WSR 13-17-118
PROPOSED RULES
PUGET SOUND
CLEAN AIR AGENCY
[Filed August 21, 2013, 11:39 a.m.]
Original Notice.
Proposal is exempt under RCW 34.05.310(4) or 34.05.330(1).
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: Amend Regulation I, Section 2.02 (Adoption by Reference).
Hearing Location(s): Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, 1904 3rd Avenue, Suite 105, Seattle, WA 98101, on September 26, 2013, at 8:45 a.m.
Date of Intended Adoption: September 26, 2013.
Submit Written Comments to: Rob Switalski, Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, 1904 3rd Avenue, Suite 105, Seattle, WA 98101, e-mail robs@pscleanair.org, fax (206) 343-7522, by September 25, 2013.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact agency receptionist, (206) 689-4010, by September 19, 2013, TTY (800) 833-6388 or (800) 833-6385 (Braille).
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: In December 2012, ecology revised four of its SEPA regulations: WAC 197-11-315, 197-11-800, 197-11-906 and 197-11-960, effective January 28, 2013. The agency's SEPA regulations incorporate three of these sections by reference. To ensure consistency between the two sets of regulations, the agency staff proposes to add a specific reference to the effective date of January 28, 2013, in Section 2.02, Adoption by Reference. The result would allow the agency to rely upon the updated versions of WAC 197-11-315, 197-11-800, and 197-11-960. WAC 197-11-906 relates specifically to the ability of agencies to adopt SEPA regulations. This amendment to Section 2.02 would also make clear that the agency is referring to the most current version of ecology's SEPA regulations throughout Regulation I, Article 2.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: Ecology's revisions to the SEPA checklist requirements in WAC 197-11-315 and 197-11-960 provide greater flexibility to agencies in their review and use of SEPA checklists. For example, they allow explicit consideration of non-SEPA legal authorities as part of the review of nonproject actions. Under SEPA, nonproject actions are those actions broader than project proposals, and can include the adoption of plans, policies or programs. It would be useful to the agency to be able to employ the greater flexibility identified in WAC 197-11-315 and 197-11-960. Ecology's revisions to WAC 197-11-800 update a number of categorical exemptions to SEPA review. Most do not apply to the agency, but some do, such as granting variances under RCW 70.94.181 or government procedural actions. Thus, it is important for the agency to keep our incorporation of this section current. Finally, it is useful to be clear that in Regulation I, Article 2 the agency is relying upon the most current version of ecology's SEPA rules. There are no costs associated with this proposed amendment.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: Chapter 70.94 RCW.
Statute Being Implemented: RCW 70.94.141.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Name of Proponent: Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Jennifer Dold, 1904 3rd Avenue, Suite 105, Seattle, WA 98101, (206) 689-4015; Implementation and Enforcement: Laurie Halvorson, 1904 3rd Avenue, Suite 105, Seattle, WA 98101, (206) 689-4030.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. This agency is not subject to the small business economic impact provision of the Administrative Procedure Act, and the agency is not a school district.
A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. RCW 34.05.328 does not apply to local air agencies, per RCW 70.94.141.
August 21, 2013
Craig Kenworthy
Executive Director
AMENDATORY SECTION
REGULATION I, SECTION 2.02 ADOPTION BY REFERENCE
For purposes of this regulation, ((T)) the Agency adopts by reference the following sections of chapter 197-11 WAC, in effect as of January 28, 2013 ((by reference)):
197-11-040 Definitions.
197-11-050 Lead agency.
197-11-055 Timing of the SEPA process.
197-11-060 Content of environmental review.
197-11-070 Limitations on actions during SEPA process.
197-11-080 Incomplete or unavailable information.
197-11-090 Supporting documents.
197-11-100 Information required of applicants.
197-11-250 SEPA/Model Toxics Control Act integration.
197-11-253 SEPA lead agency for MTCA actions.
197-11-256 Preliminary evaluation.
197-11-259 Determination of nonsignificance for MTCA remedial actions.
197-11-262 Determination of significance and EIS for MTCA remedial actions.
197-11-265 Early scoping for MTCA remedial actions.
197-11-268 MTCA interim actions.
197-11-300 Purpose of this part.
197-11-305 Categorical exemptions.
197-11-310 Threshold determination required.
197-11-315 Environmental checklist.
197-11-330 Threshold determination process.
197-11-335 Additional information.
197-11-340 Determination of nonsignificance (DNS).
197-11-350 Mitigated DNS.
197-11-360 Determination of significance (DS)/initiation of scoping.
197-11-390 Effect of threshold determination.
197-11-400 Purpose of EIS.
