Environmental justice assessment notices
The Healthy Environment for All Act (HEAL Act) requires specific state agencies to conduct an environmental justice assessment for significant agency actions.
- The development and adoption of significant legislative rules as defined in RCW 34.05.328.
- The development and adoption of any new grant or loan program that the agency is explicitly authorized or required by statute to implement.
- A capital project, grant, or loan award costing at least $12,000,000.
- A transportation project, grant, or loan costing at least $15,000,000.
- The submission of agency request legislation to the Office of the Governor or OFM for approval.
An environmental justice assessment is a process to:
- identify and assess the impacts of a significant agency action on overburdened communities, vulnerable populations, and Tribes;
- solicit community and tribal input in the development of the action and on options to mitigate, reduce or eliminate harms and equitably distribute benefits associated with the action;
- report on how the agency did or did not modify the action based upon community and tribal input.
The goal of an EJ assessment is to help a state agency make decisions and to assist with:
- equitably distributing environmental benefits;
- reducing environmental harms;
- identifying and reducing environmental and health disparities through the implementation of the action.
Agencies covered by the HEAL Act or who have opted in to the HEAL Act requirements include these departments:
- Agriculture (WSDA)
- Commerce
- Ecology
- Health (DOH)
- Natural Resources (DNR)
- Transportation (WSDOT)
- Office of the Attorney General
- Puget Sound Partnership (PSP)
Under RCW 70A.02.090 each covered agency must file a notice with us of significant agency actions for which the agency is initiating an environmental justice assessment. We prepare a list of all filings received from covered agencies each week to post here every Friday.
Below is list of state agency environmental justice assessments that you can filter by agency or type of action, or use the search bar to find certains terms. Select the "+" symbol for desciptions of the action, how the public can provide input, and a link to the EJ assessment when completed. For a dashboard summarizing the assessments received to date, see the HEAL Act dashboards.
| Date submitted | Date initiated |
Date completed |
Agency | Type | Agency action | Description | Methods for providing public comment | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10/02/2024 | 10/02/2024 | Ongoing | Ecology, Department of | Significant legislative rules | Rulemaking to amend Chapter 173-443 WAC, Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and Other Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases | Ecology is announcing a rulemaking to make amendments to Chapter 173-443 WAC. These will include, but are not limited to: revisions to WAC 173-443-075 to modify the sell-through provision, revisions to WAC 173-443-040 to modify the prohibitions for Automatic Commercial Ice Machines (ACIMs), and other necessary technical and administrative changes throughout the chapter. | Ecology is initiating this Environmental Justice Assessment as part of the rulemaking process and will provide engagement opportunities that include public meetings and comment periods, including engagement that will specifically focus on environmental justice. As we schedule opportunities for feedback and participation, we will share them through our website and distribution list. Please visit the rulemaking’s webpage or sign up for email updates here: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WAECY/subscriber/new?topic_id=WA.... Please contact Gopika Patwa at Gopika.patwa@ecy.wa.gov for comments or questions. |
Ongoing |
|
| 05/07/2025 | 04/01/2025 | Ongoing | Health, Department of | Other | Source Water Protection Local Assistance Grant Program | Changes to an existing grant program that has environmental impacts. | Virtual listening sessions from May – July 2025. Please sign up for email updates to learn more opportunities to get involved! To schedule a private meeting outside of the virtual listening sessions, or to provide written feedback outside of the survey please email sourcewaterprotection@doh.wa.gov. The draft guidelines will be published to our website in August 2025. There will be a public comment period from August to September. Visit https://doh.wa.gov/community-and-environment/drinking-water/source-water...assistance-grant-program for information about the Source Water Protection Local Assistance Grant Program, and to stay up to date with grant activities, including public comment opportunities. For questions about the Source Water Protection Local Assistance Grant or the environmental justice assessment, please contact Chelsea Cannard at chelsea.cannard@doh.wa.gov. |
Ongoing |
|
| 01/22/2025 | 01/22/2025 | Ongoing | Commerce, Department of | New grant or loan program | Innovation Cluster Accelerator Program Cohort 3 | The Innovation Cluster Accelerator Program Cohort 3, administered by Washington State Department of Commerce, aims to assist organizations with growing cluster operations, driving innovation in key sectors around the state, and attracting talent and capital. | Public Comment Period on the EJA draft is open. Commerce sponsored tribal briefing, Commerce pre-proposal conference |
Ongoing |
|
| 07/19/2024 | 04/17/2024 | Ongoing | Agriculture, Department of | Significant legislative rules | Amending chapter 16-752 WAC, by adding species to the prohibited plants list. | Adds additional species to the noxious weed seed and plant quarantine, which would prohibit their sale and distribution. | Members of the public can direct their comments on this significant agency action to envjustice@agr.wa.gov. Community engagement, particularly for any communities identified as overburdened for this significant agency action, will also occur as part of the development of the environmental justice assessment. |
Ongoing |
|
| 09/13/2024 | 09/12/2024 | Ongoing | Ecology, Department of | Agency-request legislation | Solar Panel Takeback Program Delay | Ecology is submitting agency request legislation to request a delay in the effective dates in Washington’s Solar Panel Takeback Program law. The state’s clean energy transition is facing a setback if a provision in the solar panel stewardship and takeback program goes into effect on July 1, 2025. The agency request legislation will enable the industry to legally continue operating in the state while solutions are being developed and allows for the creation of a facilitated advisory committee to identify issues with the law and develop recommendations for adjustment. | Ecology will be conducting an Environmental Justice Assessment during the month of September. We will share information and opportunities for public comment on our website and through email. We intend to provide an online public meeting, individual and small group meetings. Additionally, Ecology will accept written and online public comments. |
Ongoing |
|
| 06/24/2025 | 06/19/2025 | Ongoing | Commerce, Department of | Agency-request legislation | Update Homeless Program Statutes | Amend RCW 43.185C to modernize and streamline the statute. The key changes include: - Replacing outdated terminology to ensure language reflects current understanding and values around homelessness and equity. - Aligning timelines for the State Homeless Housing Strategic Plan and the Annual Report to reduce redundancy and improve strategic coherence. - Removing obsolete statutory requirements that are no longer operational or relevant to current systems or funding streams | Surveys, web-based comments form |
Ongoing |
|
| 03/13/2025 | 03/11/2024 | Ongoing | Commerce, Department of | New grant or loan program | Paper to Digital Grant | Commerce was tasked with implement the provisions of RCW 36.70B.241. The Legislature allocated $1.5 million for this purpose. Approximately $330,000 was available in unused funds to supplement this grant. This grant is intended to facilitate the conversion of city and county permit systems from paper based to fully digital systems. For example, some jurisdictions currently require paper applications with physical blueprints and internal paper routing and filing systems. These grants will help jurisdictions move to digital intake and processing allowing for remote applications and corrections and well as streamlined internal approval. This will help reduce the amount of time needed to approve permits and facilitate new residential construction. | Submit to allan.johnson@commerce.wa.gov |
Ongoing |
|
| 06/24/2025 | 06/19/2025 | Ongoing | Commerce, Department of | Agency-request legislation | Clarifying Exemption for emergency shelter in RTLA | Amend RCW 59.18.040 to include emergency shelters (including non-congregate emergency shelter) from the exempted living arrangements of the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act | Advisory groups, web-based comment form, surveys |
Ongoing |
|
| 04/10/2024 | 06/14/2023 | Ongoing | Health, Department of | New grant or loan program | Community Informed Budgeting Grant | The Department of Health (DOH) is conducting an Environmental Justice Assessment on a grant program to fund projects that benefit overburdened communities. In 2023, the legislature directed DOH to design and implement a participatory budgeting process. “Participatory budgeting” is a term used to describe processes where residents help decide how to spend a part of a public budget. The DOH will work with a community advisory committee to first identify five geographically diverse overburdened communities. In collaboration with these five communities, the DOH will co-create a process to identify climate resilience and decarbonization projects. The communities will vote on projects and the selected projects will be presented to the Washington state legislature. Once approved by the legislature in 2025, these projects will be funded up to $32,600,000. | Opportunities for public engagement and updates will be posted to the agency website below. |
Ongoing |
|
