Overview

This guidance provides information for agencies on how to identify overburdened communities and vulnerable populations for the purposes of making and tracking covered expenditures.

For further detailed information on the CCA requirements, please refer to the Executive Directive 24-11 and the uniform approach for the identifying overburdened communities and vulnerable populations.

Overburdened Communities Map

Use the Overburdened Communities Map for initial identification of overburdened communities when making and tracking CCA expenditures for the 2023-2025 biennium. 

The Overburdened Communities Map is a composite of several relevant data sources. Geographic areas identified as overburdened communities include census tracts ranked 9 or 10 on the Environmental Health Disparities (EHD) Map, geographic areas characterized as “disadvantaged” on the federal Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST), and census tracts that are fully or partially on “Indian Country” as defined in 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1151.

The Overburdened Communities Map represents data collected as of July 1, 2024. Agencies shall use this version of the map for the duration of the biennium. Subsequent versions of the map will incorporate changes in state and federal data and geographic boundaries.

 Overburdened Communities Map (areas shaded blue) 

Steps for Making Expenditures

When making or directing expenditures for CCA, follow the procedures outlined below. For details and further information regarding CCA requirements, please refer to the Governor’s Directive 24-11 and the full uniform approach.

1. To identify if a benefit is direct and meaningful (RCW 70A.65.030), determine if it does any of the following:

• The direct reduction of environmental burdens in overburdened communities 

• The reduction of disproportionate, cumulative risk from environmental burdens, including those associated with climate change 

• The support of community led project development, planning, and participation costs 

• Meeting a community need identified by the community that is consistent with the intent of the CCA or HEAL. 

2. To identify an overburdened community, there are two pathways:

• Map based identification of overburdened communities.
  • Using the Overburdened Communities Map, determine whether the proposed expenditure is distributed in an overburdened community.  If yes, then the expenditure is in an overburdened community for the purposes of CCA budget equity goals.
• Self-Identification for overburdened communities not identified on the map.
  • The agency staff or external entity would provide data and/or narrative explanation to the agency through the procurement or application process on how this is “a community that faces combined, multiple environmental harms and health impacts.”  Supporting information could include adverse socioeconomic factors and sensitivity factors defined in statute.  
  • Agency staff or an external entity (such as a grant applicant) may identify an overburdened community that is not identified on the Overburdened Communities Map. 

3. To identify a vulnerable population(s), use the demographic criteria outlined in statute to identify beneficiaries within the geographic area of an overburdened community. Per RCW 70A.02.010, these include:

• A population group that is racial or ethnic minorities
• A low-income population
• A population disproportionately impacted by environmental harms
• A population of workers experiencing environmental harms.
• Vulnerable populations identified through other qualifiers, i.e. adverse socioeconomic factors and sensitivity factors.

Please note that per statute, Tribes are included in the definition of overburdened communities.

Steps for tracking and reporting expenditures.

When tracking and reporting expenditures for CCA, follow the process outlined below. For details and further information, please refer to the Governor’s Directive 24-11 and the full uniform approach and the instructions published by the Department of Ecology.

1. Whether the expenditure is distributed in an overburdened community based on the Overburdened Communities Map described above.
2. Whether the expenditure benefits a vulnerable population based on one or more of the following “vulnerable populations” Heal Act/CCA statutory criteria (Per RCW 70A.0010)  

• A population group of racial or ethnic minorities
• A low-income population
• A population disproportionately impacted by environmental harms
• A population of workers experiencing environmental harms
• Vulnerable populations identified through other qualifiers, detailed in the statutory definition.

3. Whether the expenditure creates direct and meaningful benefits based on any of the following CCA statutory criteria: 

• Direct reduction of environmental burdens in overburdened communities.
• Reduction of disproportionate, cumulative risk from environmental burdens, including those associated with climate change.
• Support of community led project development, planning, and participation costs.
• Meet a community need identified by the community that is consistent with the intent of the CCA or HEAL.