Environmental justice public comment period open until June 15

DOH is accepting comments on how DOH can best conduct environmental justice assessments as part of the Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act. Under the state law, environmental justice assessments are a process that DOH staff will be required to follow to determine the impacts of significant agency actions on overburdened communities and vulnerable populations.

As Washington state’s first statewide environmental justice law, the Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act, instructs DOH to conduct environmental justice assessments when considering significant agency actions. Environmental justice assessments are a process that DOH staff will be required to follow to determine the impacts of significant agency actions on overburdened communities and vulnerable populations.

You can submit written comments on how DOH can best conduct environmental justice assessments to HealAct@doh.wa.gov through June 15. We will use your input to inform decisions on conducting these assessments and how we communicate and engage with you.

Starting July 1, 2023, DOH is required to complete an environmental justice assessment for the following actions named in the law:

• Adopting or developing significant legislative rules as defined in RCW 34.05.328.
• Adopting or developing new grant or loan programs initiated after July 1, 2023.
• Designing or awarding capital projects, grants, or loans of $12 million or more.
• Developing agency request legislation.

DOH's Environmental Justice Assessments page has additional information on the type of feedback required, plus additional details on the HEAL Act implementation. DOH will add a summary of written comments and responses by June 30, 2023.