| 06/27/2024 | 06/27/2024 | Ongoing | Board of Health, Washington State | Significant legislative rules | Primary and Secondary School Environmental Health and Safety Standards | The State Board of Health (Board), in collaboration with the Department of Health (Department) is conducting an Environmental Justice Assessment for proposed rules regulating environmental health and safety standards for K-12 schools. This rulemaking is required by a budget proviso that was included in the Washington State 2024 supplemental operating budget, (Section 222, subsection 159, page 492). The new chapter will establish updated, minimum statewide health and safety standards for schools and formalize school environmental health and safety inspection procedures. Topics that may be addressed in proposed rules are: • Indoor air quality including heating, cooling, and ventilation • Water quality • Noise • Moisture and mold • Lighting • Restrooms/showers • Playgrounds • Laboratory and shop safety • Sewage • Food safety | ~ May 2024: Invite Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) Members - The proviso named specific organizations to work in collaboration with the Board to update the rules as part of a technical advisory committee (TAC). A full list of required representatives can be found on the agency webpage linked. The Board will include additional members such as Parent-Teacher Organizations, Teachers Unions, Students, and private schools. ~ Aug 2024 – Nov 2024: TAC Meetings - Work with members of the TAC to draft rule language and discuss implementation. TAC meetings are open to the public and everyone is welcome to join. ~ Dec 2024: Focus Groups- Virtual and in-person meetings will be held to discuss preliminary draft language to help the Board rulemaking team make informed decisions about finalized draft rule language. These meetings will take place across Washington state. All members of the public are welcome to participate in these focus groups. ~ Dec 2024: Informal Comment Period - Invite all interested parties to review and share feedback on the draft rule language. All members of the public are welcome to provide comments during the informal comment period. |
Ongoing |
|
| 12/19/2024 | 12/19/2024 | Ongoing | Ecology, Department of | Significant legislative rules | Lead-in-Cosmetics Rulemaking | The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) started a rulemaking under the authority of Chapter 70A.560 RCW: Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act, to identify a feasible approach to regulating lead in cosmetic products, including potentially adopting a different limit on lead impurities than the statutory limit of 1 part per million (ppm). Ecology will work with interested parties to: • Better understand compliance challenges with the statutory limit. • Determine the lowest feasible limit that manufacturers can achieve that is also protective of people and the environment. Background In 2023, the Washington State Legislature passed the Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act to restrict the manufacture, sale, and distribution of cosmetic products containing certain chemicals, including lead and lead compounds. The law applies to cosmetic products such as makeup, perfume, shampoo, lotion, deodorant, shaving cream, and toothpaste. After meeting with many cosmetics manufacturers, Ecology learned that a strict 1 ppm limit can be difficult, if not impossible, for some cosmetic products to achieve. Lead is a naturally occurring metal that can be in raw ingredients such as minerals and clay that are used in cosmetics. Ingredients used for pigments are a common source of lead impurities, but manufacturers have limited pigment options approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration. The variability of lead concentrations in ingredients can prevent manufacturers from complying with the statutory limit of 1 ppm. Product testing data from Germany and the United Kingdom shows that 90 percent of cosmetic products can achieve lead concentrations of 2 ppm for general cosmetics (such as lotion or cleansers) and 5 ppm for color cosmetics (such as blush or eye shadow). While there may be some variability in lead concentrations by geographic location, the data supports the technical feasibility of lower concentrations. Interim policy Ecology also issued an interim policy to provide compliance guidance to manufacturers while we conduct the rulemaking. This interim policy gives: • Manufacturers more time to comply with the lead restriction. • Ecology more time to collect information. • Manufacturers alternative paths to compliance for cosmetic products that are unable to achieve lead concentrations below 1 ppm. We are committed to supporting businesses with their compliance efforts. Contact us at ToxicFreeCosmetics@ecy.wa.gov with questions or concerns. | We plan to conduct engagement for this rulemaking throughout 2025 and 2026. Engagement efforts may include public meetings, in-person workshops or tabling events, outreach with community-based organizations (CBOs), opportunities to review and comment on draft rule requirements, public comment periods, and formal public hearings. We will focus on engaging with overburdened communities and vulnerable populations most impacted by lead in cosmetic products. We will also invite consultation from Tribal representatives who may be interested in informing the development of this work. We will conduct additional communications about the rulemaking through partner agencies that are working with CBOs on lead exposure (like the Department of Health and the King County Hazardous Waste Program) to leverage their existing relationships with vulnerable populations in overburdened communities. We will start this communication process in early 2025 to provide adequate time and resources for members of these communities to participate in the formal comment process, and for us to reduce barriers like language access and web-based outreach methods. We will share details about engagement opportunities and resources on our website and through our email lists and tailored communications with CBOs. We anticipate: • Developing draft rule requirements in 2025. • Sharing a preliminary draft rule, providing a public comment period, and hosting webinars in the winter of 2025. • Proposing a formal draft rule, providing a public comment period, and hosting hearings, in the summer of 2026. • Adopting the revised rule in the winter of 2026. For more information, join our email list, visit our rulemaking webpage or contact Shari Franjevic at ToxicFreeCosmetics@ecy.wa.gov or 360-338-2913. |
Ongoing |
|
| 05/07/2025 | 04/01/2025 | Ongoing | Health, Department of | New grant or loan program | Safe Drinking Water Initiative | The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is conducting an Environmental Justice Assessment on the Safe Drinking Water Initiative. The Washington State Legislature provided funding in the 2023-2025 biennium to extend outreach and provide education and groundwater testing for nitrate in the Lower Yakima Valley Ground Water Management Area (LYV-GWMA) in Yakima County. | For questions about this environmental justice assessment and current and future opportunities for engagement, please contact Anchee Nitschke Durben at anchee.nitschkedurben@doh.wa.gov |
Ongoing |
|
| 02/04/2025 | 02/04/2025 | Ongoing | Commerce, Department of | New grant or loan program | 2025 Clean Energy Community Grants | The Clean Energy Community Grants is a new program established to award $41,116,360 to the planning, design, and implementation of clean energy technologies through a non-competitive solicitation. Applicants will be invited to submit project proposals on an invitation-only basis. | Commerce hosts a Listening Session and public comment can be submitted via email. |
Ongoing |
|
| 12/04/2023 | 09/19/2023 | Action did not move forward | Commerce, Department of | Agency-request legislation | Clarifying, updating and modifying office of homeless youth prevention and protection statutes | This is Department of Commerce, Housing Division, agency request legislation related to several technical clarifications that are needed in RCWs to improve the administration of Office of Homeless Youth (OHY) grant programs. The current RCW language presents barriers to the successful implementation of OHY programs or contributes to a lack of clarity about OHY's roles and responsibilities. The requested changes originated from requests from community providers and lived experts. | Community engagement on these technical fixes already took place, with the changes being developed in consultation with Office of Homeless Youth advisory groups and stakeholders. Since these are small technical fixes, we don't anticipate future concerns from stakeholders. We don't anticipate any impacts on Tribal Nations or lands. |
Action did not move forward Died in Session and did not move forward |
|
| 02/08/2024 | 01/01/2024 | Ongoing | Puget Sound Partnership | Other | 2026-2030 Action Agenda for Puget Sound | The Puget Sound Partnership is required to regularly develop and update an Action Agenda for Puget Sound. The Action Agenda outlines our region’s collective vision for a healthy and resilient Puget Sound and describes what we must achieve, how we will achieve it, and how we will hold ourselves accountable to ensure we make progress. The Action Agenda fulfills the Partnership's statutory mandate and purpose of the Clean Water Act's National Estuary Program (NEP), which guides millions of dollars of federal funding to the most beneficial projects and programs. The Action Agenda outlines strategies and actions that describe the work we must do to make progress toward our desired outcomes for Puget Sound recovery: Protect and restore habitat and habitat-forming processes; Protect and improve water quality; Protect the food web and imperiled species; Prevent the worst effects of climate change; and ensure human wellbeing. The Action Agenda provides opportunities for federal, tribal, state, local, and private partners to better invest resources and coordinate action. | In 2024, Partnership staff interviewed leaders of community-based organizations in the Puget Sound region that represented and/or served overburdened communities and vulnerable population about Puget Sound recovery and restoration. Feedback from these interviews were summarized, reviewed, and considered by the Partnership and other state agencies as the 2026-2030 Action Agenda was drafted. A summary of this initial feedback is documented in our Phase 1 report. Once a draft of the Action Agenda is prepared, the Partnership will co-host community-based workshops with the organizations we interviewed in 2024. At these workshops, Partnership staff will provide an overview of the Partnership and Action Agenda, outline clear expectations of how feedback will be used, and report on how the initial feedback we received was (or was not) incorporated into the draft of the Action Agenda. Participants will be invited to provide any additional feedback for how the Action Agenda can better address their concerns and priorities. The Partnership will assess language, cultural, and accessibility needs when engaging with community members. |
