CalEnviroscreen Version 1.1 - OEHHA - State of California

CalEnviroScreen 1.1
METHOD
Definition of
Cumulative Impacts
CalEnviroScreen
Model
Cal/EPA adopted the following working definition of cumulative
impacts 4 in 2005:
“Cumulative impacts means exposures, public health or
environmental effects from the combined emissions and discharges,
in a geographic area, including environmental pollution from all
sources, whether single or multi-media, routinely, accidentally, or
otherwise released. Impacts will take into account sensitive
populations and socioeconomic factors, where applicable and to the
extent data are available.”
The CalEnviroScreen model is based on the Cal/EPA working
definition in that:
The model is place-based and provides information for the
entire State of California on a geographic basis. The
geographic scale selected is intended to be useful for a wide
range of decisions.
The model is made up of multiple components cited in the above
definition as contributors to cumulative impacts. The model
includes two components representing pollution burden –
exposures and environmental effects – and two components
representing population characteristics – sensitive populations
(e.g., in terms of health status and age) and socioeconomic
factors.
Pollution Burden
Population
Characteristics
Exposures
Sensitive Populations
Environmental Effects
Socioeconomic
Factors
4 This definition differs from the statutory definition of "cumulative impacts" contained in the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). While the term is the same, they cannot be used interchangeably. For a
detailed discussion of this issue, please see the Guidance from the Secretary.
4