Screening for cumulative impacts in environmental justice (EJ) communities

Cumulative impact screening methods have evolved within the contexts of an emerging cumulative risk assessment field and a prioritization of environmental justice (EJ) communities in order to provide initial, relative estimations of which geographic areas are more highly impacted by various environmental stressors. In general, screening methods are limited in what they can and cannot accomplish and are not intended to be comparable to full risk assessments. Three main screening methods exist in California: EJSM, CEVA, and CalEnviroScreen. All three methods are highly developed and sophisticated with some distinct differences, and the EJSM is the most refined, tested, and well-known method. Despite strong urging from EJ leaders, the results of the screens have rarely been applied or translated into action. Here, I clarify the potential applications of the screening methods including: prioritization of resources and community development, prioritization of research and data improvement, informing and becoming incorporated into policy, and prioritization of enforcement efforts.