Ongoing |
|
| 09/12/2023 | 09/12/2023 | Ongoing | Ecology, Department of | Significant legislative rules | Cap-and-Invest Offsets Rulemaking (Chapter 173-446 WAC) | Ecology is considering amendments to Chapter 173-446 WAC to address new and revised cap and invest offset protocols. Offsets are projects or programs designed to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere. In Washington’s cap-and-invest program, offset projects must also provide direct environmental benefits to our state. Offsets allow businesses to balance out the negative impacts of their emissions by funding a project that benefits the environment such as capturing methane on dairy farms or planting trees in urban areas. The scope of this rulemaking will include consideration of protocol updates or addition of new protocols to increase the potential variety of offset projects that can be developed within the cap-and-invest program, as directed by RCW 70A.65.170(4)(b). This statute directs Ecology to conduct rulemaking that ensures that any updates or additions to the offset program are both based in the best available science, and support the needs of landowners and communities in Washington state. | Ecology is initiating this environmental justice assessment and the rulemaking process and will provide engagement opportunities that include public meetings and comment periods. As we schedule opportunities for feedback and participation, we will share them through our website and distribution list. Please visit the rulemaking’s webpage or sign up for email updates here: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WAECY/subscriber/new?topic_id=WA... . Please contact Nikki Harris at nikki.harris@ecy.wa.gov for comments or questions. |
Ongoing |
|
| 11/14/2024 | 10/10/2024 | Ongoing | Transportation, Department of | Transportation project, grant, or loan of at least $15 million | State Route 99 Paving and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Project - S. 272nd ST to State Route 516 Vicinity | This project will resurface the northbound and southbound lanes of State Route 99 from South 272nd Street to SR 516 to extend the pavement service life. Crews will grind and inlay new Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA), perform pavement repair, traffic loop replacement, striping and traffic control. Pedestrian curb ramps will be evaluated and updated as necessary to meet the Americans with Disabilities Act and current accessibility standards. | Community engagement will be conducted throughout the project. Specific engagement opportunities will be updated as the project advances. |
Ongoing |
|
| 06/24/2025 | 06/19/2025 | Ongoing | Commerce, Department of | Agency-request legislation | Affordable Housing Property Tax Excemption | Legislation to exempt affordable housing units (those affordable to households at 60% of the Area Median Income or lower) from property taxes. This would include a simple, fair calculation to help exempt units in buildings that have mixed affordability limits. | Advisory groups, web-based comments, surveys |
Ongoing |
|
| 03/27/2025 | 03/27/2025 | Ongoing | Commerce, Department of | New grant or loan program | Develop and adopt Tribal Electric Boats Program | Commerce and tribal leaders are developing the Tribal Electric Boats Program (TEBP) to fund the purchase of new electric boats as well as electrification and hybridization projects. Eligible applicants are tribal governments, tribal enterprises, and tribal citizens with tribal government support. The intent of the proviso is to decarbonize tribal marine vessels for fishing and related purposes (enforcement, patrol, research, etc.). | Email comments; GovDelivery emails; Stakeholder Interviews; Web-based comment form; Other |
Ongoing |
|
| 06/24/2025 | 06/19/2025 | Ongoing | Commerce, Department of | Agency-request legislation | Update youth homelessness program statutes | In order to ensure there is consistency with best practices in serving homeless youth and efficiency in delivering OHY programming, Commerce proposes amending the following statutes: RCW 43.63A.305 to include transitional housing as an eligible activity for the Independent Youth Housing Program and eliminate the 12% cap on administrative cost. RCW 43.185C.315 and RCW 43.185C.010 to replace the derogatory term “Street Youth” in statute and replace it with the term “unaccompanied homeless youth” which has the same functional definition. RCW 43.330.710 to clarify that OHY programs for young adults may provide services to emancipated minors who otherwise meet program eligibility criteria. The definition of HOPE Centers in RCW 74.15.020 to align with the definition of HOPE Centers outlined in RCW 43.185C.010 clarifying that youth remain for 90 days. RCW 74.15.020 to require Host Homes to notify OHY upon registering with the secretary of state. RCW 43.330.726 to clarify that eligibility for Community Support Teams services extends to youth seeking shelter, as well as the roles and responsibilities of CST convening entities when a parent, guardian, or legal custodian objects to the support or assistance of the CST; RCW 43.185C.280 and RCW 43.185C.285 to clarify that Crisis Residential Center administrators should notify parents unless a compelling reason exists not to, as defined in RCW 13.32A.082. RCW 43.330.710 to add flexible financial assistance as an allowable cost of all OHY programs where a youth or young adult may need discrete support or funding to secure safe housing and such flexible funding may be paid directly to youth OR third-party vendors, such as landlords, in order to secure safe and stable housing. RCW 43.330.702 to expand the definition of "child," "juvenile," "youth," and "minor" to include homeless young adults under age 21 who are in transitional living programs at the time they reach the age of 18 for the purposes of licensing requirements for group care facilities under 74.15 RCW and not under any other statute or for any other purpose. RCW 43.330.702 to clarify that emancipated minors are considered young adults for the purposes of eligibility for OHY programs which serve young adults. RCW 43.330.724 to reauthorize the Housing Stability for Youth in Courts Program | Advisory groups, committee meetings, web-based comment form, surveys |
Ongoing |
|
| 11/16/2023 | 11/16/2023 | Ongoing | Health, Department of | Significant legislative rules | Private Detention Facilities Rule Making | The Department of Health (DOH) is conducting an environmental justice assessment for rulemaking related to Chapter 70.395 RCW, which allows DOH to investigate complaints and perform health and safety inspections in private detention facilities. This is to ensure facilities meet safety and hygiene standards and provide safe conditions for people being detained. | The Office of the Assistant Secretary (OAS) has participated in listening sessions with several advocacy groups and shared information regarding private detention facility rulemaking activities. OAS has created a program webpage (https://doh.wa.gov/about-us/executive-offices/prevention-safety-and-heal...) where the public can learn about rulemaking steps including upcoming listening sessions, anticipated time frames when the public can participate in multiple workgroup sessions to draft rule language, and timeframes for the informal proposed rule public comment period. Interested parties can e-mail comments directly to: privatedetentionfacilites@doh.wa.gov. |
Ongoing |
|
| 12/30/2024 | 12/30/2024 | Ongoing | Ecology, Department of | Capital project, grant, or loan award of at least $12 million | Award for Restoration and Recovery of the Willapa Bay North Shore | The purpose of this action is to provide $14.3 million to the Pacific Conservation District (PCD) to implement the Restoration and Recovery of the Willapa Bay North Shore project, which will restore a large section of Willapa Bay’s north shoreline. This award is part of the NOAA Climate Resilience Regional Challenge (CRRC), for which the Washington Department of Ecology was awarded $73.5 million dollars to pass through in order to advance a portfolio of collaboratively developed climate resilience projects. The Department of Ecology collaborated with over 30 local jurisdictions, Tribal governments, state agencies, and nonprofit organizations to select and co-develop projects to improve resilience and enhance the climate adaptation capacity of local communities, prioritizing those that have been marginalized, underserved, and/or underrepresented. 