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Air & Climate > Climate Commitment Act > Overburdened communities

Improving air quality in overburdened communities

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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.

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New grant program

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Learn more about climate action in Washington.

Applications are now closed for a new grant opportunity to reduce criteria air pollution in these overburdened communities and participating Tribal communities. We will soon award up to a total of $10 million for organizations serving these communities to develop projects that reduce criteria air pollution. This will help improve people's health. Sign up for email updates about the program.

These grants are paid for by funds from the Climate Commitment Act. The Climate Commitment Act supports Washington's climate action efforts by putting cap-and-invest dollars to work reducing climate pollution, creating jobs, and improving public health.

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.

Washington map-communities identified as overburdened by criteria air pollution

This list is intended for the purposes outlined in the environmental justice review section of the Climate Commitment Act.

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.

 

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).

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.
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Contact information

Andrew Wineke
Communications Manager, acting
andrew.wineke@ecy.wa.gov
360-791-1939

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