Environmental Justice Assessments
Current Significant Agency Actions Requiring an EJ Assessment
To provide input into the development of the Environmental Justice Assessment on any of the following initiated significant agency actions, please submit your comments to the Environmental Justice Coordinator at envjustice@agr.wa.gov.
*Categories listed are those specified in the definition of 'Significant Agency Action' under RCW 70A.02.010(12)(a-e): New grant or loan program; Capital project, grant, or loan award of at least $12 million; Significant legislative rules; Transportation project, grant, or loan of at least $15 million; Agency-request legislation; Other Agency Actions.
| Title of Action | Category | Description | Subject Matter Expert | Completed Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aligning general pesticide rules with federal certification and training standards. |
Significant legislative rules |
Amends chapter 16-228 WAC, General Pesticide Rules, to align with SB 5330 (Chapter 186, Laws of 2023), the federal certification and training standards in 40 CFR 171 passed in 2017, and the Washington Plan for Certification of Pesticide Applicators approved by the Environmental Protection Agency in December 2022. | Christina Zimmerman Pesticide Licensing & Recertification Program Manager czimmerman@agr.wa.gov 360-485-8504 |
In Process |
| Amending chapter 16-240 WAC, WSDA Grain Inspection Program- Definitions, Standards, and Fees |
Significant legislative rules |
Amends chapter 16-240 WAC by increasing some of the Grain Inspection Program fees, revising some of the fee structures to more accurately reflect the scope of services provided (including but not limited to adding fees for services that are not specifically identified), and clarifying language to ease in the understanding of the rule. |
Philip Garcia Grain Inspection Program Manager pgarcia@agr.wa.gov 360-870-1178 |
Final Assessment |
| Amending the Apple Maggot Quarantine Boundary in chapter 16-470 WAC. |
Significant legislative rules |
As a result of a petition for rule making, the department is considering expanding the apple maggot quarantine area in Okanogan County. | Amy Clow Quarantine, Compost & Rules Coordinator aclow@agr.wa.gov 360-902-2041 |
In Process |
| Amending the commercial feed and pet food/speciality pet food rules in chapters 16-250 and 16-252 WAC. |
Significant legislative rules |
Adopts the latest version of the Association of American Control Officials (AAFCO) Official Publication (OP), clarifying areas of the rule regarding livestock feed and including additional categories of product types that were previously absent. | Ashlee-Rose Ferguson Animal Feed Program Manager aferguson@agr.wa.gov 360-902-1905 |
In Process |
| Amending the fees that support the Fruit & Vegetable Inspection Program in chapter 16-390 WAC. |
Significant legislative rules |
Increases Fruit & Vegetable Program fees and revises the fee schedule to more accurately reflect the scope of services provided, including but not limited to adding fees for services that are not specifically identified in current rule. | Robert Newell Fruit & Vegetable Program Administrator rnewell@agr.wa.gov (509) 249-6917 |
In Process |
| Amending chapter 16-752 WAC, by adding species to the prohibited plants list. | Significant legislative rules | Adds additional species to the noxious weed seed and plant quarantine, which would prohibit their sale and distribution. | Scott Brooks Plant Services Program Manager sbrooks@agr.wa.gov (360) 485-1235 |
In Process |
| Amending chapter 16-101 WAC, adopting Grade "A" pasteurized milk ordinace, 2023 revision | Significant legislative rules | Clarification and modernizations, procedural changes, and public health procedure expansions. | Kim King, Compliance and Dairy Process Improvement Coordinator, kking@agr.wa.gov (360) 704-8736 | Final Assessment |
| Update to Chemigation & fertigation Monitoring Requirements, Chapter 16-202 WAC | Significant legislative rules | Modifies the rules for chemigation and fertigation monitoring in chapter 16-202 WAC to incorporate present technological capabilities and potential automation future capabilities. | Caleb Cole, Case Review Officer, ccole@arg.wa.gov (360) 685-9836 | Final Assessment |
| Banning out of state, non-treated, firewood WAC 16-476 | Significant legislative rules | Modifies the rules , under pest quartine, to ban sale of out of state, non-treated, firewood. Reduces insect pest pathways. | Caleb Cole, Case Review Officer, ccole@arg.wa.gov (360) 685-9836 | Final Assessment |
| General Pesticde Rule update WAC 16-228 | Significant legislative rules | Update WAC 16-228 to include changes required to meet federal standards of the Certification of Pesticide Applicators (Certification & training) rule (40 CFR Part 171). | Christina Zimmerman, Program Manager, czimmerman@agr.wa.gov , (360) 902-2150 | Final Assessment |
Completed Environmental Justice Assessments
To provide comments on an Environmental Justice Assessment on any of the following initiated significant agency actions, please contact the Environmental Justice Coordinator at envjustice@agr.wa.gov.
*Categories listed are those specified in the definition of 'Significant Agency Action' under RCW 70A.02.010(12)(a-e): New grant or loan program; Capital project, grant, or loan award of at least $12 million; Significant legislative rules; Transportation project, grant, or loan of at least $15 million; Agency-request legislation; Other Agency Actions.
| Title of Action | Category | Description | Subject Matter Expert | Completed Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishing an agricultural pest and disease revolving fund. |
Agency-request legislation |
Establishes permanent funding to prepare for, prevent, detect, contain, and eradicate identified agricultural pest and disease threats before they become established and authorizes funding for WSDA to take immediate actions to build capacity, execute rapid response, and maintain trade resiliency. | Dr. Amber Itle State Veterinarian aitle@agr.wa.gov 360-961-4129 |
Final Assessment |
| Private Cannabis Lab Accreditation Transition from Ecology to WSDA |
Agency-request legislation |
This significant agency action moves the authority to conduct lab accreditation of private cannabis laboratories from the Dept. of Ecology to WSDA. | Trecia Ehrlich Cannabis Program Manager tehrlich@agr.wa.gov 360-584-3711 |
Final Assessment |
| Aligning Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment rules with federal technical requirements. |
Significant legislative rules |
Amends chapter 16-662 WAC, Weights and Measures, to align with the Federal Highway Administration's National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program's technical requirements for electric vehicle supply equipment payment methods. Completed October 2024. | Tahis McQueen Acting Weights & Measures Program Manager tmcqueen@agr.wa.gov 360-481-7452 |
Final Assessment |
Expanding the Japanese Beetle Quarantine. |
Significant legislative rules |
Amends and expands the Japanese Beetle quarantine to include additional portions of Yakima and Benton Counties, as well as a portion within the City of Pasco. In addition, soil samples will be added to the list of regulated articles, and a clarification will be made to include cut flowers exposed to open air environments as regulated articles. | Amy Clow Quarantine, Compost & Rules Coordinator aclow@agr.wa.gov 360-902-2041 |
Final Assessment |
| Accrediting Cannabis Laboratories |
Significant legislative rules |
Establishes a state program for the accreditation of cannabis laboratories in accordance with the standards set forth in chapter 16-309 WAC. The purpose of the program is to ensure that laboratory standards described in chapter 16-309 WAC are followed when testing cannabis and cannabis products in Washington State. | Trecia Ehrlich Cannabis Program Manager tehrlich@agr.wa.gov 360-584-3711 |
Final Assessment |