Technical documentation of the map can be viewed here: https://doh.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2022-07/311-011-EHD-Map-Tech-Report_0.pdf?uid=634dcf4aec2b5

This layer represents the overall ranking for Environmental Exposures, Environmental Effects, Socioeconomic Factors and Sensitive Populations. More information is available here https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/wtnibl/WTNIBL/.Environmental Exposures: EHD Environmental Exposures, Theme Ranking (Current Version) - Overview (arcgis.com)- This layer represents a combined ranking of Diesel Emissions, Ozone, PM 2.5, Traffic and Toxic Releases.Environmental Effects: EHD Environmental Effects, Theme Ranking (Current Version) - Overview (arcgis.com)- This layer represents a combined ranking of Lead Risk, Proximity to Hazardous Waste Facilities, NPL Sites, Proximity to RMP Facilities and Wastewater Discharge. More information is available here https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/wtnibl/WTNIBL/.Socioeconomic Factors: EHD Socioeconomic Factors, Theme Ranking (Current Version) - Overview (arcgis.com)- This layer represents a combined ranking of Limited English, No HS Diploma, Race/Ethnicity, Poverty, Unaffordable Housing and Percent Unemployed.Sensitive Populations: EHD Sensitive Populations, Theme Ranking (Current Version) - Overview (arcgis.com)- This layer represents a combined ranking of Deaths from Cardiovascular Disease and Low Birth Weight.Published By: WA DOH to Washington Geospatial Open Data PortalData Updated: Aug 17, 2022, 2:43 PMPublished Date: June 22, 2021

Overburdened Communities Census Tracts web layer configured in Map Viewer Classic for the EV Publicly Available application. (Current Version)This layer represents the overall ranking for Environmental Exposures, Environmental Effects, Socioeconomic Factors and Sensitive Populations. More information is available here https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/wtnibl/WTNIBL/.This layer uses 2010 Census Tracts based on the current version of the Washington Tracking Network's Environmental Health Disparities data.The source data is derived from the Environmental Health Disparities map displayed on WTN's Information by Location (IBL) tool. The data on the map include 19 indicators and are divided into four themes:Environmental Exposures (PM2.5-diesel emissions; ozone concentration; PM2.5 Concentration; proximity to heavy traffic roadways; toxic release from facilities (RSEI model))Environmental Effects (lead risk from housing; proximity to hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities (TSDFs); proximity to National Priorities List sites (Superfund Sites); proximity to Risk Management Plan (RMP) facilities; wastewater discharge)Sensitive Populations (death from cardiovascular disease; low birth weight)Socioeconomic Factors (limited English; no high school diploma; poverty; race - people of color; transportation expense; unaffordable housing; unemployed)Learn about how the Environmental Health Disparities map is being used to support Washington's clean energy transformation.Washington State Department of Health provides an index of Environmental Health Disparities for all the census tracts in Washington. Both deciles (ranks 1 - 10) and quintiles (ranks 1 - 5) have been calculated for cardiovascular disease, low birth weight, people without a high school diploma, people who speak English less than "very well" or "not at all", people living at or below 185% of federal poverty level, people of color, transportation costs, unemployment, housing costs, people exposed to air pollution near busy road ways, exposure to diesel emissions, exposure to average ozone, exposure to particulate matter, exposure to toxic releases, proximity to hazardous waste generators, exposure to lead, proximity to Superfund sites, proximity to facilities with highly toxic substances, proximity to wastewater discharge, general environmental exposure, general environmental effects, general sensitive populations, general socioeconomic factors, and overall environmental health disparities. Please see the Washington environmental health disparities page for more information: https://www.doh.wa.gov/DataandStatisticalReports/WashingtonTrackingNetworkWTN/InformationbyLocation/WashingtonEnvironmentalHealthDisparitiesMap The map was a collaborative project that took several years to develop. It went live to the public in January of 2019. Those involved in the initial collaboration include: University of Washington's Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, Front and Centered, Washington State Department of Health, Washington State Department of Ecology, and Puget Sound Clean Air Agency. The effort included listening sessions with communities in Washington State. The communities gave input that informed development of the map. Since the map was published, several laws and rules highlight it as a resource. Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act, passed in 2021, led to the first dedicated, ongoing state funding to maintain and update the map. The HEAL Act (RCW 43.70.815) requires DOH to: Further develop the EHD map, engaging with communities, tribes, researcher, and EJ CouncilTrack changes in disparities over time Perform a comprehensive evaluation every three yearsExpand online video trainings and guidance on how to use the EHD mapProvide support and consultation to state agencies on how to use the EHD map\DOH continues to add data to the EHD map to reflect additional health risks. DOH is currently working with partners to develop indicators for: wildfire smoke, asthma, tree canopy and greenspace, water quality, pesticide exposure, redlining index, and a group of climate change indicators.The EHD map is a living tool. Developing and improving it is an ongoing process, incorporating feedback and new data. The map will never fully reflect communities’ experiences and should not be used to replace community engagement or tribal consultation. If you have feedback about how we could improve the map, please contact us at EHDmap@doh.wa.gov.

