Agency Official Explains How State Measures ‘Pollution Burden’

Arsenio Mataka
Arsenio Mataka

Arsenio Mataka, assistant secretary for environmental justice and tribal affairs in the California Environmental Protection Agency, explains to the CalChamber Environmental Policy Committee on May 17 how the state calculates a CalEnviroScreen score to indicate the impact of emissions and waste disposal on different regions of the state. The formula combines a “pollution burden” (based on exposure to things like air quality, pesticide use and traffic density) with factors such as public health and socioeconomic statistics. At right is Amy Mmagu, CalChamber policy advocate for climate change and environmental justice issues. At left is Anthony Samson, CalChamber policy advocate for environmental regulation issues.