State Environmental Policy Act

Overview

It shall be the duty and function of the department of ecology: (1) To adopt and amend rules of interpretation and implementation of this chapter, subject to the requirements of chapter 34.05 RCW, for the purpose of providing uniform rules and guidelines to all branches of government including state agencies, political subdivisions, public and municipal corporations, and counties. The proposed rules shall be subject to full public hearings requirements associated with rule adoption. Suggestions for modifications of the proposed rules shall be considered on their merits, and the department shall have the authority and responsibility for full and appropriate independent adoption of rules, assuring consistency with this chapter as amended and with the preservation of protections afforded by this chapter. The rule-making powers authorized in this section shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following phases of interpretation and implementation of this chapter: (a) Categories of governmental actions which are not to be considered as potential major actions significantly affecting the quality of the environment, including categories pertaining to applications for water right

Sections covered

• RCW 43.21C.010Purposes.31 cites
• RCW 43.21C.020Legislative recognitions—Declaration—Responsibility.30 cites
• RCW 43.21C.030Guidelines for state agencies, local governments—Statements—Reports—Advice—Information.123 cites
• RCW 43.21C.0301Decisions not subject to RCW 43.21C.030.
• RCW 43.21C.031Significant impacts.33 cites
• RCW 43.21C.0311Final environmental impact statements—Expeditious manner—Time limit—Reports.
• RCW 43.21C.033Threshold determination to be made within ninety days after application is complete.5 cites
• RCW 43.21C.034Use of existing documents.1 cite
• RCW 43.21C.035Certain irrigation projects decisions exempt from RCW 43.21C.030(2)(c).
• RCW 43.21C.036Hazardous substance remedial actions—Procedural requirements and documents to be integrated.
• RCW 43.21C.037Application of RCW 43.21C.030(2)(c) to forest practices.13 cites
• RCW 43.21C.038Application of RCW 43.21C.030(2)(c) to school closures.2 cites
• RCW 43.21C.0381Application of RCW 43.21C.030(2)(c) to decisions pertaining to air operating permits.
• RCW 43.21C.0382Application of RCW 43.21C.030(2)(c) to watershed restoration projects—Fish habitat enhancement projects.
• RCW 43.21C.0383Application of RCW 43.21C.030(2)(c) to waste discharge permits.
• RCW 43.21C.0384Application of RCW 43.21C.030(2)(c) to wireless services facilities—Reporting requirement—Definitions.4 cites
• RCW 43.21C.039Metals mining and milling operations—Environmental impact statements required.
• RCW 43.21C.040Examination of laws, regulations, policies by state agencies and local authorities—Report of deficiencies and corrective measures.3 cites
• RCW 43.21C.050Specific statutory obligations not affected.4 cites
• RCW 43.21C.060Chapter supplementary—Conditioning or denial of governmental action.52 cites
• RCW 43.21C.065Impact fees and fees for system improvements.
• RCW 43.21C.075Appeals.40 cites
• RCW 43.21C.080Notice of action by governmental agency—How publicized—Time limitation for commencing challenge to action.24 cites
• RCW 43.21C.087List of filings required by RCW 43.21C.080.
• RCW 43.21C.090Decision of governmental agency to be accorded substantial weight.49 cites
• RCW 43.21C.095State environmental policy act rules to be accorded substantial deference.
• RCW 43.21C.110Content of state environmental policy act rules.22 cites
• RCW 43.21C.120Rules, ordinances, resolutions and regulations—Adoption—Effective dates.6 cites
• RCW 43.21C.130Model ordinances.2 cites
• RCW 43.21C.135Authority of local governmental units to adopt rules, guidelines and model ordinances by reference.
• RCW 43.21C.150RCW 43.21C.030(2)(c) inapplicable when statement previously prepared pursuant to national environmental policy act.3 cites
