Washington State Register

PERMANENT RULES

DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY

[Order 95-16--Filed October 10, 1997, 9:07 a.m.]

Date of Adoption: October 9, 1997.

Purpose: Implement changes to the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), chapter 43.21C RCW as mandated by chapter 347, Laws of 1995 (ESHB 1724). These statutory changes require amending the SEPA rules, chapter 197-11 WAC, to better integrate the requirements of SEPA with the requirements of the Growth Management Act, chapter 36.70A RCW. Note: RCW 36.70B.110, which also affects the SEPA rules, was amended twice during the 1997 legislative session, each without reference to the other. For rule of construction concerning sections amended more than once during the same legislative session, see RCW 1.12.025. This rule filing does not attempt to resolve conflicts between the two. This primarily affects new section WAC 197-11-355, which was not revised to incorporate changes otherwise authorized by one of the two amending bills relating to issuing a determination of nonsignificance in conjunction with a notice of application.

Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 197-11-055, 197-11-060, 197-11-070, 197-11-210, 197-11-259, 197-11-300, 197-11-310, 197-11-315, 197-11-330, 197-11-340, 197-11-390, 197-11-408, 197-11-502, 197-11-508, 197-11-535, 197-11-600, 197-11-660, 197-11-680, 197-11-702, 197-11-728, 197-11-790, 197-11-800, 197-11-912, 197-11-914, 197-11-938, 197-11-940, 197-11-948, and 197-11-970.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: Chapter 347, Laws of 1995 (ESHB 1724), RCW 43.21C.110.

Adopted under notice filed as WSR 97-15-129 on June [July] 23, 1997.

Changes Other than Editing from Proposed to Adopted Version: (1) Made minor changes in WAC 197-11-158 clarifying the process for using this section and requiring public notice on DNS forms;

(2) Added a new sentence to WAC 197-11-310 to include a change from the 1997 legislative session regarding lead agencies as project proponents, and deleted a reference that was the subject of the double amendment from the 1997 session noted in the "purpose" section above;

(3) Clarified how the optional DNS process will work in new section WAC 197-11-355; and

(4) Revised WAC 197-11-680 (appeals) to conform with ESB 6094 from 1997 legislative session.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 8, amended 28, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 8, amended 28, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 8, amended 28, repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

October 9, 1997

Tom Fitzsimmons

Director

AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order DE 83-39, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84)

WAC 197-11-055 Timing of the SEPA process. (1) Integrating SEPA and agency activities. The SEPA process shall be integrated with agency activities at the earliest possible time to ensure that planning and decisions reflect environmental values, to avoid delays later in the process, and to seek to resolve potential problems.

(2) Timing of review of proposals. The lead agency shall prepare its threshold determination and environmental impact statement (EIS), if required, at the earliest possible point in the planning and decision-making process, when the principal features of a proposal and its environmental impacts can be reasonably identified.

(a) A proposal exists when an agency is presented with an application or has a goal and is actively preparing to make a decision on one or more alternative means of accomplishing that goal and the environmental effects can be meaningfully evaluated.

(i) The fact that proposals may require future agency approvals or environmental review shall not preclude current consideration, as long as proposed future activities are specific enough to allow some evaluation of their probable environmental impacts.

(ii) Preliminary steps or decisions are sometimes needed before an action is sufficiently definite to allow meaningful environmental analysis.

(b) Agencies shall identify the times at which the environmental review shall be conducted either in their procedures or on a case-by-case basis. Agencies may also organize environmental review in phases, as specified in WAC 197-11-060(5).

(c) Appropriate consideration of environmental information shall be completed before an agency commits to a particular course of action (WAC 197-11-070).

(d) A GMA county/city is subject to additional timing requirements (see WAC 197-11-310).

(3) Applications and rule making. The timing of environmental review for applications and for rule making shall be as follows:

(a) At the latest, the lead agency shall begin environmental review, if required, when an application is complete. The lead agency may initiate review earlier and may have informal conferences with applicants. A final threshold determination or FEIS shall normally precede or accompany the final staff recommendation, if any, in a quasi-judicial proceeding on an application. Agency procedures shall specify the type and timing of environmental documents that shall be submitted to planning commissions and similar advisory bodies (WAC 197-11-906).

(b) For rule making, the DNS or DEIS shall normally accompany the proposed rule. An FEIS, if any, shall be issued at least seven days before adoption of a final rule (WAC 197-11-460(4)).

(4) Applicant review at conceptual stage. In general, agencies should adopt procedures for environmental review and for preparation of EISs on private proposals at the conceptual stage rather than the final detailed design stage.

(a) If an agency's only action is a decision on a building permit or other license that requires detailed project plans and specifications, agencies shall provide applicants with the opportunity((,)) for environmental review under SEPA prior to requiring applicants to submit such detailed project plans and specifications.

(b) Agencies may specify the amount of detail needed from applicants for such early environmental review, consistent with WAC 197-11-100 and 197-11-335, in their SEPA or permit procedures.

(c) This subsection does not preclude agencies or applicants from preliminary discussions or exploration of ideas and options prior to commencing formal environmental review.

(5) An overall decision to proceed with a course of action may involve a series of actions or decisions by one or more agencies. If several agencies have jurisdiction over a proposal, they should coordinate their SEPA processes wherever possible. The agencies shall comply with lead agency determination requirements in WAC 197-11-050 and 197-11-922.

(6) To meet the requirement to insure that environmental values and amenities are given appropriate consideration along with economic and technical considerations, environmental documents and analyses shall be circulated and reviewed with other planning documents to the fullest extent possible.

(7) For their own public proposals, lead agencies may extend the time limits prescribed in these rules.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.21C.110. 84-05-020 (Order DE 83-39), 197-11-055, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84.]

AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order DE 83-39, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84)

WAC 197-11-060 Content of environmental review. (1) Environmental review consists of the range of proposed activities, alternatives, and impacts to be analyzed in an environmental document, in accordance with SEPA's goals and policies. This section specifies the content of environmental review common to all environmental documents required under SEPA.

(2) The content of environmental review:

(a) Depends on each particular proposal, on an agency's existing planning and decision-making processes, and on the time when alternatives and impacts can be most meaningfully evaluated;

(b) For the purpose of deciding whether an EIS is required, is specified in the environmental checklist, in WAC 197-11-330 and 197-11-444;

(d) For any supplemental environmental review, is specified in Part Six.

(3) Proposals.

(a) Agencies shall make certain that the proposal that is the subject of environmental review is properly defined.

(i) Proposals include public projects or proposals by agencies, proposals by applicants, if any, and proposed actions and regulatory decisions of agencies in response to proposals by applicants.

(ii) A proposal by a lead agency or applicant may be put forward as an objective, as several alternative means of accomplishing a goal, or as a particular or preferred course of action.

(iii) Proposals should be described in ways that encourage considering and comparing alternatives. Agencies are encouraged to describe public or nonproject proposals in terms of objectives rather than preferred solutions. A proposal could be described, for example, as "reducing flood damage and achieving better flood control by one or a combination of the following means: Building a new dam; maintenance dredging; use of shoreline and land use controls; purchase of floodprone areas; or relocation assistance."

(b) Proposals or parts of proposals that are related to each other closely enough to be, in effect, a single course of action shall be evaluated in the same environmental document. (Phased review is allowed under subsection (5)). Proposals or parts of proposals are closely related, and they shall be discussed in the same environmental document, if they:

(i) Cannot or will not proceed unless the other proposals (or parts of proposals) are implemented simultaneously with them; or

(ii) Are interdependent parts of a larger proposal and depend on the larger proposal as their justification or for their implementation.

(i) Proposals are similar if, when viewed with other reasonably foreseeable actions, they have common aspects that provide a basis for evaluating their environmental consequences together, such as common timing, types of impacts, alternatives, or geography. This section does not require agencies or applicants to analyze similar actions in a single environmental document or require applicants to prepare environmental documents on proposals other than their own.

(ii) When preparing environmental documents on similar actions, agencies may find it useful to define the proposals in one of the following ways: (A) Geographically, which may include actions occurring in the same general location, such as a body of water, region, or metropolitan area; or (B) generically, which may include actions which have relevant similarities, such as common timing, impacts, alternatives, methods of implementation, environmental media, or subject matter.

(4) Impacts.

(a) SEPA's procedural provisions require the consideration of "environmental" impacts (see definition of "environment" in WAC 197-11-740 and of "impacts" in WAC 197-11-752), with attention to impacts that are likely, not merely speculative. (See definition of "probable" in WAC 197-11-782 and 197-11-080 on incomplete or unavailable information.)

(b) In assessing the significance of an impact, a lead agency shall not limit its consideration of a proposal's impacts only to those aspects within its jurisdiction, including local or state boundaries (see WAC 197-11-330(3) also).

(c) Agencies shall carefully consider the range of probable impacts, including short-term and long-term effects. Impacts shall include those that are likely to arise or exist over the lifetime of a proposal or, depending on the particular proposal, longer.

(d) A proposal's effects include direct and indirect impacts caused by a proposal. Impacts include those effects resulting from growth caused by a proposal, as well as the likelihood that the present proposal will serve as a precedent for future actions. For example, adoption of a zoning ordinance will encourage or tend to cause particular types of projects or extension of sewer lines would tend to encourage development in previously unsewered areas.

(e) The range of impacts to be analyzed in an EIS (direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts, WAC 197-11-792) may be wider than the impacts for which mitigation measures are required of applicants (WAC 197-11-660). This will depend upon the specific impacts, the extent to which the adverse impacts are attributable to the applicant's proposal, and the capability of applicants or agencies to control the impacts in each situation.

(5) Phased review.

(a) Lead agencies shall determine the appropriate scope and level of detail of environmental review to coincide with meaningful points in their planning and decision-making processes. (See WAC 197-11-055 on timing of environmental review.)

(b) Environmental review may be phased. If used, phased review assists agencies and the public to focus on issues that are ready for decision and exclude from consideration issues already decided or not yet ready. Broader environmental documents may be followed by narrower documents, for example, that incorporate prior general discussion by reference and concentrate solely on the issues specific to that phase of the proposal.

(i) The sequence is from a nonproject document to a document of narrower scope such as a site specific analysis (see, for example, WAC 197-11-443); or

(ii) The sequence is from an environmental document on a specific proposal at an early stage (such as need and site selection) to a subsequent environmental document at a later stage (such as sensitive design impacts).

(d) Phased review is not appropriate when:

(i) The sequence is from a narrow project document to a broad policy document;

(ii) It would merely divide a larger system into exempted fragments or avoid discussion of cumulative impacts; or

(iii) It would segment and avoid present consideration of proposals and their impacts that are required to be evaluated in a single environmental document under WAC 197-11-060 ((~~(4)~~)) (3)(b) or 197-11-305(1); however, the level of detail and type of environmental review may vary with the nature and timing of proposals and their component parts.

(e) When a lead agency knows it is using phased review, it shall so state in its environmental document.

