I nsert Cover 
 

 

 

INFORMATION TOOLS DEVELOPMENT 

 

 

Implementation Plan 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 2011 

Led by 

Office of Policy and Office of Environmental Information

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

Washington, D.C. 20460 

 
PLAN EJ 2014 AT A GLANCE

Plan EJ 2014 is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s 

roadmap to integrating environmental justice into its programs and policies. 

The year marks the 20th anniversary of the signing of Executive Order 

12898 on environmental justice. Plan EJ 2014 seeks to:

 Protect the environment and health in overburdened communities.

 Empower communities to take action to improve their health and 

environment.

 Establish partnerships with local, state, tribal, and federal 

governments and organizations to achieve healthy and sustainable 

communities.

As the EPA’s overarching environmental justice strategy, Plan EJ 2014 has 

three major sections: Cross-Agency Focus Areas, Tools Development 

Areas, and Program Initiatives. 

The Cross-Agency Focus Areas are:

 Incorporating Environmental Justice into Rulemaking.

 Considering Environmental Justice in Permitting.

 Advancing Environmental Justice through Compliance and 

Enforcement.

 Supporting Community-Based Action Programs.

 Fostering Administration-Wide Action on Environmental Justice.

The Tools Development Areas are: 

 Science.

 Law.

 Information.

 Resources.
Table of Contents 

1.0 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................2

1.1 Goal .................................................................................................................1

1.2 Organizational Structure .................................................................................2

2.0 IMPLEMENTATION .......................................................................................3

2.1 Strategies ........................................................................................................3

2.2 Activities ..........................................................................................................3

2.3 Adjustments ...................................................................................................6

3.0 DELIVERABLES ..............................................................................................7

APPENDIX: Acronyms...............................................................................................8
Plan EJ 2014: Information Tools Development 1

1.0 INTRODUCTION 

In 1994, Executive Order 12898 (EO 12898) mandated that each federal 

agency make achieving environmental justice part of its mission by 

identifying and addressing disproportionately high and adverse human 

health or environmental effects of its programs, policies, and activities on 

minority, low-income, tribal, and indigenous1

 populations. In 

implementing EO 12898, EPA programs and regions have developed a 

variety of internal environmental justice screening tools and other 

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) applications. These applications, 

such as the Environmental Justice Strategic Enforcement Assessment Tool 

(EJSEAT), EJView, and others, have played an important role as the 

Agency worked to integrate environmental justice into its programs, 

policies, and activities. Senior EPA leadership has been asked to focus on 

developing a nationally consistent environmental justice screening tool in 

order to better meet the Agency’s responsibilities of protecting public 

health under EO 12898 and our goals under Plan EJ 2014. 

In addition, EPA is developing a suite of tools, data, and services known as 

EPA’s GeoPlatform that will help coordinate and consolidate mapping 

activities, applications, and data across the Agency. The GeoPlatform will 

support a wide variety of uses across the Agency, including components 

of the nationally consistent environmental justice screening tool, and 

other data and applications that may be of interest to environmental 

justice stakeholders. 

1.1 Goal 

The goal of this implementation plan is to develop a more integrated, 

comprehensive, efficient, and nationally consistent approach for 

collecting, maintaining, and using geospatial information relevant to 

overburdened communities2

. EPA will accomplish this goal by: (1) 

developing a common Agency-wide mapping platform – the GeoPlatform, 

(2) creating a nationally consistent environmental justice screening tool, 

and (3) incorporating appropriate elements of the screening tool into the 

GeoPlatform. 

 

1 When these terms are used in this document, they refer to entities and individuals in the United 

States only.

2

 In Plan EJ 2014, EPA uses the term “overburdened” to describe the minority, low-income, tribal, and 

indigenous populations or communities in the United States that potentially experience 

disproportionate environmental harms and risks as a result of greater vulnerability to environmental 

hazards. This increased vulnerability may be attributable to an accumulation of both negative and 

lack of positive environmental, health, economic, or social conditions within these populations or 

communities.

