Speaker Anna Flores Dalvo, Ambassador Program Coordinator, provides an overview of the program.
E&O Filter: Environmental Justice
Together for Clean Water: Insights from the Latinx Community
Speakers Susan McCleary, City of Olympia, and Kindra Gallan, Owner Xquenda Chapulin LLC, discuss municipal stormwater permit requirements, and their work in equity focus group planning, budget, implementing the focus group, and lessons learned.
MS4 Education Outreach Requirements 2024-2029
MS4 Permit E&O Requirements for 2024 – 2029:
WWA Phase I Draft 2024 – 2029 WWA Phase II Draft 2024 EWA Phase Draft II
S5.C.11 Public Education and Outreach S5.C.2 Public Education and Outreach S5.B.1 Public Education and Outreach
The SWMP shall include an E&O program designed to:
• Build general awareness about methods to address and reduce stormwater runoff.
• Effect behavior change to reduce or eliminate behaviors and practices that cause or contribute to adverse stormwater impacts.
• Create stewardship opportunities that encourages community engagement in addressing the impacts from stormwater runoff.
Permittees may choose to meet these requirements individually or as a member of a regional group. Regional collaboration on general awareness or behavior change programs, or both, includes Permittees developing a consistent message, determining best methods for communicating the message, and when appropriate, creating strategies to effect behavior change. If a Permittee chooses to adopt one or more elements of a regional program, the Permittee should participate in the regional group and shall implement the adopted element(s) of the regional program in the local jurisdiction The SWMP shall include an E&O program designed to:
• Build general awareness about methods to address and reduce impacts from stormwater runoff.
• Effect behavior change to reduce or eliminate behaviors and practices that cause or contribute to adverse stormwater impacts. AND
• Create stewardship opportunities that encourages community engagement in addressing the impacts from stormwater runoff.
Permittees may choose to meet these requirements individually or as a member of a regional group. Regional collaboration on general awareness or behavior change programs, or both, includes Permittees developing a consistent message, determining best methods for communicating the message, and when appropriate, creating strategies to effect behavior change. If a Permittee chooses to adopt one or more elements of a regional program, the Permittee should participate in the regional group and shall implement the adopted element(s) of the regional program in the local jurisdiction. Permittees shall implement a public education and outreach program designed to educate the priority audiences about the impacts of stormwater discharges to water bodies and the steps to take to reduce pollutants in stormwater. Outreach and educational efforts should include a multimedia approach and shall be targeted and presented to specific audiences for increased effectiveness. The education program may be developed and implemented locally or regionally.
Based on the priority audience’s demographic, the Permittee shall consider delivering selected messages in language(s) other than English.
Minimum performance measures: The minimum performance measures are: The minimum performance measures are:
a. Each Permittee shall implement an education and outreach program. The program design shall be based on local or regional (or both) water quality information and priority audience characteristics to identify high priority audiences, subject areas, and/or BMPs. Based on the priority audience’s demographic, the Permittee shall consider delivering its selected messages in language(s) other than English, as appropriate for the priority audience. a. Each Permittee shall implement an education and outreach program. The program design shall be based on local or regional (or both) water quality information and priority audience characteristics to identify high priority audiences, subject areas, and/or BMPs. Based on the priority audience’s demographic, the Permittee shall consider delivering its selected messages in language(s) other than English, as appropriate to the target audience. a. All Permittees shall continue to implement a public education and outreach program designed to reach priority audiences identified in i-iii below and achieve improvements in the priority audiences’ understanding of the problem and what they can do to solve it. The program shall, at a minimum address the following, based on the land uses and priority audiences found within the community. Permittees shall provide subject area information to the priority audience on an ongoing or strategic schedule.
i. General awareness: Permittees shall build general awareness with the following audiences and subject areas: i. General awareness. To build general awareness, Permittees shall annually select at a minimum one priority audience and one subject area from either (a) or (b): i. Priority audiences: General public, including homeowners, teachers, school-age children, University/college or Trade Students and overburdened communities. Provide information about the following subject areas:
a) The importance of improving water quality and protecting beneficial uses of waters of the State.
b) The potential impacts from stormwater discharges.
c) Methods for avoiding, minimizing, reducing, and/or eliminating the adverse impacts of stormwater discharges.
d) Actions individuals can take to improve water quality, including encouraging participation in local environmental stewardship activities and programs.
WWA Phase I Draft 2024 – 2029 WWA Phase II Draft 2024 EWA Phase Draft II
S5.C.11 Public Education and Outreach S5.C.2 Public Education and Outreach S5.B.1 Public Education and Outreach
(a) Priority Audiences: General Public (including school age children, college/university or trade students and overburdened communities), and businesses (including home-based and mobile business). Subject areas:
• General impacts of stormwater on surface waters, including impacts from impervious surfaces and of the hazards associated with illicit discharges and improper disposal of waste.
• LID principles and LID BMPs. (a) Priority audiences: General public (including overburdened communities, school age children, college/university, or trade students or businesses (including home-based, or mobile businesses). Subject areas: • General impacts of stormwater on surface waters, including impacts from impervious surfaces. or
• Low impact development (LID) principles and LID BMPs. ii. Priority audiences: Businesses. Provide information, appropriate to the type of business, about:
a) Preventing illicit discharges, including what constitutes illicit discharges (e.g., Source Control BMPs to prevent illicit discharges).
b) The impacts of illicit discharges.
c) Promoting the proper management and disposal of waste.
d) Management of dumpsters and washwater.
e) The use and storage of automotive chemicals, hazardous cleaning supplies, carwash soaps, and other hazardous materials.
(b) Priority audiences: Engineers, contractors, developers, property owners/managers and land use planners. Subject areas: Technical standards for stormwater site and erosion control plans.
• LID principles and LID BMPs.
• Stormwater treatment and flow control BMPs/facilities.
Source control BMPs for building materials to reduce pollution to stormwater, including but not limited to stormwater pollution from PCB‐containing materials (b) Priority audiences: Engineers, contractors, developers, property owners/managers or land use planners. Subject areas:
• Technical standards for stormwater site and erosion control plans.
• LID principles and LID BMPs.
• Stormwater treatment and flow control BMPs/facilities or
Source control BMPs for building materials to reduce pollution to stormwater, including but not limited to stormwater pollution from PCB‐containing materials. i. Priority audiences: Engineers, construction contractors, developers, property owners/managers, development review staff, land use planners. Provide information about:
a) Technical standards, development of SW site plans, TESC plans
b) Infiltration and underground injection control criteria.
c) Low Impact Development (LID).
d) Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) for reducing adverse impacts from stormwater runoff from development sites.
e) Municipal stormwater code requirements.
(f) Source control BMPs for building materials to reduce pollution to stormwater including, but not limited to, stormwater pollution from PCB‐containing materials.
(c) Permittees shall provide subject area information to the priority audience on an ongoing or strategic schedule. (c) Permittees shall provide subject area information to the priority audience on an ongoing or strategic schedule.
ii. Behavior change: To effect behavior change, Permittees shall select, at a minimum, one priority audience and one BMP: ii. Behavior change. To affect behavior change, Permittees shall select, at a minimum, one priority audience and one BMP.
(a) Priority audiences: Residents, landscapers, and property
managers/owners, school-age children, college/university or trade students and businesses (including home-based and mobile businesses). BMPs include:
• Use and storage of automotive chemicals, hazardous cleaning supplies, carwash soaps, and other hazardous materials. • Prevention of illicit discharges.
• Yard care techniques protective of water quality.
• Use/storage of pesticides & fertilizers & other household chemicals.
• Carpet cleaning.
• Repair/maintenance BMPs for vehicles, equipment, home buildings.
• Pet waste management and disposal.
• LID principles and LID BMPs.
• Stormwater facility maintenance, including LID facilities
• Dumpster and trash compactor maintenance.
• Litter and debris prevention.
• (Audience specific) Source Control BMPs, including PCB’s in building materials.
• (Audience specific) Locally important, SW-related subject area. (a) Priority Audiences: Residents, landscapers, property managers/owners, developers, school age children, college/university or trade students or businesses (including home-based or mobile businesses). BMPs include:
• Use/storage of: pesticides, fertilizers, other household chemicals.
• Use/storage of: automotive chemicals, hazardous cleaning supplies, carwash soaps, and/or other hazardous materials.
• Prevention of illicit discharges.
• Yard care techniques protective of water quality.
• Carpet cleaning.
• Repair/maintenance BMPs: vehicles, equipment, home/buildings.
• Pet waste management and disposal.
• LID Principles and LID BMPs.
• Stormwater facility maintenance, including LID facilities.
• Dumpster and trash compactor maintenance.
• Litter and debris prevention.
• Sediment and erosion control.
• (Audience specific) Source control BMPs (refer to S5.C.8). or
• (Audience specific) Locally-important, municipal SW-related subject area.
WWA Phase I Draft 2024 – 2029 WWA Phase II Draft 2024 – 2029 EWA Phase ll Draft 2024 – 2029
S5.C.11 Public Education and Outreach S5.C.2 Public Education and Outreach S5.B.1 Public Education and Outreach
iii. No later than July 1, 2025, each Permittee shall evaluate the effectiveness of the ongoing behavior change program (required under S5.C.11.a.ii of the 2019 Permit). Permittees shall document lessons learned and recommendations for which option to select from S5.C.11.a.iv. Permittees that select option S5.C.11.a.iv.c, below, may forgo this evaluation if it will not add value to the overall behavior change program. (b) No later than July 1, 2025, each Permittee shall evaluate the effectiveness of an ongoing behavior change campaign (required under S5.C.1.a.ii and S5.C.1.c of the 2019 Permit). Permittees shall document lessons learned and recommendations for which option to select from S5.C.2.a.ii.(c).