(f) Agencies shall use the environmental checklist, scoping process, nonproject EISs, incorporation by reference, adoption, and supplemental EIS(('))s, and addenda, as appropriate, to avoid duplication and excess paperwork.

(g) Where proposals are related to a large existing or planned network, such as highways, streets, pipelines, or utility lines or systems, the lead agency may analyze in detail the overall network as the present proposal or may select some of the future elements for present detailed consideration. Any phased review shall be logical in relation to the design of the overall system or network, and shall be consistent with this section and WAC 197-11-070.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.21C.110. 84-05-020 (Order DE 83-39), 197-11-060, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84.]

AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order DE 83-39, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84)

WAC 197-11-070 Limitations on actions during SEPA process. (1) Until the responsible official issues a final determination of nonsignificance or final environmental impact statement, no action concerning the proposal shall be taken by a governmental agency that would:

(a) Have an adverse environmental impact; or

(b) Limit the choice of reasonable alternatives.

(2) In addition, certain DNSs require a ((~~fifteen~~)) fourteen-day period prior to agency action (WAC 197-11-340(2)), and FEISs require a seven-day period prior to agency action (WAC 197-11-460(4)).

(3) In preparing environmental documents, there may be a need to conduct studies that may cause nonsignificant environmental impacts. If such activity is not exempt under WAC 197-11-800(18), the activity may nonetheless proceed if a checklist is prepared and appropriate mitigation measures taken.

(4) This section does not preclude developing plans or designs, issuing requests for proposals (RFPs), securing options, or performing other work necessary to develop an application for a proposal, as long as such activities are consistent with subsection (1).

[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.21C.110. 84-05-020 (Order DE 83-39), 197-11-070, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84.]

NEW SECTION

WAC 197-11-158 GMA project review--Reliance on existing plans, laws, and regulations. (1) In reviewing the environmental impacts of a project and making a threshold determination, a GMA county/city may, at its option, determine that the requirements for environmental analysis, protection, and mitigation measures in the GMA county/city's development regulations and comprehensive plan adopted under chapter 36.70A RCW, and in other applicable local, state, or federal laws or rules, provide adequate analysis of and mitigation for some or all of the specific adverse environmental impacts of the project.

(2) In making the determination under subsection (1) of this section, the GMA county/city shall:

(a) Review the environmental checklist and other information about the project;

(b) Identify the specific probable adverse environmental impacts of the project and determine whether the impacts have been:

(i) Identified in the comprehensive plan, subarea plan, or applicable development regulations through the planning and environmental review process under chapter 36.70A RCW or this chapter, or in other local, state, or federal rules or laws; and

(ii) Adequately addressed in the comprehensive plan, subarea plan, applicable development regulations, or other local, state, or federal rules or laws by:

(A) Avoiding or otherwise mitigating the impacts; or

(B) The legislative body of the GMA county/city designating as acceptable the impacts associated with certain levels of service, land use designations, development standards, or other land use planning required or allowed by chapter 36.70A RCW;

(c) Base or condition approval of the project on compliance with the requirements or mitigation measures in the comprehensive plan, subarea plan, applicable development regulations, or other local, state, or federal rules or laws; and

(d) Place the following statement in the threshold determination if all of a project's impacts are addressed by other applicable laws and no conditions will be required under SEPA: "The lead agency has determined that the requirements for environmental analysis, protection, and mitigation measures have been adequately addressed in the development regulations and comprehensive plan adopted under chapter 36.70A RCW, and in other applicable local, state, or federal laws or rules, as provided by RCW 43.21C.240 and WAC 197-11-158. Our agency will not require any additional mitigation measures under SEPA."

(3) Project specific impacts that have not been adequately addressed as described in subsection (2) of this section might be probable significant adverse environmental impacts requiring additional environmental review. Examples of project specific impacts that may not have been adequately addressed include, but are not limited to, impacts resulting from changed conditions, impacts indicated by new information, impacts not reasonably foreseeable in the GMA planning process, or impacts specifically reserved in a plan EIS for project review.

(4) In deciding whether a project specific adverse environmental impact has been adequately addressed by an existing rule or law of another agency with jurisdiction, the GMA county/city shall consult orally or in writing with that agency and may expressly defer to that agency. In making this deferral, the GMA county/city shall base or condition its project approval on compliance with these other existing rules or laws.

(5) If a GMA county/city's comprehensive plan, subarea plan, or development regulations adequately address some or all of a project's probable specific adverse environmental impacts, as determined under subsections (1) and (2) of this section, the GMA county/city shall not require additional mitigation under this chapter for those impacts.

(6) In making the determination in subsection (1) of this section, nothing in this section requires review of the adequacy of the environmental analysis associated with the comprehensive plans and development regulations that are being relied upon to make that determination.

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NEW SECTION

WAC 197-11-164 Planned actions--Definition and criteria. (1) Under RCW 43.21C.031, GMA counties/cities may designate a planned action. A planned action means one or more types of project action that:

(a) Are designated planned actions by an ordinance or resolution adopted by a GMA county/city;

(b) Have had the significant environmental impacts adequately addressed in an EIS prepared in conjunction with:

(i) A comprehensive plan or subarea plan adopted under chapter 36.70A RCW; or

(ii) A fully contained community, a master planned resort, a master planned development, or a phased project;

(d) Are located within an urban growth area, as defined in RCW 36.70A.030, or are located within a master planned resort;

(e) Are not essential public facilities, as defined in RCW 36.70A.200; and

(f) Are consistent with a comprehensive plan adopted under chapter 36.70A RCW.

(2) A GMA county/city shall limit planned actions to certain types of development or to specific geographical areas that are less extensive than the jurisdictional boundaries of the GMA county/city.

(3) A GMA county/city may limit a planned action to a time period identified in the EIS or the designating ordinance or resolution adopted under WAC 197-11-168.

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NEW SECTION

WAC 197-11-168 Ordinances or resolutions designating planned actions--Procedures for adoption. (1) If a GMA county/city chooses to designate a planned action, the planned action must be designated by ordinance or resolution. Public notice and opportunity for public comment shall be provided as part of the agencys process for adopting the ordinance or resolution.

(2) The ordinance or resolution:

(a) Shall describe the type(s) of project action being designated as a planned action;

(b) Shall describe how the planned action meets the criteria in WAC 197-11-164 (including specific reference to the EIS that addresses any significant environmental impacts of the planned action);

(c) Shall include a finding that the environmental impacts of the planned action have been identified and adequately addressed in the EIS, subject to project review under WAC 197-11-172; and

(d) Should identify any specific mitigation measures other than applicable development regulations that must be applied to a project for it to qualify as the planned action.

(3) If the GMA county/city has not limited the planned action to a specific time period identified in the EIS, it may do so in the ordinance or resolution designating the planned action.

(4) The GMA county/city is encouraged to provide a periodic review and update procedure for the planned action to monitor implementation and consider changes as warranted.

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NEW SECTION

WAC 197-11-172 Planned actions--Project review. (1) Review of a project proposed as a planned action is intended to be simpler and more focused than for other projects. A project proposed as a planned action must qualify as the planned action designated in the planned action ordinance or resolution, and must meet the statutory criteria for a planned action in RCW 43.21C.031. Planned action project review shall include:

(a) Verification that the project meets the description in, and will implement any applicable conditions or mitigation measures identified in, the designating ordinance or resolution; and

(b) Verification that the probable significant adverse environmental impacts of the project have been adequately addressed in the EIS prepared under WAC 197-11-164 (1)(b) through review of an environmental checklist or other project review form as specified in WAC 197-11-315, filed with the project application.

(2)(a) If the project meets the requirements of subsection (1) of this section, the project shall qualify as the planned action designated by the GMA county/city, and a project threshold determination or EIS is not required. Nothing in this section limits a GMA county/city from using this chapter or other applicable law to place conditions on the project in order to mitigate nonsignificant impacts through the normal local project review and permitting process.

(b) If the project does not meet the requirements of subsection (1) of this section, the project is not a planned action and a threshold determination is required. In conducting the additional environmental review under this chapter, the lead agency may use information in existing environmental documents, including the EIS used to designate the planned action (refer to WAC 197-11-330 (2)(a) and 197-11-600 through 197-11-635). If an EIS or SEIS is prepared on the proposed project, its scope is limited to those probable significant adverse environmental impacts that were not adequately addressed in the EIS used to designate the planned action.

(3) Public notice for projects that qualify as planned actions shall be tied to the underlying permit. If notice is otherwise required for the underlying permit, the notice shall state that the project has qualified as a planned action. If notice is not otherwise required for the underlying permit, no special notice is required. However, the GMA county/city is encouraged to provide some form of public notice as deemed appropriate.

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AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order 94-22, filed 3/6/95, effective 4/6/95)

WAC 197-11-210 SEPA/GMA integration. (1) The purpose of WAC 197-11-210 through 197-11-235 is to((:

~~(1)~~)) authorize GMA counties/cities ((~~and counties~~)) to integrate the requirements of SEPA and the Growth Management Act (GMA) to ensure that environmental analyses under SEPA can occur concurrently with and as an integral part of the planning and decision making under GMA. Nothing in these sections is intended to jeopardize the adequacy or require the revision of any SEPA or GMA processes, analyses or document deadlines specified in GMA.

(2) GMA counties/cities ((~~and counties~~)) may use the procedures of these rules to satisfy the requirements of SEPA for GMA actions. Other jurisdictions planning under GMA may also use these integration procedures.

(3) Environmental analysis at each stage of the GMA planning process should, at a minimum, address the environmental impacts associated with planning decisions at that stage of the planning process. Impacts associated with later planning stages may also be addressed. Environmental analysis that analyzes environmental impacts in the GMA planning process can:

(a) Result in better-informed GMA planning decisions;

(b) Avoid delays, duplication and paperwork in project-level environmental analysis; and

[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.21C.110. 95-07-023 (Order 94-22), 197-11-210, filed 3/6/95, effective 4/6/95.]

NEW SECTION

WAC 197-11-238 Monitoring. Monitoring information is important to maintain the usefulness of the environmental analysis in plans and development regulations for project-level review and to update plans under chapter 36.70A RCW. GMA counties/cities are encouraged to establish a process for monitoring the cumulative impacts of permit decisions and conditions, and to use that data to update the information about existing conditions for the built and natural environment. If a monitoring process is developed, it should be established at the time information on existing conditions is developed. Annual or periodic reports summarizing the data and documenting trends are encouraged.

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AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order 94-22, filed 3/31/95, effective 5/1/95 WAC 197-11-259 Determination of nonsignificance for MTCA remedial action. (1) If the remedial action will not have a probable significant adverse environmental impact, a DNS shall be issued no earlier than the RI/FS and no later than the draft cleanup action plan. If the lead agency made a preliminary decision under WAC 197-11-256 (1)(a) that a DS was unlikely, prior to issuing a DNS the responsible official shall consider any additional information about adverse environmental impacts generated during the RI/FS process.

