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.


COMPLETED 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.

 


We want to hear from you

Please send us your feedback and comments on the following:

  • The above list of significant agency action types.

  • Other types of DNR actions you think would benefit from an assessment starting in 2025.

  • How you would like to stay informed about DNR's work in environmental justice.

How to reach us

Department of Natural Resources

C/O Office of Equity and Environmental Justice

1111 Washington St SE

MS 47001

Olympia, WA 98504