Permittees that select option S5.C.2.a.ii.(c)3, below, may forgo this evaluation if it will not add value to the overall behavior change program.
iv. Based on the recommendation from S5.C.11.a.iii, by July 1, 2026, each Permittee shall follow social marketing practices and methods, and develop a campaign that is tailored to the community, including the development of a program evaluation plan. Each Permittee shall: (c) Based on the recommendation from S5.C.2.a.ii.(b), by July 1, 2026, each Permittee shall follow social marketing practices and methods, and develop a campaign that is tailored to the community, including development of a program evaluation plan. Each Permittee shall:
(a) Develop a strategy and schedule to implement the existing campaign more effectively, or 1. Develop a strategy and schedule to more effectively implement the existing campaign; or
(b) Develop a strategy and schedule to expand the existing campaign to a new priority audience or BMPs, or 2. Develop a strategy and schedule to expand the existing campaign to a new priority audience or BMPs; or
( c) Develop a strategy and schedule for a new priority audience and BMP behavior change campaign. 3. Develop a strategy and schedule for a new priority audience and BMP behavior change campaign.
v. No later than September 1, 2026, begin to implement the strategy developed in S5.C.11.a.iv. (d) No later than September 1, 2026, begin to implement the strategy developed in S5.C.2.a.ii.(c)
vi. No later than March 31, 2029, evaluate and report on: (e) No later than March 31, 2029, evaluate and submit a report on:
(a) The changes in understanding and adoption of targeted behaviors resulting from the implementation of the strategy; and 1. The changes in understanding and adoption of targeted behaviors resulting from the implementation of the strategy; and
2. Any planned or recommended changes to the campaign to be more effective; describe the strategies and process to achieve the results. b. Each Permittee shall measure the understanding and adoption of the priority behaviors for at least one target audience in at least one subject area. No later than December 31, 2026, Permittees shall use the resulting measurements to direct ongoing education and outreach resources most effectively, as well as to evaluate changes in adoption of the targeted behaviors. Document program evaluation process and how resources will direct effective methods and implementation of the ongoing education and outreach program.
c. No later than January 1 2027, each permittee shall begin to provide and/or advertise stewardship opportunities to encourage residents or businesses to participate in activities or events planned and organized within the community such as: stream teams, storm drain marking, volunteer monitoring, and riparian plantings. Permittees may partner and/or promote stewardship opportunities created or organized by existing organizations (including non-permittees).
(b) Any changes to the campaign to be more effective; describe the strategies and process to achieve the results.
vii. Permittees shall use results of the evaluation to continue to direct effective methods for implementation of the ongoing behavior change program. (f) Permittees shall use results of the evaluation to continue to direct effective methods and implementation of the ongoing behavior change program.
b. Each Permittee shall partner and promote (or both) stewardship opportunities to encourage residents or businesses to participate in activities or events planned and organized within the community, such as: stream teams, storm drain marking, volunteer monitoring and riparian plantings .Permittees may partner or promote (or both) stewardship opportunities created or organized by existing organizations (including non- permittees). iii. Stewardship. Each Permittee shall partner and promote stewardship opportunities to encourage residents to participate in activities or events planned and organized within the community, such as: stream teams, storm drain marking, volunteer monitoring, and riparian plantings. Permittees may partner or promote (or both) stewardship opportunities created or organized by existing organizations (including non‐permittees).1
The minimum performance measures are: i. Annually, Permittees shall document specific public involvement opportunities provided to overburdened communities. ii. No later than December 31, 2026, document methods used to identify overburdened communities.
b. Each Permittee shall post on their website their SWMP plan and the Annual Report, required under S9.A, no later that May 31 each year. All other submittals shall be available to the public upon request.
City of Vancouver Integrating Environmental Justice into your Projects
Summary: EJ for facility designers,
Integrating
Environmental Justice
into Your Projects
Maddie Burke
Civil Engineer – Construction
Co-coordinator for the Washington Stormwater
Center Environmental Justice Salon
April 17, 2024
Overview
• What is Environmental
Justice?
• Effective Communication
• Common Challenges
• Mapping Tools
• Behavior Change Programs
• Mature Tree Preservation
• Applying EJ to Your Program
• Looking at Success
| Environmental Justice for Designers
What is
Environmental
Justice?
3 | Environmental Justice for Designers
Definition
The EPA defines environmental justice as:
Environmental justice (EJ) is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all
people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the
development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations
and policies.
Fair treatment means no group of people should bear a disproportionate share of the
negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, governmental and
commercial operations or policies.
This means all people receive the same protection from environmental and health
hazards
4 | Environmental Justice for Designers
Definition
The EPA defines overburdened
communities as:
Overburdened Communities are minority,
low-income, tribal, or indigenous populations
or geographic locations in the United States
that potentially experience disproportionate
environmental harms and risks.
This risk is amplified in communities with
preexisting social and economic barriers and
environmental risks
5 | Environmental Justice for Designers
Washington State Department of Ecology
The HEAL Act – Washington State Department of Ecology
Environmental Justice is a State Priority
A coordinated state agency approach to EJ
• In 2021, Washington passed the Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act based on
recommendations from the Environmental Justice Task Force
• This law requires seven state agencies to identify and address environmental health
disparities in overburdened communities.
o These agencies must set a goal of 40% of spending to go toward impacted communities
• The HEAL Act established the Environmental Justice Council, 16 members appointed
by the governor, to create a coordinated approach to EJ.
6 | Presentation Title
Environmental Justice
Principals
I. Achieve the highest attainable environmental
quality and health outcomes for all people.
II. Adopt a racial justice lens.
III. Engage community meaningfully.
IV. Be transparent.
V. Be accountable.
By the Environmental Justice Task Force
Effective
Communication
8 | Presentation Title
Building a Connection
To help these communities, we need to connect with them
• Simply targeting environmental issues won’t address the disproportionate hazards
impacting overburdened communities
• We must interact with these communities if we want to help them
• An important factor of environmental justice is connecting with overburdened
communities
9 | Presentation Title
Reducing Barriers
Meet people where they are
• Develop effective messaging
o Understand your audience so the pitches hit the mark
o Get culturally relevant information
• Minimize travel requirements when asking for public
comment
• Reduce paperwork
• Provide compensation
10 | Presentation Title
Effective Messaging Example
The Clean Rivers Coalition’s Hispanic/Latinx Community Research Report
• 2021 research project on engaging Latinx families in Oregon and SW Washington.
o surveys
o community listening session (35 people)
o focus group (9 people)
11 | Presentation Title
2021 Stormwater Partners Symposium
2021 Stormwater Partners Symposium – November 16 – YouTube
Rebuild Lost Trust
We’ve historically failed these communities, so why should they work with
us now?
• Many overburdened communities have lost trust in the government
• Be prepared for limited response to your outreach efforts
• We are working to build a relationship with these overburdened communities, plan
for change to take a long time
• Avoid tokenization
“Change happens at the speed of trust.â€
12 | Presentation Title
Provide Compensation
Compensation is challenging, however, pathways will likely develop in
future policies
• Currently difficult to gain approval for compensation
• Other cities compensate through grants with a line item for compensation, then use
consultants to distribute funds
Bill 5793 – Effective 6/9/2022
13 | Presentation Title
Concerning stipends for low-income or underrepresented community members of
state boards, commissions, councils, committees, and other similar groups.
Revised for 2nd Substitute: Allowing compensation for lived experience on boards,
commissions, councils, committees, and other similar groups.
-Washington State Legislature
Common
Challenges
14 | Presentation Title
Public Outreach
Connecting can be time-consuming and difficult
• Messages aren’t reaching overburdened communities
o Connecting with these often “invisible†communities is challenging
o There’s no “right way†as each community is different
• Department support for doing what we’ve always done
o This results in no change
• EJ work rarely produces quantitative results
15 | Presentation Title
Gentrification
City projects can displace residents
• A progressive project, such as planting trees and adding bike lanes can create
rampant gentrification
• City projects can drive up property values and displace low-income residents
o Communities exposed to health hazards may not benefit from a project
• City projects have resulted in disrupted social networks and stress.
Take time to identify who will benefit from changes made to the City early in
project/program development.
16 | Presentation Title
Mapping Tools
17 | Presentation Title
Washington Environmental Health Disparities Map
By the Washington State Department of Health
18 | Presentation Title
EJScreen: Environmental Justice Screening and Mapping Tool
By the Environmental Protection Agency
19 | Presentation Title
Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool
By the Council on Environmental Quality
20 | Presentation Title
Tree Equity Score
By American Forests
21 | Presentation Title
Advantages and Limitations
What to consider when using mapping tools
Advantages
• Helps us assist the community and
make informed decisions
• Gives us a tool to evaluate programs
geographically
• Will help us track changes in
disparities over time
• Helps to support grant writing
Limitations
• Screening tools do not, by
themselves, determine the existence
of EJ issues
• Map does not reflect community
experiences and should not be used
to replace engagement
22 | Presentation Title
Using Mapping Tools Correctly
Use maps to support your project’s positive impact
• Identify which issues drive the scores. Issues should be related to your project.
• You should be able to make a case for how your project helps the identified
overburdened community.
23 | Presentation Title
Behavior
Change
Programs
24 | Presentation Title
Behavior Change Programs
Consider barriers when implementing a behavior change program
Common Barriers
• Upfront costs
• Knowledge barriers
• Homeowner barriers
• Paperwork
Incentives are often targeted to those with existing interests and fail to excite a
new audience.
25 | Presentation Title
Behavior Change Example
Challenges during Don’t Drip & Drive
• The Don’t Drip & Drive
campaign provided free leak
inspections
• Offered coupon for $50 off
repair at participating
mechanics
• An organizer shared that
communities of color were
afraid to provide their
information.
26 | Presentation Title
Don't Drip and Drive – Puget Soundkeeper Alliance
Mature Tree
Preservation
27 | Presentation Title
Mature Tree Preservation
Mature trees have a major role in combating health disparities identified in
EJ definition
• Tree canopy improves population health, well-being, and health equity in urban
settings
• Trees enhance air quality, mitigate the urban heat island, aid water management
• Research has linked exposure to green spaces and trees with improved mental
health, reduced stress, reduced loneliness, lower all-cause mortality, and lower
rates of obesity and chronic diseases.