(2) The public comment period on the DNS shall be the same as the comment period on the MTCA document, provided that for proposals listed in WAC 197-11-340 (2)(a) the comment period is no less than ((~~fifteen~~)) fourteen days prior to the effective date of the MTCA document. One public notice shall be used to announce the availability of both the DNS and MTCA document, consistent with the requirements of WAC 173-340-600 and 197-11-340.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.21C.110. 95-08-041 (Order 94-22), 197-11-259, filed 3/31/95, effective 5/1/95.]

AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order DE 83-39, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84)

WAC 197-11-300 Purpose of this part. This part provides rules for:

(1) Administering categorical exemptions for proposals that would not have probable significant adverse impacts;

(2) Deciding whether a proposal has a probable significant adverse impact and thus requires an EIS (the threshold determination);

(3) Providing a way to review and mitigate nonexempt proposals through the threshold determination; ((~~and~~))

(4) Integrating the environmental analysis required by SEPA into early planning to ensure appropriate consideration of SEPA's policies and to eliminate duplication and delay; and

(5) Integrating the environmental analysis required by SEPA into the project review process.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.21C.110. 84-05-020 (Order DE 83-39), 197-11-300, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84.]

AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order DE 83-39, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84)

WAC 197-11-310 Threshold determination required. (1) A threshold determination is required for any proposal which meets the definition of action and is not categorically exempt, subject to the limitations in WAC 197-11-600(3) concerning proposals for which a threshold determination has already been issued. A threshold determination is not required for a planned action (refer to WAC 197-11-164 through 197-11-172).

(2) The responsible official of the lead agency shall make the threshold determination, which shall be made as close as possible to the time an agency has developed or is presented with a proposal (WAC 197-11-784). If the lead agency is a GMA county/city, that agency must meet the timing requirements in subsection (6) of this section.

(3) ((In most cases, the time to complete a threshold determination should not exceed fifteen days. Complex proposals, those where additional information is needed, and/or those accompanied by an inaccurate checklist may require additional time. Upon request by an applicant, the responsible official shall select a date for making the threshold determination and notify the applicant of such date in writing.

~~(4)~~)) The responsible official shall make a threshold determination no later than ninety days after the application and supporting documentation are determined to be complete. The applicant may request an additional thirty days for the threshold determination (RCW 43.21C.033).

(4) The time limit in subsection (3) of this section shall not apply to a county/city that:

(a) By ordinance adopted prior to April 1, 1992, has adopted procedures to integrate permit and land use decisions with SEPA requirements; or

(b) Is planning under RCW 36.70A.040 (GMA) and is subject to the requirements of subsection (6) of this section.

(5) All threshold determinations shall be documented in:

(a) A determination of nonsignificance (DNS) (WAC 197-11-340); or

(b) A determination of significance (DS) (WAC 197-11-360).

(6) When a GMA county/city with an integrated project review process under RCW 36.70B.060 is lead agency for a project, the following timing requirements apply:

(a) If a DS is made concurrent with the notice of application, the DS and scoping notice shall be combined with the notice of application (RCW 36.70B.110). Nothing in this subsection prevents the DS/scoping notice from being issued before the notice of application. If sufficient information is not available to make a threshold determination when the notice of application is issued, the DS may be issued later in the review process.

(b) Nothing in this section prevents a lead agency, when it is a project proponent or is funding a project, from conducting its review under SEPA or from allowing appeals of procedural determinations prior to submitting a project permit application.

(c) If an open record predecision hearing is required, the threshold determination shall be issued at least fifteen days before the open record predecision hearing (RCW 36.70B.110 (6)(b)).

(d) The optional DNS process in WAC 197-11-355 may be used to indicate on the notice of application that the lead agency is likely to issue a DNS. If this optional process is used, a separate comment period on the DNS may not be required (refer to WAC 197-11-355(4)).

[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.21C.110. 84-05-020 (Order DE 83-39), 197-11-310, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84.]

AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order DE 83-39, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84)

WAC 197-11-315 Environmental checklist. (1) Agencies((:

~~(a)~~)) shall use the environmental checklist substantially in the form found in WAC 197-11-960 to assist in making threshold determinations for proposals, except for:

(a) Public proposals on which the lead agency has decided to prepare its own EIS((,)); or

(b) Proposals on which the lead agency and applicant agree an EIS will be prepared; or

((~~(b)~~)) (2) For projects submitted as planned actions under WAC 197-11-164, a GMA county/city shall use the existing environmental checklist or modify the environmental checklist form to fulfill the purposes outlined in WAC 197-11-172(1), notwithstanding the requirements of WAC 197-11-906(4).

If the GMA county/city chooses to modify the existing environmental checklist, the modified form shall be submitted to the department of ecology to allow at least a thirty-day review prior to use. The department shall notify the GMA county/city within thirty days of receipt if it has any objections to the modified form and the general nature of the objections. If the department objects, the modified form shall not be used until the GMA county/city and the department have reached agreement.

(3) Agencies may use an environmental checklist whenever it would assist in their planning and decision making, but shall ((~~not~~)) only require an applicant to prepare a checklist under SEPA((~~, unless~~)) if a checklist is required by subsection (1)((~~(a)~~)) of this section.

((~~(2)~~)) (4) The lead agency shall prepare the checklist or require an applicant to prepare the checklist.

((~~(3)~~)) (5) The items in the environmental checklist are not weighted. The mention of one or many adverse environmental impacts does not necessarily mean that the impacts are significant. Conversely, a probable significant adverse impact on the environment may result in the need for an EIS.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.21C.110. 84-05-020 (Order DE 83-39), 197-11-315, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84.]

AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order DE 83-39, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84)

WAC 197-11-330 Threshold determination process. An EIS is required for proposals for legislation and other major actions significantly affecting the quality of the environment. The lead agency decides whether an EIS is required in the threshold determination process, as described below.

(1) In making a threshold determination, the responsible official shall:

(a) Review the environmental checklist, if used:

(i) Independently evaluating the responses of any applicant and indicating the result of its evaluation in the DS, in the DNS, or on the checklist; and

(ii) Conducting its initial review of the environmental checklist and any supporting documents without requiring additional information from the applicant.

(b) Determine if the proposal is likely to have a probable significant adverse environmental impact, based on the proposed action, the information in the checklist (WAC 197-11-960), and any additional information furnished under WAC 197-11-335 and 197-11-350; and

(c) Consider mitigation measures which an agency or the applicant will implement as part of the proposal, including any mitigation measures required by development regulations, comprehensive plans, or other existing environmental rules or laws.

(2) In making a threshold determination, the responsible official should determine whether:

(a) All or part of the proposal, alternatives, or impacts have been analyzed in a previously prepared environmental document, which can be adopted or incorporated by reference (see Part Six).

(b) Environmental analysis would be more useful or appropriate in the future in which case, the agency shall commit to timely, subsequent environmental review, consistent with WAC 197-11-055 through 197-11-070 and Part Six.

(3) In determining an impact's significance (WAC 197-11-794), the responsible official shall take into account the following, that:

(a) The same proposal may have a significant adverse impact in one location but not in another location;

(b) The absolute quantitative effects of a proposal are also important, and may result in a significant adverse impact regardless of the nature of the existing environment;

(d) For some proposals, it may be impossible to forecast the environmental impacts with precision, often because some variables cannot be predicted or values cannot be quantified.

(e) A proposal may to a significant degree:

(i) Adversely affect environmentally sensitive or special areas, such as loss or destruction of historic, scientific, and cultural resources, parks, prime farmlands, wetlands, wild and scenic rivers, or wilderness;

(ii) Adversely affect endangered or threatened species or their habitat;

(iii) Conflict with local, state, or federal laws or requirements for the protection of the environment; and

(iv) Establish a precedent for future actions with significant effects, involves unique and unknown risks to the environment, or may affect public health or safety.

(4) If after following WAC 197-11-080 and 197-11-335 the lead agency reasonably believes that a proposal may have a significant adverse impact, an EIS is required.

(5) A threshold determination shall not balance whether the beneficial aspects of a proposal outweigh its adverse impacts, but rather, shall consider whether a proposal has any probable significant adverse environmental impacts under the rules stated in this section. For example, proposals designed to improve the environment, such as sewage treatment plants or pollution control requirements, may also have significant adverse environmental impacts.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.21C.110. 84-05-020 (Order DE 83-39), 197-11-330, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84.]

AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order 94-22, filed 3/6/95, effective 4/6/95)

WAC 197-11-340 Determination of nonsignificance (DNS). (1) If the responsible official determines there will be no probable significant adverse environmental impacts from a proposal, the lead agency shall prepare and issue a determination of nonsignificance (DNS) substantially in the form provided in WAC 197-11-970. If an agency adopts another environmental document in support of a threshold determination (Part Six), the notice of adoption (WAC 197-11-965) and the DNS shall be combined or attached to each other.

(2) When a DNS is issued for any of the proposals listed in (2)(a), the requirements in this subsection shall be met. The requirements of this subsection do not apply to a DNS issued when the optional DNS process in WAC 197-11-355 is used.

(a) An agency shall not act upon a proposal for ((~~fifteen~~)) fourteen days after the date of issuance of a DNS if the proposal involves:

(i) Another agency with jurisdiction;

(ii) Demolition of any structure or facility not exempted by WAC 197-11-800 (2)(f) or 197-11-880;

(iii) Issuance of clearing or grading permits not exempted in Part Nine of these rules;

(iv) A DNS under WAC 197-11-350 (2), (3) or 197-11-360(4); or

(v) A GMA action.

(b) The responsible official shall send the DNS and environmental checklist to agencies with jurisdiction, the department of ecology, and affected tribes, and each local agency or political subdivision whose public services would be changed as a result of implementation of the proposal, and shall give notice under WAC 197-11-510.

(c) Any person, affected tribe, or agency may submit comments to the lead agency within ((~~fifteen~~)) fourteen days of the date of issuance of the DNS.

(d) The date of issue for the DNS is the date the DNS is sent to the department of ecology and agencies with jurisdiction and is made publicly available.

(e) An agency with jurisdiction may assume lead agency status only within this ((~~fifteen~~)) fourteen-day period (WAC 197-11-948).

(f) The responsible official shall reconsider the DNS based on timely comments and may retain or modify the DNS or, if the responsible official determines that significant adverse impacts are likely, withdraw the DNS or supporting documents. When a DNS is modified, the lead agency shall send the modified DNS to agencies with jurisdiction.

(3)(a) The lead agency shall withdraw a DNS if:

(i) There are substantial changes to a proposal so that the proposal is likely to have significant adverse environmental impacts;

(ii) There is significant new information indicating, or on, a proposal's probable significant adverse environmental impacts; or

(iii) The DNS was procured by misrepresentation or lack of material disclosure; if such DNS resulted from the actions of an applicant, any subsequent environmental checklist on the proposal shall be prepared directly by the lead agency or its consultant at the expense of the applicant.

(b) Subsection (3)(a)(ii) shall not apply when a nonexempt license has been issued on a private project.

