Project Grant 02J02401

DESCRIPTION: THE PURPOSE OF THIS ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COLLABORATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING (EJCPS) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT IS TO PROVIDE MULTI-MEDIA FUNDING TO FRONT AND CENTERED TO CREATE AN ACCESSIBLE, COMMUNITY-BASED, AND COMMUNITY-DRIVEN ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING, REPORTING, AND ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM IN THREE OF THE MOST ENVIRONMENTALLY COMPROMISED REGIONS IN WASHINGTON STATE: THE DUWAMISH RIVER VALLEY, SKAGIT COUNTY, AND YAKIMA COUNTY. THE COMMUNITIES FACES PERSISTENT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES INCLUDING: THE DUWAMISH VALLEY NEIGHBORHOODS OF SOUTH PARK AND GEORGETOWN FACE POORER AIR QUALITY THAN THE REST OF SEATTLE BECAUSE OF HIGHER DIESEL PM POLLUTION LEVELS AND OTHER INDUSTRIAL EMISSIONS; HISTORY OF TOXIC CHEMICALS LEACHING INTO DRINKING WATER IN HIGHLY-SENSITIVE AREAS SUCH AS THE DUWAMISH RIVER AND IN AGRICULTURAL REGIONS OF SKAGIT AND YAKIMA COUNTIES; AND PERSISTENT PESTICIDES AND TOXIC CHEMICALS FOUND IN COMMUNITIES. ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES INCLUDE DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING AN ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING TOOL, MODELED AFTER THE SUCCESSFUL IDENTIFYING VIOLATIONS AFFECTING NEIGHBORHOODS (IVAN) SYSTEM. THE RECIPIENT INTENDS TO ISSUE SUB-AWARD AGREEMENTS TO ITS PARTNERS IN COMPLIANCE WITH APPENDIX A OF EPA'S SUB-AWARD POLICY. THE SUB-AWARDEES WILL PROVIDE TECHNICAL EXPERTISE IN COORDINATING LISTENING SESSIONS, CREATING EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS IN ENGLISH/SPANISH, DEVELOPING A CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE OUTREACH STRATEGY, AND CREATING SYNERGISTIC OPPORTUNITIES WITH EXISTING PROJECT ACTIVITIES. ACTIVITIES: PROJECT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE CONDUCTING COMMUNITY OUTREACH, EDUCATION, AND ENGAGEMENT IN TARGET COMMUNITIES; CONVENING COMMUNITY PARTNERS, CROSS-JURISDICTIONAL AGENCY REPRESENTATIVES, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS; AND CREATING AND IMPLEMENTING A COMMUNITY/GOVERNMENT WORK GROUP TO RESPOND TO REPORTS OF VIOLATIONS. OUTCOMES: ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES INCLUDE DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING AN ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING TOOL, MODELED AFTER THE SUCCESSFUL IDENTIFYING VIOLATIONS AFFECTING NEIGHBORHOODS (IVAN) SYSTEM. EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE IMPROVED TOOLS AND PROCESSES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND REPORTING, INCREASED KNOWLEDGE AND ACCESS TO ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND REPORTING MECHANISMS IN HIGH-IMPACT COMMUNITIES, AND INCREASED ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY IN HIGH-IMPACT COMMUNITIES. DIRECT BENEFICIARIES ARE RESIDENTS OF THE KING, YAKIMA, AND SKAGIT COUNTIES OF WASHINGTON STATE. SUBRECIPIENT: IN THIS PROJECT, SUBAWARD STAFF WILL CREATE THE IVAN PLATFORM SPECIFICALLY FOR WASHINGTON STATE. STAFF WILL ALSO ENGAGE IN PROJECT ACTIVITIES TO SHARE LESSONS LEARNED FROM THEIR OUTREACH/EDUCATION WORK IN IMPERIAL VALLEY AND PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND INSIGHT FOR ADAPTING THE IVAN TOOL IN WASHINGTON STATE. OTHER SUBAWARD ACTIVITIES INCLUDE COORDINATING LISTENING SESSIONS, CREATING EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS IN ENGLISH/SPANISH, DEVELOPING AN OUTREACH STRATEGY THAT IS CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE AND CREATING SYNERGISTIC OPPORTUNITIES WITH EXISTING PROJECT ACTIVITIES. FURTHER ACTIVITIES INCLUDE DEVELOPING AND PRODUCING FACT SHEETS THAT REFLECT THE PROGRESS ON THE PROJECT. THESE FACT SHEETS WILL BE IN COMMUNITY-FRIENDLY LANGUAGE AND WILL HIGHLIGHT INFORMATION OF INTEREST TO THE COMMUNITY. THESE WILL BE TRANSLATED INTO MULTIPLE LANGUAGES (ENGLISH, SPANISH, VIETNAMESE, SOMALI AND KHMER). FINALLY, TECHNICAL EXPERTISE WILL HELP DEVELOP THE QAPP.