Program on the Environment

Risk Management Plan (RMP) facilities use extremely hazardous substances and are required by law, under the Clean Air Act, to develop a preventive plan to reduce the risk of potential accidents. The chemicals that RMP facilities store are essential to our everyday lives; whether they are used to keep our refrigerators running or to control the growth of weeds in agriculture. However, it is potentially life threatening if someone comes in contact with large quantities of these toxic chemicals. Minority and low-income populations—or underserved communities—are disproportionately affected by the potential risks of RMP facilities. The purpose of this study is to locate the proximity of RMP facilities in relation to underserved communities in the Puget Sound region. To accomplish this task, I utilized the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) public databases Ejscreen and ECHO to compare the location of RMP facilities to various demographic groups. My findings concluded that impoverished and minority groups have significantly larger population percentages living directly within the highest percentile of RMP facilities. In contrast, communities with majority upper-class and white populations have the lowest percentages, living within the top 90-100 percentile of RMP facility locations. Regardless if this correlation displays potential discriminatory intent, those living in the highest percentiles are at a higher risk of damaging health impacts. This calls for progressive action from all levels of government and the RMP facilities to move forward with Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPs), funded by EPA enforced penalties, to improve the lives of the underserved Puget Sound communities.