What are Overburdened Communities?

What are Overburdened Communities (OBC)?

NJ’s EJ Law creates a definition to screen populations who are potentially in need of environmental justice.

Overburdened Communities (OBC)

The State has updated mapping of New Jersey’s OBCs, as required by the Act (see the Overburdened Communities tab above). Specifically, OBCs are block groups with:

  1. At least 35 percent low-income households; or
  2. At least 40 percent of the residents identify as minority or as members of a State recognized tribal community; or
  3. At least 40 percent of the households have limited English proficiency

Census block groups with zero population and located immediately adjacent to an OBC are labeled as “adjacent.” Existing or proposed facilities located in adjacent block groups may be required to conduct further analysis in accordance with the Environmental Justice Rules.

Data from the 5 Year American Community Survey (2018 to 2022)

Overburdened Community Criteria Number of Block Groups Population
xxxx Adjacent 52 0
xxxx Limited English 0 0
xxxx Low Income 204 296,799
xxxx Low Income & Limited English 2 787
xxxx Low Income & Minority 1,070 1,557,772
xxxx Low Income, Minority, & Limited English 114 165,707
xxxx Minority 2,101 3,034,009
xxxx Minority & Limited English 32 41,992
Total 3,575 5,097,065

Overburdened Communities Map

List of Overburdened Communities

This Excel spreadsheet provides the list of overburdened communities, the criteria each block groups meets, and the municipality for which the over burdened community is designated in accordance with the New Jersey Environmental Justice Law, N.J.S.A. 13:1D-157 .

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EJMAP

DEP has updated EJMAP with new stressor data. Any permit application submitted on or after 1/31/24 must use the new stressor data layer for analysis. The tool will default to the revised layer and the original layer will remain as an archived layer.

To learn what stressor data was updated in EJMAP, visit the 2024 EJMAP Data Update. For more information on the previous round of EJMAP updates, view the 2023 EJMAP Update Notice.

This tool provides the public a visualization of OBC locations throughout the State, where existing facilities regulated under the law are located and what existing environmental and public health stressors currently impact these OBCs. Watch this tutorial to learn more about EJMAP.

For details of underlying calculations behind EJMAP, please read the accompanying EJMAP Technical Guidance .

Feedback on the tool and technical guidance, particularly related to the structure and functionality of the tool itself, can be shared to EJMAPFeedback@dep.nj.gov for consideration.

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PDF Maps of Municipalities

The 338 simple, municipal specified maps identified the overburdened communities under the New Jersey Environmental Justice Law. There is a map for each municipality for which any part of the municipality has been designated an overburdened community pursuant to the act.

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GIS Layer

This GIS Layer is a downloadable graphic information system (GIS) layer identifying the overburdened communities under the New Jersey Environmental Justice Law.

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OBC Technical Notes and Other Resources

For more information about the calculation of Overburdened Communities and their municipal designations, please read the Technical Notes for an overview.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about the notification to municipalities regarding Overburdened Communities (OBCs) as defined by New Jersey’s Environmental Justice Law.

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PDF Maps of Municipalities