The state’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has released CalEnviroScreen 5.0, an update to the state’s mapping tool that identifies communities most impacted by multiple sources of pollution. Combining data from multiple environmental, health, and socioeconomic indicators, the state has used CalEnviroScreen to focus environmental protection resources and actions where they are needed most.
CalEnviroScreen 5.0 adds two additional indicators—small sites that emit toxic substances into the air and diabetes—to capture additional factors that reflect a community’s pollution burden. These additions were prioritized by the communities during the updating process. The Small Sites Emitting Toxic Substances into the Air indicator takes into account the presence of oil and gas wells and other sites, such as gas stations, that report emissions of toxic substances into the air that are not already included in the existing indicator of toxic emissions The Diabetes Prevalence indicator reflects vulnerability to pollution, as exposure to pollution leads to worsening health outcomes for individuals with diabetes.
This update also includes several enhancements to existing indicators, such as new expanded buffer zones around hazardous waste facilities, data for six PFAS chemicals in drinking water, water quality data for additional tribal lands, and data on children’s blood lead levels. The latest science and data are reflected in CalEnviroScreen 5.0 through more up-to-date data, updated census tract geography, and improved methodologies.
“California continues to prioritize science and data within our policymaking. With the release of CalEnviroScreen 5.0, we elevate the nation’s leading pollution mapping tool,” explained Yana Garcia, CalEPA Secretary. “By integrating updated data layers, refining our National Academies of Sciences-based strategy, and incorporating new health and community pollution indicators, we are ensuring that important state resources and targeted policy benefits reach the neighborhoods that need them most.”
CalEnviroScreen 5.0 also follows the recommendations of recent publications from the National Academies of Sciences on cumulative impact analysis and geospatial assessment instruments, ensuring that the tool is kept up to date with best practices.
“CalEnviroScreen 5.0 demonstrates how sound science and meaningful community engagement can work together to strengthen a trusted tool. By advancing our understanding of cumulative impacts, this update helps ensure that California can better identify and respond to the environmental and health challenges facing the state’s most impacted communities,” said Kris Thayer, Director of OEHHA.
Listening To Affected Communities
To develop CalEnviroScreen 5.0, OEHHA partnered with community-based organizations (CBOs) representing communities across California that face some of the highest pollution burdens. Through this statewide community co-design process, OEHHA regularly engaged with CBO partners, community leaders, and residents, gaining a deeper understanding of community priorities, lived experiences, and emerging environmental health concerns.
In addition to the co-design process, OEHHA hosted seven state and regional public workshops on the draft CalEnviroScreen 5.0, held a public comment period on the draft from January to April 2026, and reviewed feedback from previous CalEnviroScreen updates, increasing participation, transparency, and accountability. Together, these efforts ensured that community perspectives played a significant role in guiding key improvements to the tool and demonstrate the value of integrating communities’ lived experiences alongside technical and scientific analysis.
CalEnviroScreen And Its Uses
First published in 2013, CalEnviroScreen provides a statewide snapshot of cumulative pollution burdens using 23 environmental, health, and socioeconomic indicators across more than 9,000 California census tracts. CalEnviroScreen has contributed $9.2 billion of the state’s $12.8 billion in California Climate Investments to projects that benefit disadvantaged communities and priority populations, including low-income households and communities.
State entities, local governments, and community-based organizations have also used the tool to push for change, from targeted enforcement of environmental laws in overburdened communities to regional air district rules that strengthen health protections and community campaigns that secure significant investments in neighborhoods impacted by pollution.
CalEPA invites public comment and participation on the Preliminary DAC Designation through two virtual public workshops and one tribal workshop, or through written comments. Information about the public workshops is available on the CalEPA website.
To submit public comments on the DAC Preliminary Designation, send your written comments to DACinquiries@calepa.ca.gov by 5 p.m. on July 31, 2026. After the public comment period and workshops conclude, CalEPA will address public input and use it to update the Preliminary Designation to become the 2026 DAC Final Designation.
