Environmental Justice Assessments
WHAT ARE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ASSESSMENTS (EJAs)?
Washington State's Healthy Environmental for All (HEAL) Act requires that the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) conduct environmental justice assessments when considering Significant Agency Actions. An Environmental Justice Assessment is a process DNR staff follows to determine the impacts of significant agency actions on overburdened communities and vulnerable populations and to ensure environmental benefits and burdens are equitably distributed.
WHY THE DNR CONDUCTS EJAS
Significant Agency Actions can cause environmental harm or benefits to overburdened communities and vulnerable populations. Environmental Justice Assessments allow us to understand potential impacts better, help the DNR make informed decisions to reduce environmental harms and allows us to address environmental and health disparities.
THE DNR'S ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ASSESSMENT PROCESS
In the infographic above we lay out the three phase Environmental Justice Assessment process. Phase one concerns the public notice sent to The Office of Financial Management (OFM) outlining geographic, environmental, and health impacts on diverse communities. Phase two outlines the Environmental Justice Assessment (EJA) process from identifying overburdened and vulnerable populations, as well as benefits and harms, to community engagement and consultation processes. Phase three concerns the reporting and communication of the EJA results to the OFM HEAL Act Budget and Funding Dashboard. Phase four involves ongoing engagement and accountability efforts.
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ASSESSMENTS
As part of the Department of Natural Resources commitment to transparency, we are publicizing the list of all our Environmental Justice assessments on Significant Agency Actions below to include:
(a) The development and adoption of significant legislative rules as defined in RCW 34.05.328;
(b) The development and adoption of any new grant or loan program that a covered agency is explicitly authorized or required by statute to carry out;
(c) A capital project, grant, or loan award by a covered agency of at least $12,000,000 or a transportation project, grant, or loan by a covered agency of at least $15,000,000;
(d) The submission of agency request legislation (ARL) to the office of the governor or the office of financial management for approval; and
(e) Any other agency actions deemed significant by a covered agency consistent with RCW 70A.02.060.
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ARL to expand membership in the Law Enforcement Officers’ and Firefighters’ System Plan 2 (LEOFF 2) to include full-time firefighters employed by the Department of Natural Resources.
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ARL to amend the definition of timberland for purposes of determining the real estate excise tax for a governmental entity.
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ARL to expand revenue generation and economic opportunities from natural climate solutions and ecosystem services.
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ARL to add Tribal Member to Board of Natural Resources.
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ARL Timber Sale Efficiencies Amendments.
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ARL Trust Asset Leasing.
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Certified Burner rulemaking for Washington Administrative Code.
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Eastside Sustainable Harvest Calculation.
We want to hear from you
Please send us your feedback and comments on the following:
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The above list of significant agency action types.
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Other types of DNR actions you think would benefit from an assessment starting in 2025.
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How you would like to stay informed about DNR's work in environmental justice.
How to reach us
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Comment by email: envjustice@dnr.wa.gov
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Comment by mail:
Department of Natural Resources
C/O Office of Equity and Environmental Justice
1111 Washington St SE
MS 47001
Olympia, WA 98504
