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 certain terms. Select the “+” symbol for descriptions 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.
EJA Notices Table
A new grant program to support Washington State commercial agriculture and aquaculture operations to purchase equipment that reduces on-farm greenhouse gas emissions and/or increases soil or vegetative carbon sequestration.
Please email EnvJustice@agr.wa.gov
This section of State Route 7 between SR 507 and 99th Street South is part of a WSDOT preservation project. The Preservation Program helps keep roads safe and in good condition. This part of SR 7 needs to be repaved. Repaving helps protect the roadway and helps reduce the potential for more expensive repairs later. This pre-design will identify transportation improvements to go along with the paving. These may include Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility upgrades and changes to support people who walk, roll, take transit and drive.
- Review project updates and reach out to contacts on the webpage linked above
- SR 7 Partner Group meetings
- Community-based organization interviews and listening sessions
- Community pop-up events
- Online engagement webpage and in-person open houses with embedded questionnaire
Transportation is Washington’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions and decarbonizing this sector is critical to meeting our climate targets, as well as improving air quality. Given the uncertainty caused by federal actions to end federal and state vehicle emission standards, Washington is positioned to further incentivize zero-emissions vehicle adoption. This proposal would amend chapter 70A.30 RCW and related statutes to advance zero-emissions vehicle adoption, thereby furthering the state’s progress on transportation decarbonization, transportation affordability, and improving air quality. This proposal is a draft and is not considered agency request legislation until approved by the Governor’s Office.
Ecology plans to conduct robust public engagement and outreach in the summer of 2026. We will conduct outreach specifically to members of Tribes, overburdened communities and vulnerable populations for the purpose of developing an environmental justice assessment and informing development of our proposals. We will offer government-to-government consultation with Tribes and hold a Tribal Forum to discuss our proposals. We intend to provide individual and small group meetings for stakeholder groups and other interested parties.
Washington’s Safer Products for Washington program authorizes Ecology to adopt rules restricting dangerous chemicals in consumer products when safer alternatives are available. The agency is considering a proposal that would strengthen this program. Our proposal considers expanding Ecology’s authority under Chapter 70A.350 RCW to order manufacturers to provide data about ingredients in their products and potential safer alternatives, which will help inform decisions about product restrictions. The proposal also includes provisions to create a fast-track to quickly restrict certain chemicals in consumer products when there is an urgent need for restrictions, and to create a pathway, under certain criteria, for restricting certain chemical-product combinations even when safer alternatives are not proven to be feasible or available. This proposal is a draft and is not considered agency request legislation until approved by the Governor’s Office.
Ecology plans to conduct robust public engagement and outreach in the summer of 2026. We will conduct outreach specifically to members of Tribes, overburdened communities and vulnerable populations for the purpose of developing an environmental justice assessment and informing development of our proposals. We will offer government-to-government consultation with Tribes and hold a Tribal Forum to discuss our proposals. We intend to provide individual and small group meetings for stakeholder groups and other interested parties.
To ensure that hazardous waste is safely managed, Ecology charges fees to Washington businesses that generate dangerous waste. These fees have not been meaningfully updated since 1990. The fees are inequitably distributed amongst businesses, don’t incentivize waste reduction, and are insufficient to adequately fund Ecology’s pollution prevention work. Ecology is proposing a substantial revision to how hazardous waste fees are assessed. The proposal would update Chapter 70A.350 RCW to remove the fee structure from statute and direct Ecology to develop a new, more equitable fee system through rulemaking with interested parties. This proposal is a draft and is not considered agency request legislation until approved by the Governor’s Office.
Ecology plans to conduct robust public engagement and outreach in the summer of 2026. We will conduct outreach specifically to members of Tribes, overburdened communities and vulnerable populations for the purpose of developing an environmental justice assessment and informing development of our proposals. We will offer government-to-government consultation with Tribes and hold a Tribal Forum to discuss our proposals. We intend to provide individual and small group meetings for stakeholder groups and other interested parties.
Ecology’s Water Resources Program is proposing an update to chapter 18.104 RCW related to well construction and well driller licensing. This proposal will make process improvements for well driller licensing renewals, well tagging and reporting requirements, and Notice of Intent forms which are submitted to Ecology at least 72 hours prior to drilling. The proposal will also update the fees Ecology levies for well construction for the first time since 2005 to recover program implementation costs, thereby ensuring a high level of customer service. This proposal is a draft and is not considered agency request legislation until approved by the Governor’s Office.