This analysis scores Census Block Groups in Washington based on their degree of equity and environmental justice need for the purpose of identifying and prioritizing investment locations for the Connecting Communities Pilot Program. Each Block Group receives a score based on several factors related to vulnerable populations and environmentally burdened communities, and these scores are added together to create the final score. See the accompanying methodology word document for a full list of factors. Original data sources are the U.S. Census 2016-2020 American Community Survey (ACS) and the Washington Environmental Health Disparities (EHD) Map.Individual scores are calculated for each measure, which then sum up to aggregate scores for vulnerable populations and overburdened communities as well as a combined final score. Block Group scores based on demographic measures from the ACS data are calculated relative to other Block Groups in similarly sized population centers or in tribal areas. If a Block Group’s value for a given demographic measure is at or above the 80th percentile within its population center size category, it is given 2 points for that factor. If its value is at or above the 60th percentile within its population center size category, it is given 1 point. All other Block Groups receive 0 points for that factor. Block groups that overlap with or touch multiple population centers that have different sizes are assigned the highest possible point value based on all overlapping population centers. For the health and environmental measures sourced from the EHD map, scores are applied based on the measure’s rank value. Block Groups with a rank of 9 or 10 are given 2 points, and Block Groups with a rank of 7 or 8 are given 1 point. This is applied statewide without any scaling within population center sizes, as is performed for the demographic metrics, to ensure that Block Groups with similar environmental or health burdens across the state are scored evenly. Here is a list of measures (included in attribute table), used to calculate the final score: 1. Population less than 18 years of age; 2. Population age 65 or older; 3. Housing cost-burdened households (spending over 30% of income on housing); 4. Black, Indigenous, People of color; 5. Households with 1 or more persons with a disability; 6. Ability to speak English – less than very well; 7. Household income below 200% of the federal poverty level; 8. Zero to one car households; 9. Unemployment; 10. Transportation expense (%) for moderate income families; 11. Limited access to healthy food; 12. Low birthweight (<2500 grams); 13. High rate of hospitalization, based on the maximum rank value from the following variables; (a) Death from cardiovascular disease, (b) Cancer deaths, (c) Lower life expectancy at birth, (d) Premature death; 14. Environmental exposures; 15. Environmental effects; 16. Diesel pollution burdenFinally, 1 additional point is given to Block Groups that fall within or touch a tribal area to give a slight priority to areas serving tribal populations. This score, along with the demographic measures from the ACS as well as the transportation expense, limited access to healthy food, low birthweight, and high rate of hospitalization measures from the EHD Map are summed together to create the total vulnerable population score. The three environmental measures from the EHD Map are summed together to create the total overburdened communities score. These two totals are summed to create the Block Group’s final score.