Virginia EJScreen+ Overview

Virginia EJScreen+ is DEQ’s interactive online mapping tool designed to help users identify and better understand Environmental Justice (EJ) communities as defined in the Virginia Environmental Justice Act (§2.2-234 and §2.2-235). Under the Act, an “Environmental Justice Community” is defined as any low-income community or community of color. Visit the "Low-Income Communities" and "Communities of Color" boxes below to learn more about the data sources for these layers.

Originally launched in 2022, Virginia EJScreen+ was upgraded in 2025 using Esri's ArcGIS Experience Builder platform to improve usability, design, and functionality.

Virginia EJScreen+ provides access to environmental, demographic, and community data that can help users:

Compare environmental and population data across Virginia
Identify communities that may benefit from additional outreach or engagement
Support planning, grant applications, and funding decisions
Inform permit review processes

Virginia EJScreen+ is a screening and informational tool only. It helps identify areas that may warrant additional review but does not determine whether environmental justice impacts exist.

Help & Resources

Below and in the "Resources" box to the right, you will find a variety of resources to assist in the usage of DEQ's interactive Environmental Justice Screening Tool, Virginia EJScreen+.

Low-Income Communities
Communities of Color

Low-income communities are identified as any census block group in which 30% or more of the population is composed of people with low income. The definition of “low income” is determined based on having an annual household income at or below either:

an amount equal to 80% of the area median income where the household is located, as reported by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), or
200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL)

Whichever is greater.

This Low-income Community dataset shows census block groups within Virginia where at least 30% of the population or more of the population is composed of people with low income. The dataset integrates HUD’s 80% Area Median Income (AMI) county-level income limits, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)’s 200% FPL thresholds, and the U.S. Census Bureau 2019-2023 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year low income estimates.

Need more information on area median incomes and the Federal Poverty Level, or how to view this information in the tool? Visit page 13 of our Virginia EJScreen+ User Guide or our Virginia EJScreen+ Technical Low Income Fact Sheet.

Individual Population of Color	Statewide Percentage (%)
Black/African American	18.75
Asian	6.86
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander	0.07
American Indian and Alaskan Native (Native American)	0.31
Other non-white race	4.06
Mixed Race	8.23
Hispanic or Latino	10.73
Limited English Proficiency (Linguistically Isolated)	2.70

Training

Note: The User Guide and User Videos were created in Fall 2025, however, the tool may experience slight updates.

Virginia EJScreen+ User Guide

This PDF Document walks through the broad range of functionality of the tools in Virginia EJScreen+. Use the Table of Contents to easily jump to tools/use cases of interest. This living document will be updated as new data and features become available within the Virginia EJScreen+.

Training Videos

New to Virginia EJScreen+? Watch our tutorials to master everything from basic navigation to creating custom environmental justice reports, finding community outreach resources, and searching for records.

Technical Fact Sheets

Support & Troubleshooting

Oftentimes, issues can arise through the usage of web-based mapping applications and tools. These problems can have multiple potential culprits from network connectivity, server issues, client browser issues, and underlying data issues. In this section, we will examine some common issues, and fixes / workarounds for such issues.

Loading Data Errors (cannot be added to the map)

Sometimes when initially loading Virginia EJScreen+, you may see occasional errors similar to the one shown below, where there is a notification that one (or more) data layers cannot be added to the map:

Screenshot Virginia EJScreen+ building error

If you experience an error similar to this, there are two potential causes:

1. This error frequently presents if a client browser is referencing an outdated cache file for the application. This can frequently happen after updates are pushed to the Virginia EJScreen+, and clients don't have the latest configuration files for the application. This is easy to test and resolve by just clearing your local browser cache. This can be done by simply hitting CONTROL + SHIFT + DELETE on your keyboard with your internet browser open, and then choose to clear the "cache". Below are a few screenshots of what this may look like in Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. After your browser cache has been cleared, simply reload Virginia EJScreen+ and see if the error / issue resolves.

Google Chrome:

Screenshot Virginia EJScreen+ Google Chrome error

Mozilla Firefox:

Screenshot Virginia EJScreen+ Mozilla Firefox error

2. The layer(s) in question are currently unavailable from the providing data sources (either DEQ, EPA, VGIN, US Army Corps of Engineers, Esri, etc). If this is the case, it maybe a temporary outage (maintenance, etc.), or a data source URL has changed permanently. If it's a permanent change, DEQ will work to restore the layer as soon as possible, provided a new source is available. If no new source is available, the layer will eventually be removed from Virginia EJScreen+.

Feedback: If you have thoughts on datasets for use in future versions of the tool, or want to suggest an indicator for your community, please let us know. Our goal is that someone will follow up with you in 1-2 business days.

Additional Resources

If you’re interested in other Environmental Justice-related tools, visit the resources below.

Virginia State Agency Tools

Virginia Environmental Data Hub – find DEQ’s other GIS and Story Mapping tools.

DEQ Open Data Portal – you can use this portal to access, obtain and preview all available DEQ data collected, managed and distributed by the agency with links to related supplemental fact sheets.

Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)’s Virginia Flood Risk Information System (VFRIS) – you can use this tool to better understand an area's flood risk

Department of Historic Resources (DHR)’s Virginia Cultural Resources Information System (VCRIS) – you can use this tool to record sites and properties, as well as to conduct background research to support cultural resources management activities.

Coastal Zone Management mapping tools – you can use these tools to learn more about ocean planning resources, prioritize lands for preservation and conservation, develop strategies for special area management actions, explore public access availability, discover data available for research and modeling, or to build awareness about Virginia’s natural communities and coastal resources.

Virginia Institute for Marine Science (VIMS)’s ADAPTVA – you can use this tool to find legal and policy resources, stories that explain adaptation through maps and pictures, a searchable web catalogue, and mapping tools that address short and long-term predictions for rising water levels

Virginia Energy – you can use this tool to view historically economically disadvantaged communities (HEDCs) designations across Virginia.

Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD’s) Commonwealth Connection – you can use this tool to view statewide broadband availability and coverage.

Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP)’s GIS Open Data – you can use the webpage to find information about available sites and buildings, Enterprise and Opportunity Zones, etc.

Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF)’s GIS Maps – you can use this portal to find forestland conservation value, Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment, Agricultural Forestal Districts, etc.

Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM)’s GIS Maps – you can use this portal to find the Virginia Situational Awareness map, Virginia Know Your Zone Tool (to know your hurricane evacuation zone), etc.

Virginia Department of Transportation VDOT's Open Data Portal, Virginia Roads – you can use this portal to access information on maintenance and construction, traffic and travel information, trucking data, etc.

Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR)’s GIS data hub – you can use this data hub to find DWR’s GIS and tools on infrastructure and boundaries, wildlife, and outdoor recreation

Virginia’s Open Data Portal – you can use this portal to access, obtain and preview all available Virginia state agency data collected, managed and distributed by the state agencies

Virginia Permit Transparency – you can use this track various state agency permits

Federal Agency Tools

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s EnviroMapper – you can use this to get access to data from several EPA databases on environmental activities that may affect air, water, and land anywhere in the United States.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Facility Compliance Records Online – you can use this tool to access facility compliance history online.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s AirToxScreen, formerly known as National-Scale Air Toxics Assessment (NATA) – you can use this tool to find information about health risks from air toxics

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Chesapeake Bay Program GIS Data – you can use this tool to find detailed water quality information about the Chesapeake Bay

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry Center for Disease Control (ATSDR) (CDC) Environmental Justice Index – you can use this tool to measure the cumulative impacts of environmental burden through the lens of human health and health equity

Virginia DEQ

Virginia EJScreen+ Platform