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Businesses and communities
Businesses and communities protect Washington’s quality of life
A healthy environment is key to healthy communities, a healthy economy and prosperous businesses.
The Legislature and Gov. Dan Evans made it clear, when they created the Department of Ecology in 1970, that “it is a fundamental and inalienable right of the people of the state of Washington to live in a healthful and pleasant environment and to benefit from the proper development and use of its natural resources.”
Ecology works with businesses and with local governments to help them follow federal and state requirements when carrying out their activities that affect our state’s air, land and water.
Most of Ecology’s budget is passed through to local communities
As
of December 2011: 68% of Ecology’s operating and capital budget is passed directly to local communities for:
- Cleaning up toxic industrial and commercial sites on land and in our water waterways.
- Designing and building wastewater treatment plants.
- Managing solid waste, creating safe landfills, and recycling refuse to extend the life of landfills
Most of Ecology’s work is funded by dedicated environmental accounts
As
of December 2011: about 78% of Ecology’s operating funding comes from:
- Voter-approved, dedicated environmental accounts
- Federal funding
- Special purpose funds (user fees and permits)
Currently, about 22% of Ecology’s operating funding comes from GF-S.
Ecology grants and loans help communities and provide for future economic growth
Grants and loans that Ecology administers help local communities and businesses, and result in jobs for thousands of Washington citizens every year. Here are some examples from the 2011-13 biennium:
- Solid waste grants: Ecology is providing Coordinated Prevention Grants totaling $28.6 million to local governments, plus $2.5 million for solid waste reduction and Public Participation Grants. These grant programs help communities protect the environment — and help local governments comply with solid waste laws.
- Shoreland grants: Ecology will award $7.5 million in Shoreline Master Program grants to local governments.
- Clean water grants and loans: The state’s clean water financial assistance program supports communities that need financial help to pay for clean water projects such as upgrading sewer plants, building water re-use projects and projects to control polluted runoff. Ecology is providing $222 million to local communities.
- Toxic site cleanups: Ecology is providing grants totaling $63.8 million to local governments and ports to clean up toxic sites.
Ecology is working with partners to improve our regulatory processes
- Seattle-King County Industrial Development Districts Program:
Ecology is participating in this effort to identify and bring innovation to regulatory areas and constraints that most directly affect the growth of manufacturing and maritime firms.
- Regulatory assistance and coaching:
Our Eastern Regional Office in Spokane is piloting an interdisciplinary team to help clients navigate various regulatory processes and find innovative solutions to thorny regulatory challenges.
- SEPA reform:
Ecology is a constructive participant in a multi-party effort to streamline the State Environmental Policy Act, which was enacted in 1971 to ensure that government agencies consider the environmental impacts of proposed development projects.
Businesses save millions through pollution prevention work with Ecology
- Washington businesses have saved millions of dollars for their bottom lines, while protecting human health and the environment. They’re doing this through several partnerships with Ecology – Pollution Prevention Planning, E-Team and Energy Audits, Technical Resources for Engineering Efficiency (TREE), Lean and the Environment, and the Local Source Control Partnership. Find out more about how Ecology's Pollution Prevention services add value to businesses.
We also work with local governments to help them comply with environmental standards. A key part of Ecology’s work with businesses and local governments is our commitment to customer service.
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