Hazardous Waste 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. Impaired water bodies is an environmental effects indicator, which show the locations of toxic chemicals in or near communities. From CalEnviroScreen: What is hazardous waste? Waste created by different commercial or industrial activity contains chemicals that may be dangerous or harmful to health. Only certain regulated facilities are allowed to treat, store or dispose of this type of waste. These facilities are not the same as cleanup sites. Hazardous waste includes a range of different types of waste. It can include used automotive oil as well as highly toxic waste materials produced by factories and businesses. Studies have found that hazardous waste facilities are often located near poorer neighborhoods and communities of color. Why is this indicator included in CalEnviroScreen? Hazardous waste is transported from businesses that generate waste to permitted facilities for recycling, treatment, storage or disposal. Contamination of air, water and soil near waste generators and facilities can harm the environment as well as people. How are hazardous waste generators and facilities measured in CalEnviroScreen? The Department of Toxic Substances Control maintains information on where hazardous waste is generated and the facilities that handle it. The indicator adds up the number of permitted hazardous waste facilities, hazardous waste generators, and chrome plating facilities in each census tract. Only large generators and generators of RCRA waste were included. The score is based also based on how close it is to neighborhoods where people live. A complete description of the Hazardous Waste Generators and Facilities indicator can be found in the CalEnviroScreen 4.0 report. Where can I find more information about hazardous waste generators and facilities? Department of Toxic Substances Control: Hazardous Waste Generators and Facilities U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Hazardous Waste California Air Resources Control Board Chrome Plating Airborne Toxics Control Measure加州环境筛查系统（CalEnviroScreen）是由加利福尼亚州环境健康危害评估办公室（California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment）开发的制图工具，旨在识别加利福尼亚州范围内以普查街区组为统计单元的、受污染源影响最严重的社区。该工具通过各类指标量化评估环境状况。受损水体（Impaired water bodies）是一项环境影响类指标，用于标注社区内部或周边有毒化学物质的分布点位。 据加州环境筛查系统（CalEnviroScreen）官方说明：何为危险废物？各类商业与工业活动产生的废弃物中，含有可能危及人体健康的化学物质。仅经监管许可的部分设施，可对该类废弃物开展处理、储存或处置工作，此类设施与污染修复场地并不相同。危险废物涵盖多种类型，既包括废弃车用机油，也包括工厂与企业产生的高毒性废弃物。相关研究表明，危险废物处理设施往往选址于低收入社区以及有色人种聚居社区周边。 为何将该指标纳入加州环境筛查系统（CalEnviroScreen）？危险废物会从产生企业被转运至获得许可的设施，开展回收、处理、储存或处置工作。废弃物产生源与处理设施周边的空气、水体与土壤污染，既会破坏生态环境，也会损害人体健康。 在加州环境筛查系统（CalEnviroScreen）中如何量化危险废物产生源与处理设施？加州有毒物质控制部（Department of Toxic Substances Control）留存了危险废物产生地点与相关处理设施的相关信息。该指标将每个普查街区组内的许可危险废物处理设施、危险废物产生单位以及镀铬设施的数量进行累加。本次统计仅纳入大型废物产生单位以及符合《资源保护与回收法案》（RCRA）监管标准的废物产生单位。评分同时还会考量设施与周边居住社区的空间距离。危险废物产生单位与设施指标的完整说明可查阅《CalEnviroScreen 4.0报告》。 如何获取更多危险废物产生单位与设施的相关信息？ 1. 加州有毒物质控制部：危险废物产生单位与设施 2. 美国环境保护署：危险废物 3. 加利福尼亚州空气资源委员会：镀铬设施空气传播有毒物质控制措施