(c) If the lead agency withdraws a DNS, the agency shall make a new threshold determination and notify other agencies with jurisdiction of the withdrawal and new threshold determination. If a DS is issued, each agency with jurisdiction shall commence action to suspend, modify, or revoke any approvals until the necessary environmental review has occurred (see also WAC 197-11-070).

[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.21C.110. 95-07-023 (Order 94-22), 197-11-340, filed 3/6/95, effective 4/6/95; 84-05-020 (Order DE 83-39), 197-11-340, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84.]

NEW SECTION

WAC 197-11-355 Optional DNS process. (1) If a GMA county/city with an integrated project review process (RCW 36.70B.060) is lead agency for a proposal and has a reasonable basis for determining significant adverse environmental impacts are unlikely, it may use a single integrated comment period to obtain comments on the notice of application and the likely threshold determination for the proposal. If this process is used, a second comment period will typically not be required when the DNS is issued (refer to subsection (4) of this section).

(2) If the lead agency uses the optional process specified in subsection (1) of this section, the lead agency shall:

(a) State on the first page of the notice of application that it expects to issue a DNS for the proposal, and that:

(i) The optional DNS process is being used;

(ii) This may be the only opportunity to comment on the environmental impacts of the proposal;

(iii) The proposal may include mitigation measures under applicable codes, and the project review process may incorporate or require mitigation measures regardless of whether an EIS is prepared; and

(iv) A copy of the subsequent threshold determination for the specific proposal may be obtained upon request (in addition, the lead agency may choose to maintain a general mailing list for threshold determination distribution).

(b) List in the notice of application the conditions being considered to mitigate environmental impacts, if a mitigated DNS is expected;

(d) Send the notice of application and environmental checklist to:

(i) Agencies with jurisdiction, the department of ecology, affected tribes, and each local agency or political subdivision whose public services would be changed as a result of implementation of the proposal; and

(ii) Anyone requesting a copy of the environmental checklist for the specific proposal (in addition, the lead agency may choose to maintain a general mailing list for checklist distribution).

(3) If the lead agency indicates on the notice of application that a DNS is likely, an agency with jurisdiction may assume lead agency status during the comment period on the notice of application (WAC 197-11-948).

(4) The responsible official shall consider timely comments on the notice of application and either:

(a) Issue a DNS or mitigated DNS with no comment period using the procedures in subsection (5) of this section;

(b) Issue a DNS or mitigated DNS with a comment period using the procedures in subsection (5) of this section, if the lead agency determines a comment period is necessary;

(d) Require additional information or studies prior to making a threshold determination.

(5) If a DNS or mitigated DNS is issued under subsection (4)(a) of this section, the lead agency shall send a copy of the DNS or mitigated DNS to the department of ecology, agencies with jurisdiction, those who commented, and anyone requesting a copy. A copy of the environmental checklist need not be recirculated.

[]

AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order DE 83-39, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84)

WAC 197-11-390 Effect of threshold determination. (1) When the responsible official makes a threshold determination, it is final and binding on all agencies, subject to the provisions of this section and WAC 197-11-340, 197-11-360, and Part Six.

(2) The responsible official's threshold determination:

(a) For proposals listed in WAC 197-11-340(2), shall not be final until ((~~fifteen~~)) fourteen days after issuance.

(b) Shall not apply if another agency with jurisdiction assumes lead agency status under WAC 197-11-948.

(d) Shall not apply when reversed on appeal.

(3) Regardless of any appeals, a DS or DNS issued by the responsible official may be considered final for purposes of other agencies' planning and decision making unless subsequently changed, reversed, or withdrawn.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.21C.110. 84-05-020 (Order DE 83-39), 197-11-390, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84.]

AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order DE 83-39, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84)

WAC 197-11-408 Scoping. (1) The lead agency shall narrow the scope of every EIS to the probable significant adverse impacts and reasonable alternatives, including mitigation measures. For example, if there are only two or three significant impacts or alternatives, the EIS shall be focused on those.

(2) To ensure that every EIS is concise and addresses the significant environmental issues, the lead agency shall:

(a) Invite agency, affected tribes, and public comment on the DS (WAC 197-11-360).

(i) If the agency requires written comments, agencies, affected tribes and the public shall be allowed twenty-one days from the date of issuance of the DS in which to comment, unless expanded scoping is used.

(ii) If a GMA county/city issues the scoping notice with the notice of application under RCW 36.70B.110, the comment period shall be no less than fourteen days.

(iii) The date of issuance for a DS is the date it is sent to the department of ecology and other agencies with jurisdiction, and is publicly available.

(b) Identify reasonable alternatives and probable significant adverse environmental impacts.

(d) Work with other agencies to identify and integrate environmental studies required for other government approvals with the EIS, where feasible.

(3) Agencies, affected tribes, and the public should comment promptly and as specifically as permitted by the details available on the proposal.

(4) Meetings or scoping documents, including notices that the scope has been revised, may be used but are not required. The lead agency shall integrate the scoping process with its existing planning and decision-making process in order to avoid duplication and delay.

(5) The lead agency shall revise the scope of an EIS if substantial changes are made later in the proposal, or if significant new circumstances or information arise that bear on the proposal and its significant impacts.

(6) DEISs shall be prepared according to the scope decided upon by the lead agency in its scoping process.

(7) EIS preparation may begin during scoping.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.21C.110. 84-05-020 (Order DE 83-39), 197-11-408, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84.]

AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order DE 83-39, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84)

WAC 197-11-502 Inviting comment. (1) Agency efforts to involve other agencies and the public in the SEPA process should be commensurate with the type and scope of the environmental document.

(2) Consulted agencies have a responsibility to respond in a timely and specific manner to requests for comments (WAC 197-11-545, 197-11-550, and 197-11-724).

(3) Threshold determinations.

(a) Agencies shall send DNSs to other agencies with jurisdiction, if any, as required by WAC 197-11-340(2) and 197-11-355.

(b) For DNSs issued under WAC 197-11-340(2), agencies shall provide public notice under WAC 197-11-510 and receive comments on the DNS for ((~~fifteen~~)) fourteen days.

(4) Scoping.

(a) Agencies shall circulate the DS and invite comments on the scope of an EIS, as required by WAC 197-11-360, 197-11-408, and 197-11-510.

(b) Agencies may use other reasonable methods to inform agencies and the public, such as those indicated in WAC 197-11-410.

(5) DEIS.

(a) Agencies shall invite comments on and circulate DEISs as required by WAC 197-11-455.

(b) The commenting period shall be thirty days unless extended by the lead agency under WAC 197-11-455.

(c) Agencies shall comment and respond as stated in this part. This meets the act's formal consultation and comment requirement in RCW 43.21C.030 (2)(d).

(6) Public hearings and meetings.

(a) Public hearings or meetings may be held (WAC 197-11-535). Notice of such public hearings shall be given under WAC 197-11-510 and may be combined with other agency notice.

(b) In conjunction with the requirements of WAC 197-11-510, notice of public hearings shall be published no later than ten days before the hearing. For nonproject proposals, notice of the public hearing shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the general area where the lead agency has its principal offices. For nonproject proposals having a regional or state-wide applicability, copies of the notice shall be given to the Olympia bureaus of the Associated Press and United Press International.

(7) FEIS. Agencies shall circulate FEISs as required by WAC 197-11-460.

(8) Supplements.

(a) Notice for and circulation of draft and final SEISs shall be done in the same manner as other draft and final EISs.

(b) When a DNS is issued after a DS has been withdrawn (WAC 197-11-360(4)), agencies shall give notice under WAC 197-11-510 and receive comments for ((~~fifteen~~)) fourteen days.

(9) Appeals. Notice provisions for appeals are in WAC 197-11-680.

(10) Agencies may circulate any other environmental documents for the purpose of providing information or seeking comment, as an agency deems appropriate.

(11) In addition to any required notice or circulation, agencies may use any other reasonable methods, to inform agencies and the public that environmental documents are available or that hearings will occur.

(12) Agencies may combine SEPA notices with other agency notices. However, the SEPA information must be identifiable.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.21C.110. 84-05-020 (Order DE 83-39), 197-11-502, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84.]

AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order DE 83-39, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84)

WAC 197-11-508 SEPA register. (1) The department of ecology shall ((~~publish and mail each week~~)) prepare a SEPA register at least weekly, giving notice of all environmental documents required to be sent to the department of ecology under these rules, specifically:

(a) DNSs under WAC 197-11-340(2);

(b) DSs (scoping notices) under WAC 197-11-408;

(d) Notices of action under RCW 43.21C.080 and 43.21C.087; and

(e) Notices in the optional DNS process under WAC 197-11-355 (2)(d)(i) and (5).

(2) All agencies shall submit the environmental documents listed in subsection (1) of this section to the department promptly and in accordance with procedures established by the department.

(3) Agencies are encouraged to ((~~subscribe~~)) refer to the SEPA register for notice of SEPA documents which may affect them.

(4) The department:

(a) Shall establish the method for distributing the SEPA register, which may include listing on Internet, publishing and mailing to interested persons, or any other method deemed appropriate by the department.

(b) May establish a reasonable format for ((~~publishing the required notices in~~)) the SEPA register;

((~~(b)~~)) (c) May charge a reasonable fee for the SEPA register as allowed by law, in at least the amount allowed by chapter 42.17 RCW, from agencies, members of the public, and interested organizations.

(5) Members of the public, citizen and community groups, and educational institutions are encouraged to ((~~subscribe and~~)) refer to the SEPA register for notice of SEPA actions which may affect them.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.21C.110. 84-05-020 (Order DE 83-39), 197-11-508, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84.]

AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order DE 83-39, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84)

WAC 197-11-535 Public hearings and meetings. (1) If a public hearing on the proposal is held under some other requirement of law, such hearing shall be open to consideration of the environmental impact of the proposal, together with any environmental document that is available. This does not require extension of the comment periods for environmental documents.

(2) In all other cases a public hearing on the environmental impact of a proposal shall be held whenever one or more of the following situations occur:

(a) The lead agency determines, in its sole discretion, that a public hearing would assist it in meeting its responsibility to implement the purposes and policies of SEPA and these rules; or

(b) When fifty or more persons residing within the jurisdiction of the lead agency, or who would be adversely affected by the environmental impact of the proposal, make written request to the lead agency within thirty days of issuance of the draft EIS; or

(c) When two or more agencies with jurisdiction over a proposal make written request to the lead agency within thirty days of the issuance of the draft EIS.

(3) Whenever a public hearing is held under subsection (2) of this section, it shall occur no earlier than fifteen days from the date the draft EIS is issued, nor later than fifty days from its issuance. Notice shall be given under WAC 197-11-502(6) and 197-11-510 and may be combined with other agency notice.

(4) If a public hearing is required under this chapter, it shall be open to discussion of all environmental documents and any written comments that have been received by the lead agency prior to the hearing. A copy of the environmental document shall be available at the public hearing.

(5) Comments at public hearings should be as specific as possible (see WAC 197-11-550).

(6) Agencies and their designees may hold informal public meetings or workshops. Such gatherings may be more flexible than public hearings and are not subject to the above notice and similar requirements for public hearings.

