This layer shows the location of electricity generating power-plants in the U.S., the total capacity of each plant, and the primary fuel source.
Electric Bulk Power Transmission Lines
This layer represents electric power transmission lines. Transmission Lines are the system of structures, wires, insulators and associated hardware that carry electric energy from one point to another in an electric power system. Lines are operated at relatively high voltages varying from 69 kV up to 765 kV, and are capable of transmitting large quantities of electricity over long distances. Underground transmission lines are included where sources were available.
Coal Fields
This data set shows the coal fields of Alaska and the conterminous United States. Most of the material for the conterminous United States was collected from James Trumbull’s “Coal Fields of the United States, Conterminous United States” map (sheet 1, 1960). The Gulf Coast region was updated using generalized, coal-bearing geology obtained from State geologic maps. The Alaska coal fields were collected from Farrell Barnes’s “Coal Fields of the United States, Alaska” map (sheet 2, 1961).
Oil and Natural Gas Fields
The layer represents Oil and Natural Gas Fields. Generally, Oil and Natural Gas “Fields” are defined as “a low in the Earth’s crust of tectonic origin in which sediments have accumulated.” This definition was originally defined by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Within the larger area of the basins this feature class also contains smaller geographic “plays” which are defined as “A set of known or postulated oil and gas accumulations sharing similar geologic, geographic, and temporal properties, such as source rock, migration, pathway, timing, trapping mechanism, and hydrocarbon type. A play differs from a basin; a basin can include one or more plays.” This definition was originally defined by the United States Geologic Survey (USGS) and was appropriated for use in the creation of this feature class. The geographic coverage of this layer is the Continental United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Emissions & Generation Resource Integrated Database (eGRID)
This layer displays the locations of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Emissions & Generation Resource Integrated Database (eGRID) sites. The eGRID is a comprehensive source of data on the locations and environmental characteristics of almost all electric power generated in the United States. For more information, please visit the EPA eGRID web page.
Brownfield Sites
This layer displays the locations of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Assessment, Cleanup and Redevelopment Exchange System (ACRES) sites. ACRES stores information reported by EPA Brownfields grant recipients on brownfields properties assessed or cleaned up with grant funding as well as information on Targeted Brownfields Assessments performed by EPA Regions. A brownfield site consists of land previously used for industrial purposes or some commercial uses. The land may be contaminated by low concentrations of hazardous waste or pollution, and has the potential to be reused once it is cleaned up. For more information, please visit the EPA Brownfields and Land Revitalization website or the ACRES Information web page.
Air Facility System Sites
This layer displays the locations of regulated facilities that discharge air pollutants in the United States. The Air Facility System (AFS) contains compliance and permit data for stationary sources of air pollution (such as electric power plants, steel mills, factories, and universities) regulated by EPA, state and local air pollution agencies. The information in AFS is used by the states to prepare State Implementation Plans (SIPs) and to track the compliance status of point sources with various regulatory programs under Clean Air Act. For more information, please visit the EPA Air Facility System web page.
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
This layer displays the locations of regulated facilities that discharge pollutants into surface waters in the United States. Location and environmental characteristics about facilities requiring discharge permits is contained in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). Facilities requiring permits include industrial, municipal, and other facilities must obtain permits if their discharges go directly to surface waters (via discrete conveyances such as pipes or man-made ditches). Individual homes that are connected to a municipal system are not reported to the EPA. For more information, please visit the EPA National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System web page.
Toxic Release Inventory by County
This layer displays the amount of toxic releases based on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Toxics Release Inventory (TRI), a national program which tracks the management of over 650 toxic chemicals that pose a threat to human health and the environment. Facilities must report how each chemical is managed through recycling, energy recovery, treatment, and releases to the environment. A “release” of a chemical means that it is emitted to the air or water, or placed in some type of land disposal. The information submitted by facilities to the EPA and states is compiled annually as the Toxics Release Inventory or TRI, and is stored in a publicly accessible database ( Envirofacts. For more information, please visit the EPA Toxics Release Inventory web page.
Statistics of U.S. Businesses
These data include number of establishments and corresponding employment change for births, deaths, expansions, and contractions from 2015 to 2016. The data are presented by geographic area, industry, and enterprise employment size.