Goal At-A-Glance

To develop a more 

integrated, 

comprehensive, efficient, 

and nationally consistent 

approach for collecting, 

maintaining, and using 

geospatial information 

relevant to overburdened

communities. 
Plan EJ 2014: Information Tools Development 2

1.2 Organizational Structure 

The Office of Environmental Information (OEI) has the lead on the 

GeoPlatform, and the Office of Policy (OP) has the lead on the nationally 

consistent screening tool. 

The development of EPA’s GeoPlatform is being led by OEI, with oversight 

from the Agency’s GIS Workgroup Steering Committee (comprised of 

representation from six regions), the Office of Research and Development 

(ORD), the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP), 

the Office of Water (OW), and the EPA Quality and Information Council 

(QIC). The QIC is the Agency’s decision-making body for addressing 

enterprise-wide technology issues and developing policies to guide EPA 

decision makers in the area of information technology and information 

management within the framework of OEI. The QIC is comprised of 

Senior Executive Service-level managers from Agency program and 

regional offices, and is chaired by the Agency’s Chief Information Officer 

(CIO). 

Development of the nationally consistent environmental justice screening 

tool is led by OP and is overseen by a steering committee comprised of 

Assistant Administrators or their designees from OP, the Office of 

Environmental Justice (OEJ), ORD, OEI, and Regions 7, 8, and 9. In 

addition, a staff level workgroup meets regularly and has participation 

from nearly every program office and region across EPA. 
Plan EJ 2014: Information Tools Development 3

2.0 IMPLEMENTATION 

2.1 Strategies 

The following three major strategies have been identified as critical 

components of the Information Tools Development Implementation Plan:

 Develop EPA’s GeoPlatform.

 Develop a nationally consistent environmental justice screening tool. 

 Incorporate appropriate elements of the screening tool into the 

GeoPlatform 

2.2 Activities 

Strategy 1: Develop EPA’s GeoPlatform

EPA’s GeoPlatform consists of a suite of tools, 

data and services that will support a wide variety 

of uses across the Agency. The GeoPlatform is an 

Agency initiative that will serve environmental 

justice, but also other important areas such as 

enforcement and community-based work. The 

GeoPlatform will eventually be applied for 

additional uses, and will provide access to a wide 

range of EPA and stakeholder data pertaining to 

environmental exposure and risk, ecological 

condition, public health, demographic data, and 

boundary/administrative information, as needed 

by EPA programs. 

The next several paragraphs describe the 

GeoPlatform. An understanding of the structure 

and philosophy behind the platform is important 

to seeing how it will serve environmental justice 

practitioners. EPA’s GeoPlatform project strives 

to coordinate activities, applications, and data 

across the Agency. We seek to ensure that the opportunity for re-use is 

maintained and that data and information is documented and available 

across the Agency, to states and tribes, and to our other stakeholder 

communities. Our vision is that ultimately everyone has the ability to 

conduct relevant geospatial analysis in their area of interest using 

common data, tools, and techniques. 

Tools to Identify Overburdened Populations

During the BP Oil Spill Response

The dynamic nature of the BP oil spill has been a 

challenge for a range of communities along the Gulf –

from hotel operators to fishermen to local community 

leaders. During cleanup activities, EPA and other 

agencies used a variety of Geographic Information 

Systems (GIS) tools to collect information, including 

EJView and GeoPlatform.gov/gulfresponse. EPA 

developed EJView, a public mapping tool, to get a 

snapshot of environmental, health, and other social 

factors that were affecting local communities. 

GeoPlatform.gov/gulfresponse, an online tool developed 

by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,

EPA, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the U.S. Department of 

Interior, was used to gather close to real time information 

about the response effort. These tools were used to 

identify locations of overburdened communities in 

comparison to areas of waste disposal, pinpoint locations 

where oil had reached the shore, and identify locations of 

community centers where people could get assistance. 
Plan EJ 2014: Information Tools Development 4

The GeoPlatform concept consists of three primary tiers – Applications, 

Services, and Data – plus a governance tier (see Figure 1 for the EPA 

GeoPlatform conceptual architecture). Details on each tier are provided 

below: 

Data Tier: The Data components of the EPA GeoPlatform include a wide 

range of geospatial data needed for EPA programmatic purposes. Some 

of this data is originated and maintained by the Agency, but most of the 

data needed is sourced from other public or private sector organizations. 

