ECOS Results HomepageECOS Results

Showing states' results

States Select a State

About the Common Measures

The ECOS Measures Workgroup selected Common Measures based on the following set of criteria:

  • Measure is understandable and meaningful to the public
  • Measure relates to:
    • protection of the environment
    • protection of public health
    • economic impacts
  • Data:
    • is readily accessible at the state level
    • is validated by the state
  • Measure:
    • allows for trend analysis
    • is routinely submitted/reported to federal agency
    • is comparable across states (data is collected similarly across all states)

The Common Measures are available here, and described in detail below.

Air Healthy to Breathe

Economic Indicators

Comparison of Economic Indicators Versus Emissions of Common Pollutants

Ambient Air Pollution

Ambient Concentrations of Pollutants Relative to the National Ambient Air Quality Standard Over Time

  • Source: U.S. EPA’s Report on the Environment (ROE)
  • Graphic:
    • States select a Site, County, or Core Based Statistical Area (CBSA) to represent the ambient air quality over time. The ratios of these values to the NAAQS are plotted on a line graph.
    • Note: There is some variation in the monitors and locations that are available among states, so certain pollutants may be omitted. Also, data pulled from the ROE represents a long trend of monitors operating since 2000-2001, so monitors set up in more recent years are omitted in favor of the longer trend information.
  • Definitions:
    • NAAQS– National Ambient Air Quality Standards
    • NAAQS include six principal pollutants, including carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, particle pollution, and sulfur dioxide, and nine possible primary and secondary standards that may be tracked.
    • More information about the NAAQS and pollutants can be found at the U.S. EPA’s page on NAAQS Table.
    • ROE Trend Statistics – These statistics are computed for the purposes of tracking trends in ambient concentrations.  Specifically, trend sites must meet a minimum completeness criteria to be included and missing years are interpolated so there is a consistent number of trend sites in each year of the trend period.  In addition, these statistics are computed to be analogous to the standard for each pollutant.  For example, statistics for pollutants with three-year standards are computed with rolling three-year averages.

Point Source Emissions

Point Source Emissions of PM10 and 2.5, CO, NOx, SO2, and VOCs Over Time

  • Source: U.S. EPA’s Emissions Inventory System using available data from the National Emissions Inventory (NEI)
  • Graphic:
    • Emissions data is plotted on bar graphs in three-year intervals for each point source pollutant. The years correspond to updates to the NEI data.
  • Definitions:
    • Point Source: NEI point sources include emissions estimates for larger sources that are located at a fixed, stationary location. Point sources in the NEI include large industrial facilities and electric power plants, airports, and smaller industrial, non-industrial and commercial facilities. A small number of portable sources such as some asphalt or rock crushing operations are also included. Some states voluntarily also provide facilities such as dry cleaners, gas stations, and livestock facilities, which are otherwise included in the NEI as nonpoint sources.
    • Definitions of each pollutant can be found at the U.S. EPA’s Air Topics page.

Less and Properly Managed Waste

Brownfields

Returning Contaminated Land to Productive Use

  • Source: U.S. EPA’s ACRES and State Cleanup Programs
  • Graphic:
    • The bar graph shows federally-funded cleanups. States may elect to also show state-funded cleanups that may not be reflected in the ACRES database. Classification of these cleanups may vary from state to state. The total number of acres cleaned is the sum of both federal and state-funded cleanups.
  • Definitions:
    • Brownfield: A brownfield is a property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

RCRA is the public law that creates the framework for the proper management of hazardous and non-hazardous solid waste. The law describes the waste management program mandated by Congress that gave U.S. EPA authority to develop the RCRA program. The term RCRA is often used interchangeably to refer to the law, regulations and U.S. EPA policy and guidance.

RCRA Subtitle I Compliance – Percent Underground Storage Tank (UST) Facilities in Significant Operational Compliance Over Time

  • Source: U.S. EPA’s UST Performance Measures
  • Graphic:
    • Waffle charts reflect three checkpoints (the first, middle, and most recent years) of available UST compliance data.
  • Definitions:
    • UST Facility definitions (PDF) can be found here.
    • Significant Operational Compliance:U.S. EPA and its state partners developed a uniform method for measuring certain aspects of UST system operational compliance with release detection and prevention requirements. More info can be found here.

RCRA Subtitle C Compliance – Percent of RCRA Inspections Where No Significant Non-Compliance is Found

Percent of RCRA Facilities in Corrective Action with Human Exposure under Control

  • Source: State Data
  • Graphic:
    • Waffle charts reflect three checkpoints (the first, middle, and most recent years) of state corrective action data.
  • Definitions:
    • Corrective Action: A requirement under RCRA is that facilities that treat, store, or dispose of hazardous wastes investigate and clean up hazardous releases into soil, ground water, surface water and air.
    • Human Exposure: One of the priorities for both the NPL and RCRA Cleanup Baseline sites is safeguarding against human exposures to site contamination. U.S. EPA and state officials determine whether there is a reasonable expectation that humans could be exposed to site contamination and if interim actions are needed to reduce or eliminate all current human exposure in excess of health-based standards.
  • More Information: U.S. EPA’s RCRAInfo

Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) Cleanups

Number of LUST Cleanups Completed that Meet Cleanup Standards

  • Source: U.S. EPA’s UST Performance Measures
  • Graphic:
    • A bar graph displays annual LUST cleanups. Above the graph, statistics summarize the total cleanups completed, number of cleanups remaining, and amount of confirmed releases in the most recent year of data.
  • Definitions:
    • LUST: A typical LUST scenario involves the release of a fuel product from an UST that can contaminate surrounding soil, groundwater, or surface waters, or affect indoor air spaces. Early detection of an UST release is important, as is determining the source of the release, the type of fuel released, the occurrence of imminently threatened receptors, and the appropriate initial response. The primary objective of the initial response is to determine the nature and extent of a release as soon as possible.