81.3% of the Washington CRRC award funds (just under $61 million) will go towards projects located in or co-created with frontline communities and Tribes. $18.7 million will go toward projects located in disadvantaged communities (as identified by the federal Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool) while $41.7 million will go to projects implemented in partnership and in co-creation with Tribes. As one of the subawardees in this portfolio, Pacific Conservation District (PCD) will implement the Restoration and Recovery of the Willapa Bay North Shore project. This region was identified by CEJST as low income and was ranked in the 98th percentile or higher for both expected building loss rate and expected population loss due to natural hazards. Funds will be used for the installation of a nature-based dynamic revetment (small cobble, large woody debris, and root wads), staff time to manage the project and coordinate collaborative workshops with partners and stakeholders, staff equipment, native plant and other restoration materials, adaptive management, and travel for project construction and presentation of results at conferences. Funds will also be used to contract with an engineering firm to update final designs that were developed in 2020, and to fund for a separate activity with Ecology’s Coastal Monitoring and Analysis Program for pre- and post-construction shoreline monitoring. This project will bring funds directly to Pacific County businesses and residents and will improve the long-term economic and ecological vitality of the North Willapa region and its natural resource-dependent communities. | Washington Department of Ecology collaborated with PCD in the planning for this project. This project was designed within the community and collaboratively with local stakeholders and partners. The North Cove area is identified as overburdened. Community based organizations and Tribes in this overburdened community helped co-develop the project and had opportunities to provide comments. As the project moves forward, these groups will continue to be consulted and have opportunities for input. Collaboration with and comment from the communities and Tribes affected by this project will continue to inform this assessment, as well as the planning and design of this work. PCD will take the lead in holding additional community meetings, conducting further stakeholder outreach and coordinating with their local partners. PCD will consult with local and regional partners through the Willapa Erosion Control Action Now (WECAN) community forum and Coastal Hazards Resilience Network. PCD will work with Pacific County Drainage District No 1 on community participation and coordination throughout the project lifecycle, including facilitation/coordination of the WECAN community forum to ensure cohesion with related projects and partners. PCD will report the result of their meetings, outreach and coordination to the Department of Ecology throughout the project period. PCD and Ecology are open to and will continue respond to comments received via email regarding environmental justice, overburdened communities, or vulnerable populations impacted by the project and seek further involvement to address concerns. Tribal partners will be integrally involved with this project. PCD, the Department of Ecology and NOAA will conduct information sharing with Tribal nations in the project area. Ecology will support PCD and other project partners in this work, including participating in the WECAN network, providing technical assistance as needed, and advising on environmental justice impacts as needed. Additionally, the NOAA Office of Coastal Management will consult with potentially interested Tribes as part of the Federal Section 106 compliance process. Ecology will do additional outreach with overburdened communities as needed to address environmental justice concerns. If you have comments on the Environmental Justice impacts or considerations for this project, you can reach out to the Ecology Project Manager, Julia, at jseb461@ecy.wa.gov. |
Ongoing |
|
| 10/03/2024 | 04/01/2024 | Ongoing | Commerce, Department of | New grant or loan program | Consolidated Permit Grant | Commerce was tasked by the Legislature with implementing a new grant program to cities and counties through the provisions of RCW 36.70B.240. An appropriation of $1.5 million dollars was designated for this grant program. This grant is intended to help jurisdictions consolidate various permit approval processes for individual projects into a unified and streamlined approach. This way a new development that needs perhaps a building permit, plumbing permit, grading permit, demolition permit, etc. can make one application for the project and all approvals will be processed concurrently reducing the approval time for new development. | Public comments were taken by the Legislature during adoption of SB 5290 which was codified as RCW 36.70B.240. A public meeting was held on May 1, 2024 for prospective applicants to review grant application requirements and answer questions. |
Ongoing |
|
| 05/29/2025 | 11/15/2023 | Ongoing | Transportation, Department of | Transportation project, grant, or loan of at least $15 million | Seattle Ferry Terminal Electrification Project | Install subterranean and submarine power cable from Seattle City Light vault 5 at Pier 48 to Colman Dock slips 1 and 3. Complete construction of the trestle SW corner, install shoreside battery energy storage system and vessel charging system. | WSFelectrification@WSDOT.WA.GOV |
Ongoing |
|
| 02/06/2025 | 02/06/2025 | Ongoing | Ecology, Department of | Significant legislative rules | Rulemaking: Chapters 173-425, 173-430, and 173-400 WAC, Flame Cap Kilns and Air Curtain Incinerators | This rulemaking will consider two amendments to the existing rule. First, it will explore adding the definition of “flame cap kilns” and “silvicultural burning” in rule to align with amendments made to RCW by Substitute Senate Bill (SSB) 6121. Adding the definitions will not change the existing laws on what, where, and when burning is legal. Second, this rulemaking will address the air curtain incinerator permitting process. Current technology for air curtain incinerators makes it difficult to meet some emission limits, and therefore permit applications for ACIs require additional consideration and information. This requires additional work by the applicant and Ecology and additional time needed to issue the necessary permit. With proper siting criteria and operation standards, ACIs may still be more beneficial to air quality than open burning. This will also not change the existing laws related to burning. The area(s) most likely to be impacted if there is an increase in emissions are those where burning takes place frequently, such as the central and eastern regions of the state. In addition to the two potential amendments mentioned above, this rulemaking may also consider other amendments to these chapters to clarify language and improve regulatory requirements for air quality. | Ecology plans to conduct engagement focused on connecting with overburdened communities and vulnerable populations for the purpose of the environmental justice assessment of this rulemaking. Engagement is anticipated to begin in Fall 2025. Public meetings will be held (virtually, in person, or both depending on the need), during which time we will open the floor for Q&A and informal comments from the public. Ecology welcomes oral comments during public hearings(s), electronically submitted comments, comments submitted by mail related to the Environmental Justice Assessment for this rulemaking. More information will be provided on our webpage as the rulemaking further develops. |
Ongoing |
|
| 02/07/2025 | 02/07/2025 | Ongoing | Ecology, Department of | Capital project, grant, or loan award of at least $12 million | Water Quality Program Proposed Loan Offer to the City of Seattle | This significant agency action would provide $28.6 million in loan funding to Seattle Public Utilities to construct a new pump station. The pump station is part of the larger Ship Canal Water Quality Project, and it would transport sewage and rain runoff to the West Point Treatment Plant. This project would significantly reduce the volume of sewage and rain runoff that overflow into the Lake Washington Ship Canal by removing seven outfalls. Removal of these outfalls will improve water quality, public health, and the health of the aquatic ecosystem. This project is in a densely populated area of Northwest Seattle and affects the waters of the Lake Washington Ship Canal, which connects Lake Union and Salmon Bay with Shilshole Bay of the Puget Sound. This waterway is a critical habitat for salmon, including the ESA listed Chinook salmon, as well as coho, sockeye, chum, steelhead, and southern resident killer whales. In addition to their ecological role, salmon are deeply tied to the cultural identity of the region. Tribes have long emphasized the importance of the Salish Sea, salmon and their habitat; this action supports Washington’s Treaty obligations to protect this cultural and natural resource. By reducing sewage and stormwater overflows, this project will improve water quality, creating a healthier environment to reduce impacts to local Tribes and communities, while also protecting resources with cultural and ecological significance. | The public can submit feedback about the Water Quality Program's State Fiscal Year 2026 Draft Offer List, which includes this loan action, during the public comment period from 12 a.m. on Feb. 5, 2025 to 11:59 p.m. on March 7, 2025. Ecology also invites the public to attend a public meeting regarding the proposed funding on Feb. 13, 2025 at 1 p.m. via Zoom. To submit comments or register for the meeting, visit the Water Quality grants and loans webpage. Ecology will identify additional opportunities to engage with overburdened communities who may be impacted by this action and provide methods for their meaningful involvement in this funding decision. Please contact Faith Wimberley at faith.wimberley@ecy.wa.gov to stay informed of further involvement opportunities. Grants and loans webpage: https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-quality/water-quality-gran... |
Ongoing |
|
| 12/05/2023 | 12/05/2023 | Ongoing | Commerce, Department of | Agency-request legislation | Changing the incentive structure for tier 1 buildings | This proposed Agency Request Legislation would change the authorizing language for the Clean Buildings Early Adopter Incentive Program. This incentive program, authorized in 2019, offers $75M in incentives to Tier 1 buildings owners who bring their buildings into compliance. This ARL would remove the 85 cent cap per square foot and allow Commerce to have more flexibility in establishing an appropriate incentive. This would allow Commerce to offer an incentive greater than 85 cents per square foot and offer enhanced incentives for buildings which meet a number of important criteria (ex. The building meets an equity criteria). This represents a small change in the authorizing language for the program, which has now been active for four years. | Public comment will be accepted at buildings@commerce.wa.gov |
Ongoing |
|