28 | Presentation Title
Percentage of the population living in
poverty
Tree Canopy and Income: Vancouver
Percentage of tree canopy
Percentage of the population living in
poverty
Tree Canopy and Income: Spokane
Percentage of tree canopy
Urban Tree Analysis Report 2020 (spokanecity.org)
Mature Tree Preservation
Tree inequity create a health inequity for overburdened
communities
• Low-income neighborhoods have less tree cover and hotter temperatures
• The Nature Conservancy found that 92 percent of low-income blocks in the US have
less tree cover than high-income blocks.
• The Tree Equity Score map shows neighborhoods with a majority of people of color
have 33% less tree canopy than majority white communities.
For projects in low-income neighborhoods or areas with a majority of people of color,
preserve the trees, especially trees over 12 inches in diameter.
31 | Presentation Title
Applying EJ to
Your program
32 | Presentation Title
There’s No One Right Way
If you’re trying to reach these communities, you’re making progress!
For every new project and program:
• Identify applicable overburdened
communities
• Meet these communities where they
are
• Involve these communities in a way
that’s meaningful for them
• Involve communities early when
feedback can still shape you
project/program
Don’t forget to reflect
• Take time to reflect on what
communication types were well
received by these communities.
• Share these successes with your
coworkers
33 | Presentation Title
Listen and Learn
Value the input and conversations from overburdened residents
• Start having conversations whenever the opportunity arises.
• If someone reaches out to you, value their time and their lived experiences.
• Practice meaningful engagement.
34 | Presentation Title
Strive to Achieve the
5 EJ Principals
1. Achieve the highest attainable
environmental quality and health
outcomes for all people
2. Adopt a racial justice lens
3. Engage community meaningfully
4. Be transparent
5. Be accountable
35 | Presentation Title
The Environmental Justice Task Force developed
these principles for Washington State
Screenshot from:
Environmental Justice
Task Force:
Recommendations for
Prioritizing EJ in
Washington State
Government
(October 2020)
Applying EJ to Your Program
It’s about people
A component to every
project’s success is
how people feel
Reaching someone
new is always a win
Don’t get caught up in
quantitative results
Set a goal for a percentage of
project spending to go toward
overburdened communities
Choose an attainable goal (30%-
50% of project spending)
Reflect on your spending goal
annually
37 | Presentation Title
Your projects can make a difference
We’re going to get better!
The EJ world is gaining traction, more guidance is incoming
38 | Presentation Title
• HEAL Act aims to develop strategies and community engagement plans
• Channels for providing a voice for disproportionately affected communities are
developing
• We have agency support and state support
• We are striving for a healthier environment!
Celebrate Your Wins!
This work is hard!
39 | Presentation Title
Thank You!
[email protected] | (360) 608-7645
40 | Presentation Title
Environmental Justice
into Your Projects
Maddie Burke
Civil Engineer – Construction
Co-coordinator for the Washington Stormwater
Center Environmental Justice Salon
April 17, 2024
Overview
• What is Environmental
Justice?
• Effective Communication
• Common Challenges
• Mapping Tools
• Behavior Change Programs
• Mature Tree Preservation
• Applying EJ to Your Program
• Looking at Success
| Environmental Justice for Designers
What is
Environmental
Justice?
3 | Environmental Justice for Designers
Definition
The EPA defines environmental justice as:
Environmental justice (EJ) is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all
people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the
development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations
and policies.
Fair treatment means no group of people should bear a disproportionate share of the
negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, governmental and
commercial operations or policies.
This means all people receive the same protection from environmental and health
hazards
4 | Environmental Justice for Designers
Definition
The EPA defines overburdened
communities as:
Overburdened Communities are minority,
low-income, tribal, or indigenous populations
or geographic locations in the United States
that potentially experience disproportionate
environmental harms and risks.
This risk is amplified in communities with
preexisting social and economic barriers and
environmental risks
5 | Environmental Justice for Designers
Washington State Department of Ecology
The HEAL Act – Washington State Department of Ecology
Environmental Justice is a State Priority
A coordinated state agency approach to EJ
• In 2021, Washington passed the Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act based on
recommendations from the Environmental Justice Task Force
• This law requires seven state agencies to identify and address environmental health
disparities in overburdened communities.
o These agencies must set a goal of 40% of spending to go toward impacted communities
• The HEAL Act established the Environmental Justice Council, 16 members appointed
by the governor, to create a coordinated approach to EJ.
6 | Presentation Title
Environmental Justice
Principals
I. Achieve the highest attainable environmental
quality and health outcomes for all people.
II. Adopt a racial justice lens.
III. Engage community meaningfully.
IV. Be transparent.
V. Be accountable.
By the Environmental Justice Task Force
Effective
Communication
8 | Presentation Title
Building a Connection
To help these communities, we need to connect with them
• Simply targeting environmental issues won’t address the disproportionate hazards
impacting overburdened communities
• We must interact with these communities if we want to help them
• An important factor of environmental justice is connecting with overburdened
communities
9 | Presentation Title
Reducing Barriers
Meet people where they are
• Develop effective messaging
o Understand your audience so the pitches hit the mark
o Get culturally relevant information
• Minimize travel requirements when asking for public
comment
• Reduce paperwork
• Provide compensation
10 | Presentation Title
Effective Messaging Example
The Clean Rivers Coalition’s Hispanic/Latinx Community Research Report
• 2021 research project on engaging Latinx families in Oregon and SW Washington.
o surveys
o community listening session (35 people)
o focus group (9 people)
11 | Presentation Title
2021 Stormwater Partners Symposium
2021 Stormwater Partners Symposium – November 16 – YouTube
Rebuild Lost Trust
We’ve historically failed these communities, so why should they work with
us now?
• Many overburdened communities have lost trust in the government
• Be prepared for limited response to your outreach efforts
• We are working to build a relationship with these overburdened communities, plan
for change to take a long time
• Avoid tokenization
“Change happens at the speed of trust.â€
12 | Presentation Title
Provide Compensation
Compensation is challenging, however, pathways will likely develop in
future policies
• Currently difficult to gain approval for compensation
• Other cities compensate through grants with a line item for compensation, then use
consultants to distribute funds
Bill 5793 – Effective 6/9/2022
13 | Presentation Title
Concerning stipends for low-income or underrepresented community members of
state boards, commissions, councils, committees, and other similar groups.
Revised for 2nd Substitute: Allowing compensation for lived experience on boards,
commissions, councils, committees, and other similar groups.
-Washington State Legislature
Common
Challenges
14 | Presentation Title
Public Outreach
Connecting can be time-consuming and difficult
• Messages aren’t reaching overburdened communities
o Connecting with these often “invisible†communities is challenging
o There’s no “right way†as each community is different
• Department support for doing what we’ve always done
o This results in no change
• EJ work rarely produces quantitative results
15 | Presentation Title
Gentrification
City projects can displace residents
• A progressive project, such as planting trees and adding bike lanes can create
rampant gentrification
• City projects can drive up property values and displace low-income residents
o Communities exposed to health hazards may not benefit from a project
• City projects have resulted in disrupted social networks and stress.
Take time to identify who will benefit from changes made to the City early in
project/program development.
16 | Presentation Title
Mapping Tools
17 | Presentation Title
Washington Environmental Health Disparities Map
By the Washington State Department of Health
18 | Presentation Title
EJScreen: Environmental Justice Screening and Mapping Tool
By the Environmental Protection Agency
19 | Presentation Title
Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool
By the Council on Environmental Quality
20 | Presentation Title
Tree Equity Score
By American Forests
21 | Presentation Title
Advantages and Limitations
What to consider when using mapping tools
Advantages
• Helps us assist the community and
make informed decisions
• Gives us a tool to evaluate programs
geographically
• Will help us track changes in
disparities over time
• Helps to support grant writing
Limitations
• Screening tools do not, by
themselves, determine the existence
of EJ issues
• Map does not reflect community
experiences and should not be used
to replace engagement
22 | Presentation Title
Using Mapping Tools Correctly
Use maps to support your project’s positive impact
• Identify which issues drive the scores. Issues should be related to your project.
• You should be able to make a case for how your project helps the identified
overburdened community.
23 | Presentation Title
Behavior
Change
Programs
24 | Presentation Title
Behavior Change Programs
Consider barriers when implementing a behavior change program
Common Barriers
• Upfront costs
• Knowledge barriers
• Homeowner barriers
• Paperwork
Incentives are often targeted to those with existing interests and fail to excite a
new audience.
25 | Presentation Title
Behavior Change Example
Challenges during Don’t Drip & Drive
• The Don’t Drip & Drive
campaign provided free leak
inspections
• Offered coupon for $50 off
repair at participating
mechanics
• An organizer shared that
communities of color were
afraid to provide their
information.
26 | Presentation Title
Don't Drip and Drive – Puget Soundkeeper Alliance
Mature Tree
Preservation
27 | Presentation Title
Mature Tree Preservation
Mature trees have a major role in combating health disparities identified in
EJ definition
• Tree canopy improves population health, well-being, and health equity in urban
settings
• Trees enhance air quality, mitigate the urban heat island, aid water management
• Research has linked exposure to green spaces and trees with improved mental
health, reduced stress, reduced loneliness, lower all-cause mortality, and lower
rates of obesity and chronic diseases.
28 | Presentation Title
Percentage of the population living in
poverty
Tree Canopy and Income: Vancouver
Percentage of tree canopy
Percentage of the population living in
poverty
Tree Canopy and Income: Spokane
Percentage of tree canopy
Urban Tree Analysis Report 2020 (spokanecity.org)
Mature Tree Preservation
Tree inequity create a health inequity for overburdened
communities
• Low-income neighborhoods have less tree cover and hotter temperatures
• The Nature Conservancy found that 92 percent of low-income blocks in the US have
less tree cover than high-income blocks.
• The Tree Equity Score map shows neighborhoods with a majority of people of color
have 33% less tree canopy than majority white communities.
For projects in low-income neighborhoods or areas with a majority of people of color,
preserve the trees, especially trees over 12 inches in diameter.
31 | Presentation Title
Applying EJ to
Your program
32 | Presentation Title
There’s No One Right Way
If you’re trying to reach these communities, you’re making progress!