• RCW 43.21C.160Utilization of statement prepared under RCW 43.21C.030 to implement *chapter 90.62 RCW—Utilization of *chapter 90.62 RCW procedures to satisfy RCW 43.21C.030(2)(c).
• RCW 43.21C.170Council on environmental policy.
• RCW 43.21C.175Council on environmental policy—Personnel.
• RCW 43.21C.210Certain actions during state of emergency exempt from chapter.
• RCW 43.21C.220Incorporation of city or town exempt from chapter.
• RCW 43.21C.222Annexation by city or town exempt from chapter.1 cite
• RCW 43.21C.225Consolidation and annexation of cities and towns exempt from chapter.
• RCW 43.21C.227Disincorporation of a city or town or reduction of city or town limits exempt from chapter.
• RCW 43.21C.229Infill and housing development—Categorical exemptions from chapter.3 cites
• RCW 43.21C.230Development and adoption of plan under chapter 43.180 RCW exempt from chapter.
• RCW 43.21C.240Project review under the growth management act.9 cites
• RCW 43.21C.250Forest practices board—Emergency rules—Exempt from chapter.
• RCW 43.21C.260Certain actions not subject to RCW 43.21C.030(2)(c)—Threshold determination on a watershed analysis.1 cite
• RCW 43.21C.300Workshops—Handbook.
• RCW 43.21C.400Unfinished nuclear power projects—Council action exempt from this chapter.
• RCW 43.21C.405Nonproject environmental reviews of electrical transmission facilities.
• RCW 43.21C.408Lead agency use of nonproject environmental impact statement for electrical transmission facility.
• RCW 43.21C.410Battery charging and exchange station installation.
• RCW 43.21C.420Comprehensive plans and development regulations—Optional elements—Nonproject environmental impact statements—Subarea plans—Transfer of development rights program—Recovery of expenses.
• RCW 43.21C.428Recovery of expenses of nonproject environmental impact statements—Fees for subsequent development.
• RCW 43.21C.430Certain fish protection standards exempt from compliance with chapter.
• RCW 43.21C.440Planned action—Defined—Authority of a county, city, or town—Community meetings.
• RCW 43.21C.450Nonproject actions exempt from requirements of chapter.
• RCW 43.21C.460Environmental checklist—Authority of lead agency—Limitations of section.
• RCW 43.21C.470Categorical exemption for structurally deficient bridges—Definition.
• RCW 43.21C.480Repair or replacement of structurally deficient state bridges exempt from chapter.
• RCW 43.21C.490Formation of community facilities districts exempt from this chapter.
• RCW 43.21C.495Adoption of ordinances, development regulations, and other nonproject actions—Certain actions not subject to administrative or judicial appeals.
• RCW 43.21C.497Other actions not subject to appeal.
• RCW 43.21C.501Certain project actions evaluated under this chapter by a city or town planning under RCW 36.70A.040—When exempt from appeals under this chapter.
• RCW 43.21C.503Exempt projects—Environmental checklist not required.
• RCW 43.21C.520Review of greenhouse gas emissions from a new or expanded facility.
• RCW 43.21C.525Model ordinances created under RCW 70A.207.030—Certain actions not subject to the requirements of this chapter.
• RCW 43.21C.530Clean energy projects.
• RCW 43.21C.535Clean energy projects—Nonproject environmental impact statements.
• RCW 43.21C.538Clean energy projects—Nonproject environmental impact statements—Lead agency use.
• RCW 43.21C.540Mitigation of light pollution at utility-scale wind energy facility—Actions exempt from requirements of this chapter.
• RCW 43.21C.550Environmental review document—Transit agency to prepare detailed statement.
• RCW 43.21C.560Solar energy generation projects exempt from this chapter.
• RCW 43.21C.900Short title.
• RCW 43.21C.911Section headings not part of law—1983 c 117.1 cite
• RCW 43.21C.912Applicability—1983 c 117.
• RCW 43.21C.914Effective dates—1983 c 117.