(7) Public meetings held by local governments under chapter 36.70B RCW may be used to meet SEPA public hearing requirements as long as the requirements for public hearing in this section are met. A public hearing under this section need not be an open record hearing as defined in RCW 36.70B.020(3).

[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.21C.110. 84-05-020 (Order DE 83-39), 197-11-535, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84.]

AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order DE 83-39, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84)

WAC 197-11-600 When to use existing environmental documents. (1) This section contains criteria for determining whether an environmental document must be used unchanged and describes when existing documents may be used to meet all or part of an agency's responsibilities under SEPA.

(2) An agency may use environmental documents that have previously been prepared in order to evaluate proposed actions, alternatives, or environmental impacts. The proposals may be the same as, or different than, those analyzed in the existing documents.

(3) ((~~Other agencies~~)) Any agency acting on the same proposal shall use an environmental document unchanged, except in the following cases:

(a) For DNSs, an agency with jurisdiction is dissatisfied with the DNS, in which case it may assume lead agency status (WAC 197-11-340 (2)(e) and 197-11-948).

(b) For DNSs and EISs, preparation of a new threshold determination or supplemental EIS is required if there are:

(i) Substantial changes to a proposal so that the proposal is likely to have significant adverse environmental impacts (or lack of significant adverse impacts, if a DS is being withdrawn); or

(ii) New information indicating a proposal's probable significant adverse environmental impacts. (This includes discovery of misrepresentation or lack of material disclosure.) A new threshold determination or SEIS is not required if probable significant adverse environmental impacts are covered by the range of alternatives and impacts analyzed in the existing environmental documents.

(c) For EISs, the agency concludes that its written comments on the DEIS warrant additional discussion for purposes of its action than that found in the lead agency's FEIS (in which case the agency may prepare a supplemental EIS at its own expense).

(4) Existing documents may be used for a proposal by employing one or more of the following methods:

(a) "Adoption," where an agency may use all or part of an existing environmental document to meet its responsibilities under SEPA. Agencies acting on the same proposal for which an environmental document was prepared are not required to adopt the document; or

(b) "Incorporation by reference," where an agency preparing an environmental document includes all or part of an existing document by reference.

(c) An addendum, that adds analyses or information about a proposal but does not substantially change the analysis of significant impacts and alternatives in the existing environmental document.

(d) Preparation of a SEIS if there are:

(i) Substantial changes so that the proposal is likely to have significant adverse environmental impacts; or

(ii) New information indicating a proposal's probable significant adverse environmental impacts.

(e) If a proposal is substantially similar to one covered in an existing EIS, that EIS may be adopted; additional information may be provided in an addendum or SEIS (see (c) and (d) of this subsection).

[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.21C.110. 84-05-020 (Order DE 83-39), 197-11-600, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84.]

AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order DE 83-39, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84)

WAC 197-11-660 Substantive authority and mitigation. (1) Any governmental action on public or private proposals that are not exempt may be conditioned or denied under SEPA to mitigate the environmental impact subject to the following limitations:

(a) Mitigation measures or denials shall be based on policies, plans, rules, or regulations formally designated by the agency (or appropriate legislative body, in the case of local government) as a basis for the exercise of substantive authority and in effect when the DNS or DEIS is issued.

(b) Mitigation measures shall be related to specific, adverse environmental impacts clearly identified in an environmental document on the proposal and shall be stated in writing by the decision maker. The decision maker shall cite the agency SEPA policy that is the basis of any condition or denial under this chapter (for proposals of applicants). After its decision, each agency shall make available to the public a document that states the decision. The document shall state the mitigation measures, if any, that will be implemented as part of the decision, including any monitoring of environmental impacts. Such a document may be the license itself, or may be combined with other agency documents, or may reference relevant portions of environmental documents.

(d) Responsibility for implementing mitigation measures may be imposed upon an applicant only to the extent attributable to the identified adverse impacts of its proposal. Voluntary additional mitigation may occur.

(e) Before requiring mitigation measures, agencies shall consider whether local, state, or federal requirements and enforcement would mitigate an identified significant impact.

(f) To deny a proposal under SEPA, an agency must find that:

(i) The proposal would be likely to result in significant adverse environmental impacts identified in a final or supplemental environmental impact statement prepared under this chapter; and

(ii) Reasonable mitigation measures are insufficient to mitigate the identified impact.

(g) If, during project review, a GMA county/city determines that the requirements for environmental analysis, protection, and mitigation measures in the GMA county/city's development regulations or comprehensive plan adopted under chapter 36.70A RCW, or in other applicable local, state or federal laws or rules, provide adequate analysis of and mitigation for the specific adverse environmental impacts of the project action under RCW 43.21C.240, the GMA county/city shall not impose additional mitigation under this chapter.

(2) Decision makers should judge whether possible mitigation measures are likely to protect or enhance environmental quality. EISs should briefly indicate the intended environmental benefits of mitigation measures for significant impacts (WAC 197-11-440(6)). EISs are not required to analyze in detail the environmental impacts of mitigation measures, unless the mitigation measures:

(a) Represent substantial changes in the proposal so that the proposal is likely to have significant adverse environmental impacts, or involve significant new information indicating, or on, a proposal's probable significant adverse environmental impacts; and

(b) Will not be analyzed in a subsequent environmental document prior to their implementation.

(3) Agencies shall prepare a document that contains agency SEPA policies (WAC 197-11-902), so that applicants and members of the public know what these policies are. This document shall include, or reference by citation, the regulations, plans, or codes formally designated under this section and RCW 43.21C.060 as possible bases for conditioning or denying proposals. If only a portion of a regulation, plan, or code is designated, the document shall identify that portion. This document (and any documents referenced in it) shall be readily available to the public and shall be available to applicants prior to preparing a draft EIS.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.21C.110. 84-05-020 (Order DE 83-39), 197-11-660, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84.]

AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order 94-22, filed 3/6/95, effective 4/6/95)

WAC 197-11-680 Appeals. (1) Introduction. Appeals provisions in SEPA are found in RCW 43.21C.060, 43.21C.075 and 43.21C.080. These rules attempt to construe and interpret the statutory provisions. In the event a court determines that these rules are inconsistent with statutory provisions, or with the framework and policy of SEPA, the statute will control. Persons considering either administrative or judicial appeal of any decision which involves SEPA at all are advised to read the statutory sections cited above.

(2) Appeal to local legislative body. RCW 43.21C.060 allows an appeal to a local legislative body of any decision by a local nonelected official conditioning or denying a proposal under authority of SEPA. Agencies may establish procedures for such an appeal, or may eliminate such appeals altogether, by rule, ordinance or resolution. Such appeals are subject to the restrictions in RCW 36.70B.050 and 36.70B.060 that local governments provide no more than one open record hearing and one closed record appeal for permit decisions.

(3) Agency administrative appeal procedures.

(a) Agencies may provide for an administrative appeal of determinations relating to SEPA in their agency SEPA procedures. If so, the procedures must comply with the following:

(i) The agency must specify by rule, ordinance, or resolution that the appeals procedure is available.

(ii) Appeal of the intermediate steps under SEPA (e.g., lead agency determination, scoping, draft EIS adequacy) shall not be allowed.

(iii) Appeals on SEPA procedures shall be limited to review of a final threshold determination and final EIS. ((~~The appeal of a final threshold determination~~)) These appeals may occur prior to an agency's final decision on a proposed action. Any appeal of a DNS held before an agency's final decision must be heard at a proceeding where the hearing body or officer will render a final recommendation or decision on the proposed underlying governmental action.

(iv) An agency shall provide for only one administrative appeal of a threshold determination or of the adequacy of an EIS; successive administrative appeals on these issues within the same agency are not allowed. This limitation does not apply to ((~~appeals to a local legislative body under RCW 43.21C.060 (or another state statute) or to~~)) administrative appeals before another agency.

(v) ((~~If the agency has made a decision on a proposed action~~)) Except as provided in (a)(vi) of this subsection, the appeal shall consolidate any allowed appeals of procedural and substantive determinations under SEPA with a hearing or appeal on the underlying governmental action in a single simultaneous hearing before one hearing officer or body. The hearing or appeal shall be one at which the hearing officer or body will consider either the agency's decision or a recommendation on the proposed underlying governmental action. For example, an appeal of the adequacy of an EIS must be consolidated with ((an)) a hearing or appeal ((of)) on the agency's decision or recommendation on the proposed action, if both ((~~appeals~~)) proceedings are allowed in agency procedures. If an agency does not provide for a hearing or appeal on the underlying governmental action (either a hearing on the agency's recommendation or an agency appeal hearing after the decision is made), the agency may not hold a SEPA administrative appeal, except as allowed under (a)(vi) of this subsection.

(vi) The following appeals of SEPA procedural or substantive determinations need not be consolidated with a hearing or appeal on the underlying governmental action:

(A) An appeal of a determination of significance;

(B) An appeal of a procedural determination made by an agency when the agency is a project proponent, or is funding a project, and chooses to conduct its review under SEPA, including any appeals of its procedural determinations, prior to submitting an application for a project permit. Subsequent appeals of substantive determinations by an agency with jurisdiction over the proposed project shall be allowed under the SEPA appeal procedures of the agency with jurisdiction;

(D) An appeal to the local legislative authority under RCW 43.21C.060 or other applicable state statutes.

(vii) If a county/city to which RCW 36.70B.110 applies provides for an administrative appeal, any such appeal of a procedural or substantive determination under SEPA issued at the same time as the decision on a project action shall be filed within fourteen days after a notice of decision under RCW 36.70B.130 or after other notice that the decision has been made and is appealable. In order to allow public comment on a DNS prior to requiring an administrative appeal to be filed, this appeal period shall be extended for an additional seven days if the appeal is of a DNS for which public comment is required under this chapter or under county/city rules adopted under SEPA. For threshold determinations issued prior to a decision on a project action, any administrative appeal allowed by a county/city shall be filed within fourteen days after notice that the determination has been made and is appealable. Nothing in this subsection alters the requirements of (a)(v) and (vi) of this subsection.

(viii) Agencies shall provide that procedural determinations made by the responsible official shall be entitled to substantial weight.

(b) Agencies providing for administrative appeals shall provide for a record as required by RCW 43.21C.075 (3)(c).

(c) If an agency provides an administrative appeal procedure, that procedure must be used before anyone may initiate judicial review of any SEPA issue that could have been reviewed under the agency procedures.

(4) Judicial appeals.

(a) SEPA authorizes judicial appeals of both procedural and substantive compliance with SEPA.

(b) When SEPA applies to a decision, any judicial appeal of that decision potentially involves both those issues pertaining to SEPA (SEPA issues) and those which do not (non-SEPA issues). RCW 43.21C.075 establishes time limits for raising SEPA issues, but says that existing statutes of limitations control the appeal of non-SEPA issues. The statute contemplates a single lawsuit((~~, but allows for the SEPA and non-SEPA portions of that lawsuit to be filed at different times~~)).