For every new project and program:
• Identify applicable overburdened
communities
• Meet these communities where they
are
• Involve these communities in a way
that’s meaningful for them
• Involve communities early when
feedback can still shape you
project/program
Don’t forget to reflect
• Take time to reflect on what
communication types were well
received by these communities.
• Share these successes with your
coworkers
33 | Presentation Title
Listen and Learn
Value the input and conversations from overburdened residents
• Start having conversations whenever the opportunity arises.
• If someone reaches out to you, value their time and their lived experiences.
• Practice meaningful engagement.
34 | Presentation Title
Strive to Achieve the
5 EJ Principals
1. Achieve the highest attainable
environmental quality and health
outcomes for all people
2. Adopt a racial justice lens
3. Engage community meaningfully
4. Be transparent
5. Be accountable
35 | Presentation Title
The Environmental Justice Task Force developed
these principles for Washington State
Screenshot from:
Environmental Justice
Task Force:
Recommendations for
Prioritizing EJ in
Washington State
Government
(October 2020)
Applying EJ to Your Program
It’s about people
A component to every
project’s success is
how people feel
Reaching someone
new is always a win
Don’t get caught up in
quantitative results
Set a goal for a percentage of
project spending to go toward
overburdened communities
Choose an attainable goal (30%-
50% of project spending)
Reflect on your spending goal
annually
37 | Presentation Title
Your projects can make a difference
We’re going to get better!
The EJ world is gaining traction, more guidance is incoming
38 | Presentation Title
• HEAL Act aims to develop strategies and community engagement plans
• Channels for providing a voice for disproportionately affected communities are
developing
• We have agency support and state support
• We are striving for a healthier environment!
Celebrate Your Wins!
This work is hard!
39 | Presentation Title
Thank You!
[email protected] | (360) 608-7645
40 | Presentation Title
Integrating Environmental Justice into your Projects Presentation
Summary: Integrating Environmental Justice into your Projects
Integrating
Environmental Justice
into Your Projects
Maddie Burke
Civil Engineer – Construction
Co-coordinator for the Washington Stormwater
Center Environmental Justice Salon
April 17, 2024
Overview
• What is Environmental
Justice?
• Effective Communication
• Common Challenges
• Mapping Tools
• Behavior Change Programs
• Mature Tree Preservation
• Applying EJ to Your Program
• Looking at Success
| Environmental Justice for Designers
What is
Environmental
Justice?
3 | Environmental Justice for Designers
Definition
The EPA defines environmental justice as:
Environmental justice (EJ) is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all
people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the
development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations
and policies.
Fair treatment means no group of people should bear a disproportionate share of the
negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, governmental and
commercial operations or policies.
This means all people receive the same protection from environmental and health
hazards
4 | Environmental Justice for Designers
Definition
The EPA defines overburdened
communities as:
Overburdened Communities are minority,
low-income, tribal, or indigenous populations
or geographic locations in the United States
that potentially experience disproportionate
environmental harms and risks.
This risk is amplified in communities with
preexisting social and economic barriers and
environmental risks
5 | Environmental Justice for Designers
Washington State Department of Ecology
The HEAL Act – Washington State Department of Ecology
Environmental Justice is a State Priority
A coordinated state agency approach to EJ
• In 2021, Washington passed the Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act based on
recommendations from the Environmental Justice Task Force
• This law requires seven state agencies to identify and address environmental health
disparities in overburdened communities.
o These agencies must set a goal of 40% of spending to go toward impacted communities
• The HEAL Act established the Environmental Justice Council, 16 members appointed
by the governor, to create a coordinated approach to EJ.
6 | Presentation Title
Environmental Justice
Principals
I. Achieve the highest attainable environmental
quality and health outcomes for all people.
II. Adopt a racial justice lens.
III. Engage community meaningfully.
IV. Be transparent.
V. Be accountable.
By the Environmental Justice Task Force
Effective
Communication
8 | Presentation Title
Building a Connection
To help these communities, we need to connect with them
• Simply targeting environmental issues won’t address the disproportionate hazards
impacting overburdened communities
• We must interact with these communities if we want to help them
• An important factor of environmental justice is connecting with overburdened
communities
9 | Presentation Title
Reducing Barriers
Meet people where they are
• Develop effective messaging
o Understand your audience so the pitches hit the mark
o Get culturally relevant information
• Minimize travel requirements when asking for public
comment
• Reduce paperwork
• Provide compensation
10 | Presentation Title
Effective Messaging Example
The Clean Rivers Coalition’s Hispanic/Latinx Community Research Report
• 2021 research project on engaging Latinx families in Oregon and SW Washington.
o surveys
o community listening session (35 people)
o focus group (9 people)
11 | Presentation Title
2021 Stormwater Partners Symposium
2021 Stormwater Partners Symposium – November 16 – YouTube
Rebuild Lost Trust
We’ve historically failed these communities, so why should they work with
us now?
• Many overburdened communities have lost trust in the government
• Be prepared for limited response to your outreach efforts
• We are working to build a relationship with these overburdened communities, plan
for change to take a long time
• Avoid tokenization
“Change happens at the speed of trust.â€
12 | Presentation Title
Provide Compensation
Compensation is challenging, however, pathways will likely develop in
future policies
• Currently difficult to gain approval for compensation
• Other cities compensate through grants with a line item for compensation, then use
consultants to distribute funds
Bill 5793 – Effective 6/9/2022
13 | Presentation Title
Concerning stipends for low-income or underrepresented community members of
state boards, commissions, councils, committees, and other similar groups.
Revised for 2nd Substitute: Allowing compensation for lived experience on boards,
commissions, councils, committees, and other similar groups.
-Washington State Legislature
Common
Challenges
14 | Presentation Title
Public Outreach
Connecting can be time-consuming and difficult
• Messages aren’t reaching overburdened communities
o Connecting with these often “invisible†communities is challenging
o There’s no “right way†as each community is different
• Department support for doing what we’ve always done
o This results in no change
• EJ work rarely produces quantitative results
15 | Presentation Title
Gentrification
City projects can displace residents
• A progressive project, such as planting trees and adding bike lanes can create
rampant gentrification
• City projects can drive up property values and displace low-income residents
o Communities exposed to health hazards may not benefit from a project
• City projects have resulted in disrupted social networks and stress.
Take time to identify who will benefit from changes made to the City early in
project/program development.
16 | Presentation Title
Mapping Tools
17 | Presentation Title
Washington Environmental Health Disparities Map
By the Washington State Department of Health
18 | Presentation Title
EJScreen: Environmental Justice Screening and Mapping Tool
By the Environmental Protection Agency
19 | Presentation Title
Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool
By the Council on Environmental Quality
20 | Presentation Title
Tree Equity Score
By American Forests
21 | Presentation Title
Advantages and Limitations
What to consider when using mapping tools
Advantages
• Helps us assist the community and
make informed decisions
• Gives us a tool to evaluate programs
geographically
• Will help us track changes in
disparities over time
• Helps to support grant writing
Limitations
• Screening tools do not, by
themselves, determine the existence
of EJ issues
• Map does not reflect community
experiences and should not be used
to replace engagement
22 | Presentation Title
Using Mapping Tools Correctly
Use maps to support your project’s positive impact
• Identify which issues drive the scores. Issues should be related to your project.
• You should be able to make a case for how your project helps the identified
overburdened community.
23 | Presentation Title
Behavior
Change
Programs
24 | Presentation Title
Behavior Change Programs
Consider barriers when implementing a behavior change program
Common Barriers
• Upfront costs
• Knowledge barriers
• Homeowner barriers
• Paperwork
Incentives are often targeted to those with existing interests and fail to excite a
new audience.
25 | Presentation Title
Behavior Change Example
Challenges during Don’t Drip & Drive
• The Don’t Drip & Drive
campaign provided free leak
inspections
• Offered coupon for $50 off
repair at participating
mechanics
• An organizer shared that
communities of color were
afraid to provide their
information.
26 | Presentation Title
Don't Drip and Drive – Puget Soundkeeper Alliance
Mature Tree
Preservation
27 | Presentation Title
Mature Tree Preservation
Mature trees have a major role in combating health disparities identified in
EJ definition
• Tree canopy improves population health, well-being, and health equity in urban
settings
• Trees enhance air quality, mitigate the urban heat island, aid water management
• Research has linked exposure to green spaces and trees with improved mental
health, reduced stress, reduced loneliness, lower all-cause mortality, and lower
rates of obesity and chronic diseases.
28 | Presentation Title
Percentage of the population living in
poverty
Tree Canopy and Income: Vancouver
Percentage of tree canopy
Percentage of the population living in
poverty
Tree Canopy and Income: Spokane
Percentage of tree canopy
Urban Tree Analysis Report 2020 (spokanecity.org)
Mature Tree Preservation
Tree inequity create a health inequity for overburdened
communities
• Low-income neighborhoods have less tree cover and hotter temperatures
• The Nature Conservancy found that 92 percent of low-income blocks in the US have
less tree cover than high-income blocks.
• The Tree Equity Score map shows neighborhoods with a majority of people of color
have 33% less tree canopy than majority white communities.
For projects in low-income neighborhoods or areas with a majority of people of color,
preserve the trees, especially trees over 12 inches in diameter.
31 | Presentation Title
Applying EJ to
Your program
32 | Presentation Title
There’s No One Right Way
If you’re trying to reach these communities, you’re making progress!
For every new project and program:
• Identify applicable overburdened
communities
• Meet these communities where they
are
• Involve these communities in a way
that’s meaningful for them
• Involve communities early when
feedback can still shape you
project/program
Don’t forget to reflect
• Take time to reflect on what
communication types were well
received by these communities.
• Share these successes with your
coworkers
33 | Presentation Title
Listen and Learn
Value the input and conversations from overburdened residents
• Start having conversations whenever the opportunity arises.
• If someone reaches out to you, value their time and their lived experiences.
• Practice meaningful engagement.