| 02/08/2024 | 10/02/2023 | Ongoing | Transportation, Department of | Transportation project, grant, or loan of at least $15 million | SR 525 Mukilteo Bridge over Railroad – Bridge Replacement | The existing SR 525 bridge overcrossing the railroad in the city of Mukilteo is functionally obsolete and does not meet the multimodal traffic and active transportation needs for accessing the new ferry terminal. The intended Significant Agency Action includes constructing a new bridge and updating channelization of the roadway to improve bridge integrity, roadway continuity, and roadway capacity. | Online open house, listening sessions, workshops |
Ongoing |
|
| 05/21/2024 | 11/08/2023 | Ongoing | Transportation, Department of | Transportation project, grant, or loan of at least $15 million | I-5/NB N Lake Samish to Nooksack River - Concrete Pavement Rehab | The Portland Cement Concrete Panels (PCCP) within these sections of Interstate 5 are near or have exceeded their design life. Rehabilitate the concrete pavement through the combination of several strategies such as concrete panel replacement, milling and inlaying of hot-mix asphalt (HMA) road surfaces to match the concrete pavement on tapers and ramps. | TBD |
Ongoing |
|
| 11/20/2024 | 11/20/2024 | Ongoing | Ecology, Department of | Significant legislative rules | Chapter 173-423 WAC, Clean Vehicles Program Rulemaking | Ecology is considering amendments to Chapter 173-423 WAC, the Clean Vehicles Program rule. Washington law (RCW 70A.30.010) requires Ecology to adopt certain California regulations to maintain consistency with California’s emissions standards for new motor vehicles and engines. To date, Ecology has delivered on this Legislative requirement to adopt regulations consistent with the following California programs: Advanced Clean Cars, Advanced Clean Cars II, Advanced Clean Trucks, and Heavy-Duty Low NOx Omnibus standards. Ecology is currently considering amendments to Washington regulations that will track amendments to California’s Advanced Clean Trucks and Heavy-Duty Low-NOx Omnibus regulations currently adopted and/or under consideration by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). These amendments are important to streamline program implementation, provide additional compliance flexibility, and maintain consistency with other states and the federal government. The Advanced Clean Trucks regulations apply to medium- and heavy-duty engine and vehicle manufacturers and require zero-emission models to make up an increasing percentage of new vehicle sales in Washington, starting with engine model year 2025. The Heavy-Duty Low-NOx omnibus regulation applies to heavy-duty internal combustion engine manufacturers and requires them to meet more protective air quality standards, particularly on oxides of nitrogen and particulate matter, starting in model year 2026. Ecology is also inviting public input about additional California motor vehicle emissions standards the agency should consider adopting in a future rulemaking to comply with the requirements in Chapter 70A.30 RCW and efficiently and cost-effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation in line with Washington’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction mandates in RCW 70A.45.020. | Ecology is initiating this environmental justice assessment and the rulemaking process and will provide engagement opportunities that include public meetings and comment periods. Ecology will host an initial public information session on December 10, 2024 from 10:00 AM-Noon. As we schedule additional opportunities for feedback and participation, we will share them through our website and distribution list. Please visit the rulemaking webpage or sign up for email updates here: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WAECY/subscriber/new?topic_id=WA.... Please contact Nikki Harris at nikki.harris@ecy.wa.gov for comments or questions. |
Ongoing |
|
| 06/24/2025 | 06/19/2025 | Ongoing | Commerce, Department of | Agency-request legislation | Residential Weatherization RCW Update | RCW 70A.35 (Low-Income Residential Weatherization Program) is outdated and restrictive. As of 2016, the state weatherization program is no longer a matchmaker program, where state funds are matched dollar-for-dollar based on utility contributions. The state weatherization program is now Weatherization Plus Health, which is funded out of the capital budget. The state and utilities now fund weatherization separately via local agencies (Community Action Partnership agencies, municipalities, tribes). Currently, the state weatherization program can only serve projects that involve whole-home weatherization and is limited to serving low-income households. Updating this policy and increasing its flexibility support Commerce and the ED’s goals to serve more overburdened communities (from a community approach) with less friction and more efficiencies. We first recommend updating the outdated matchmaker program language to the current Residential Weatherization program language. This will increase compliance as the RCW has not been updated in years, and the program has evolved significantly. Low-income verification is required for local agencies to use federal dollars. Local agencies typically use federal and state dollars together on projects. As such, we recommend maintaining this low-income verification process, but also recommend adding categorical eligibility (e.g., OFM Overburdened Communities Map). Additionally, we propose allowing both partial (some measures) and whole-home weatherization (all cost-effective measures that apply). This will allow us to serve more communities (e.g., weatherizing homes in an at-risk neighborhood with scalable measures and without having to income qualify all residents). This also may make it easier for agencies to work with utilities and the state, as if the state reduces barriers, the utilities will likely follow suit. These updates will benefit Washington residents, weatherization providers (local agencies), utilities, other state agencies, and other Commerce programs. With new staff across Commerce, the current federal and state landscape, increased state investment in weatherization, and the fact that this policy has been outdated for many years, it is pertinent to accurately reflect this legacy program to grow it. As we encounter new programs and pilots from other state agencies, utilities, and Commerce, and increased community need, there is a greater opportunity to run new, more flexible, innovative, and scalable weatherization programs. | Advisory Groups |
Ongoing |
|
| 03/31/2025 | 03/31/2025 | Ongoing | Ecology, Department of | Significant legislative rules | Cap-and-Invest Program Updates and Linkage Rulemaking (Chapter 173-446 WAC and Chapter 173-441 WAC) | Last year, the Washington Department of Ecology initiated a rulemaking process to consider amendments to Chapter 173-446 WAC and Chapter 173-441 WAC that would facilitate the option of linking Washington’s carbon market with the California-Québec carbon market. We are announcing a new rulemaking today that replaces the previous rulemaking and expands the scope to include other necessary updates to the Cap-and-Invest program rules. In this new rulemaking, as required by the Climate Commitment Act (CCA) RCW 70A.65, the Department of Ecology is still exploring the option of linking Washington’s Cap-and-Invest carbon market with the California-Québec carbon market. This linkage would create a unified carbon market across the three jurisdictions so allowances issued by California and Québec could be used by Washington businesses for compliance, and vice versa. Linkage would also allow for joint allowance auctions, a common allowance price, and the free trading of allowances between jurisdictions. This rulemaking is needed to update Chapter 173-446 WAC and Chapter 173-441 WAC in line with these legislative changes and make other updates to ensure the rules are consistent with a potential linked market. The rule changes will not in themselves automatically establish linkage but will set the stage for future actions, such as signing a formal linkage agreement. Additionally, The Climate Commitment Act Program Rule requires the adoption of allowance budgets for the second compliance period (2027–2030), ensuring that emissions reductions align with Washington's 2030, 2040, and 2050 greenhouse gas emissions limits. This rule will also add one additional sector —waste to energy—to coverage under cap-and-invest as required by statute. Pursuant to the Climate Commitment Act Program Rule, Ecology will also modify and adopt rules to continue to address topics associated with imported electricity and centralized electricity markets. Ecology will consider rules relevant to allowance allocation to electric utilities. Through this rulemaking, Ecology will make updates as necessary to improve implementation of the Cap-and-Invest Program and to ensure the rule aligns with statute. | Ecology is initiating this environmental justice assessment and the rulemaking process and will provide engagement opportunities that include public meetings and comment periods. Ecology plans to conduct public engagement, with outreach focused on people from overburdened communities and vulnerable populations for the purpose of developing the environmental justice assessment for this rule. Ecology will also hold Tribal forums and invite government-to-government consultation with Tribes. Ecology conducted engagement for the Linkage rulemaking and the comments gathered during that process will also be used to inform this Environmental Justice Assessment. Ecology is also available to meet with individual organizations and groups at their request during the rulemaking process. As we schedule opportunities for feedback and participation, we will share them through our website and distribution list. Please visit the rulemaking’s webpage for updates. Please contact Surabhi Subedi, Climate Pollution Reduction Program Rulemaking Planner, at CPRRulemaking@ecy.wa.gov |
Ongoing |
|
