About the Program
The Environmental Health Assessment Team started in 2023 and is funded by Foundational Public Health Services (FPHS). FPHS are core services which the governmental public health system is responsible for providing in a consistent and uniform way in every community in Washington (RCW 43.70.512).
The Environmental Health Assessment Team is responsible for developing a process for receiving, prioritizing, and completing State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) reviews and Health Impact Assessments (HIAs). Building relationships with local health jurisdictions, Tribes, community partners, and academic institutions is central to our work. Our work is expanding throughout 2024.
Our Services
Our team is currently available to support local health jurisdictions across the state through capacity and technical assistance on HIAs and SEPA comment letters.
Health Impact Assessments
- Technical assistance in scoping.
- Evidence gathering and literature review (“Desktop HIA”).
- Process coordination.
- Practitioner support through capacity building and training.
SEPA Comment Letters
- Provide a SEPA comment letter template.
- Serve as a resource hub for state-wide information including the Environmental Health Disparities Map, and other data and mapping tools.
Connections with DOH Subject Matter Experts
- We are working to reconvene a SEPA workgroup at DOH to provide consultation on emerging issues.
- We can tap our resources when collaborating on an HIA to support consultation with subject matter experts.
What is SEPA?
The Washington State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) requires state and local agencies to evaluate environmental impacts of proposed projects and decisions. The Department of Ecology oversees the SEPA review process. Other agencies and the public are allowed to comment on projects and decisions undergoing SEPA review during public comment periods.
What is a Health Impact Assessment?
Health Impact Assessment (HIA) is a process tool used to systematically assess the potential health and equity impacts of a proposed project, policy, or plan on a population to inform decision-making and the public. HIA incorporates community input, scientific data, stakeholder and professional expertise, and relevant historical, social, economic, and environmental context to assess baseline health and equity conditions, potential health impacts, and identify populations who may be disproportionately negatively affected by the proposed project. The HIA process involves six phases: screening, scoping, assessment, recommendations, reporting, and monitoring and evaluation.