34 | Presentation Title
Strive to Achieve the
5 EJ Principals
1. Achieve the highest attainable
environmental quality and health
outcomes for all people
2. Adopt a racial justice lens
3. Engage community meaningfully
4. Be transparent
5. Be accountable
35 | Presentation Title
The Environmental Justice Task Force developed
these principles for Washington State
Screenshot from:
Environmental Justice
Task Force:
Recommendations for
Prioritizing EJ in
Washington State
Government
(October 2020)
Applying EJ to Your Program
It’s about people
A component to every
project’s success is
how people feel
Reaching someone
new is always a win
Don’t get caught up in
quantitative results
Set a goal for a percentage of
project spending to go toward
overburdened communities
Choose an attainable goal (30%-
50% of project spending)
Reflect on your spending goal
annually
37 | Presentation Title
Your projects can make a difference
We’re going to get better!
The EJ world is gaining traction, more guidance is incoming
38 | Presentation Title
• HEAL Act aims to develop strategies and community engagement plans
• Channels for providing a voice for disproportionately affected communities are
developing
• We have agency support and state support
• We are striving for a healthier environment!
Celebrate Your Wins!
This work is hard!
39 | Presentation Title
Thank You!
[email protected] | (360) 608-7645
40 | Presentation Title
Environmental Justice
into Your Projects
Maddie Burke
Civil Engineer – Construction
Co-coordinator for the Washington Stormwater
Center Environmental Justice Salon
April 17, 2024
Overview
• What is Environmental
Justice?
• Effective Communication
• Common Challenges
• Mapping Tools
• Behavior Change Programs
• Mature Tree Preservation
• Applying EJ to Your Program
• Looking at Success
| Environmental Justice for Designers
What is
Environmental
Justice?
3 | Environmental Justice for Designers
Definition
The EPA defines environmental justice as:
Environmental justice (EJ) is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all
people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the
development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations
and policies.
Fair treatment means no group of people should bear a disproportionate share of the
negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, governmental and
commercial operations or policies.
This means all people receive the same protection from environmental and health
hazards
4 | Environmental Justice for Designers
Definition
The EPA defines overburdened
communities as:
Overburdened Communities are minority,
low-income, tribal, or indigenous populations
or geographic locations in the United States
that potentially experience disproportionate
environmental harms and risks.
This risk is amplified in communities with
preexisting social and economic barriers and
environmental risks
5 | Environmental Justice for Designers
Washington State Department of Ecology
The HEAL Act – Washington State Department of Ecology
Environmental Justice is a State Priority
A coordinated state agency approach to EJ
• In 2021, Washington passed the Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act based on
recommendations from the Environmental Justice Task Force
• This law requires seven state agencies to identify and address environmental health
disparities in overburdened communities.
o These agencies must set a goal of 40% of spending to go toward impacted communities
• The HEAL Act established the Environmental Justice Council, 16 members appointed
by the governor, to create a coordinated approach to EJ.
6 | Presentation Title
Environmental Justice
Principals
I. Achieve the highest attainable environmental
quality and health outcomes for all people.
II. Adopt a racial justice lens.
III. Engage community meaningfully.
IV. Be transparent.
V. Be accountable.
By the Environmental Justice Task Force
Effective
Communication
8 | Presentation Title
Building a Connection
To help these communities, we need to connect with them
• Simply targeting environmental issues won’t address the disproportionate hazards
impacting overburdened communities
• We must interact with these communities if we want to help them
• An important factor of environmental justice is connecting with overburdened
communities
9 | Presentation Title
Reducing Barriers
Meet people where they are
• Develop effective messaging
o Understand your audience so the pitches hit the mark
o Get culturally relevant information
• Minimize travel requirements when asking for public
comment
• Reduce paperwork
• Provide compensation
10 | Presentation Title
Effective Messaging Example
The Clean Rivers Coalition’s Hispanic/Latinx Community Research Report
• 2021 research project on engaging Latinx families in Oregon and SW Washington.
o surveys
o community listening session (35 people)
o focus group (9 people)
11 | Presentation Title
2021 Stormwater Partners Symposium
2021 Stormwater Partners Symposium – November 16 – YouTube
Rebuild Lost Trust
We’ve historically failed these communities, so why should they work with
us now?
• Many overburdened communities have lost trust in the government
• Be prepared for limited response to your outreach efforts
• We are working to build a relationship with these overburdened communities, plan
for change to take a long time
• Avoid tokenization
“Change happens at the speed of trust.â€
12 | Presentation Title
Provide Compensation
Compensation is challenging, however, pathways will likely develop in
future policies
• Currently difficult to gain approval for compensation
• Other cities compensate through grants with a line item for compensation, then use
consultants to distribute funds
Bill 5793 – Effective 6/9/2022
13 | Presentation Title
Concerning stipends for low-income or underrepresented community members of
state boards, commissions, councils, committees, and other similar groups.
Revised for 2nd Substitute: Allowing compensation for lived experience on boards,
commissions, councils, committees, and other similar groups.
-Washington State Legislature
Common
Challenges
14 | Presentation Title
Public Outreach
Connecting can be time-consuming and difficult
• Messages aren’t reaching overburdened communities
o Connecting with these often “invisible†communities is challenging
o There’s no “right way†as each community is different
• Department support for doing what we’ve always done
o This results in no change
• EJ work rarely produces quantitative results
15 | Presentation Title
Gentrification
City projects can displace residents
• A progressive project, such as planting trees and adding bike lanes can create
rampant gentrification
• City projects can drive up property values and displace low-income residents
o Communities exposed to health hazards may not benefit from a project
• City projects have resulted in disrupted social networks and stress.
Take time to identify who will benefit from changes made to the City early in
project/program development.
16 | Presentation Title
Mapping Tools
17 | Presentation Title
Washington Environmental Health Disparities Map
By the Washington State Department of Health
18 | Presentation Title
EJScreen: Environmental Justice Screening and Mapping Tool
By the Environmental Protection Agency
19 | Presentation Title
Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool
By the Council on Environmental Quality
20 | Presentation Title
Tree Equity Score
By American Forests
21 | Presentation Title
Advantages and Limitations
What to consider when using mapping tools
Advantages
• Helps us assist the community and
make informed decisions
• Gives us a tool to evaluate programs
geographically
• Will help us track changes in
disparities over time
• Helps to support grant writing
Limitations
• Screening tools do not, by
themselves, determine the existence
of EJ issues
• Map does not reflect community
experiences and should not be used
to replace engagement
22 | Presentation Title
Using Mapping Tools Correctly
Use maps to support your project’s positive impact
• Identify which issues drive the scores. Issues should be related to your project.
• You should be able to make a case for how your project helps the identified
overburdened community.
23 | Presentation Title
Behavior
Change
Programs
24 | Presentation Title
Behavior Change Programs
Consider barriers when implementing a behavior change program
Common Barriers
• Upfront costs
• Knowledge barriers
• Homeowner barriers
• Paperwork
Incentives are often targeted to those with existing interests and fail to excite a
new audience.
25 | Presentation Title
Behavior Change Example
Challenges during Don’t Drip & Drive
• The Don’t Drip & Drive
campaign provided free leak
inspections
• Offered coupon for $50 off
repair at participating
mechanics
• An organizer shared that
communities of color were
afraid to provide their
information.
26 | Presentation Title
Don't Drip and Drive – Puget Soundkeeper Alliance
Mature Tree
Preservation
27 | Presentation Title
Mature Tree Preservation
Mature trees have a major role in combating health disparities identified in
EJ definition
• Tree canopy improves population health, well-being, and health equity in urban
settings
• Trees enhance air quality, mitigate the urban heat island, aid water management
• Research has linked exposure to green spaces and trees with improved mental
health, reduced stress, reduced loneliness, lower all-cause mortality, and lower
rates of obesity and chronic diseases.
28 | Presentation Title
Percentage of the population living in
poverty
Tree Canopy and Income: Vancouver
Percentage of tree canopy
Percentage of the population living in
poverty
Tree Canopy and Income: Spokane
Percentage of tree canopy
Urban Tree Analysis Report 2020 (spokanecity.org)
Mature Tree Preservation
Tree inequity create a health inequity for overburdened
communities
• Low-income neighborhoods have less tree cover and hotter temperatures
• The Nature Conservancy found that 92 percent of low-income blocks in the US have
less tree cover than high-income blocks.
• The Tree Equity Score map shows neighborhoods with a majority of people of color
have 33% less tree canopy than majority white communities.
For projects in low-income neighborhoods or areas with a majority of people of color,
preserve the trees, especially trees over 12 inches in diameter.
31 | Presentation Title
Applying EJ to
Your program
32 | Presentation Title
There’s No One Right Way
If you’re trying to reach these communities, you’re making progress!
For every new project and program:
• Identify applicable overburdened
communities
• Meet these communities where they
are
• Involve these communities in a way
that’s meaningful for them
• Involve communities early when
feedback can still shape you
project/program
Don’t forget to reflect
• Take time to reflect on what
communication types were well
received by these communities.
• Share these successes with your
coworkers
33 | Presentation Title
Listen and Learn
Value the input and conversations from overburdened residents
• Start having conversations whenever the opportunity arises.
• If someone reaches out to you, value their time and their lived experiences.
• Practice meaningful engagement.
34 | Presentation Title
Strive to Achieve the
5 EJ Principals
1. Achieve the highest attainable
environmental quality and health
outcomes for all people
2. Adopt a racial justice lens
3. Engage community meaningfully
4. Be transparent
5. Be accountable
35 | Presentation Title
The Environmental Justice Task Force developed
these principles for Washington State
Screenshot from:
Environmental Justice
Task Force:
Recommendations for
Prioritizing EJ in
Washington State
Government
(October 2020)
Applying EJ to Your Program
It’s about people
A component to every
project’s success is
how people feel
Reaching someone
new is always a win
Don’t get caught up in
quantitative results
Set a goal for a percentage of
project spending to go toward
overburdened communities
Choose an attainable goal (30%-
50% of project spending)
Reflect on your spending goal
annually
37 | Presentation Title
Your projects can make a difference
We’re going to get better!