| 06/24/2025 | 06/17/2025 | Ongoing | Commerce, Department of | Agency-request legislation | Legislative Reports Repeal ARL | Commerce complies with dozens of legislative reporting requirements every year. Many of the reports: have due dates that don’t align with the availability of the information needed for the report; were the priority of a previous Governor but not the current Governor; or would better serve communities as updates on the Commerce website rather than as a legislative report. Commerce staff can strengthen communities by spending less time on reporting requirements and more time doing the work to implement programs in the communities. This ARL will help us address this by streamlining the reporting workload for program staff, freeing them up to do more impactful work in and with communities. As part of the ARL process, we will review our current list of statutorily-required legislative reports and create a list of see which reports can be eliminated or changed to the more efficient website publication process. That list will be the focus of this ARL and will lead to changes in the relevant reporting statutes. The changes will free up program staff to do more programmatic work. It will save money from reducing the need to hire third-party contractors to write the report for us, when we don’t have staff available to write them. It also lessens the amount of time and money that usually goes into editing those third-party reports. | We will be having conversations with the Gov's office, OFM, other state agencies, local governments, and the legislature to best determine which reports make sense to repeal or amend. Once the list is complete, we will present it at a HEAL Community Involvement Session for review and comments by interested community members. We will also accept emailed comments. |
Ongoing |
|
| 04/11/2024 | 04/11/2024 | Action did not move forward | Ecology, Department of | Significant legislative rules | Cap-and-Invest Linkage Rulemaking (Chapter 173-446 WAC and Chapter 173-441 WAC) | As required by the Climate Commitment Act (CCA), Ecology is investigating the option of linking Washington’s Cap-and-Invest Program carbon market with the California-Québec carbon market. In a linked Cap-and-Invest Program, Washington’s carbon market would combine with the joint California-Québec market to create a single shared market with joint allowance auctions and a common allowance price across all jurisdictions. Allowances could be traded across jurisdictions and used to cover emissions in any of the three jurisdictions. As part of this effort, the Legislature passed legislation in 2024 modifying the CCA in ways that facilitate linkage (Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 6058). This rulemaking is needed to modify Chapter 173-446 WAC and Chapter 173-441 WAC to implement these statutory changes as well as to make other changes to these rules necessary to facilitate linkage. These rule changes do not constitute linkage, nor do they require linkage or do anything that would make linkage inevitable. Additional steps would be needed, outside of the Washington rulemaking process, to establish linkage, including signing on to a linkage agreement. The Climate Commitment Act directs Ecology to consider linking Washington's Cap-and-Invest Program with other carbon markets. The law also requires Ecology to review specific criteria to ensure linkage would benefit Washington’s communities, economy, and climate goals. | Ecology is initiating this environmental justice assessment and the rulemaking process and will provide engagement opportunities that include public meetings and comment periods. Ecology plans to conduct public engagement, with outreach focused on people from overburdened communities, vulnerable populations, and Tribes, for the purpose of developing the environmental justice assessment for this rule. Ecology is also available to meet with individual organizations and small groups at their request during the rulemaking process. As we schedule opportunities for feedback and participation, we will share them through our website and distribution list. Please visit the rulemaking’s webpage for updates. Please contact Nikki Harris, Climate Pollution Reduction Program Rulemaking Coordinator, at nikki.harris@ecy.wa.gov for comments or questions. |
Action did not move forward Resubmitted as a new rulemaking |
|
| 12/30/2024 | 12/30/2024 | Ongoing | Ecology, Department of | Capital project, grant, or loan award of at least $12 million | Award for Chinook Marsh Restoration | The purpose of this action is to provide $16.7 million to Snohomish County to implement the Chinook Marsh restoration project, which will complete a tidal reconnection project in the Snohomish River estuary. This award is part of the NOAA Climate Resilience Regional Challenge (CRRC), for which the Washington Department of Ecology was awarded $73.5 million dollars to pass through in order to advance a portfolio of collaboratively developed climate resilience projects. The Department of Ecology collaborated with over 30 local jurisdictions, Tribal governments, state agencies, and nonprofit organizations to select and co-develop projects to improve resilience and enhance the climate adaptation capacity of local communities, prioritizing those that have been marginalized, underserved, and/or underrepresented. 81.3% of the Washington CRRC award funds (just under $61 million) will go towards projects located in or co-created with frontline communities and Tribes. $18.7 million will go toward projects located in disadvantaged communities (as identified by the federal Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool) while $41.7 million will go to projects implemented in partnership and in co-creation with Tribes. As one of the subawardees in this portfolio, Snohomish County will complete a tidal reconnection project in the Snohomish River estuary by breaching the existing levee system and constructing a setback levee. Funds will be used to secure contract services through a bid process to implement all required construction tasks according to the restoration designs currently under development. This work is necessary to provide natural resiliency to climate change exacerbated floods, storms, and sea level rise. | Washington Department of Ecology collaborated with Snohomish County in the planning for this project. This project was designed within the community and collaboratively with local stakeholders and partners. The project is located in a community identified as overburdened, and community members and Tribes helped co-develop the project and have ongoing opportunities to provide comments. The funds that are to be subgranted to Snohomish County are for the construction phase of this project. Snohomish County is currently in the conceptual design phase, with preliminary design anticipated by 2025 and final design anticipated by 2026. Snohomish County is currently collaborating with project partners and conducting outreach. They expect to make the preliminary project design available for review in spring 2025 and will incorporate comments and concerns into the final design. Opportunities for comment can be found on Snohomish County’s Chinook Marsh project page. Tribal partners are integrally involved with this project, and information sharing with other Tribal nations will be conducted by Snohomish County and NOAA. Additionally, the NOAA Office of Coastal Management will consult with potentially interested Tribes as part of the Federal Section 106 compliance process. Collaboration with and comment from the communities and tribes effected by this project will continue to inform the planning and design of this work. Snohomish County will report the result of their meetings, outreach and coordination to the Department of Ecology throughout the project period. Snohomish County and Ecology are open to and will continue respond to comments received via email regarding environmental justice, overburdened communities, or vulnerable populations impacted by the project and seek further involvement to address concerns. Ecology will do additional outreach with overburdened communities as needed to address Environmental Justice concerns. If you have comments on the Environmental Justice impacts or considerations for this project, you can reach out to the Ecology Project Manager, Julia, at jseb461@ecy.wa.gov. |
Ongoing |
|
| 05/29/2025 | 11/15/2023 | Ongoing | Transportation, Department of | Transportation project, grant, or loan of at least $15 million | Bainbridge Island Ferry Terminal Electrification Project | Install underground power cable from the Bainbridge Island Murden Cove Puget Sound Energy (PSE) substation approximately 2.5 miles within State Route (SR) 305 right of way to metering and distribution equipment at the holding lanes, and then to a vessel charging system at terminal trestle slip 1. | WSFelectrification@WSDOT.WA.GOV |
Ongoing |
|
| 05/29/2025 | 02/03/2025 | Ongoing | Transportation, Department of | Transportation project, grant, or loan of at least $15 million | State Route 542 Glacier Bridge Replacement Project | This project will replace the State Route 542 bridge over Glacier Creek in Whatcom County, in the Community of Glacier. The new bridge will connect to the existing Gallop Creek Bridge, and together, these new structures will reduce flood risk, restore salmon habitat, and improve safety for all travelers by including active transportation connections. This project will follow a Complete Streets approach and will require an environmental justice assessment. | TBD; Agency, Tribal and Community engagement will be conducted throughout the project. Specific engagement opportunities will be updated as the project advances. Find more information on the project page linked in the notice title. |
Ongoing |
|