Ecology plans to conduct robust public engagement and outreach in the summer of 2026. We will conduct outreach specifically to members of Tribes, overburdened communities and vulnerable populations for the purpose of developing an environmental justice assessment and informing development of our proposals. We will offer government-to-government consultation with Tribes and hold a Tribal Forum to discuss our proposals. We intend to provide individual and small group meetings for stakeholder groups and other interested parties.
Amend RCW 43.03.220 (public records act) to:
- Identify participants on advisory boards as volunteers / class 1 work groups
- Exempt certain information about volunteers from public disclosure:
- Residential address
- Phone numbers
- Personal email addresses
- Social security numbers
- Drivers’ license / ID card numbers
- Emergency contact information
- All of the above information of dependents
Virtual Sessions
Topics within Local Government, Economic Development and Energy Divisions will be covered at the following times:
- Register for the July 28 11:30 a.m. virtual meeting (on Zoom)
- Register for the July 28 5:30 p.m. virtual meeting (on Zoom)
Topics within Community Services, Overall Agency, and Housing will be covered at the following times:
- Register for the July 30 11:30 a.m. virtual meeting (on Zoom)
- Register for the July 30 5:30 p.m. virtual meeting (on Zoom)
Audiences for these sessions include households, community leaders, elected officials, business owners, etc.
In-Person Sessions
- Spokane – Tuesday, July 21 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
- Kennewick – Wednesday, July 22 10:00 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Vancouver – Thursday, July 23 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Attend any session to provide input on proposals. Input will be received in groups by Division in hourly blocks:
- Hour 1: Local Government/Capital Programs
- Hour 2: Economic Development, Energy
- Hour 3: Community Services, Overall Agency (Inc. Childcare), Housing
In-person session locations will be provided with registration confirmation and meeting materials.
Audiences for these in-person sessions include Tribes, local government, economic development, faith- and community-based organizations, education, social services, health care, business, law enforcement and all other sectors.
Additional details
- Community compensation is available to those who qualify.
- Community members can be compensated for one session per day.
- Spanish interpretation will be available at each session
Amends a series of chapters of RCW to:
- Replace the term “street youth” with “unaccompanied homeless youth”
- Ensure consistency in the use of the term “compelling reason” for contacting parents and guardians of youth accessing shelter
- Expand eligibility to a variety of OHY programs
Virtual Sessions
Topics within Local Government, Economic Development and Energy Divisions will be covered at the following times:
- Register for the July 28 11:30 a.m. virtual meeting (on Zoom)
- Register for the July 28 5:30 p.m. virtual meeting (on Zoom)
Topics within Community Services, Overall Agency, and Housing will be covered at the following times:
- Register for the July 30 11:30 a.m. virtual meeting (on Zoom)
- Register for the July 30 5:30 p.m. virtual meeting (on Zoom)
Audiences for these sessions include households, community leaders, elected officials, business owners, etc.
In-Person Sessions
- Spokane – Tuesday, July 21 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
- Kennewick – Wednesday, July 22 10:00 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Vancouver – Thursday, July 23 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Attend any session to provide input on proposals. Input will be received in groups by Division in hourly blocks:
- Hour 1: Local Government/Capital Programs
- Hour 2: Economic Development, Energy
- Hour 3: Community Services, Overall Agency (Inc. Childcare), Housing
In-person session locations will be provided with registration confirmation and meeting materials.
Audiences for these in-person sessions include Tribes, local government, economic development, faith- and community-based organizations, education, social services, health care, business, law enforcement and all other sectors.
Additional details
- Community compensation is available to those who qualify.
- Community members can be compensated for one session per day.
- Spanish interpretation will be available at each session
Commerce is tasked with completing dozens of legislative reports every year. Some are outdated and no longer a Gov/Leg priority, some can be combined for efficiency, some need updating to better align with data collection or legislative changes. Some can just be repealed as we no longer offer programs to support it and it hasn’t been addressed in legislation for awhile. Making these changes or editing will help ease our already heavy workloads and allow more time to do our work in communities. We are proposing to update statute across programs to either repeal or update legislative reporting requirements.
Virtual Sessions
Topics within Local Government, Economic Development and Energy Divisions will be covered at the following times:
- Register for the July 28 11:30 a.m. virtual meeting (on Zoom)
- Register for the July 28 5:30 p.m. virtual meeting (on Zoom)
Topics within Community Services, Overall Agency, and Housing will be covered at the following times:
- Register for the July 30 11:30 a.m. virtual meeting (on Zoom)
- Register for the July 30 5:30 p.m. virtual meeting (on Zoom)
Audiences for these sessions include households, community leaders, elected officials, business owners, etc.