The EJ world is gaining traction, more guidance is incoming
38 | Presentation Title
• HEAL Act aims to develop strategies and community engagement plans
• Channels for providing a voice for disproportionately affected communities are
developing
• We have agency support and state support
• We are striving for a healthier environment!
Celebrate Your Wins!
This work is hard!
39 | Presentation Title
Thank You!
[email protected] | (360) 608-7645
40 | Presentation Title
City of Belleview Stormwater Code (8 languages) Presentation
nly Rain Down The Storm Drain Rain runoff into storm drains flows directly into our local streams, lakes, and wetlands. The storm and surface water system in Bellevue is not connected to a sewage treatment plant. To protect water quality, Bellevue manages stormwater runoff by following “best management” practices and operates under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permit issued by the state Department of Ecology. This permit is a requirement of the Federal Clean Water Act. The Bellevue Storm and Surface Water Utility Code 24.06.125 prohibits storm and surface water pollution. The City will work with you to prevent storm and surface water pollution and to comply with code requirements and restrictions. For assistance, please call 425-452-7840. Enforcement Bellevue relies primarily on public education and voluntary corrective actions to achieve compliance; however, discharging pollutants into storm drains or waterbodies will be documented and can result in escalating enforcement. The city reserves the right to proceed directly to a Notice of Violation, which can result in fines of $500 per day or more [BCC 1.18.075(E)(2)(3)]. For repeat violations that occur within two years of a previous violation, the following penalties may be imposed [BCC 1.18.075(G)(2)]. a. For the first repeat violation the penalty may equal up to $1,000 per day; b.For the second repeat violation, the penalty may equal up to $2,000 per day; c. For the third repeat violation, the penalty may equal up to $3,000 per day; d.For the fourth repeat violation, the penalty may equal up to $4,000 per day; and e. For each additional violation that may occur beyond the fourth repeat violation, the penalty may equal up to $5,000 per day. Keep dumpster areas clean. Tips to prevent pollution Have a spill kit and clean up spills promptly. Petroleum products including but not limited to oil, gasoline, grease, fuel oil and heating oil Lawn clippings, leaves, or branches Trash or debris Animal carcasses Domestic animal wastes Silt or sediment Chemicals Concrete, cement or gravel Acids, alkalis, or bases Paints Recreational vehicle wastes Steam cleaning wastes Dyes (without prior permission of the utility) Washing of fresh concrete for cleaning and/or finishing purposes or to expose aggregates Construction materials Laundry wastes Food wastes Soaps, including biodegradable soaps, detergents, or ammonia Metals in either particulate or dissolved form Pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers Flammable or explosive materials Sewage Radioactive material Heated water Batteries Chlorinated water, chlorine, bromine, or other disinfectants Paints, stains, resins, lacquers, or varnishes Degreasers and/or solvents Drain cleaners Bark and other fibrous material Swimming pool or spa filter backwash Degreasers and/or solvents Chemicals not normally found in uncontaminated water Antifreeze or other automotive products Any other process-associated discharges except as otherwise allowed in this section English Remember, it’s illegal to pollute waterways in Washington State. Call 425-452-7840 to report an illegal discharge in Bellevue. Thank you for keeping our share
City of Tacoma Equity Map
Summary: City of Tacoma equity map, Tacoma livability, Tacoma accessibility map, Tacoma economy map, Tacoma education map, Tacoma environmental Health map
The Equity Index is a data-driven tool to see where your projects, policies, programs or services can have the largest impact on addressing inequity and where investment can provide the biggest improvement in factors that impact life outcomes.
The City of Tacoma uses the Equity Index to identify, track, and close disparities, and prioritize investments based on where and who has access to opportunity, for example opportunity to safely walk to school, opportunity to earn a living wage job, opportunity to access healthy food and opportunity to have safe and health environmental interactions.
We caution against a shallow analysis of the data. The Equity Index should be paired with a deeper analysis which can include community voice, storytelling, specific data, analysis of other factors and impacts, etc.
Learn more:
The City of Tacoma uses the Equity Index to identify, track, and close disparities, and prioritize investments based on where and who has access to opportunity, for example opportunity to safely walk to school, opportunity to earn a living wage job, opportunity to access healthy food and opportunity to have safe and health environmental interactions.
We caution against a shallow analysis of the data. The Equity Index should be paired with a deeper analysis which can include community voice, storytelling, specific data, analysis of other factors and impacts, etc.
Learn more:
2022 Ad Hoc Committee on Equity and Environmental Justice Report on permit improvement
Summary: Overburdened communities, environmental health data, equity, environmental justice and permit requirements, planning and implementing with overburdened communities in mind
Equity and Environmental Justice Ad Hoc Committee for the 2024 NPDES MS4 Permit
Final Report to Ecology February 2022
Background
In October 2021, the Ad Hoc Committee on Equity and Environmental Justice (EEJ)
requirements in the NPDES municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) permit was formed.
The main purpose of the committee was to prepare ideas and recommendations for Ecology
regarding EEJ requirements in the Phase I and II MS4 permits that will be reissued in 2024.
Another key purpose was to build and expand relationships among people in the region who
are interested in EEJ and how it can be manifested in various ways.
The committee, which met three times from November 2021 to January 2022, consisted of
fifteen people representing five Phase I permittees, four Phase II permittees, and three other
interested parties, all of whom voluntarily joined in order to provide their input and
recommendations. A list of participants is appended to this report. The co-leads for the
Committee were Mary Rabourn, King County, and Bill Leif, Snohomish County.
Two guiding principles for the discussions were (1) to find as much agreement as possible,
and (2) to focus on ideas that seem implementable by Ecology in the MS4 permits. However,
another principle was to draw out and discuss ideas that don’t fit easily in the existing permit
and/or that challenge the status quo. Committee members were encouraged to present topics
and viewpoints that did not fit in this mold. Early in the process we decided to focus less on
achieving group consensus and focus more on articulating clear statements. After we had
crafted these statements, each committee member was given an anonymous survey in which
to express their level of agreement with each statement. Eight of the fifteen members
responded. This method allowed us to not be overly constrained trying to achieve group
consensus on any given statement, which can tend to make the statement more general. It
also avoided the pressure to combine overlapping or contradictory ideas into a single
statement.
The next section of this report contains the statements we developed, the results of the level-
of-agreement survey, and related notes. Post-survey committee discussion of Statements 9
and 12 revealed multiple interpretations of a statement, which led either to people saying they
would change their votes and/or to proposed rewording of the statement. This is discussed
below.
The final section of the report contains additional comments that one or more members of the
committee wanted to include in the report. These comments are included as provided and
were not reviewed or edited by other members.
Statements and level-of-agreement survey results (8 out of 15 members voted)
Topic 1. EHD data, tools, and resources
Statement 1: To the extent that Ecology might require Permittees to identify and delineate
overburdened communities within their jurisdiction as part of the 2024 Permit, Ecology should
allow permittees to select among various decision-making tools, and should not require
permittees to use the WA DOH EHD tool.
Strongly agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly disagree
Related notes / comments for Statement 1
EHD may be useful in some situations, but may not be fine-grained enough for some
applications, and does not do a good job characterizing overburdened communities that are
not geographically based. Some permittees have already created or are in the process of
creating alternative tools.
Statement 2: The WA EHD tool can be useful on a case-by-case basis but the data may not be
fine-grained enough and the margins of error too large for small / medium municipalities to use
in decision-making.
Strongly agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly disagree
Statement 3: To the extent that Permittees might need time to review and assess equity tools
for use in their decision-making, such review and assessment should not qualify as grounds for
delay of Permit implementation or compliance.
Strongly agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly disagree
Topic 2. Specifics of permit requirements
Statement 4: Ecology should consider applying an equity lens to each permit section to identify
areas where equity requirements would be most appropriate to include in the 2024 Permit.
Strongly agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly disagree
Statement 5: EEJ requirements in specific permit programs should consider the nature and
scale of actions in a program, for example, a capital project in the Structural Stormwater
Controls program versus the source control program which involves hundreds of inspections
per year.
Strongly agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly disagree
Statement 6: Ecology should require permittees to perform a self-evaluation of EEJ
implementation of the SWMP, and include it in an annual report.
Strongly agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly disagree
Statement 7: Ecology should require participation in EEJ training sessions.
Strongly agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly disagree
Statement 8: Ecology should allow participation in EEJ training sessions to count towards
compliance, which would help smaller permittees get off the ground with EEJ implementation.
Strongly agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly disagree
Statement 9: Ecology should require both Phase I and Phase II Permittees to consider
overburdened communities when planning and implementing their SWMPs and other Permit
requirements in the 2024 Permits.
Strongly agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly disagree
Related notes / comments for Statement 9
Committee discussion after the survey showed varying interpretations of the statement. Some
members interpreted the statement as “the permit should generally have such a requirementâ€
and others thought it meant “the requirement should continue to be in the SWMP Plan Public
Involvement requirement.†The members present for this discussion agreed the permit should
contain EEJ requirements, but that should be removed from the Public Involvement section,
and instead Ecology should write EEJ requirements in specific program requirements, as is
currently the case in the Public Education and SMAP permit conditions.
A related concern raised by the committee is that the Public Involvement requirement implies
the desire to get overburdened communities to specifically review the SWMP Plan document.
The SWMP Plan is long and most of it is not pertinent to the daily lives of most people. The
feeling was that asking for review of this document from overburdened community members
would actually add burden and survey fatigue to people whose burdens we are trying to
reduce, and would be counterproductive to achieving equitable engagement goals. It would be
better to focus on providing opportunities for input into individual SWMP actions or programs
that had a direct impact on overburdened community groups, for example, business
inspections at restaurants where business owners speak English as a second language or not
at all.
