Colorado Department of Public Health launches environmental justice mapping tools for communities

In a recent meeting of the Colorado Produced Water Consortium, a significant focus was placed on environmental justice and the identification of disproportionately impacted communities. The session featured Ronnie Kumar, a senior GIS analyst from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, who provided an in-depth overview of the mapping tools developed under the Environmental Justice Act.

Kumar explained that the statutory definition of disproportionately impacted communities is rooted in House Bill 21-1266, which was updated in 2023 to standardize criteria across state agencies. This definition is crucial for various state programs, including regulatory and grant initiatives, ensuring that all stakeholders are aligned in their understanding and application of the term.

The mapping tools, particularly the disproportionately impacted community map and the Colorado EnviroScreen 2, serve as vital resources for identifying areas that meet specific criteria. These criteria include demographic factors such as low income, racial composition, housing cost burden, and linguistic isolation, as well as cumulative impact scores derived from environmental health data. Kumar emphasized that the mapping tools are designed to be user-friendly, allowing users to explore and analyze data relevant to their work.

During the meeting, consortium members engaged in discussions about the update process for these tools, highlighting the importance of accurate and timely data. Kumar noted that updates are based on five-year census data and other environmental datasets, with the next anticipated update scheduled for November 2028. This timeline reflects the complexities involved in data collection and analysis, particularly in the regulatory context.

The meeting underscored the commitment of Colorado's agencies to address environmental justice issues and ensure that vulnerable communities receive the attention and resources they need. As the consortium continues its work, the integration of these mapping tools will play a crucial role in guiding decisions and fostering equitable outcomes across the state.