Data components already identified as core sources to be integrated into 

the GeoPlatform are the Integrated Geospatial Database (IGD), currently 

managed by the OEI/the Office of Information Analysis and Access (OIAA); 

the Facility Registry System (FRS), currently managed by OEI/OIC; 

program specific databases such as the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) and 

Brownfields, currently managed by the individual program offices; and 

externally held geospatial data services, such as for transportation 

networks, land use, land cover, and Census data, which come from a 

variety of public and private sources. The key to organizing data assets 

spread across these different offerings lies in metadata management. 

The Agency’s “Geospatial Data Gateway” (GDG, 

http://geogateway.epa.gov) application will continue to be used for 

metadata management.

Figure 1: Conceptual Architecture for the EPA GeoPlatform
Plan EJ 2014: Information Tools Development 5

Services Tier: Standardizing our geospatial data management at the 

Agency is of critical importance, however, we must also consider the 

mechanisms through which we provide Agency staff and other 

stakeholders access to different datasets housed in this enterprise. From 

a technical perspective, the most effective and re-usable way to broker 

this access is through open standards compliant web services. One of the 

most important components of the EPA GeoPlatform, then, will be a 

comprehensive web services tier that will help ensure that all relevant 

geospatial data and analytical components are as widely accessible as 

possible throughout the enterprise. Geospatial data access and some 

geoanalytical services (e.g., buffer and proximity searches) are being 

developed to leverage our internal data stores. Additionally, through 

catalog services and our application tier (Environmental Analyst, EPA 

Portal, etc.), we will be able to leverage services offered by external 

public and private providers. 

Applications Tier: As part of the EPA GeoPlatform “Release 1” offering, 

three central applications will be developed and made available for 

Agency-wide use: Environmental Analyst, the EPA Geospatial Portal, and 

EPA Earth. Environmental Analyst will be the primary tool initially 

intended for environmental justice practitioners. Environmental Analyst 

is an EPA custom version of the forthcoming ESRI commercial web 

application Community Analyst (http://communityanalyst.esri.com). 

Environmental Analyst will feature an interface designed for EPA staff to 

easily access and leverage a wide range of geospatial data to carry out 

their specific tasks. This represents a major opportunity to consolidate a 

number of different internal Program and regional geospatial web 

applications into a single one, and a significant portion of the 

GeoPlatform effort will be dedicated to outreach and development of 

opportunities for organizations to have their data, analytical and 

reporting requirements integrated into this central application. 

 Activity 1.1: Prototype of EPA Environmental Analyst for review. 

 Activity 1.2: Production release of the EPA Environmental Analyst. 

 Activity 1.3: Production release of the EPA GeoPlatform (including 

initial data services) for use by Environmental Analyst and other 

GeoPlatform components. 

Strategy 2: Develop the nationally consistent environmental justice 

screening tool.

EPA is now taking the next step in creating a nationally consistent 

environmental justice screening tool to help identify communities living 

with the greatest potential for negative environmental and health effects. 

The purpose of the screening tool will be to provide, for locations across 

the United States, a comprehensive and nationally consistent tool for 

presenting available environmental and demographic data. 

The tool will aid decision makers in assessing policy and actions to be 

taken by EPA, in accordance with, and pursuant to, applicable law. The 
Plan EJ 2014: Information Tools Development 6

tool will serve as a national baseline screening tool, which can then be 

supplemented with additional information and on-the-ground experience 

to help identify overburdened communities that may warrant additional 

investigation by EPA to help reduce risk and improve public health. OP is 

leading a cross-Agency team to identify relevant data and develop 

appropriate methods that would serve as the basis of the nationally 

consistent screening tool. As a result of this effort, increased consistency 

of data and methods will be brought to environmental justice screening 

work across EPA. 

 Activity 2.1: Hold regular staff workgroup and project steering 

committee meetings. 

 Activity 2.2: Develop a set of options to present to Senior Agency 

Officials. 

 Activity 2.3: Create a working prototype of screening tool. 

 Activity 2.4: Update the National Environmental Justice Advisory 

Council on progress. 

 Activity 2.5: Obtain peer review and public comment on a prototype 

tool. 

 Activity 2.6: Revise the tool based on comments. 

