# RCW 70A.02.005: RCW 70A.02.005: Purpose > Washington · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T70A_C02_S005 ## Section - **Citation:** RCW 70A.02.005 - **Heading:** RCW 70A.02.005: Purpose - **Jurisdiction:** Washington - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** Washington Code / Title 70A / Chapter 02 / Section 005 ## Text (1) The purpose of this chapter is to reduce environmental and health disparities in Washington state and improve the health of all Washington state residents. This chapter implements the recommendations of the environmental justice task force established in section 221(48), chapter 415, Laws of 2019 entitled "Report to the Washington state governor and legislature, Environmental Justice Task Force: Recommendations for Prioritizing EJ in Washington State Government (October 2020)." (2) As conveyed in the task force report, Washington state studies and national studies found that people of color and low-income people continue to be disproportionately exposed to environmental harms in their communities. As a result, there is a higher risk of adverse health outcomes for those communities. This risk is amplified when overlaid on communities with preexisting social and economic barriers and environmental risks, and creates cumulative environmental health impacts, which chapter 314, Laws of 2021 seeks to prevent and mitigate. This chapter also seeks to reduce exposure to environmental hazards within Indian country, as defined in 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1151, due to off-reservation activities within the state, and to improve state practices to reduce contamination of traditional foods wherever they occur. Exposure to such hazards can result in generational health and ecological problems, particularly on small reservations where it is impossible to move away from a hazard. (3) Accordingly, the state has a compelling interest in preventing and addressing such environmental health disparities in the administration of ongoing and new environmental programs, including allocation of funds, and in administering these programs so as to remedy the effects of past disparate treatment of overburdened communities and vulnerable populations. (4) The task force provided recommendations to state agencies for measurable goals and model policies to reduce environmental health inequities in Washington, equitable practices for meaningful community involvement, and how to use the environmental health disparities map to identify and promote the equitable distribution of environmental benefits to overburdened communities. In order for all communities in Washington state to be healthy and thriving, state government should aim to concentrate government actions to benefit communities that currently have the greatest environmental and health burdens. ## Nearby sections - [RCW 70A.02.005 RCW 70A.02.005: Purpose.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T70A_C02_S005.md) - [RCW 70A.02.010 RCW 70A.02.010: Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T70A_C02_S010.md) - [RCW 70A.02.020 RCW 70A.02.020: Environmental justice obligations for all agencies.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T70A_C02_S020.md) - [RCW 70A.02.030 RCW 70A.02.030: Authority of other agencies to opt in to environmental justice obligations.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T70A_C02_S030.md) - [RCW 70A.02.040 RCW 70A.02.040: Incorporating environmental justice into agency strategic plans.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T70A_C02_S040.md) - [RCW 70A.02.050 RCW 70A.02.050: Equitable community engagement and public participation.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T70A_C02_S050.md) - [RCW 70A.02.060 RCW 70A.02.060: Environmental justice assessment.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T70A_C02_S060.md) - [RCW 70A.02.070 RCW 70A.02.070: Obligation of a covered agency—Does not trigger chapter 43.21C RCW requirements.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T70A_C02_S070.md) - [RCW 70A.02.080 RCW 70A.02.080: Environmental justice obligations of agencies relating to budgets and funding.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T70A_C02_S080.md) - [RCW 70A.02.090 RCW 70A.02.090: Reporting requirements.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T70A_C02_S090.md) - [RCW 70A.02.100 RCW 70A.02.100: Tribal consultation.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T70A_C02_S100.md) - [RCW 70A.02.110 RCW 70A.02.110: Environmental justice council.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T70A_C02_S110.md) - [RCW 70A.02.120 RCW 70A.02.120: Legal obligations.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T70A_C02_S120.md) - [RCW 70A.02.130 RCW 70A.02.130: Appeals.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T70A_C02_S130.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T70A_C02_S005. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.