(c) If there is a time limit established by statute or ordinance for appealing the underlying governmental action, then appeals (or portions thereof) raising SEPA issues must be filed within ((~~thirty days after the agency gives official notice (see subsection (5) of this section for content of official notice)~~)) such time period.

(d) ((In any instance where subsection (c) of this subsection allows the SEPA portion of an appeal to be filed after the time limit established by statute or ordinance for appealing the underlying governmental action, some judicial action must be filed within the time set by statute or ordinance. That action may be later amended to raise SEPA issues within thirty days after the agency gives official notice (see subsection (5) of this section). In addition, where SEPA issues were first raised during an administrative appeal, any person desiring to raise SEPA issues by judicial appeal must submit a notice of intent to do so with the responsible official of the acting agency within the time limit set by statute or ordinance for appealing the underlying governmental action.

~~(e)~~)) The notice of action procedures of RCW 43.21C.080 may still be used. If this procedure is used, then the time limits for judicial appeal specified in RCW 43.21C.080 shall apply, unless there is a time limit established by statute or ordinance for appealing the underlying governmental action. If so, the time limit for appeal of SEPA issues shall be ((~~within thirty days after the agency gives official notice (see subsection (5) of this section)~~)) the time limit in the statute or ordinance for the underlying governmental action. If the proposal requires more than one governmental decision that will be supported by the same SEPA documents, then RCW 43.21C.080 still only allows one judicial appeal of procedural compliance with SEPA, which must be commenced within the applicable time to appeal the first governmental decision.

((~~(f)~~)) (e) If the time limit established by statute or ordinance for appealing the underlying governmental action is less than fifteen days, then the notice of action in RCW 43.21C.080(1) may be given by publishing once within that shorter time period, in a newspaper of general circulation in the area where the property that is the subject of the action is located, and meeting the other requirements of RCW 43.21C.080.

((~~(g)~~)) (f) If there is no time limit established by statute or ordinance for appeal, and the notice of action provisions are not used, then SEPA provides no time limit for judicial appeals. Appeal times may still be limited, however, by general statutes of limitation or the common law.

((~~(h)~~)) (g) For the purposes of this subsection, "a time limit established by statute or ordinance" does not include time limits established by the general statutes of limitation in chapter 4.16 RCW.

(5) Official notice of the date and place for commencing ((an)) a judicial appeal.

(a) Official notice of the date and place for commencing an appeal must be given if there is a time limit established by statute or ordinance for commencing an appeal of the underlying governmental action. The notice shall include:

(i) The time limit for commencing appeal of the underlying governmental action and SEPA issues, and the statute or ordinance establishing the time limit; and

(ii) ((~~The time for appealing SEPA issues (thirty days after notice); and~~

~~(iii) A statement that a notice of intent is required, if a notice is required under subsection (4)(d) of this section, and instructions on where to send the notice and by what date; and~~

~~(iv)~~)) Where an appeal may be filed.

(b) Notice is given by:

(i) Delivery of written notice to the applicant, all parties to any administrative appeal, and all persons who have requested notice of decisions with respect to the particular proposal in question; and

(ii) Following the agency's normal methods of notice for the type of governmental action taken.

(c) Written notice containing the information required by subsection (5)(a) of this section may be appended to the permit, decision documents, or SEPA compliance documents or may be printed separately.

(d) Official notices required by this subparagraph shall not be given prior to final agency action.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.21C.110. 95-07-023 (Order 94-22), 197-11-680, filed 3/6/95, effective 4/6/95; 84-05-020 (Order DE 83-39), 197-11-680, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84.]

AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order DE 83-39, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84)

WAC 197-11-702 Act. "Act" means the State Environmental Policy Act ((~~of 1971~~)), chapter 43.21C RCW, as amended, which is also referred to as "SEPA."

[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.21C.110. 84-05-020 (Order DE 83-39), 197-11-702, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84.]

NEW SECTION

WAC 197-11-721 Closed record appeal. "Closed record appeal" means an administrative appeal held under chapter 36.70B RCW that is on the record to a county/city body or officer, including the legislative body, following an open record hearing on a project permit application when the appeal is on the record with no or limited new evidence or information allowed to be submitted and only appeal arguments allowed. (RCW 36.70B.020(1).)

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AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order DE 83-39, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84)

WAC 197-11-728 County/city. (1) "County/city" means a county, city, or town. In this chapter, duties and powers are assigned to a county, city, or town as a unit. The delegation of responsibilities among the various departments of a county, city, or town is left to the legislative or charter authority of the individual counties, cities, or towns.

(2) A "GMA county/city" means a county, city, or town planning under the Growth Management Act.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.21C.110. 84-05-020 (Order DE 83-39), 197-11-728, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84.]

NEW SECTION

WAC 197-11-775 Open record hearing. "Open record hearing" means a hearing held under chapter 36.70B RCW and conducted by a single hearing body or officer authorized by the county/city to conduct such hearings, that creates the county's/city's record through testimony and submission of evidence and information, under procedures prescribed by the county/city by ordinance or resolution. An open record hearing may be held prior to a county's/city's decision on a project permit to be known as an "open record predecision hearing." An open record hearing may be held on an appeal, to be known as an "open record appeal hearing," if no open record predecision hearing has been held on the project permit. (RCW 36.70B.020(3).)

[]

AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order DE 83-39, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84)

WAC 197-11-790 SEPA. "SEPA" means the State Environmental Policy Act ((~~of 1971~~)) (chapter 43.21C RCW), which is also referred to as the act. The "SEPA process" means all measures necessary for compliance with the act's requirements.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.21C.110. 84-05-020 (Order DE 83-39), 197-11-790, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84.]

AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order DE 83-39, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84)

WAC 197-11-800 Categorical exemptions. The proposed actions contained in Part Nine are categorically exempt from threshold determination and EIS requirements, subject to the rules and limitations on categorical exemptions contained in WAC 197-11-305.

(1) Minor new construction--Flexible thresholds.

(a) The exemptions in this subsection apply to all licenses required to undertake the construction in question, except when a rezone or any license governing emissions to the air or discharges to water is required. To be exempt under this subsection, the project must be equal to or smaller than the exempt level. For a specific proposal, the exempt level in (b) of this subsection shall control, unless the city/county in which the project is located establishes an exempt level under (c) of this subsection. If the proposal is located in more than one city/county, the lower of the agencies' adopted levels shall control, regardless of which agency is the lead agency.

(b) The following types of construction shall be exempt, except when undertaken wholly or partly on lands covered by water:

(i) The construction or location of any residential structures of four dwelling units.

(ii) The construction of a barn, loafing shed, farm equipment storage building, produce storage or packing structure, or similar agricultural structure, covering 10,000 square feet, and to be used only by the property owner or his or her agent in the conduct of farming the property. This exemption shall not apply to feed lots.

(iii) The construction of an office, school, commercial, recreational, service or storage building with 4,000 square feet of gross floor area, and with associated parking facilities designed for twenty automobiles.

(iv) The construction of a parking lot designed for twenty automobiles.

(v) Any landfill or excavation of 100 cubic yards throughout the total lifetime of the fill or excavation; and any fill or excavation classified as a Class I, II, or III forest practice under RCW 76.09.050 or regulations thereunder.

(c) Cities, towns or counties may raise the exempt levels to the maximum specified below by implementing ordinance or resolution. Such levels shall be specified in the agency's SEPA procedures (WAC 197-11-904) and sent to the department of ecology. A newly established exempt level shall be supported by local conditions, including zoning or other land use plans or regulations. An agency may adopt a system of several exempt levels (such as different levels for different geographic areas). The maximum exempt level for the exemptions in (1)(b) of this section shall be, respectively:

(i) 20 dwelling units.

(ii) 30,000 square feet.

(iii) 12,000 square feet; 40 automobiles.

(iv) 40 automobiles.

(v) 500 cubic yards.

(2) Other minor new construction. The following types of construction shall be exempt except where undertaken wholly or in part on lands covered by water (unless specifically exempted in this subsection); the exemptions provided by this section shall apply to all licenses required to undertake the construction in question, except where a rezone or any license governing emissions to the air or discharges to water is required:

(a) The construction or designation of bus stops, loading zones, shelters, access facilities and pull-out lanes for taxicabs, transit and school vehicles.

(b) The construction and/or installation of commercial on-premise signs, and public signs and signals.

(c) The construction or installation of minor road and street improvements such as pavement marking, freeway surveillance and control systems, railroad protective devices (not including grade-separated crossings), grooving, glare screen, safety barriers, energy attenuators, transportation corridor landscaping (including the application of Washington state department of agriculture approved herbicides by licensed personnel for right of way weed control as long as this is not within watersheds controlled for the purpose of drinking water quality in accordance with WAC 248-54-660), temporary traffic controls and detours, correction of substandard curves and intersections within existing rights of way, widening of a highway by less than a single lane width where capacity is not significantly increased and no new right of way is required, adding auxiliary lanes for localized purposes, (weaving, climbing, speed change, etc.), where capacity is not significantly increased and no new right of way is required, channelization and elimination of sight restrictions at intersections, street lighting, guard rails and barricade installation, installation of catch basins and culverts, and reconstruction of existing roadbed (existing curb-to-curb in urban locations), including adding or widening of shoulders, addition of bicycle lanes, paths and facilities, and pedestrian walks and paths, but not including additional automobile lanes.

(d) Grading, excavating, filling, septic tank installations, and landscaping necessary for any building or facility exempted by subsections (1) and (2) of this section, as well as fencing and the construction of small structures and minor facilities accessory thereto.

(e) Additions or modifications to or replacement of any building or facility exempted by subsections (1) and (2) of this section when such addition, modification or replacement will not change the character of the building or facility in a way that would remove it from an exempt class.

(f) The demolition of any structure or facility, the construction of which would be exempted by subsections (1) and (2) of this section, except for structures or facilities with recognized historical significance.

(g) The installation of impervious underground tanks, having a capacity of 10,000 gallons or less.

(h) The vacation of streets or roads.

(i) The installation of hydrological measuring devices, regardless of whether or not on lands covered by water.

(j) The installation of any property, boundary or survey marker, other than fences, regardless of whether or not on lands covered by water.

(3) Repair, remodeling and maintenance activities. The following activities shall be categorically exempt ((~~except~~)): The repair, remodeling, maintenance, or minor alteration of existing private or public structures, facilities or equipment, including utilities, involving no material expansions or changes in use beyond that previously existing; except that, where undertaken wholly or in part on lands covered by water, only minor repair or replacement of structures may be exempt (examples include repair or replacement of piling, ramps, floats, or mooring buoys, or minor repair, alteration, or maintenance of docks). The following maintenance activities shall not be considered exempt under this subsection:

(a) Dredging;

(b) Reconstruction/maintenance of groins and similar shoreline protection structures; or

(c) Replacement of utility cables that must be buried under the surface of the bedlands. Repair/rebuilding of major dams, dikes, and reservoirs shall also not be considered exempt under this subsection.

