Improving air quality in overburdened communities
Important information
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We're working to improve air quality in 16 Washington communities that are historically overburdened with health, social, and environmental inequities and are highly impacted by criteria air pollution, such as ozone and fine particles. A section of the Climate Commitment Act directs this work.
We want to hear from the people most impacted in these places. Right now, we want to hear from community and Tribal members about the types of projects a community grant program should pay for. Your feedback will help us shape the direction of the grant program and make sure we're investing in projects that make a difference in your community.
Communities identified as overburdened
We have already identified 16 areas in Washington that are overburdened and highly impacted by criteria air pollution. The places are a mix of urban, suburban, and rural. They vary in population, from about 1,500 to more than 200,000 people. They also range in area, from less than three square miles to 173 square miles. Together, they represent more than 1.2 million people or about 15.5% of Washington’s population.
Community information
Each community listed in the table is linked to more information, specific boundaries, and the process we used to identify them. Click any column header in the table to sort the information.
Area 1 | Estimated Population | Size (approximate square miles) | Elevated Air Pollutants |
---|---|---|---|
Ellensburg | 16,273 | 6 | Fine particles (PM2.5), cumulative criteria air pollution |
Everett | 83,973 | 17 | Fine particles (PM2.5) |
George and West Grant County | 2,206 | 118 | Fine particles (PM2.5) |
King County, South | 204,300 | 68 | Fine particles (PM2.5), cumulative criteria air pollution |
Mattawa | 4,398 | 12 | Fine particles (PM2.5) |
Moxee Valley | 5,793 | 38 | Fine particles (PM2.5), cumulative criteria air pollution |
Puyallup, Northeast | 9,574 | 3 | Cumulative criteria air pollution |
Seattle, North and Shoreline | 39,997 | 5 | Fine particles (PM2.5), cumulative criteria air pollution |
Seattle, South | 192,634 | 44 | Fine particles (PM2.5), cumulative criteria air pollution |
Spokane and Spokane Valley | 147,407 | 42 | Fine particles (PM2.5), cumulative criteria air pollution |
Tacoma, South and East | 133,463 | 28 | Fine particles (PM2.5), cumulative criteria air pollution |
Tri-Cities to Wallula | 112,708 | 173 | Particle pollution (PM2.5 and PM10), ozone, cumulative criteria air pollution |
Vancouver | 103,388 | 29 | Fine particles (PM2.5), cumulative criteria air pollution |
Wenatchee and East Wenatchee | 32,183 | 10 | Fine particles (PM2.5) |
Yakima, East | 59,803 | 16 | Fine particles (PM2.5), cumulative criteria air pollution |
Yakima Valley, Lower | 54,838 | 157 | Fine particles (PM2.5), cumulative criteria air pollution |
1 All areas ranked high on the Washington Environmental Health Disparities map and/or EPA's EJScreen mapping tool. These tools show where vulnerable populations face more risk or exposure to pollution. We also looked at other factors: social and economic differences, historic redlining, health care access, known health disparities (like increased asthma and lower life expectancy).
- Focus on: Air Quality Environmental Justice Report, April 2024
- StoryMap (web map to learn more about the communities)
- Focus on: Improving Air Quality in Overburdened Communities, Sept. 2023
- Focus on: SensWA, Nov. 2023
- Improving Air Quality in Overburdened Communities Highly Impacted by Air Pollution: 2023 Report
- Community Summary Report, March 2023
- Technical Support Document, Feb. 2023
- Response to Comments, March 2023
- Policy Statement: Identification of Overburdened Communities Highly Impacted by Air Pollution, March 2023
- Focus on: Our Plans to Improve Air Quality in Overburdened Communities, Sept. 2022
- Focus on: Improving Air Quality in Overburdened Communities Initiative, June 2022
Next steps
Reducing criteria air pollution in identified communities will happen in stages over multiple years. Next steps include:
- Continue to expand Washington's air monitoring network in the 16 communities.
- Continue to ask for community input, including about the new grants program.
- Work with Tribal governments that may be interested in participating in this work.
- Collect and analyze data about criteria air pollutants affecting these communities.
- Start rulemaking for more protective air quality standards in the 16 communities.
- Track and report every two years about criteria air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and health impacts in each community.
- Re-evaluate the list of communities every six years.
Related links
Contact information
Susan Woodward
Communications Manager
susan.woodward@ecy.wa.gov
360-688-8070
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