Senate Bill 5990: Integrating Environmental Justice Considerations into Certain Project Decisions

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Washington State Senate Bill 5990 (68th Legislature, 2024 Regular Session), sponsored by Senators Lovelett, Saldaña, Dhingra, Frame, Hasegawa, Keiser, Kuderer, Nobles, Salomon, Stanford, Trudeau, Valdez, and C. Wilson. The bill amends chapter 43.21C RCW to integrate environmental justice considerations into project decisions affecting pollution burdened communities. Defines key terms including ‘adverse cumulative stressors,’ ‘disproportionate impact,’ ‘environmental justice impact statement,’ ‘compelling public interest,’ ‘environmental or public health stressors,’ and ‘change in use.’ Aims to reduce disparities in cumulative environmental and health impacts in Washington State by requiring analysis of stressors such as asthma, cancer, cardiovascular disease, elevated blood lead levels, and low birth weight in overburdened communities.

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