(4) Water rights. The following appropriations of water shall be exempt, the exemption covering not only the permit to appropriate water, but also any hydraulics permit, shoreline permit or building permit required for a normal diversion or intake structure, well and pumphouse reasonably necessary to accomplish the exempted appropriation, and including any activities relating to construction of a distribution system solely for any exempted appropriation:

(a) Appropriations of fifty cubic feet per second or less of surface water for irrigation purposes, when done without a government subsidy.

(b) Appropriations of one cubic foot per second or less of surface water, or of 2,250 gallons per minute or less of ground water, for any purpose.

(5) Purchase or sale of real property. The following real property transactions by an agency shall be exempt:

(a) The purchase or acquisition of any right to real property.

(b) The sale, transfer or exchange of any publicly owned real property, but only if the property is not subject to an authorized public use.

(c) The lease of real property when the use of the property for the term of the lease will remain essentially the same as the existing use, or when the use under the lease is otherwise exempted by this chapter.

(6) Minor land use decisions. The following land use decisions shall be exempt:

(a) Except upon lands covered by water, the approval of short plats or short subdivisions pursuant to the procedures required by RCW 58.17.060, but not including further short subdivisions or short platting within a plat or subdivision previously exempted under this subsection.

(b) Granting of variances based on special circumstances, not including economic hardship, applicable to the subject property, such as size, shape, topography, location or surroundings and not resulting in any change in land use or density.

(c) Classifications of land for current use taxation under chapter 84.34 RCW, and classification and grading of forest land under chapter 84.33 RCW.

(d) Annexation of territory by a city or town.

(7) School closures. The adoption and implementation of a plan, program, or decision for the closure of a school or schools shall be exempt. Demolition, physical modification or change of a facility from a school use shall not be exempt under this subsection.

(8) Open burning. Opening burning and the issuance of any license for open burning shall be exempt. The adoption of plans, programs, objectives or regulations by any agency incorporating general standards respecting open burning shall not be exempt.

(9) ((~~Variances under~~)) Clean Air Act. The following actions under the Clean Air Act shall be exempt:

(a) The granting of variances under RCW 70.94.181 extending applicable air pollution control requirements for one year or less shall be exempt.

(b) The issuance, renewal, reopening, or revision of an air operating permit under RCW 70.94.161.

(10) Water quality certifications. The granting or denial of water quality certifications under the Federal Clean Water Act (Federal Water Pollution Control Act amendments of 1972, 33 U.S.C. 1341) shall be exempt.

(11) Activities of the state legislature. All actions of the state legislature are exempted. This subsection does not exempt the proposing of legislation by an agency (WAC 197-11-704).

(12) Judicial activity. The following shall be exempt:

(a) All adjudicatory actions of the judicial branch.

(b) Any quasi-judicial action of any agency if such action consists of the review of a prior administrative or legislative decision. Decisions resulting from contested cases or other hearing processes conducted prior to the first decision on a proposal or upon any application for a rezone, conditional use permit or other similar permit not otherwise exempted by this chapter, are not exempted by this subsection.

(13) Enforcement and inspections. The following enforcement and inspection activities shall be exempt:

(a) All actions, including administrative orders and penalties, undertaken to enforce a statute, regulation, ordinance, resolution or prior decision. No license shall be considered exempt by virtue of this subsection; nor shall the adoption of any ordinance, regulation or resolution be considered exempt by virtue of this subsection.

(b) All inspections conducted by an agency of either private or public property for any purpose.

(d) Any action undertaken by an agency to abate a nuisance or to abate, remove or otherwise cure any hazard to public health or safety. The application of pesticides and chemicals is not exempted by this subsection but may be exempted elsewhere in these guidelines. No license or adoption of any ordinance, regulation or resolution shall be considered exempt by virtue of this subsection.

(e) Any suspension or revocation of a license for any purpose.

(14) Business and other regulatory licenses. The following business and other regulatory licenses are exempt:

(a) All licenses to undertake an occupation, trade or profession.

(b) All licenses required under electrical, fire, plumbing, heating, mechanical, and safety codes and regulations, but not including building permits.

(c) All licenses to operate or engage in amusement devices and rides and entertainment activities, including but not limited to cabarets, carnivals, circuses and other traveling shows, dances, music machines, golf courses, and theaters, including approval of the use of public facilities for temporary civic celebrations, but not including licenses or permits required for permanent construction of any of the above.

(d) All licenses to operate or engage in charitable or retail sales and service activities, including but not limited to peddlers, solicitors, second hand shops, pawnbrokers, vehicle and housing rental agencies, tobacco sellers, close out and special sales, fireworks, massage parlors, public garages and parking lots, and used automobile dealers.

(e) All licenses for private security services, including but not limited to detective agencies, merchant and/or residential patrol agencies, burglar and/or fire alarm dealers, guard dogs, locksmiths, and bail bond services.

(f) All licenses for vehicles for-hire and other vehicle related activities, including but not limited to taxicabs, ambulances, and tow trucks: Provided, That regulation of common carriers by the utilities and transportation commission shall not be considered exempt under this subsection.

(g) All licenses for food or drink services, sales, and distribution, including but not limited to restaurants, liquor, and meat.

(h) All animal control licenses, including but not limited to pets, kennels, and pet shops. Establishment or construction of such a facility shall not be considered exempt by this subsection.

(i) The renewal or reissuance of a license regulating any present activity or structure so long as no material changes are involved.

(15) Activities of agencies. The following administrative, fiscal and personnel activities of agencies shall be exempt:

(a) The procurement and distribution of general supplies, equipment and services authorized or necessitated by previously approved functions or programs.

(b) The assessment and collection of taxes.

(c) The adoption of all budgets and agency requests for appropriation: Provided, That if such adoption includes a final agency decision to undertake a major action, that portion of the budget is not exempted by this subsection.

(d) The borrowing of funds, issuance of bonds, or applying for a grant and related financing agreements and approvals.

(e) The review and payment of vouchers and claims.

(f) The establishment and collection of liens and service billings.

(g) All personnel actions, including hiring, terminations, appointments, promotions, allocations of positions, and expansions or reductions in force.

(h) All agency organization, reorganization, internal operational planning or coordination of plans or functions.

(i) Adoptions or approvals of utility, transportation and solid waste disposal rates.

(j) The activities of school districts pursuant to desegregation plans or programs; however, construction of real property transactions or the adoption of any policy, plan or program for such construction of real property transaction shall not be considered exempt under this subsection (see also WAC 197-11-800(7)).

(16) Financial assistance grants. The approval of grants or loans by one agency to another shall be exempt, although an agency may at its option require compliance with SEPA prior to making a grant or loan for design or construction of a project. This exemption includes agencies taking nonproject actions that are necessary to apply for federal or other financial assistance.

(17) Local improvement districts. The formation of local improvement districts, unless such formation constitutes a final agency decision to undertake construction of a structure or facility not exempted under WAC 197-11-800 and 197-11-880.

(18) Information collection and research. Basic data collection, research, resource evaluation, requests for proposals (RFPs), and the conceptual planning of proposals shall be exempt. These may be strictly for information-gathering, or as part of a study leading to a proposal that has not yet been approved, adopted or funded; this exemption does not include any agency action that commits the agency to proceed with such a proposal. (Also see WAC 197-11-070.)

(19) Acceptance of filings. The acceptance by an agency of any document or thing required or authorized by law to be filed with the agency and for which the agency has no discretionary power to refuse acceptance shall be exempt. No license shall be considered exempt by virtue of this subsection.

(20) Procedural actions. The proposal or adoption of legislation, rules, regulations, resolutions or ordinances, or of any plan or program relating solely to governmental procedures, and containing no substantive standards respecting use or modification of the environment shall be exempt. Agency SEPA procedures shall be exempt.

(21) Building codes. The adoption by ordinance of all codes as required by the state Building Code Act (chapter 19.27 RCW).

(22) Adoption of noise ordinances. The adoption by counties/cities of resolutions, ordinances, rules or regulations concerned with the control of noise which do not differ from regulations adopted by the department of ecology under chapter 70.107 RCW. When a county/city proposes a noise resolution, ordinance, rule or regulation, a portion of which differs from the applicable state regulations (and thus requires approval of the department of ecology under RCW 70.107.060(4)), SEPA compliance may be limited to those items which differ from state regulations.

(23) Review and comment actions. Any activity where one agency reviews or comments upon the actions of another agency or another department within an agency shall be exempt.

(24) Utilities. The utility-related actions listed below shall be exempt, except for installation, construction, or alteration on lands covered by water. The exemption includes installation and construction, relocation when required by other governmental bodies, repair, replacement, maintenance, operation or alteration that does not change the action from an exempt class.

(a) All communications lines, including cable TV, but not including communication towers or relay stations.

(b) All storm water, water and sewer facilities, lines, equipment, hookups or appurtenances including, utilizing or related to lines eight inches or less in diameter.

(c) All electric facilities, lines, equipment or appurtenances, not including substations, with an associated voltage of 55,000 volts or less; and the overbuilding of existing distribution lines (55,000 volts or less) with transmission lines (more than 55,000 volts); and the undergrounding of all electric facilities, lines, equipment or appurtenances.

(d) All natural gas distribution (as opposed to transmission) lines and necessary appurtenant facilities and hookups.

(e) All developments within the confines of any existing electric substation, reservoir, pump station or well: Provided, That additional appropriations of water are not exempted by this subsection.

(f) Periodic use of chemical or mechanical means to maintain a utility or transportation right of way in its design condition: Provided, That chemicals used are approved by the Washington state department of agriculture and applied by licensed personnel. This exemption shall not apply to the use of chemicals within watersheds that are controlled for the purpose of drinking water quality in accordance with WAC 248-54-660.

(g) All grants of rights of way by agencies to utilities for use for distribution (as opposed to transmission) purposes.

(h) All grants of franchises by agencies to utilities.

(i) All disposals of rights of way by utilities.

(25) Natural resources management. In addition to the other exemptions contained in this section, the following natural resources management activities shall be exempt:

(a) All Class I, II, III forest practices as defined by RCW 76.09.050 or regulations thereunder.

(b) Issuance of new grazing leases covering a section of land or less; and issuance of all grazing leases for land that has been subject to a grazing lease within the previous ten years.

(d) Issuance of agricultural leases covering one hundred sixty contiguous acres or less.

(e) Issuance of leases for Christmas tree harvesting or brush picking.

(f) Issuance of leases for school sites.

(g) Issuance of leases for, and placement of, mooring buoys designed to serve pleasure craft.

(h) Development of recreational sites not specifically designed for all-terrain vehicles and not including more than twelve campsites.

(i) Periodic use of chemical or mechanical means to maintain public park and recreational land: Provided, That chemicals used are approved by the Washington state department of agriculture and applied by licensed personnel. This exemption shall not apply to the use of chemicals within watersheds that are controlled for the purpose of drinking water quality in accordance with WAC 248-54-660.

(j) Issuance of rights of way, easements and use permits to use existing roads in nonresidential areas.

(k) Establishment of natural area preserves to be used for scientific research and education and for the protection of rare flora and fauna, under the procedures of chapter 79.70 RCW.

