The HEAL Act requires DOH and other covered agencies to do environmental justice assessments when considering significant agency actions. Significant agency actions include:
- Adopting or developing significant legislative rules. (RCW 34.05.328)
- Adopting or developing new grant or loan programs initiated after July 1, 2023.
- Designing or awarding capital projects, grants, or loans of $12 million or more.
- Developing agency request legislation.
An environmental justice assessment asks agencies to:
- Identify potential environmental benefits and harms resulting from the significant agency action.
- Identify health impacts associated with the environmental benefits and harms of the action.
- Identify overburdened communities and vulnerable populations who may be impacted by the action.
- Conduct early and meaningful engagement with Tribes, tribal organizations, and impacted communities
- Summarize input from engagement, whether or not input was incorporated, and why
- Document steps the agency took to mitigate, reduce, or eliminate environmental harms and to equitably distribute benefits associated with the action.
Summary of Environmental Justice Assessments
Under RCW 70A.02.090 we must file a notice with the Office of Financial Management (OFM) of significant agency actions for which the agency is initiating an environmental justice assessment. OFM website has the notices posted.
| Name of Significant Agency Action |
Status (Ongoing, |
EJA Notification | Completed EJA – (Blank if status is not Complete) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community Informed Budgeting Grant | Completed | ||
| Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Program Rulemaking | Completed | ||
| HEAL Capacity Grants | Completed | ||
| Office of Radiation Protection Site Surveillance Fee Agency Request Legislation | Completed | ||
| Primary and Secondary School Environmental Health and Safety Standards Rulemaking | Completed | ||
| Public Water System Definition Revision Agency Request Legislation | Completed | ||
| Minimum Horizontal Separations for On-site Sewage Systems Rulemaking | Completed |
English (PDF) |
|
| Water Recreation Facilities Agency Request Legislation | Completed | ||
| Workplace Safety and Climate Change Grant Program | Completed | ||
| Source Water Protection Local Assistance Grant Program | Completed | ||
| Alternative Drinking Water Grant Program | Ongoing | ||
| CHAI Community Capacity Building Grant Program | Ongoing | ||
| Group A Water Supply Rulemaking | Ongoing | ||
| Private Detention Facilities Rulemaking | Ongoing | ||
| Safe Drinking Water Initiative Grant | Ongoing | ||
| School Climate Plus Indoor Air Quality Grant Program | Ongoing | ||
| Cottage Food Operations Agency Request Legislation | Did not move forward |
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For questions about environmental justice assessments or significant agency actions, contact the DOH HEAL Act team.