One committee member who works with the public, including with overburdened communities
wrote this following the meeting: “I continue to hear that those in marginalized communities
lack time, energy and means to engage – it does NOT mean that they are not interested. It
does mean that it may not be their top priority for how they are able to invest themselves. The
question back to Ecology remains, to what purpose? What is the intended result of their
participation / involvement? Marginalized communities do not want government agencies to
do something that simply “checks a box,†rather they want to see meaningly ways to have their
needs met. That is what Ecology needs to wrestle with related to the Permit. And what
Permittees want to figure out and invest themselves with.â€
Topic 3 – Identifying overburdened communities
Statement 10: Ecology should recognize that some overburdened communities are not
geographically based, and are thus not well represented by a geographically-based tool like
the EHD tool.
Strongly agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly disagree
See also Statement 1
Topic 4 – Regional efforts
Statement 11: Ecology should allow permittees to meet EEJ requirements through participation
in programs or actions led by other permittees.
Strongly agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly disagree
Related notes / comments for Statement 11
This would allow smaller permittees to leverage limited resources and take advantage of
opportunities they couldn’t run on their own. It also allows for regional collaboration in order to
most effectively understand and engage an overburdened, marginalized, or under-resourced
community that is present within multiple jurisdictions.
Topic 5 – Recognizing differences in capabilities, resources, and existing conditions
among jurisdictions
Statement 12: Ecology should have a ‘sliding scale’ of requirements based on a permittee’s
resources.
Strongly agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly disagree
Related notes / comments for Statement 12
The statement came from early discussion about “sliding-scale†requirements among
permittees that reflect variable levels of resources among permittees. However, committee
discussion after the survey showed varying interpretations of the statement. Some members
had expressed disagreement out of concern about a lack of EEJ compliance metrics that are
well-defined, uniformly measured, and nonarbitrary. The members present for the final
discussion generally agreed that with this concern and concluded that Ecology should not
include EEJ compliance metrics unless they meet those criteria.
Statement 13: Ecology should not be prescriptive in crafting EEJ requirements, and allow each
permittee to make progress from their current status.
Strongly agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly disagree
Statement 14: Ecology should not require each permittee to have a dedicated EEJ staff person
or interdisciplinary team.
Strongly agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly disagree
Statement 15: Requiring each permittee to have a dedicated EEJ staff person or
interdisciplinary team would place a significant burden on smaller permittees and may hinder
participation in regional efforts.
Strongly agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly disagree
Statement 16: Permit requirements should not base permittee compliance on the level of
participation from overburdened communities.
Strongly agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly disagree
Topic 6 – Factoring climate change into the MS4 permit
Statement 17: Ecology should factor climate change into permit conditions.
Strongly agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly disagree
Related comments / notes for Statement 17
The members present for the post-survey discussion that voted “Neutral†or “Disagree†were
not indicating that the issue is not important, but were concerned with the ability to
appropriately create NPDES MS4 permit conditions related to climate change.
Additional comments on survey statements from committee members
Statement 6: Ecology should require permittees to perform a self-evaluation of EEJ
implementation of the SWMP, and include it in an annual report.
• Not to be reported annually, have a one-time assessment/report out during the permit
cycle (model the stormwater planning annual report section/questions to clearly outline
what permittees need to review/answer)
Statement 14: Ecology should not require each permittee to have a dedicated EEJ staff person
or interdisciplinary team.
• This gets to one of the points from the Proportionality/Scaling/Tiering ad hoc committee
that each new permit requirement requires a new SME which overburdens many
permittees.
Other comments from committee members
Comments from the Education & Outreach Ad Hoc Committee, provided by Susan McCleary,
City of Olympia
• Based on the target audience’s demographic, the Permittee shall consider delivering its
selected messages in language(s) other than English, as appropriate to the target
audience.†I’m curious if this section could be reworded to actually get at what is
intended. Just translation does not always support actual behavior change. How else
could this be targeted?
• Ensure targeting underserved or underrepresented communities
• Languages other than English – translation may not be enough. Need to consider
cultures – transcreation.
• Some kind of language that encourages an equity and environmental justice lens be
applied to audience identification and focus (targeting language may be problematic)
• Unhoused individuals or people experiencing homelessness should be added as a
general awareness target audience Add "people experiencing homelessness" to the
general awareness audience list.
• Language needs to be stronger to ensure equitable access to E&O materials and
programs.
• There is a lack of recognition of the global impact of climate change on our work,
communities and the role of stormwater or investment – what is the overall community
engagement goal of Ecology’s work? How can we use the power of these dedicated
folks to address environmental outcomes we hope to see? Are we missing the big issue
by focusing on local details, not having an overall shared goal? E.g., strategic
messaging focus: climate change – human environmental health- economic health -role
of stormwater WQ and infrastructure. We could have a requirement for other skill sets:
social scientists, urban planners, economists to pull the big picture together – and allow
individual stormwater managers to feel successful and that they are contributing. Also –
placing education on stormwater managers risks may not be the best approach for ed –
we need to call out that skill set – rather than assuming anyone can be an educator. We
risk traumatizing or turning off students, esp. those from underserved communities.
• Wording needs to be stronger to ensure equitable access/engagement with E&O
programs. Proposed solution: Highlight overburdened communities and equity.
• Include stronger language to ensure outreach to overburdened communities
• There is inconsistent language between Phase I and Phase II permit under subject area
(a). In parentheses, it says "including school age children OR overburdened
communities". Is this intentional?
• Better direction on overburdened communities for jurisdiction's that have small
percentage of these communities. Proposed solution: Recommendations for
jurisdictions with small percentages of overburdened communities.
• Health should be added because stormwater has health impacts and overburdened
communities may not see a nexus here with the above types of activities- need to be
culturally aware and consider adding other examples to this list
Committee Members
Name
Organization
Mary Rabourn
King County
Bill Leif
Snohomish County
Lisa Werre
City of Sammamish
Alyssa Barton
Puget Soundkeepers Alliance
Blaine Chesterfield
City of Mount Vernon
Melissa Ivancevich
City of Seattle
Peggy Campbell
Snohomish County
Kym Foley
City of Olympia
Lou Leet
King County
Piper Hanson
University of Miami OH
Susan McCleary
City of Olympia
Garrett…
Final Report to Ecology February 2022
Background
In October 2021, the Ad Hoc Committee on Equity and Environmental Justice (EEJ)
requirements in the NPDES municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) permit was formed.
The main purpose of the committee was to prepare ideas and recommendations for Ecology
regarding EEJ requirements in the Phase I and II MS4 permits that will be reissued in 2024.
Another key purpose was to build and expand relationships among people in the region who
are interested in EEJ and how it can be manifested in various ways.
The committee, which met three times from November 2021 to January 2022, consisted of
fifteen people representing five Phase I permittees, four Phase II permittees, and three other
interested parties, all of whom voluntarily joined in order to provide their input and
recommendations. A list of participants is appended to this report. The co-leads for the
Committee were Mary Rabourn, King County, and Bill Leif, Snohomish County.
Two guiding principles for the discussions were (1) to find as much agreement as possible,
and (2) to focus on ideas that seem implementable by Ecology in the MS4 permits. However,
another principle was to draw out and discuss ideas that don’t fit easily in the existing permit
and/or that challenge the status quo. Committee members were encouraged to present topics
and viewpoints that did not fit in this mold. Early in the process we decided to focus less on
achieving group consensus and focus more on articulating clear statements. After we had
crafted these statements, each committee member was given an anonymous survey in which
to express their level of agreement with each statement. Eight of the fifteen members
responded. This method allowed us to not be overly constrained trying to achieve group
consensus on any given statement, which can tend to make the statement more general. It
also avoided the pressure to combine overlapping or contradictory ideas into a single
statement.
The next section of this report contains the statements we developed, the results of the level-
of-agreement survey, and related notes. Post-survey committee discussion of Statements 9
and 12 revealed multiple interpretations of a statement, which led either to people saying they
would change their votes and/or to proposed rewording of the statement. This is discussed
below.
The final section of the report contains additional comments that one or more members of the
committee wanted to include in the report. These comments are included as provided and
were not reviewed or edited by other members.
Statements and level-of-agreement survey results (8 out of 15 members voted)
Topic 1. EHD data, tools, and resources
Statement 1: To the extent that Ecology might require Permittees to identify and delineate
overburdened communities within their jurisdiction as part of the 2024 Permit, Ecology should
allow permittees to select among various decision-making tools, and should not require
permittees to use the WA DOH EHD tool.
Strongly agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly disagree
Related notes / comments for Statement 1
EHD may be useful in some situations, but may not be fine-grained enough for some
applications, and does not do a good job characterizing overburdened communities that are
not geographically based. Some permittees have already created or are in the process of
creating alternative tools.
Statement 2: The WA EHD tool can be useful on a case-by-case basis but the data may not be
fine-grained enough and the margins of error too large for small / medium municipalities to use
in decision-making.
Strongly agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly disagree
Statement 3: To the extent that Permittees might need time to review and assess equity tools
for use in their decision-making, such review and assessment should not qualify as grounds for
delay of Permit implementation or compliance.
Strongly agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly disagree
Topic 2. Specifics of permit requirements
Statement 4: Ecology should consider applying an equity lens to each permit section to identify
areas where equity requirements would be most appropriate to include in the 2024 Permit.
Strongly agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly disagree
Statement 5: EEJ requirements in specific permit programs should consider the nature and
scale of actions in a program, for example, a capital project in the Structural Stormwater
Controls program versus the source control program which involves hundreds of inspections
per year.
Strongly agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly disagree
Statement 6: Ecology should require permittees to perform a self-evaluation of EEJ
implementation of the SWMP, and include it in an annual report.
Strongly agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly disagree
Statement 7: Ecology should require participation in EEJ training sessions.
Strongly agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly disagree
Statement 8: Ecology should allow participation in EEJ training sessions to count towards
compliance, which would help smaller permittees get off the ground with EEJ implementation.
Strongly agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly disagree
Statement 9: Ecology should require both Phase I and Phase II Permittees to consider
overburdened communities when planning and implementing their SWMPs and other Permit
requirements in the 2024 Permits.
