among other topics, that will be released publicly in 2022. The Panel will also be asked to provide recommendations and expert input on these updates, as well as the demographic index and methods to consider multiple geographies.
The SAB Staff Office is seeking nominations of nationally and internationally recognized scientists with demonstrated expertise in the following disciplines: applications of geographic information science (GIS), including mapping and geospatial analyses; cartography; environmental justice tools; index development; modeling; screening tools; environmental pollution; environmental economics; sociology; exposure assessment; environmental indicators; demographics; spatial mathematics or analysis; statistics and coding. Strongest consideration will be given to individuals with demonstrated experience working with overburdened and vulnerable communities, or communities with EJ concerns in addition to the disciplines listed above (as documented in their curriculum vitae, resume, and/or publication history).
EJScreen:
https://www.epa.gov/ejscreen
About the Science Advisory Board (SAB) and the SAB Staff Office
https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/about-science-advisory-board-sab-and-sab-staff-office
FRN:
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2022-18683
