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

 
DNR'S ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ASSESSMENT PROCESS
 

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