46 | September 2021
connected to the Clean Air Act.
The bottom line became most ap-
parent in the "Census Block Group EJ
Indexes." The Air Toxics Cancer Risk
is at the 95th percentile. The Air Tox-
ics Respiratory Hazard Index is at the
92nd percentile.
Currently, NRG Energy is proposing
a new fracked gas power plant in Asto-
ria, Queens. New Yorkers are rallying
to submit comments against the plan.
A look at the neighborhood map shows
that there are already three combustion
power plants in the 80-89th national
percentile, with numerous indexes over
the 80th percentile.
As the Biden administration contin-
ues its efforts to address environmen-
tal injustices, this EPA tool can help
families understand where there are
sources of pollution from power plants
in their communities.
Tell Congress:
An American Jobs Plan
Will Lead Us to Climate Safety
I looked at individual filters, and
the results were pretty much what I
expected. The total population within
three miles is 29,745, and of that num-
ber, people of color reached the 89th
percentile. The national percentile for
people under age five is the 66th per-
centile. Less than a high school edu-
cation is in the 88th percentile. Low
income is 83rd percentile. There are
links to more detailed material on each
plant, so I checked out the facility's
Compliance record. In February 2020,
they had "High Priority Violation" status
(80-89 percent). From zero to 79 per-
cent is in four groups demarcated by
tonalities of gray.
To the left of the map, fuel types are
broken down:
• Biomass
• Coal
• Gas
• Oil
• Other fossil fuels
Beyond the six previously noted,
the filters below include specific emis-
sion types: SO
2
, NOX, CO
2
and PM2.5.
These subsets are explorable on a
sliding scale format, from minimum to
maximum (0-100).
Four squares in the upper right-
hand corner display graphics to short
cuts.
The magnifying glass is a way to
search for an address or place.
The House icon brings you back to
the home screen.
The box third from the left rep-
resents the different layers available
to search: Emission types; Fuel types;
Combustion power plants; Census
block groups; Tribal areas.
The remaining square gives ac-
cess to various "Basemaps" ranging
from satellite imagery to highway and
street-level observations.
I did a complete search on Port Ar-
thur, Texas, which I have previously writ-
ten about. The facility that I focused on
was the one run by Motiva Enterprises.
(While looking at the stats, I also did an
online search for the company, which
brought me to a 2013 article in the New
York Times, "Texas Refinery Is Saudi
Foothold in U.S. Market.")