| 02/07/2025 | 02/07/2025 | Ongoing | Ecology, Department of | Capital project, grant, or loan award of at least $12 million | Water Quality Program Proposed Loan Offer to King County | This significant agency action would provide $28.6 million in loan funding to King County for constructing needed improvements at the West Point Treatment Plant (WPTP). The project would primarily consist of replacement pumps and improvements to the grit removal system to increase reliability and meet water quality permit requirements. The construction of these improvements will increase WPTP’s capacity to treat raw wastewater and avoid the release of untreated wastewater to Puget Sound. Untreated wastewater presents environmental and health risks to aquatic life and people, so this action supports public health and protects the quality of state waters. This project is in northwest Seattle on a saltwater beach off Elliott Bay. The plant sits within Discovery Park, a 534-acre natural area with public access to 11 miles of walking trails, picnicking, a preschool. The park receives over 250,000 visitors annually. The site is of cultural significance for Indigenous people since time immemorial and is home to the United Indians of All Tribes Foundation, which describes itself as “a social service provider, community center, and cultural home for urban Indians.” | The public can submit feedback about the Water Quality Program's State Fiscal Year 2026 Draft Offer List, which includes this loan action, during the public comment period from 12 a.m. on Feb. 5, 2025 to 11:59 p.m. on March 7, 2025. Ecology also invites the public to attend a public meeting regarding the proposed funding on Feb. 13, 2025 at 1 p.m. via Zoom. To submit comments or register for the meeting, visit the Water Quality grants and loans webpage [LINK]. Ecology will identify additional opportunities to engage with overburdened communities who may be impacted by this action and provide methods for their meaningful involvement in this funding decision. Please contact Faith Wimberley at faith.wimberley@ecy.wa.gov to stay informed of further involvement opportunities. Grants and loans webpage: https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-quality/water-quality-gran... |
Ongoing |
|
| 07/29/2024 | 03/04/2024 | Ongoing | Transportation, Department of | Transportation project, grant, or loan of at least $15 million | State Route 7 Pre-design Study | WSDOT has a safety improvement project on State Route 7 between SR 507 and 267th Street. The project will build roundabouts at 260th Street E, 224th Street E, 22nd Avenue E and at SR 507. This pre-design study will also use Complete Streets to identify safety and accessibility improvements for everyone along and across SR 7 including active transportation users. Recommended improvements will become part of this project. | TBD |
Ongoing |
|
| 12/08/2023 | 12/08/2023 | Ongoing | Ecology, Department of | Significant legislative rules | Safer Products for Washington Cycle 1.5 Rulemaking | The Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) is starting a rulemaking to revise the Safer Products Restrictions and Reporting rule—Chapter 173-337 WAC—aiming to reduce PFAS in consumer products. Ecology plans to conduct this rulemaking to: • Reduce the use of priority chemicals in priority consumer products. • Revise Chapter 173-337 WAC in accordance with the regulatory actions outlined in the Regulatory Determinations Report to the Legislature that Ecology will submit by June 1, 2024. Under the authority of Chapter 70A.350 RCW, Ecology may restrict the manufacture, sale, and distribution of a chemical in a product, or require manufacturers to report the use of a chemical in a product. In this rulemaking, Ecology may create reporting requirements or restrictions that apply to the use of PFAS in product categories such as: • Apparel and gear. o Apparel examples include athleticwear, rainwear, school uniforms, clothing for everyday use, undergarments (reusable baby diapers and period underwear), hats, scarves, gloves, shoes, outerwear for mountaineering, outerwear for whitewater kayaking, and commercial fishing bibs for offshore fishing. o Gear examples include backpacks, sleeping bags, umbrellas, camping furniture, and climbing rope. • Cleaning products, including products to wash automobiles and boats. • Cookware and kitchen supplies. o Examples include frying pans, cooking pots, rice cookers, waffle makers, griddles, bakeware, and reusable baking liners. • Firefighting PPE (personal protective equipment). • Hard surface sealants. o Examples include sealants applied to hard porous surfaces like stone, unglazed tile, concrete, and wood. They can be used for interior and exterior applications. • Waxes and polishes, including products for floors, automobiles, skis, and snowboards. PFAS are a group of toxic chemicals that are very persistent in the environment. Most people living in the United States have PFAS in their blood. People are exposed through food, drinking water, and products with PFAS. As products are created, used, and disposed, exposure can occur: • Directly from items such as apparel, cleaning products, and cookware. • Indirectly from the environment—through the air we breathe, water we drink, and food we eat. Ecology plans to develop rules that could: • Reduce the use of PFAS in products by restricting PFAS when Ecology identifies safer, feasible, and available alternatives. This will help: o Reduce consumers’ and workers’ exposure to PFAS. o Reduce the amount of PFAS entering the environment. • Increase product ingredient transparency. | Get involved in this rulemaking by: • Sharing feedback on the Cycle 1.5 Draft Regulatory Determinations Report. The comment period is open now and closes at 11:59 p.m. PST on January 12, 2024. • Signing up for email announcements. • Attending webinars. Our next webinars will occur on December 13 and 14, 2023. See our interested parties webpage for more information. • Contacting Stacey Callaway at stacey.callaway@ecy.wa.gov or 360-584-5661. As we schedule additional opportunities to provide feedback and participate in workshops, we will share details on our webpages and via our email list. We anticipate: • Developing draft rule requirements in the summer of 2024. • Sharing a preliminary draft rule, providing a public comment period, and hosting webinars in the fall of 2024. • Proposing a formal draft rule, providing a public comment period, and hosting hearings, in the summer of 2025. • Adopting the revised rule by December 1, 2025. |
Ongoing |
|
| 02/08/2024 | 07/27/2023 | Ongoing | Transportation, Department of | Transportation project, grant, or loan of at least $15 million | I-90 Judkins Park Station – Reconnecting Communities | The goal of the I-90/Judkins Park Station – Reconnecting Communities Study is to recommend changes to the WSDOT I-90 ramps at Rainier Avenue South to improve the safe travel of all modes, especially safe access to the JPS Link station via transit transfer, walk and roll. | Online open house, listening sessions, workshops |
Ongoing |
|
| 09/13/2023 | 08/31/2023 | Action did not move forward | Ecology, Department of | Agency-request legislation | Dredge-and-fill permit program | Ecology is proposing legislation that would direct the agency to establish a permit program and grant authorization to consider a fee for a “dredge-and-fill” permit that is being developed in response to the recent Supreme Court decision in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency | The public may comment at any time by visiting the agency webpage below. The Department will also host two public listening sessions on this agency request legislation on October 5, 2023, at 3:00 pm and 5:30 pm. More information on the listening session is located on the agency webpage. |
Action did not move forward Ecology did not ultimately pursue this legislation. |
|
| 12/03/2024 | 11/28/2023 | Ongoing | Health, Department of | New grant or loan program | School Climate Plus Indoor Air Quality Grant Program | The Department of Health (DOH) received 2023-2025 legislative funding through ESSB 5187 to supplement the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)’s Small School District Modernization (SSDM) grant program. The SSDM program includes support for updates to heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in schools. The grant program is available to school districts that received SSDM 2021-2023 or 2023-2025 funding for HVAC improvements and that serve children and young people who are more vulnerable to extreme heat and wildfire smoke exposure. | Email comments to airquality@doh.wa.gov |
Ongoing |
|
| 06/24/2025 | 06/19/2025 | Ongoing | Commerce, Department of | Agency-request legislation | Increasing AMI for Rural PSH | Expand RCW 36.22.250 Section 5 to include up to 50% AMI for Permanent Supportive Housing in rural areas. | Advisory groups, surveys |
Ongoing |
|
| 04/07/2025 | 07/01/2023 | Ongoing | Transportation, Department of | New grant or loan program | Electric-bicycle (E-bike) Lending Library Program | The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) was directed by the legislature to create a statewide e-bike lending library grant program for various government entities and tribes who administer or plan to administer an e-bike lending library or ownership program for their employees as part of their commute trip reduction goals. The department can also grant nonprofits and tribes who serve low-income communities and people living in overburdened communities. Grantees must agree to work with University of Washington to provide research data on mode shifts and vehicle miles travelled at a minimum. | The public will learn about comment opportunities through blog posts, press releases, WSDOT webpage and newsletter articles (existing Walk and Roll publication that has provided regular active transportation information since 2018) and community outreach. One to one outreach will be conducted with organizations and government entities across the state to learn what this opportunity means to them and how it could benefit their communities. Two virtual sessions are planned for potential grantees to bring their comments, suggestions and ideas on the grant process. Feedback from these will help inform the application process and program design. Additional comment or engagement opportunities will be updated as the project advances. Grant application will require grantees to conduct community engagement to guide their project design. The public will be able to provide comment throughout the project period via telephone, email, surveys, and opportunities to take part in research. Public comments for this EJA can be submitted to Adele Peers. If future funding is available for this project, the community feedback that was received will inform both the ways the public learns about comment opportunities and the methods for receiving comment. Public comments for this EJA can be submitted to Adele.peers@wsdot.wa.gov with the subject: “EJA - E-bike Lending Libraries” |
