Washington § 70A.02.040 - Incorporating environmental justice into agency strategic plans.

(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 must describe how the covered agency plans to apply the principles of environmental justice to the agency's activities and must guide the agency in its implementation of its obligations under this chapter.

(2) In its environmental justice implementation plan, each covered agency must include:

(a) Agency-specific goals and actions to reduce environmental and health disparities and for otherwise achieving environmental justice in the agency's programs;

(b) Metrics to track and measure accomplishments of the agency goals and actions;

(c) Methods to embed equitable community engagement with, and equitable participation from, members of the public, into agency practices for soliciting and receiving public comment;

(d) Strategies to ensure compliance with existing federal and state laws and policies relating to environmental justice, including Title VI of the civil rights act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 2000d-2000d-4, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. Sec. 1681-1683, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. Sec. 794, and the age discrimination act of 1975, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 6101-6107;

(e) The plan for community engagement required under RCW 70A.02.050; and

(f) Specific plans and timelines for incorporating environmental justice considerations into agency activities as required under this chapter.

(3) In developing and updating its plan, each covered agency must consider any guidance developed by the council pursuant to RCW 70A.02.110.

Conflict with federal requirements—2021 c 314: See note following RCW 70A.02.005.