Bill > HB2070

This bill aims to reduce disparities in cumulative environmental and health impacts in Washington and improve the health of all Washington residents. The key provisions are: 1. It defines key terms related to environmental justice, such as "adverse cumulative stressors," "disproportionate impact," and "pollution burdened community." 2. It requires lead agencies to complete an "environmental justice impact statement" when reviewing new or expanding potentially impactful projects (e.g. major air pollution sources, solid waste facilities) located in pollution burdened communities. This statement must assess existing environmental and health stressors, potential impacts of the project, and measures to avoid or mitigate disproportionate impacts. 3. It allows lead agencies to deny, mitigate, or condition permits for new or expanding projects that would cause or contribute to adverse cumulative stressors in pollution burdened communities, unless the project serves a "compelling public interest." 4. For permit renewals of existing projects in pollution burdened communities, it requires the lead agency to analyze and propose feasible control measures to avoid contributions to adverse stressors. 5. It allows the Department of Ecology to update the definition of "pollution burdened community" over time to align with federal screening tools. Overall, the bill aims to integrate environmental justice considerations into decision-making for certain projects in order to reduce disproportionate impacts on overburdened communities in Washington.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2070&Year=2023&Initiative=false