In-Person Sessions
- Spokane – Tuesday, July 21 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
- Kennewick – Wednesday, July 22 10:00 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Vancouver – Thursday, July 23 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Attend any session to provide input on proposals. Input will be received in groups by Division in hourly blocks:
- Hour 1: Local Government/Capital Programs
- Hour 2: Economic Development, Energy
- Hour 3: Community Services, Overall Agency (Inc. Childcare), Housing
In-person session locations will be provided with registration confirmation and meeting materials.
Audiences for these in-person sessions include Tribes, local government, economic development, faith- and community-based organizations, education, social services, health care, business, law enforcement and all other sectors.
Additional details
- Community compensation is available to those who qualify.
- Community members can be compensated for one session per day.
- Spanish interpretation will be available at each session
During session 2026, the Community Reinvestment Program was codified in statute through the passage of HB 2523. Goal: To ensure the program can operate effectively long‑term in a way that reflects legislative intent and community‑driven priorities. The proposed agency request legislation may:
- Reconcile differences between the original Community Reinvestment Plan/prior proviso language and new statute
- Address funding eligibility criteria that may create unintended barriers for by-and-for and grass roots organizations
- Integrate recommendations developed by a workgroup tasked to create a new administrative framework for the Community Reinvestment Program
Virtual Sessions
Topics within Local Government, Economic Development and Energy Divisions will be covered at the following times:
- Register for the July 28 11:30 a.m. virtual meeting (on Zoom)
- Register for the July 28 5:30 p.m. virtual meeting (on Zoom)
Topics within Community Services, Overall Agency, and Housing will be covered at the following times:
- Register for the July 30 11:30 a.m. virtual meeting (on Zoom)
- Register for the July 30 5:30 p.m. virtual meeting (on Zoom)
Audiences for these sessions include households, community leaders, elected officials, business owners, etc.
In-Person Sessions
- Spokane – Tuesday, July 21 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
- Kennewick – Wednesday, July 22 10:00 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Vancouver – Thursday, July 23 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Attend any session to provide input on proposals. Input will be received in groups by Division in hourly blocks:
- Hour 1: Local Government/Capital Programs
- Hour 2: Economic Development, Energy
- Hour 3: Community Services, Overall Agency (Inc. Childcare), Housing
In-person session locations will be provided with registration confirmation and meeting materials.
Audiences for these in-person sessions include Tribes, local government, economic development, faith- and community-based organizations, education, social services, health care, business, law enforcement and all other sectors.
Additional details
- Community compensation is available to those who qualify.
- Community members can be compensated for one session per day.
- Spanish interpretation will be available at each session
The federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding is Washington’s most substantial resource to support critical services for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, trafficking, and more. The VOCA State Plan supports 70% of the Office of Crime Victim’s Advocacy (OCVA) total victim services pass through dollars. But Federal VOCA funds are continually declining, and the federal climate creates additional uncertainty. The state has provided vital supplemental funds for the past six years; Commerce recommends a solution to create a more stable path forward for Washington State. Proposal to create a state victims of crime account where supplemental funds can be deposited; amounts are informed by Commerce’s required biennial decision package.
Virtual Sessions
Topics within Local Government, Economic Development and Energy Divisions will be covered at the following times:
- Register for the July 28 11:30 a.m. virtual meeting (on Zoom)
- Register for the July 28 5:30 p.m. virtual meeting (on Zoom)
Topics within Community Services, Overall Agency, and Housing will be covered at the following times:
- Register for the July 30 11:30 a.m. virtual meeting (on Zoom)
- Register for the July 30 5:30 p.m. virtual meeting (on Zoom)
Audiences for these sessions include households, community leaders, elected officials, business owners, etc.
In-Person Sessions
- Spokane – Tuesday, July 21 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
- Kennewick – Wednesday, July 22 10:00 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Vancouver – Thursday, July 23 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Attend any session to provide input on proposals. Input will be received in groups by Division in hourly blocks:
- Hour 1: Local Government/Capital Programs
- Hour 2: Economic Development, Energy
- Hour 3: Community Services, Overall Agency (Inc. Childcare), Housing
In-person session locations will be provided with registration confirmation and meeting materials.
Audiences for these in-person sessions include Tribes, local government, economic development, faith- and community-based organizations, education, social services, health care, business, law enforcement and all other sectors.
Additional details
- Community compensation is available to those who qualify.
- Community members can be compensated for one session per day.
- Spanish interpretation will be available at each session