HB 1303, sponsored by Rep. Sharlett Mena (D–Tacoma), proposes a laudable goal but through an extremely complex path.

The bill:

• Adds an environmental justice (EJ) review to the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) checklist
• Includes 13 pages of new law on how to evaluate EJ under SEPA
• Only applies to “potentially impactful projects” (defined) located in a “pollution burdened community,” as defined by ranking a 7 or higher on the WA health disparities map or adjacent to such a community
• Exempts clean energy projects, housing projects, national security projects, fish hatcheries, state transportation projects under $15 million, and nonproject actions

Given the complexity of this issue, funding and training would need to be provided by the state as cities generally don’t have staff with this level of expertise. Likely, cities would incur significant consultant costs to review this addition to the checklist. This also proposes a departure from how SEPA was designed—to provide a uniform review across the state.

Date to remember

HB 1303 will be heard in the House Environment & Energy Committee on Thursday, January 23 at 8 am.