Title 70A — Title 70A ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY
87 chapters · 1,249 sections in this title.
RCW 70A.02.005 Purpose.
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(1) The purpose of this chapter is to reduce environmental and health disparities in Washington state and improve the health of all Washington state residents. This chapter implements the recommendations of the environmental justice task force established in section 221(48), chap…
RCW 70A.02.010 Definitions.
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The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Council" means the environmental justice council established in RCW 70A.02.110.(2) "Covered agency" means the departments of ecology, health, natural resources, commer…
RCW 70A.02.020 Environmental justice obligations for all agencies.
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Covered agencies are required to comply with all provisions of this chapter. All other state agencies should strive to apply the laws of the state of Washington, and the rules and policies of the agency, in accordance with the policies of this chapter including, to the extent fea…
RCW 70A.02.030 Authority of other agencies to opt in to environmental justice obligations.
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(1) Any state agency, as the term "agency" is defined in RCW 34.05.010, including the governor's office and the office of the attorney general but excluding local governmental entities, may opt in to assume all of the substantive and procedural requirements of covered agencies un…
RCW 70A.02.040 Incorporating environmental justice into agency strategic plans.
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(1) By January 1, 2023, each covered agency shall include an environmental justice implementation plan within its strategic plan. A covered agency may additionally incorporate an environmental justice implementation plan into other significant agency planning documents. The plan …
RCW 70A.02.050 Equitable community engagement and public participation.
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(1) By July 1, 2022, each covered agency must create and adopt a community engagement plan that describes how it will engage with overburdened communities and vulnerable populations as it evaluates new and existing activities and programs. This plan must describe how the agency p…
RCW 70A.02.060 Environmental justice assessment.
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(1)(a) When considering a significant agency action initiated after July 1, 2023, a covered agency must conduct an environmental justice assessment in accordance with this section to inform and support the agency's consideration of overburdened communities and vulnerable populati…
RCW 70A.02.070 Obligation of a covered agency—Does not trigger chapter 43.21C RCW requirements.
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The obligation of a covered agency to conduct an environmental justice assessment pursuant to RCW 70A.02.060 for significant agency actions does not, by itself, trigger requirements in chapter 43.21C RCW.[ 2021 c 314 s 15.]Notes:Conflict with federal requirements—2021 c 314: See …
RCW 70A.02.080 Environmental justice obligations of agencies relating to budgets and funding.
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(1) With consideration of the guidelines issued by the council in RCW 70A.02.110, and in iterative consultation with the council, each covered agency must incorporate environmental justice principles into its decision processes for budget development, making expenditures, and gra…
RCW 70A.02.090 Reporting requirements.
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(1) By September 1st of each year, each covered agency must annually update the council on the development and implementation of environmental justice in agency strategic plans pursuant to RCW 70A.02.040, budgeting and funding criteria for making budgeting and funding decisions p…
RCW 70A.02.100 Tribal consultation.
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(1) Covered agencies shall develop a consultation framework in coordination with tribal governments that includes best practices, protocols for communication, and collaboration with federally recognized tribes. Consistent with this framework, covered agencies must offer consultat…
RCW 70A.02.110 Environmental justice council.
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(1) The environmental justice council is established to advise covered agencies on incorporating environmental justice into agency activities.(2) The council consists of 14 members, except as provided in RCW 70A.65.040(3), appointed by the governor. The councilmembers must be per…
RCW 70A.02.120 Legal obligations.
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(1) Nothing in chapter 314, Laws of 2021 prevents state agencies that are not covered agencies from adopting environmental justice policies and processes consistent with chapter 314, Laws of 2021.(2) The head of a covered agency may, on a case-by-case basis, exempt a significant …
RCW 70A.02.130 Appeals.
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(1) Except as specified in subsection (2) of this section, the actions and duties set forth in chapter 314, Laws of 2021 are not subject to appeal.(2)(a) Only the following agency actions undertaken pursuant to chapter 314, Laws of 2021 are subject to appeal:(i) Decisions related…