Strongly agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly disagree
Related notes / comments for Statement 9
Committee discussion after the survey showed varying interpretations of the statement. Some
members interpreted the statement as “the permit should generally have such a requirementâ€
and others thought it meant “the requirement should continue to be in the SWMP Plan Public
Involvement requirement.†The members present for this discussion agreed the permit should
contain EEJ requirements, but that should be removed from the Public Involvement section,
and instead Ecology should write EEJ requirements in specific program requirements, as is
currently the case in the Public Education and SMAP permit conditions.
A related concern raised by the committee is that the Public Involvement requirement implies
the desire to get overburdened communities to specifically review the SWMP Plan document.
The SWMP Plan is long and most of it is not pertinent to the daily lives of most people. The
feeling was that asking for review of this document from overburdened community members
would actually add burden and survey fatigue to people whose burdens we are trying to
reduce, and would be counterproductive to achieving equitable engagement goals. It would be
better to focus on providing opportunities for input into individual SWMP actions or programs
that had a direct impact on overburdened community groups, for example, business
inspections at restaurants where business owners speak English as a second language or not
at all.
One committee member who works with the public, including with overburdened communities
wrote this following the meeting: “I continue to hear that those in marginalized communities
lack time, energy and means to engage – it does NOT mean that they are not interested. It
does mean that it may not be their top priority for how they are able to invest themselves. The
question back to Ecology remains, to what purpose? What is the intended result of their
participation / involvement? Marginalized communities do not want government agencies to
do something that simply “checks a box,†rather they want to see meaningly ways to have their
needs met. That is what Ecology needs to wrestle with related to the Permit. And what
Permittees want to figure out and invest themselves with.â€
Topic 3 – Identifying overburdened communities
Statement 10: Ecology should recognize that some overburdened communities are not
geographically based, and are thus not well represented by a geographically-based tool like
the EHD tool.
Strongly agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly disagree
See also Statement 1
Topic 4 – Regional efforts
Statement 11: Ecology should allow permittees to meet EEJ requirements through participation
in programs or actions led by other permittees.
Strongly agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly disagree
Related notes / comments for Statement 11
This would allow smaller permittees to leverage limited resources and take advantage of
opportunities they couldn’t run on their own. It also allows for regional collaboration in order to
most effectively understand and engage an overburdened, marginalized, or under-resourced
community that is present within multiple jurisdictions.
Topic 5 – Recognizing differences in capabilities, resources, and existing conditions
among jurisdictions
Statement 12: Ecology should have a ‘sliding scale’ of requirements based on a permittee’s
resources.
Strongly agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly disagree
Related notes / comments for Statement 12
The statement came from early discussion about “sliding-scale†requirements among
permittees that reflect variable levels of resources among permittees. However, committee
discussion after the survey showed varying interpretations of the statement. Some members
had expressed disagreement out of concern about a lack of EEJ compliance metrics that are
well-defined, uniformly measured, and nonarbitrary. The members present for the final
discussion generally agreed that with this concern and concluded that Ecology should not
include EEJ compliance metrics unless they meet those criteria.
Statement 13: Ecology should not be prescriptive in crafting EEJ requirements, and allow each
permittee to make progress from their current status.
Strongly agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly disagree
Statement 14: Ecology should not require each permittee to have a dedicated EEJ staff person
or interdisciplinary team.
Strongly agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly disagree
Statement 15: Requiring each permittee to have a dedicated EEJ staff person or
interdisciplinary team would place a significant burden on smaller permittees and may hinder
participation in regional efforts.
Strongly agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly disagree
Statement 16: Permit requirements should not base permittee compliance on the level of
participation from overburdened communities.
Strongly agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly disagree
Topic 6 – Factoring climate change into the MS4 permit
Statement 17: Ecology should factor climate change into permit conditions.
Strongly agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly disagree
Related comments / notes for Statement 17
The members present for the post-survey discussion that voted “Neutral†or “Disagree†were
not indicating that the issue is not important, but were concerned with the ability to
appropriately create NPDES MS4 permit conditions related to climate change.
Additional comments on survey statements from committee members
Statement 6: Ecology should require permittees to perform a self-evaluation of EEJ
implementation of the SWMP, and include it in an annual report.
• Not to be reported annually, have a one-time assessment/report out during the permit
cycle (model the stormwater planning annual report section/questions to clearly outline
what permittees need to review/answer)
Statement 14: Ecology should not require each permittee to have a dedicated EEJ staff person
or interdisciplinary team.
• This gets to one of the points from the Proportionality/Scaling/Tiering ad hoc committee
that each new permit requirement requires a new SME which overburdens many
permittees.
Other comments from committee members
Comments from the Education & Outreach Ad Hoc Committee, provided by Susan McCleary,
City of Olympia
• Based on the target audience’s demographic, the Permittee shall consider delivering its
selected messages in language(s) other than English, as appropriate to the target
audience.†I’m curious if this section could be reworded to actually get at what is
intended. Just translation does not always support actual behavior change. How else
could this be targeted?
• Ensure targeting underserved or underrepresented communities
• Languages other than English – translation may not be enough. Need to consider
cultures – transcreation.
• Some kind of language that encourages an equity and environmental justice lens be
applied to audience identification and focus (targeting language may be problematic)
• Unhoused individuals or people experiencing homelessness should be added as a
general awareness target audience Add "people experiencing homelessness" to the
general awareness audience list.
• Language needs to be stronger to ensure equitable access to E&O materials and
programs.
• There is a lack of recognition of the global impact of climate change on our work,
communities and the role of stormwater or investment – what is the overall community
engagement goal of Ecology’s work? How can we use the power of these dedicated
folks to address environmental outcomes we hope to see? Are we missing the big issue
by focusing on local details, not having an overall shared goal? E.g., strategic
messaging focus: climate change – human environmental health- economic health -role
of stormwater WQ and infrastructure. We could have a requirement for other skill sets:
social scientists, urban planners, economists to pull the big picture together – and allow
individual stormwater managers to feel successful and that they are contributing. Also –
placing education on stormwater managers risks may not be the best approach for ed –
we need to call out that skill set – rather than assuming anyone can be an educator. We
risk traumatizing or turning off students, esp. those from underserved communities.
• Wording needs to be stronger to ensure equitable access/engagement with E&O
programs. Proposed solution: Highlight overburdened communities and equity.
• Include stronger language to ensure outreach to overburdened communities
• There is inconsistent language between Phase I and Phase II permit under subject area
(a). In parentheses, it says "including school age children OR overburdened
communities". Is this intentional?
• Better direction on overburdened communities for jurisdiction's that have small
percentage of these communities. Proposed solution: Recommendations for
jurisdictions with small percentages of overburdened communities.
• Health should be added because stormwater has health impacts and overburdened
communities may not see a nexus here with the above types of activities- need to be
culturally aware and consider adding other examples to this list
Committee Members
Name
Organization
Mary Rabourn
King County
Bill Leif
Snohomish County
Lisa Werre
City of Sammamish
Alyssa Barton
Puget Soundkeepers Alliance
Blaine Chesterfield
City of Mount Vernon
Melissa Ivancevich
City of Seattle
Peggy Campbell
Snohomish County
Kym Foley
City of Olympia
Lou Leet
King County
Piper Hanson
University of Miami OH
Susan McCleary
City of Olympia
Garrett…
King County Case Study on Implementing Targeted Universalism.
Summary: King County Case Study on Implementig Targeted Universalism, equity in housing, transportation, public health, small business investment and opportunity
This paper is one of several case studies we're producing that demonstrate how the Institute's
Targeted Universalism
framework is being put into practice by local organizations and governments. This document was produced from in depth conversations with members of King County's government, and is thus informed by many first-hand accounts.
Click for more background and resources on Targeted Universalism
Local and municipal governments anchor the day-to-day lives of US residents. Thousands of city and county governments across the US have an important role to play in building and sustaining equity for their residents. Local governments are a locus of policy making and resource distribution. Thus, they are in a critical position to shaping equity and opportunity through investment and decision-making in transportation, housing, public health, small businesses, and more. Additionally, local governments are uniquely positioned to align or coordinate with — and also be challenged by — advocacy and activist groups in the community.
In 2015, King County, Washington — home to over 2 million people in the Seattle metropolitan area — adopted major updates to its first-ever County Strategic Plan, originally created in 2010. A core goal of the updated Strategic Plan within the theme of Health and Human Potential is to “provide equitable opportunities for all individuals to realize their full potential.†With that goal in mind, in 2016 King County’s newly-created Office of Equity and Social Justice (OESJ) launched a six-year Equity and Social Justice (ESJ) Strategic Plan “centered on promoting equity internally and [in] the community.†The plan involves investing in employees, communities, and upstream interventions such as housing, transportation, health and human services, the justice system, and the environment.
Download this report
Targeted Universalism
framework is being put into practice by local organizations and governments. This document was produced from in depth conversations with members of King County's government, and is thus informed by many first-hand accounts.
Click for more background and resources on Targeted Universalism
Local and municipal governments anchor the day-to-day lives of US residents. Thousands of city and county governments across the US have an important role to play in building and sustaining equity for their residents. Local governments are a locus of policy making and resource distribution. Thus, they are in a critical position to shaping equity and opportunity through investment and decision-making in transportation, housing, public health, small businesses, and more. Additionally, local governments are uniquely positioned to align or coordinate with — and also be challenged by — advocacy and activist groups in the community.
In 2015, King County, Washington — home to over 2 million people in the Seattle metropolitan area — adopted major updates to its first-ever County Strategic Plan, originally created in 2010. A core goal of the updated Strategic Plan within the theme of Health and Human Potential is to “provide equitable opportunities for all individuals to realize their full potential.†With that goal in mind, in 2016 King County’s newly-created Office of Equity and Social Justice (OESJ) launched a six-year Equity and Social Justice (ESJ) Strategic Plan “centered on promoting equity internally and [in] the community.†The plan involves investing in employees, communities, and upstream interventions such as housing, transportation, health and human services, the justice system, and the environment.
Download this report
WSC Landing page for Municipal Environmental Justice resources
Summary: Landing Page
Municipal Environmental Justice
