Harvard EELP EPA EJScreen Tracker
EPA’s removal of the EJScreen tool creates barriers for communities. Harvard EELP’s tracker lets you follow changes and regain some access to critical data.
The recent removal of the EPA’s EJScreen tool from the official website has left many communities and researchers in a challenging position. Previously, EJScreen enabled transparent access to environmental and demographic data, crucial for identifying local pollution burdens and supporting advocacy for environmental justice. Now, the lack of this resource means communities may struggle to provide data-driven evidence when raising health and environmental concerns.
How Harvard EELP’s Tracker Provides a Solution
To help bridge the gap, the Harvard Environmental & Energy Law Program (EELP) offers an online tracker and archive. The tracker documents significant changes, including the removal of EJScreen and updates about legal challenges or alternative sources of historical EJ data. By keeping the public informed, the EELP tracker allows users to see regulatory shifts and supports advocacy based on reliable, structured information.
Key tracker features include notices about recent legal actions, the current status of EJScreen, and documentation of related agency tools. Users can reference the timeline of updates to stay current. Importantly, EELP provides a link to an archived version of EJScreen, helping fill the data access gap.
Main Pros
One clear advantage of the Harvard EELP tracker is its continual updates on policy changes, making it a dependable resource for legal professionals and concerned citizens. The tracker also archives crucial data, allowing advocates to maintain efforts for environmental justice despite the EPA changes.
Main Cons
A major drawback is that the tracker does not offer the full interactive mapping and analysis EJScreen previously provided. Users seeking in-depth, customizable data layers may find the replacement somewhat limited. Additionally, some data may not be as quickly updated as when produced by the EPA directly.
Final Verdict
Although the loss of EJScreen presents real challenges, Harvard EELP’s tracker ensures communities can stay informed and continue advocating for change. This makes it a valuable tool for anyone working toward environmental justice and governmental transparency.