Cleanup Sites in California

The CalEnviroScreen is a mapping tool developed by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment to identify communities in California (at the census tract level) that are most affected by pollution sources. The tool uses indicators to measure environmental conditions. Cleanup sites is an environmental effects indicator, which show the locations of toxic chemicals in or near communities. From CalEnviroScreen: What are cleanup sites? Cleanup sites are places that are contaminated with harmful chemicals and need to be cleaned up by the property owners or government. People living near these sites are more likely to be exposed to chemicals from the sites than people living further away. Some studies have shown that neighborhoods with cleanup sites are generally poorer and have more people of color than other neighborhoods. Why is this indicator included in CalEnviroScreen? Chemicals in the buildings, soil or water at cleanup sites can move into nearby communities through the air or by movement of water. The land may take many years or decades to clean up, reducing possible benefits to the community. Scientists have found toxic metals in house dust and pesticides in the blood of people who live near contaminated sites. How are cleanup sites measured in CalEnviroScreen 4.0? The Department of Toxic Substances Control keeps track of cleanups of contaminated sites in California. The indicator combines the sites in or near each census tract. This combination takes into account the type of site it is and how close it is to where people may live. A complete description of the Cleanup Sites indicator can be found in the CalEnviroScreen 4.0 report. Where can I find more information about cleanup sites? Department of Toxic Substances Control, Site Mitigation & Restoration Program U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Superfund Program, The Superfund Cleanup Process加州环境筛查工具（CalEnviroScreen）是由加州环境健康危害评估办公室开发的绘图评估工具，旨在识别加利福尼亚州范围内以普查街区（census tract）为统计单元的受污染源影响最严重的社区。该工具通过各类指标量化环境状况。 清理场地（Cleanup sites）是一项环境影响指标，用于标注社区内部或周边的有毒化学物质点位。来自加州环境筛查工具的官方说明：何为清理场地？清理场地指受有害化学物质污染、需由产权所有者或政府开展修复工作的场所。居住在该类场地周边的人群，相较于远离场地的居民，更易接触到场地释放的化学污染物。多项研究表明，毗邻清理场地的社区普遍经济状况较差，少数族裔人口占比也高于其他社区。 为何将该指标纳入加州环境筛查工具？清理场地内建筑、土壤或水体中的化学污染物，可通过空气或水体迁移至周边社区。该地块的修复工作可能耗时数年乃至数十年，难以快速为社区带来环境收益。科学家已在受污染场地周边居民的家居灰尘中检出有毒金属，在其血液样本中检测出农药残留。 在加州环境筛查工具4.0版本中，清理场地指标如何量化？加州有毒物质控制局（Department of Toxic Substances Control）负责追踪加州境内受污染场地的修复进展。该指标将每个普查街区内部及周边的场地进行整合，整合过程会考量场地类型以及场地与居民区的距离。关于清理场地指标的完整说明可查阅《加州环境筛查工具4.0》官方报告。 何处可获取更多关于清理场地的相关信息？可通过以下渠道：加州有毒物质控制局场地缓解与修复项目、美国环境保护署（U.S. Environmental Protection Agency）超级基金项目（Superfund Program）以及《超级基金修复流程》