Washington Administrative Code
2023 Archive

Chapter 197-11 WAC
Last Update: 12/20/22

SEPA RULES
(Formerly chapter 197-10 WAC)
PDF of Chapter Digest
WAC Sections
PART ONE - PURPOSE/AUTHORITY
197-11-010Authority.
197-11-020Purpose.
197-11-030Policy.
PART TWO - GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
197-11-040Definitions.
197-11-050Lead agency.
197-11-055Timing of the SEPA process.
197-11-060Content of environmental review.
197-11-070Limitations on actions during SEPA process.
197-11-080Incomplete or unavailable information.
197-11-090Supporting documents.
197-11-100Information required of applicants.
197-11-158SEPA/GMA project review—Reliance on existing plans, laws, and regulations.
197-11-164Planned actions—Definition and criteria.
197-11-168Ordinances or resolutions designating planned actions—Procedures for adoption.
197-11-172Planned actions—Project review.
197-11-210SEPA/GMA integration.
197-11-220SEPA/GMA definitions.
197-11-228Overall SEPA/GMA integration procedures.
197-11-230Timing of an integrated GMA/SEPA process.
197-11-232SEPA/GMA integration procedures for preliminary planning, environmental analysis, and expanded scoping.
197-11-235SEPA/GMA integration documents.
197-11-238SEPA/GMA integration monitoring.
197-11-250SEPA/Model Toxics Control Act integration.
197-11-253SEPA lead agency for MTCA actions.
197-11-256Preliminary evaluation.
197-11-259Determination of nonsignificance for MTCA remedial action.
197-11-262Determination of significance and EIS for MTCA remedial actions.
197-11-265Early scoping for MTCA remedial actions.
197-11-268MTCA interim actions.
PART THREE - CATEGORICAL EXEMPTIONS AND THRESHOLD DETERMINATION
197-11-300Purpose of this part.
197-11-305Categorical exemptions.
197-11-310Threshold determination required.
197-11-315Environmental checklist.
197-11-330Threshold determination process.
197-11-335Additional information.
197-11-340Determination of nonsignificance (DNS).
197-11-350Mitigated DNS.
197-11-355Optional DNS process.
197-11-360Determination of significance (DS)/initiation of scoping.
197-11-390Effect of threshold determination.
PART FOUR - ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (EIS)
197-11-400Purpose of EIS.
197-11-402General requirements.
197-11-405EIS types.
197-11-406EIS timing.
197-11-408Scoping.
197-11-410Expanded scoping. (Optional)
197-11-420EIS preparation.
197-11-425Style and size.
197-11-430Format.
197-11-435Cover letter or memo.
197-11-440EIS contents.
197-11-442Contents of EIS on nonproject proposals.
197-11-443EIS contents when prior nonproject EIS.
197-11-444Elements of the environment.
197-11-448Relationship of EIS to other considerations.
197-11-450Cost-benefit analysis.
197-11-455Issuance of DEIS.
197-11-460Issuance of FEIS.
PART FIVE - COMMENTING
197-11-500Purpose of this part.
197-11-502Inviting comment.
197-11-504Availability and cost of environmental documents.
197-11-508SEPA register.
197-11-510Public notice.
197-11-535Public hearings and meetings.
197-11-545Effect of no comment.
197-11-550Specificity of comments.
197-11-560FEIS response to comments.
197-11-570Consulted agency costs to assist lead agency.
PART SIX - USING EXISTING ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS
197-11-600When to use existing environmental documents.
197-11-610Use of NEPA documents.
197-11-620Supplemental environmental impact statement—Procedures.
197-11-625Addenda—Procedures.
197-11-630Adoption—Procedures.
197-11-635Incorporation by reference—Procedures.
197-11-640Combining documents.
PART SEVEN - SEPA AND AGENCY DECISIONS
197-11-650Purpose of this part.
197-11-655Implementation.
197-11-660Substantive authority and mitigation.
197-11-680Appeals.
PART EIGHT - DEFINITIONS
197-11-700Definitions.
197-11-702Act.
197-11-704Action.
197-11-706Addendum.
197-11-708Adoption.
197-11-710Affected tribe.
197-11-712Affecting.
197-11-714Agency.
197-11-716Applicant.
197-11-718Built environment.
197-11-720Categorical exemption.
197-11-721Closed record appeal.
