Section 173-337-050 - Equity and environmental justice(1) To strengthen the integration of equity and environmental justice considerations when implementing, administering, and enforcing chapter 70A.350 RCW, ecology will, to the extent legal and practical:(a) Strive to collaborate and co-develop approaches to equitable and meaningful community engagement with overburdened communities, sensitive populations, tribes and indigenous communities, and others.(b) Pursue processes that facilitate and support the inclusion of overburdened communities and reduce barriers in equitable participation. Examples of barriers and needs include child care, food costs, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other accessibility needs, and compensation for lived experience and expertise.
Examples of how community input may inform decision-making include determining:
*Preliminary priority chemicals, priority consumer products, and preliminary alternatives.
* Rule requirements.
*Compliance approach.
(c) Use existing data and information to document potential exposure disparities when identifying priority chemicals and priority consumer products. Examples of data and information include peer-reviewed scientific studies, government reports and data, demographic information, market-based research, and other sources reviewed by ecology.(d) Prioritize chemicals and consumer products where regulatory actions may reduce disproportionate exposure.(e) Work toward equitable access to safer consumer products. This includes, but is not limited to, considering overburdened communities and low-income populations' ability to access safer consumer products.(2) Ecology will refer to guidance from relevant authorities including, but not limited to: (a) Title VI of the Civil Rights Act 1964, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 2000D et seq.(b) Chapter 70A.02 RCW - Environmental justice.(c) Chapter 43.03.220 RCW - Compensation of members of part-time boards and commissions-Class one groups.(d) The Washington state office of equity.(e) Ecology's office of equity and environmental justice.Wash. Admin. Code § 173-337-050
Adopted by WSR 23-12-044, Filed 5/31/2023, effective 7/1/2023