Strategy 3: Incorporate appropriate elements of the screening tool into 

the GeoPlatform.

The development of the GeoPlatform and the concurrent creation of a 

nationally consistent environmental justice screening tool provide an 

opportunity for the two efforts to reinforce and enhance each other. As 

both projects continue to evolve, EPA will be watching for opportunities 

for them to work together. Making consistent data and screening 

methods available to users of the GeoPlatform would go a long way 

towards furthering the Agency’s work in environmental justice. 

 Activity 3.1: Review screening tool data, methods, and requirements 

to determine which portions may be appropriate to include in the 

GeoPlatform. 

 Activity 3.2: Incorporate appropriate elements of the prototype 

screening tool into the GeoPlatform. 

 Activity 3.3: Revise GeoPlatform elements of the tool to be 

consistent with changes made to the prototype tool in response to 

peer review and public comments on screening tool. 

2.3 Adjustments 

Adjustments to the environmental justice screening approach may be 

made after public comment, after peer review, and in response to 

feedback from early users. Any required adjustments to the EPA 

GeoPlatform datasets or the Environmental Analyst application will also 

be made to support changes made to the environmental justice screening 

approach. 
Plan EJ 2014: Information Tools Development 7

3.0 DELIVERABLES 

ACTIVITIES DELIVERABLES MILESTONE

Strategy 1: Develop the EPA’s GeoPlatform.

Activity 1.1 Prototype of EPA Environmental Analyst for 

review.

Fiscal Year 

(FY) 2011 Q4

Activity 1.2 Production release of EPA Environmental 

Analyst.

FY 2012 Q1

Activity 1.3 Production release of EPA GeoPlatform 

(including initial data services) for use by 

Environmental Analyst and other 

GeoPlatform components.

FY 2012 Q1

Strategy 2: Develop the nationally consistent environmental justice 

screening tool.

Activity 2.1 Hold regular staff workgroup and project 

steering committee meetings.

Ongoing

Activity 2.2 Develop a set of options to present to Senior 

Agency Officials.

FY 2011 Q3

Activity 2.3 Create a working prototype of screening tool. FY 2012 Q2

Activity 2.4 Update the National Environmental Justice 

Advisory Council on progress.

TBD

Activity 2.5 Obtain peer review and public comment on a 

prototype tool.

TBD

Activity 2.6 Revise the tool based on comments. TBD

Strategy 3: Incorporate appropriate elements of the screening tool into the 

GeoPlatform.

Activity 3.1 Review screening tool data, methods, and 

requirements to determine which portions 

may be appropriate to include in the 

GeoPlatform.

Begin FY 2011 

Q4 & continue 

on a monthly 

basis

Activity 3.2 Incorporate appropriate elements of the 

prototype screening tool into the 

GeoPlatform.

TBD

Activity 3.3 Revise GeoPlatform elements of the tool to 

be consistent with changes made to the 

prototype tool in response to peer review and 

public comments on screening tool.

TBD
Plan EJ 2014: Information Tools Development 8

4.0 REPORTING 

Progress reports on this implementation plan will be made annually. 

For information, please contact: Glynis Hill, 202-564-1139, 

hill.glynis@epa.gov, Jerry Johnston, 202-564-3175, 

johnston.jerry@epa.gov, or Kim Balassiano, 202-566-0709, 

balassiano.kim@epa.gov . 
Plan EJ 2014: Information Tools Development 9

ACRONYMS 

CIO Chief Information Officer 

EJ SEAT Environmental Justice Strategic Enforcement Assessment 

Tool 

EO 12898 Executive Order 12898 

EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

FRS Facility Registry System 

FY Fiscal Year

GDG Geospatial Data Gateway

GIS Geographic Information System

IGD Integrated Geospatial Database 

OCSPP Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention 

OEI Office of Environmental Information 

OEJ Office of Environmental Justice 

OIAA Office of Information Analysis and Access 

OP Office of Policy

ORD Office of Research and Development 

OW Office of Water

QIC Quality and Information Council

TBD To be determined 

TRI Toxics Release Inventory 

 

 

 
For more information on Plan EJ 2014, visit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of 

Environmental Justice website at: http://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/plan-ej/