EPA announces $8.2M for environmental justice projects in Washington
SEATTLE — Yesterday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced $8,244,085 to fund 10 projects in Washington.
The selectees will use the funds to ensure disadvantaged communities that have historically suffered from underinvestment have access to clean air and water and climate resilience solutions.
The grants are available through EPA’s Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem Solving Cooperative Agreement and Environmental Justice Government-to-Government programs. This is the largest investment ever announced under these two longstanding EPA programs.
“Across the Pacific Northwest our communities can see and feel the impacts of legacy pollution and climate change in their day-to-day lives,” said EPA Region 10 Administrator Casey Sixkiller. “These funds are an opportunity for historically underserved areas to advance community driven solutions that improve public health and the environment.”
“All bold action that we take to address the climate crisis must be rooted in environmental justice. That is why I was proud to support the Inflation Reduction Act, which funds the Environmental Justice Government-to-Government grant. This federal grant funding from the EPA will finally address systemic racism related to environmental health in South Seattle and South King County,” said Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal. “The Biden-Harris administration’s Justice40 initiative is doing great work to undo decades of underinvestment, as poor people and communities of color have been disproportionately impacted by the effects of the climate crisis, leading to adverse health outcomes. This investment, along with others, will allow our city and county to ensure that historically underserved communities have the resources they need to stay healthy.”
“Environmental justice means all folks, no matter their background or income, should have a real say in decisions about the environment in their area and be able to work towards a cleaner, safer community for themselves,” said Representative Derek Kilmer. “Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, we're seeing the federal government step up to fund environmental justice. In Tacoma alone, we're seeing federal funding to help a playground be transformed from asphalt to green space. And we're seeing funding for a community initiative to combat wildfires and wildfire smoke. These are investments that will strengthen our environment and improve community well-being, and – because the federal government is helping – the costs aren't solely being borne by taxpayers in our region.”
“Clean air, clean water, and investments that help communities withstand the effects of climate change are essential everywhere—but for far too long, historically disadvantaged and low-income communities were left behind or outright ignored when it came to federal action on environmental issues,” said Senator Patty Murray. “The Biden-Harris administration has rightfully made environmental justice a priority across the historic climate investments we have delivered over the past few years, and this new funding is going to help improve air and water quality, build climate resilience, address extreme heat, and expand shade cover in neighborhoods across Washington state that need it most.”
"I'm delighted to hear that Chelan County will receive federal investment through the EPA's Environmental Justice Government-to-Government grant program," said Rep. Schrier. "As wildfires become increasingly destructive here in Washington state, it's imperative that we improve our preparedness, especially for our most vulnerable populations. This investment will do just that by helping to strengthen climate change resiliency and smoke disaster preparedness in Chelan County."
EPA’s EJCPS program provides financial assistance to eligible organizations working to address local environmental or public health issues in their communities. In Washington, the following organizations were selected:
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Farmworker Justice Fund, Inc. - $500,000 for wildfire preparedness and resiliency in farmworker communities across the state.
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Methow Valley Citizens Council - $460,504 to build climate resiliency from wildfire and other climate impacts through community-oriented solutions in Okanogan County.
EPA’s EJG2G program provides funding at the state, local, territorial and Tribal level to support government activities with community-based organizations that lead to measurable environmental or public health impacts in communities disproportionately burdened by environmental harms. In Washington, the following organizations were selected:
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Chelan County - $999,839 to build climate change resiliency from wildfires and protect health through smoke disaster preparedness.
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Palouse Conservation District - $471,634 for water quality education and community science programs in Whitman County.
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Public Health - Seattle & King County - $1,000,000 for the Healthy and Resilient Communities Project to address indoor environmental health and climate change in South Seattle and South King County.
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Spokane Conservation District - $833,270 for urban forestry career development and educational programs in Airway Heights and Spokane Valley.
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Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department - $1,000,000 for the Community-Led Wildfire Preparedness Initiative in Key Peninsula, East and Southeast Pierce County.
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Tacoma Public Schools - $1,000,000 to transform an outdated schoolyard at Larchmont Elementary into a vibrant green space.
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Tulalip Tribes of Washington - $978,838 to develop a Climate-Vulnerability Rapid-Assessment Tool and training for the Western U.S. and Alaska.
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Washington State Department of Health - $1,000,000 for water and air quality education and outreach in the Lower Yakima Valley.
The two grant programs directly advance the Justice40 initiative to deliver 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.
EPA Region 10 (Pacific Northwest) - Serving Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington and 271 Tribal Nations. Visit us online, follow us on Twitter and Facebook and subscribe to our RSS feed.