News Releases from Region 10

Seattle’s Beacon Hill Neighborhood Launches Plan to Address Air and Noise Pollution Health Impacts

Public invited to free environmental health workshop on Dec. 2

Seattle – On Saturday, December 2, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and El Centro de la Raza will host a free neighborhood meeting to learn about a Community Action Plan developed to help address air and noise pollution health impacts in Seattle’s Beacon Hill neighborhood. The meeting will take place from 2:00pm to 4:00pm, at the Centilia Cultural Center, 1660 S. Roberto Maestas Festival St., in Seattle.

The project is funded by an EPA Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving grant to Seattle-based El Centro de la Raza, a nonprofit organization providing advocacy, educational, social and housing services to communities across the area. The two-year grant supports El Centro’s Beacon Hill Environmental Health Collaboration project that aims to inform the neighborhood’s diverse residents about air and noise pollution health related issues and engage the community in addressing these concerns.

The Beacon Hill neighborhood is close to high traffic roadways and airports that are potential sources of harmful air and noise pollution. People who spend time near busy roads may face elevated risks for health problems including asthma and other respiratory illness, and cardiovascular disease.  Problems related to noise pollution can include stress related illnesses, high blood pressure, and lost productivity.  

The Beacon Hill Environmental Health Collaboration project works to improve the neighborhood’s environmental health through educational outreach and capacity building. El Centro hosted 24 community meetings in 2017 to gather input for the project’s Community Action Plan. Various project partners include Seattle and King County Environmental Health and Services Division, University of Washington School of Public Health, Asian Counseling and Referral Services, Got Green, International Community Health Services, and the Puget Sound Sage.

To learn more about the Beacon Hill Environmental Health Collaboration project and Community Action Plan workshop, contact: Maria Batayola, El Centro de la Raza, mbjumpstart@msn.com, 206-293-2951 or visit: www.elcentrodelaraza.org/ejbeaconhillseattle.

EPA’s Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving grant program funds non-profit and tribal organizations to partner with stakeholders to help address environmental and public health issues in low income and minority communities.

EPA is accepting applications for Collaborative Problem-Solving 2018 grants through February 18, 2018. More information about the request for proposals is available at: www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/environmental-justice-grants-funding-and-technical-assistance.