(26) Watershed restoration projects. Actions pertaining to watershed restoration projects as defined in RCW 89.08.460(2) are exempt, provided, they implement a watershed restoration plan which has been reviewed under SEPA (RCW 89.08.460(1)).

(27) Personal wireless service facilities.

(a) The siting of personal wireless service facilities are exempt if the facility:

(i) Is a microcell and is to be attached to an existing structure that is not a residence or school and does not contain a residence or a school;

(ii) Includes personal wireless service antennas, other than a microcell, and is to be attached to an existing structure (that may be an existing tower) that is not a residence or school and does not contain a residence or school, and the existing structure to which it is to be attached is located in a commercial, industrial, manufacturing, forest, or agriculture zone; or

(iii) Involves constructing a personal wireless service tower less than sixty feet in height that is located in a commercial, industrial, manufacturing, forest, or agricultural zone.

(b) For the purposes of this subsection:

(i) "Personal wireless services" means commercial mobile services, unlicensed wireless services, and common carrier wireless exchange access services, as defined by federal laws and regulations.

(ii) "Personal wireless service facilities" means facilities for the provision of personal wireless services.

(iii) "Microcell" means a wireless communication facility consisting of an antenna that is either:

(A) Four feet in height and with an area of not more than five hundred eighty square inches; or

(B) If a tubular antenna, no more than four inches in diameter and no more than six feet in length.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.21C.110. 84-05-020 (Order DE 83-39), 197-11-800, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84.]

AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order DE 83-39, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84)

WAC 197-11-912 Procedures ((on)) of consulted agencies. Each agency shall develop internal procedures, manuals, or guidance for providing responses to consultation requests from other agencies pertaining to threshold investigations, the scoping process, or EISs. Such procedures shall ensure that the agency will comply with the requirements of Part ((~~Four~~)) Five of these rules. It is recommended that these procedures be integrated within existing procedures of investigating license applications when the consulted agency is also an acting agency.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.21C.110. 84-05-020 (Order DE 83-39), 197-11-912, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84.]

AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order DE 83-39, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84)

WAC 197-11-914 SEPA fees and costs. (1) Except for the costs allowed by this chapter (see, for example, sections WAC 197-11-080, 197-11-100, 197-11-340 (3)(a), 197-11-420(4), 197-11-440 (2)((~~(m)~~)) (l), 197-11-504, 197-11-508, 197-11-570, 197-11-600 (3)(( (2) A person required to pay an impact fee for system improvements under RCW 82.02.050 through 82.02.090 shall not be required to pay a fee under SEPA for the same system improvements.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.21C.110. 84-05-020 (Order DE 83-39), 197-11-914, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84.]

AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order 94-22, filed 3/6/95, effective 4/6/95)

WAC 197-11-938 Lead agencies for specific proposals. Notwithstanding the lead agency designation criteria contained in WAC 197-11-926 through 197-11-936, the lead agency for proposals within the areas listed below shall be as follows:

(1) For all governmental actions relating to energy facilities for which certification is required under chapter 80.50 RCW, the lead agency shall be the energy facility site evaluation council (EFSEC); however, for any public project requiring such certification and for which the study under RCW 80.50.175 will not be made, the lead agency shall be the agency initiating the project.

(2) For all private projects relating to the use of geothermal resources under chapter 79.76 RCW, the lead agency shall be the department of natural resources.

(3) For all private projects requiring a license or other approval from the oil and gas conservation committee under chapter 78.52 RCW, the lead agency shall be the department of natural resources; however, for projects under RCW 78.52.125, the EIS shall be prepared in accordance with that section.

(4) For private activity requiring a license or approval under the Forest Practices Act of 1974, chapter 76.09 RCW, the lead agency shall be either the department of natural resources or the city/county where the project is located, as set forth below:

(a) The interagency agreements authorized by WAC 222-50-030 between the department of natural resources and other governmental agencies may be used to identify SEPA lead agency status for forest practice applications. If used, this agreement shall meet the requirements for a lead agency agreement in WAC 197-11-942.

(b) If no interagency agreement exists, the SEPA lead agency determination shall be based on information in the environmental checklist required as part of the forest practice application requiring SEPA review. The applicant shall, as part of the checklist, submit all information on future plans for conversion, and shall identify any known future license requirements.

(c) For any proposal involving forest practices (i) on lands platted after January 1, 1960, (ii) on lands beings converted to another use, or (iii) on lands which, pursuant to RCW 76.09.070 as now or hereafter amended, are not to be reforested because of the likelihood of future conversion to urban development, the applicable county or city is the lead agency if the county or city will require a license for the proposal. Upon receipt of a forest practice application and environmental checklist, natural resources shall determine lead agency for the proposal. If insufficient information is available to identify necessary permits, natural resources shall ask the applicant for additional information. If a permit is not required from the city/county, natural resources shall be lead agency. If a city/county permit is required, natural resources shall send copies of the environmental checklist and forest practice application together with the determination of the lead agency to the city/county.

(d) Upon receipt and review of the environmental checklist and forest practice application, the city/county shall within ten business days:

(i) Agree that a city/county license is required, either now or at a future point, and proceed with environmental review as lead agency.

(ii) Determine that a license is not required from the city/county, and notify natural resources that the city/county is not lead agency; or

(iii) Determine there is insufficient information in the environmental checklist to identify the need for a license, and either:

(A) Assume lead agency status and conduct appropriate environmental analysis for the total proposal;

(B) Request additional information from the applicant; or

(C) Notify natural resources of the specific additional information needed to determine permit requirements, who shall request the information from the applicant.

(5) For all private projects requiring a license or lease to use or affect state lands, the lead agency shall be the state agency managing the lands in question; however, this subsection shall not apply to the sale or lease of state-owned tidelands, harbor areas or beds of navigable waters, when such sale or lease is incidental to a larger project for which one or more licenses from other state or local agencies is required.

(6) ((For all proposals which are being processed under the Environmental Coordination Procedures Act of 1973 (ECPA), chapter 90.62 RCW, the lead agency shall be determined under the standards of these rules.

~~(7)~~)) For a pulp or paper mill or oil refinery not under the jurisdiction of EFSEC, the lead agency shall be the department of ecology, when a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit is required under section 402 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1342).

((~~(8)~~)) (7) For proposals to construct a pipeline greater than six inches in diameter and fifty miles in length, used for the transportation of crude petroleum or petroleum fuels or oil or derivatives thereof, or for the transportation of synthetic or natural gas under pressure not under the jurisdiction of EFSEC, the lead agency shall be the department of ecology.

((~~(9)~~)) (8) For proposals that will result in an impoundment of water with a water surface in excess of forty acres, the lead agency shall be the department of ecology.

((~~(10)~~)) (9) For proposals to construct facilities on a single site designed for, or capable of, storing a total of one million or more gallons of any liquid fuel not under the jurisdiction of EFSEC, the lead agency shall be the department of ecology.

((~~(11)~~)) (10) For proposals to construct any new oil refinery, or an expansion of an existing refinery that shall increase capacity by ten thousand barrels per day or more not under the jurisdiction of EFSEC, the lead agency shall be the department of ecology.

((~~(12)~~)) (11) For proposed metal mining and milling operations regulated by chapter 78.56 RCW, except for uranium and thorium operations regulated under Title 70 RCW, the lead agency shall be the department of ecology.

((~~(13)~~)) (12) For proposals to construct, operate, or expand any uranium or thorium mill, any tailings areas generated by uranium or thorium milling or any low-level radioactive waste burial facilities, the lead agency shall be the department of social and health services.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.21C.110. 95-07-023 (Order 94-22), 197-11-938, filed 3/6/95, effective 4/6/95; 84-05-020 (Order DE 83-39), 197-11-938, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84.]

AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order DE 83-39, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84)

WAC 197-11-940 Transfer of lead agency status to a state agency. For any proposal for a private project where a city or town with a population of under five thousand or a county ((~~of fifth through ninth class~~)) with a population under eighteen thousand would be the lead agency under WAC 197-11-928 through 197-11-938, and when one or more state agencies are agencies with jurisdiction over the proposal, such local agency may at its option transfer the lead agency duties to that state agency with jurisdiction appearing first on the priority listing in WAC 197-11-936. In such event, the state agency so determined shall be the lead agency and the agency making the transfer shall be an agency with jurisdiction. Transfer is accomplished by the county, city or town transmitting a notice of the transfer together with any relevant information it may have on the proposal to the appropriate state agency with jurisdiction. The local agency making the transfer shall also give notice of the transfer to any private applicant and other agencies with jurisdiction involved in the proposal.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.21C.110. 84-05-020 (Order DE 83-39), 197-11-940, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84.]

AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order DE 83-39, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84)

WAC 197-11-948 Assumption of lead agency status. (1) An agency with jurisdiction over a proposal, upon review of a DNS (WAC 197-11-340) may transmit to the initial lead agency a completed "Notice of assumption of lead agency status." This notice shall be substantially similar to the form in WAC 197-11-985. Assumption of lead agency status shall occur only within ((~~fifteen days of issuance of a DNS~~)) the fourteen-day comment period on a DNS issued under WAC 197-11-340 (2)(a), or during the comment period on a notice of application when the optional DNS process in WAC 197-11-355 is used.

(2) The DS by the new lead agency shall be based only upon information contained in the environmental checklist attached to the DNS transmitted by the first lead agency or the notice of application if the optional DNS process is used, and any other information the new lead agency has on the matters contained in the environmental checklist.

(3) Upon transmitting the DS and notice of assumption of lead agency status, the consulted agency with jurisdiction shall become the "new" lead agency and shall expeditiously prepare an EIS. In addition, all other responsibilities and authority of a lead agency under this chapter shall be transferred to the new lead agency.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.21C.110. 84-05-020 (Order DE 83-39), 197-11-948, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84.]

AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order DE 83-39, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84)

WAC 197-11-970 Determination of nonsignificance (DNS).

determination of nonsignificance

Description of proposal

Proponent

Location of proposal, including street address, if any

Lead agency

The lead agency for this proposal has determined that it does not have a probable significant adverse impact on the environment. An environmental impact statement (EIS) is not required under RCW 43.21C.030 (2)(c). This decision was made after review of a completed environmental checklist and other information on file with the lead agency. This information is available to the public on request.

There is no comment period for this DNS.

This DNS is issued after using the optional DNS process in WAC 197-11-355. There is no further comment period on the DNS.

This DNS is issued under WAC 197-11-340(2); the lead agency will not act on this proposal for ((15)) 14 days from the date below. Comments must be submitted by . . . . . . . . . . .

Responsible official

Position/title Phone. . . . . .

Address

Date. . . . . . . . . Signature

(optional)

You may appeal this determination to (name)

at (location)

no later than (date)

by (method)

You should be prepared to make specific factual objections.

Contact. . . . . . . . . .to read or ask about the procedures for SEPA appeals.

There is no agency appeal.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.21C.110. 84-05-020 (Order DE 83-39), 197-11-970, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84.]

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