197-11-402 General requirements.
197-11-405 EIS types.
197-11-406 EIS timing.
197-11-408 Scoping.
197-11-410 Expanded scoping.
197-11-420 EIS preparation.
197-11-425 Style and size.
197-11-430 Format.
197-11-435 Cover letter or memo.
197-11-440 EIS contents.
197-11-442 Contents of EIS on nonproject proposals.
197-11-443 EIS contents when prior nonproject EIS.
197-11-444 Elements of the environment.
197-11-448 Relationship of EIS to other considerations.
197-11-450 Cost-benefit analysis.
197-11-455 Issuance of DEIS.
197-11-460 Issuance of FEIS.
197-11-500 Purpose of this part.
197-11-502 Inviting comment.
197-11-504 Availability and cost of environmental documents.
197-11-508 SEPA register.
197-11-510 Public notice.
197-11-535 Public hearings and meetings.
197-11-545 Effect of no comment.
197-11-550 Specificity of comments.
197-11-560 FEIS response to comments.
197-11-570 Consulted agency costs to assist lead agency.
197-11-600 When to use existing environmental documents.
197-11-610 Use of NEPA documents.
197-11-620 Supplemental environmental impact statement—Procedures.
197-11-625 Addenda—Procedures.
197-11-630 Adoption—Procedures.
197-11-635 Incorporation by reference—Procedures.
197-11-640 Combining documents.
197-11-650 Purpose of this part.
197-11-655 Implementation.
197-11-660 Substantive authority and mitigation.
197-11-680 Appeals.
197-11-700 Definitions.
197-11-702 Act.
197-11-704 Action.
197-11-706 Addendum.
197-11-708 Adoption.
197-11-710 Affected tribe.
197-11-712 Affecting.
197-11-714 Agency.
197-11-716 Applicant.
197-11-718 Built environment.
197-11-720 Categorical exemption.
197-11-722 Consolidated appeal.
197-11-724 Consulted agency.
197-11-726 Cost-benefit analysis.
197-11-728 County/city.
197-11-730 Decision maker.
197-11-732 Department.
197-11-734 Determination of nonsignificance (DNS).
197-11-736 Determination of significance (DS).
197-11-738 EIS.
197-11-740 Environment.
197-11-744 Environmental document.
197-11-746 Environmental review.
197-11-750 Expanded scoping.
197-11-752 Impacts.
197-11-754 Incorporation by reference.
197-11-756 Lands covered by water.
197-11-758 Lead agency.
197-11-760 License.
197-11-762 Local agency.
197-11-764 Major action.
197-11-766 Mitigated DNS.
197-11-768 Mitigation.
197-11-770 Natural environment.
197-11-772 NEPA.
197-11-774 Nonproject.
197-11-776 Phased review.
197-11-778 Preparation.
197-11-780 Private project.
197-11-782 Probable.
197-11-784 Proposal.
197-11-786 Reasonable alternative.
197-11-788 Responsible official.
197-11-790 SEPA.
197-11-792 Scope.
197-11-793 Scoping.
197-11-794 Significant.
197-11-796 State agency.
197-11-797 Threshold determination.
197-11-799 Underlying governmental action.
197-11-800 Categorical exemptions.
197-11-880 Emergencies.
197-11-890 Petitioning DOE to change exemptions.
197-11-900 Purpose of this part.
197-11-902 Agency SEPA policies.
197-11-916 Application to ongoing actions.
197-11-920 Agencies with environmental expertise.
197-11-922 Lead agency rules.
197-11-924 Determining the lead agency.
197-11-926 Lead agency for governmental proposals.
197-11-928 Lead agency for public and private proposals.
197-11-930 Lead agency for private projects with one agency with jurisdiction.
197-11-932 Lead agency for private projects requiring licenses from more than one agency, when one of the agencies is a county/city.
197-11-934 Lead agency for private projects requiring licenses from a local agency, not a county/city, and one or more state agencies.
197-11-936 Lead agency for private projects requiring licenses from more than one state agency.
197-11-938 Lead agencies for specific proposals.
197-11-940 Transfer of lead agency status to a state agency.
197-11-942 Agreements on lead agency status.
197-11-944 Agreements on division of lead agency duties.
197-11-946 DOE resolution of lead agency disputes.
197-11-948 Assumption of lead agency status.
197-11-960 Environmental checklist.
197-11-965 Adoption notice.
197-11-970 Determination of nonsignificance (DNS).
197-11-980 Determination of significance and scoping notice (DS).
197-11-985 Notice of assumption of lead agency status.
197-11-990 Notice of action.