Environment and Health

Assessment of Populations in Proximity to
Superfund National Priorities List Sites

In response to a request by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), CIESIN has conducted an assessment of populations living in proximity to Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) sites for the year 2000. This assessment improves on earlier studies in several key ways. First, we used the U. S. Census Grids database to determine population totals and demographic breakdowns in proximity to NPL sites. Second, we applied a methodology to eliminate the double-counting of populations in proximity of more than one NPL site. Third, our study used the “majority rule” to determine when population data should be included in the summation. Fourth, the total population in proximity to two or more Superfund sites was estimated. Finally, these analyses were conducted twice: once for populations living within a one-mile buffer, and then again for those within four miles of the site. This work was supported by NIEHS (Project Number HHSN273200800139P). Dissemination is funded under SEDAC (NASA contract number NNG08HZ11C). Please see the report (184KB,) and the data generated for this assessment below.

Data

The spatial data are provided in shapefile format. To download the zip files with accompanying metadata and documentation, click on the links below.

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) Hazardous Waste Site Polygon Data, 1996

Shapefile (1.65 MB, Zipped)

Compiled in January 1996, this database consists of 2,042 polygons for selected hazardous waste sites. The Hazardous Waste Site ATSDR layer was created by linking HAZ_SITES_ATSDR_BASE with additional data. Most polygons represent sites that are considered for cleanup under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA” or “Superfund”) and are either proposed for, currently on, or deleted from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) NPL.

U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Priorities List (NPL) Sites Point Data with CIESIN Modifications, 2008

Tabular (Excel, 224 KB, Zipped)

This dataset provides the latitude and longitude of the centroid for the 1,641 NPL sites, also known as Superfund sites, on EPA's Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Information System (CERCLIS) as of June 7, 2008. CIESIN corrected the latitude and/or longitude for five sites and provided the missing coordinates for one site. In addition to the coordinates, the database includes the site name, address, and NPL status. The NPL sites have latitude and longitude data accurate to within 30 meters and, in some cases, in the sub-meter range. For some sites the latitude and longitude are determined by calculating the centroid of the ZIP code area for the site's address. The NPL is intended primarily to guide the EPA in determining which sites warrant further investigation.

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) Hazardous Waste Site Polygon Data with CIESIN Modifications, 1996

Shapefile (1.31 MB, Zipped)

This database provides geo-referenced polygon data for 1,562 NPL Superfund sites. These were selected from the larger database, “Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) Hazardous Waste Site Polygon Data, 1996”. Only those sites with NPL site identification numbers provided by EPA for 2008 were included. Due to the lack of high-resolution population data, seven sites located in four U. S. Territorial areas and the now independent Palau, Federated States of Micronesia were excluded. The database includes all the attributes for these NPL sites provided in the larger ATSDR polygon database and the EPA NPL point database. Most polygons represent sites that are either proposed for, currently on, or deleted from the NPL. Seventy-two NPL sites do not have corresponding ATSDR polygons and therefore are not included in this database.

Citation and Acknowledgements

The original work on these data was funded by NIEHS (Project Number HHSN273200800139P) and presented as a report to NIEHS. CIESIN acknowledges EPA and ATSDR for providing the data for the assessment and permitting their dissemination. In addition, we would like to thank NIEHS staff for their knowledge of past studies and key data contacts as well as guidance in the selection of key socio-economic and housing variables. Should you download and use these data, please ensure that any products or publications are accompanied by the following data citation:

Report

Golden, Meredith L., Gregory Yetman, and Tricia Chai-Onn. 2008. Assessment of Populations in Proximity to Superfund National Priorities List Sites. Palisades, NY: Center for International Earth Systems Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University. Available at http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/eh/sfpop.html.

Data sets

Golden, Meredith L., Gregory Yetman, and Tricia Chai-Onn. 2008. [Data set title]. Palisades, NY: Center for International Earth Systems Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University. Available at: http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/eh/sfpop.html. [Date of download].

Relevant Sites

Disclaimers

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) Hazardous Waste Site Polygon Data, 1996

GRASP in no way guarantees the accuracy of the boundaries and should not be held responsible in any way for products created or decisions made based on the extent of said boundaries.

U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Priorities List (NPL) Sites Point Data with CIESIN Modifications, 2008

Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system under contract to the EPA, no warranty expressed or implied is made by the EPA regarding the utility of the data on any other system, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty.

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) Hazardous Waste Site Polygon Data with CIESIN Modifications, 1996

CIESIN follows procedures designed to ensure that data, information, and tools residing at CIESIN are of reasonable quality. If, despite these procedures, users encounter apparent misstatements, they should contact CIESIN User Services at +(1) (845) 365-8930 or via Internet e-mail at ciesin.info@ciesin.columbia.edu. In addition, CIESIN will notify the original source of any apparent errors, misstatements, or troubles regarding third party resources. Neither CIESIN nor the organizations CIESIN links to guarantee the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of the data or information provided, or the reliability and functionality of the computer tools provided.