Ongoing |
|
| 06/25/2025 | 06/20/2025 | Ongoing | Commerce, Department of | Significant legislative rules | Enabling Compliance with the Clean Buildings Performance Standard | This rulemaking will introduce a number of statutory changes to the Clean Buildings Performance Standard based on the recommendations of the Clean Buildings Workgroup and as passed in HB 1543 (2025). These changes are made with the intent of making it easier for buildings to comply with the standard. For example, the passage of HB 1543 gave Commerce the authority to grant extensions to buildings where there are circumstances that prevent compliance. | Email comments GovDelivery Emails Commerce-hosted Listening Sessions, including the Fall 2025 Community Involvement Session |
Ongoing |
|
| 07/18/2024 | 07/18/2024 | Action did not move forward | Commerce, Department of | Agency-request legislation | Advancing a Green Hydrogen Economy | This ARL will advance several key recommendations from Commerce’s recent green hydrogen and renewable fuels legislative report in order to support hydrogen deployment in Washington. Key items include: establishing a formal state target for in-state green electrolytic hydrogen production; creating a new tax incentive and grant program for hydrogen end users to help direct hydrogen to the most strategic sectors; and advancing environmental justice recommendations including hydrogen combustion testing to assess NOx emissions. | Those that have comments or feedback on the EJ assessment for the green electrolytic hydrogen and renewable fuels ARL can email them to Shannon Pressler, Engagement Specialist, at shannon.pressler@commerce.wa.gov. |
Action did not move forward Different priorities advanced during the supplemental session. |
|
| 12/30/2024 | 12/30/2024 | Ongoing | Ecology, Department of | Capital project, grant, or loan award of at least $12 million | Award for Washington State Coastal Climate Resilience Initiative – Washington State Department of Transportation North Olympic Peninsula – State Route 112 Highway Resilience | The purpose of this action is to provide $24.8 million to Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to implement the State Route 112 (SR 112) resiliency project. This award is part of the NOAA Climate Resilience Regional Challenge (CRRC), for which the Washington Department of Ecology was awarded $73.5 million dollars to pass through in order to advance a portfolio of collaboratively developed climate resilience projects. The Department of Ecology collaborated with over 30 local jurisdictions, Tribal governments, state agencies, and nonprofit organizations to select and co-develop projects to improve resilience and enhance the climate adaptation capacity of local communities, prioritizing those that have been marginalized, underserved, and/or underrepresented. 81.3% of the Washington CRRC award funds (just under $61 million) will go towards projects located in or co-created with frontline communities and Tribes. $18.7 million will go toward projects located in disadvantaged communities (as identified by the federal Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool) while $41.7 million will go to projects implemented in partnership and in co-creation with Tribes. As one of the projects in this portfolio, WSDOT will implement design, permitting, and construction of a suite of high priority projects on the critical transportation route State Route (SR) 112, which provides primary access for communities on the North Olympic Peninsula. Natural hazards like flooding and landslides, which will be exacerbated by climate change, impact and/or partially close the highway most winters, disrupting the only public road access for the Makah Tribe and remote communities in the region. This highway is a priority for WSDOT and is considered one of the most problematic travel corridors in the state. The bulk of funds will directly address climate hazards through the implementation of nature-based shoreline stabilization and raising the highway grade in high priority areas from MP 0-17. This project has been co-created with the Makah Tribe. WSDOT has also budgeted significant funds towards planning detour routes for this stretch of highway to ensure the Makah Tribe maintains access to critical and emergency services during SR 112 closures. Funds will also be allocated to a Pysht River Valley Corridor Realignment and Predesign Study to address flooding and erosion from MP 24-29; and New Alignment Studies at the Hoko River Crossing at MP 12, MP 32 at Jim Creek, MP 36, and Sumas Pass. Together, these projects will comprehensively address hazards in priority areas for the Makah Tribe, Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, Clallam County, and the surrounding community. | Washington Department of Ecology has collaborated with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) in the planning for this project. Outreach and public comment was and will be led by WSDOT in their role as the grant recipient and project lead. The project is located in a community identified as overburdened, and community members and Tribes helped co-develop the project and have ongoing opportunities to provide comments. WSDOT has held community meetings, stakeholder engagement and public comment on their designs for these projects on SR112. WSDOT has and will continue to collaborate with the Makah Tribe in the planning and design of this project in order to address critical coastal erosion concerns that threaten rural areas and support the planning work that will improve the resilience of Tribal lands and cultural resources while supporting future resilience actions, and support Tribal sovereignty in this climate adaptation planning and implementation. These projects were designed within Tribal communities and collaboratively with local stakeholders and tribes. Collaboration with and comment from the communities and Tribes affected by this project will continue to inform the planning and design of the SR 112 construction work. Tribal partners are integrally involved with this project, and information sharing with other Tribal nations will be conducted by WSDOT and NOAA. Additionally, the NOAA Office of Coastal Management will consult with potentially interested Tribes as part of the Federal Section 106 compliance process. WSDOT will report the result of their meetings, outreach and coordination to the Department of Ecology throughout the project period. WSDOT and Ecology are open to and will continue respond to comments received via email regarding environmental justice, overburdened communities, and vulnerable populations impacted by the project and seek further involvement to address concerns. Ecology will do additional outreach with overburdened communities as needed to address environmental justice concerns. If you have comments on the environmental justice impacts or considerations for this project, you can reach out to the Ecology Project Manager, Julia, at jseb461@ecy.wa.gov. |
Ongoing |
|
| 10/10/2024 | 07/01/2024 | Action did not move forward | Commerce, Department of | New grant or loan program | Clean Energy Ambassadors Program | Commerce is exploring a potential Clean Energy Ambassadors program that would offer education, planning, technical assistance, and community engagement across the state. If enacted, this program would offer funding for education, planning, technical assistance, and community engagement across the state to increase clean energy access for all and a just transition to a net-zero economy. Commerce is pursuing multiple funding sources that could enable the program to move forward in early 2025. Discussions at these community workshops will inform the future program. | Commerce seeks to listen and learn from communities and tribes about their visions for a clean energy future. This fall, we invite you to participate in regional workshops to share your ideas and learn about upcoming opportunities like Clean Energy Ambassadors. There are factsheets uploaded here (https://deptofcommerce.app.box.com/s/d6y2jd3wf0b1ghr6z4vjz9lxd2uag54a - soon to be available in multiple languages), and there is a registration form available here (https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/54e49f8a01034da4967c3a169aee030d). Both have more information on dates, times, and locations. Commerce will also distribute this information via email to the update list that you can sign up for on this webpage: https://www.commerce.wa.gov/epic/, to organizations that have expressed interest in the program, and through other networks and modes of communication. DRAFT EJA VIEWABLE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT HERE: https://deptofcommerce.box.com/s/vopxz1cxl72rfl3hj64fovjiob3rd7rq, |
Action did not move forward Program not moving forward due to budget |
|
| 09/14/2023 | 09/14/2023 | 07/21/2023 | Ecology, Department of | New grant or loan program | Water Security Drought Grant Initiative | Ecology is developing a new pilot grant initiative focused on local water security preparedness and planning in the context of drought. In 2024, Ecology will make $1.8 million available statewide via competitive grants for Tribes and local applicants to plan for future water security. These plans will identify the specific actions, and associated costs and timeframes, a local community intends to take to increase its water supply security as it faces the burden of intensifying severity and expanding drought conditions as our climate continues to change. While designed to benefit all members of a given local community, this water security grant program will prioritize the water security for Federally recognized Tribal governments, overburdened communities, and vulnerable populations. | Ecology invites comments and questions from people in overburdened communities and vulnerable populations, including water systems that include overburdened and vulnerable members of that community. Information about the EJ Assessment and the grant program are available on the program website. Members of the public can direct their comments to Caroline Mellor, Water Resources HEAL ACT lead at Caroline.Mellor@ecy.wa.gov. |
Completed Chapter 173-167 WAC Emergency Drought Funding: An Environmental Justice Assessment |