197-11-722Consolidated appeal.
197-11-724Consulted agency.
197-11-726Cost-benefit analysis.
197-11-728County/city.
197-11-730Decision maker.
197-11-732Department.
197-11-734Determination of nonsignificance (DNS).
197-11-736Determination of significance (DS).
197-11-738EIS.
197-11-740Environment.
197-11-742Environmental checklist.
197-11-744Environmental document.
197-11-746Environmental review.
197-11-750Expanded scoping.
197-11-752Impacts.
197-11-754Incorporation by reference.
197-11-756Lands covered by water.
197-11-758Lead agency.
197-11-760License.
197-11-762Local agency.
197-11-764Major action.
197-11-766Mitigated DNS.
197-11-768Mitigation.
197-11-770Natural environment.
197-11-772NEPA.
197-11-774Nonproject.
197-11-775Open record hearing.
197-11-776Phased review.
197-11-778Preparation.
197-11-780Private project.
197-11-782Probable.
197-11-784Proposal.
197-11-786Reasonable alternative.
197-11-788Responsible official.
197-11-790SEPA.
197-11-792Scope.
197-11-793Scoping.
197-11-794Significant.
197-11-796State agency.
197-11-797Threshold determination.
197-11-799Underlying governmental action.
PART NINE - CATEGORICAL EXEMPTIONS
197-11-800Categorical exemptions.
197-11-810Exemptions and nonexemptions applicable to specific state agencies.
197-11-820Department of licensing.
197-11-825Department of labor and industries.
197-11-830Department of natural resources.
197-11-835Department of fish and wildlife.
197-11-845Department of social and health services and department of health.
197-11-850Department of agriculture.
197-11-855Department of ecology.
197-11-860Department of transportation.
197-11-865Utilities and transportation commission.
197-11-870Department of commerce.
197-11-875Other agencies.
197-11-880Emergencies.
197-11-890Petitioning DOE to change exemptions.
PART TEN - AGENCY COMPLIANCE
197-11-900Purpose of this part.
197-11-902Agency SEPA policies.
197-11-904Agency SEPA procedures.
197-11-906Content and consistency of agency procedures.
197-11-908Critical areas.
197-11-910Designation of responsible official.
197-11-912Procedures of consulted agencies.
197-11-914SEPA fees and costs.
197-11-916Application to ongoing actions.
197-11-917Relationship to chapter 197-10 WAC.
197-11-918Lack of agency procedures.
197-11-920Agencies with environmental expertise.
197-11-922Lead agency rules.
197-11-924Determining the lead agency.
197-11-926Lead agency for governmental proposals.
197-11-928Lead agency for public and private proposals.
197-11-930Lead agency for private projects with one agency with jurisdiction.
197-11-932Lead agency for private projects requiring licenses from more than one agency, when one of the agencies is a county/city.
197-11-934Lead agency for private projects requiring licenses from a local agency, not a county/city, and one or more state agencies.
197-11-936Lead agency for private projects requiring licenses from more than one state agency.
197-11-938Lead agencies for specific proposals.
197-11-940Transfer of lead agency status to a state agency.
197-11-942Agreements on lead agency status.
197-11-944Agreements on division of lead agency duties.
197-11-946DOE resolution of lead agency disputes.
197-11-948Assumption of lead agency status.
197-11-950Severability.
197-11-955Effective date.
PART ELEVEN - FORMS
197-11-960Environmental checklist.
197-11-965Adoption notice.
197-11-970Determination of nonsignificance (DNS).
197-11-980Determination of significance and scoping notice (DS).
197-11-985Notice of assumption of lead agency status.
197-11-990Notice of action.
DISPOSITION OF SECTIONS FORMERLY CODIFIED IN THIS TITLE
197-11-748Environmentally sensitive area. [Statutory Authority: RCW 43.21C.110. WSR 84-05-020 (Order DE 83-39), § 197-11-748, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84.] Repealed by WSR 95-07-023 (Order 94-22), filed 3/6/95, effective 4/6/95. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.21C.110.
197-11-840Department of game. [Statutory Authority: RCW 43.21C.110. WSR 84-05-020 (Order DE 83-39), § 197-11-840, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84.] Repealed by WSR 14-09-026 (Order 13-01), filed 4/9/14, effective 5/10/14. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.21C.110 and 43.21C.100 [43.21C.170].