Water Clean and Available for All Uses

Drinking Water

Percent of State Population Served by Compliant Community Water Systems (CWS) and Percent of Community Water Systems Meeting All Applicable Health-Based Standards

  • Source: U.S. EPA’s ACS: Code SDW211 and SDW-SP1.N11 and State Data
  • Graphic:
    • Donut charts reflect three checkpoints (the first, middle, and most recent years) of state CWS data.
  • Definitions:
    • Community Water System: CWSs are public water systems that supply water to the same population year-round.
    • Health Based Standards include Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs), Maximum Residual Disinfection Levels (MRDLs), and Treatment Techniques (TTs). An MCL is the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. An MRDL is the level of a disinfectant added for water treatment that may not be exceeded at the consumer’s tap without an unacceptable possibility of adverse health effects. A TT is a required treatment process (such as filtration) intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water (U.S. EPA, 2017b).
  • More Information: U.S. EPA’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF)

Waterbodies

Percent Waterbodies Monitored and Waters Meeting Designated Uses

  • Source: State Data
  • Graphic:
    • Waffle charts display water assessment data for a given year. States choose the water body category and define good condition, as the classification of water assessments may vary from state to state.
  • Definitions:
    • The Assessment, TMDL Tracking, and Implementation System (ATTAINS) contains information on water quality assessments, impaired waters, and total maximum daily loads (TMDLs), through data submitted by states under Clean Water Act sections 303(d) and 305(b).
    • The Clean Water Act requires states, territories, and authorized tribes to monitor water pollution and report to U.S. EPA every two years on the waters they have evaluated. This process is called assessment. Part of this process is deciding which waters do not meet water quality standards because they are too polluted. These degraded waters are called impaired (polluted enough to require action) and are placed on a state, territory, or authorized tribe list for future actions to reduce pollution.
  • More Information: U.S. EPA ATTAINS

Point Source Pollution

Total Pounds of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Discharged from Major National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Facilities

  • Source: U.S. EPA’s DMR Loading Tool
  • Graphic:
    • Area graphs display nitrogen and phosphorus discharge data from point source facilities over time.
  • Definitions:
    • Major NPDES Facilities: NPDES is a provision of the Clean Water Act that prohibits discharge of pollutants into waters of the U.S. unless a special permit is issued by the U.S. EPA or a delegated state or tribal government. States may choose to enact restrictions that go beyond U.S. EPA requirements and offer additional protections.

Percent of Major Wastewater Dischargers without Significant Non-Compliance

Reduction in Nonpoint Source Pollutants

Estimated Annual Reduction in Pounds of Nitrogen and Phosphorus, and Tons of Sediment from Nonpoint Sources to Waterbodies (Section 319 Funded Projects Only)

  • Source: U.S. EPA’s Grants Reporting and Tracking System (GRTS)
  • Graphic:
    • Area graphs show nitrogen, phosphorus, and sedimentation-siltation removal data from nonpoint sources over time.
  • Definitions:
    • Section 319: Under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act, states, territories and tribes receive grant money that supports a wide variety of activities including technical assistance, financial assistance, education, training, technology transfer, demonstration projects and monitoring to assess the success of specific nonpoint source implementation projects.
    • Nonpoint Sources: Nonpoint sources are diffuse pollution sources (i.e. without a single point of origin or not introduced into a receiving stream from a specific outlet). The pollutants are generally carried off the land by storm water. Common nonpoint sources are agriculture, forestry, urban, mining, construction, dams, channels, land disposal, saltwater intrusion, and city streets.
    • Nonpoint Source Pollution can come in the form of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Sediment. Sources may include:
      • Excess fertilizers, herbicides and insecticides from agricultural lands and residential areas
      • Oil, grease and toxic chemicals from urban runoff and energy production
      • Sediment from improperly managed construction sites, crop and forest lands, and eroding streambanks
      • Salt from irrigation practices and acid drainage from abandoned mines
      • Bacteria and nutrients from livestock, pet wastes and faulty septic systems
      • Atmospheric deposition and hydromodification

Investments in Water Infrastructure

  • Source: U.S. EPA’s CWSRF, U.S.EPA’s DWSRF
  • Graphic:
    • Area graphs display cumulative funds invested into wastewater and drinking water projects over time. Statistics summarize the total funds invested and number of projects funded since 2007.
  • Definitions:
    • Investments: Funds available for CWSRF and DWSRF projects annually.
Close

Select a State