- (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 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.
- (c) The lead agency determines the method for commenting (WAC 197-11-408 and 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 statewide 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- (b) When a DNS is issued after a DS has been withdrawn (WAC 197-11-360(4)), agencies shall give notice under WAC 197-11-510 and receive comments for fourteen days.
- (c) An addendum need not be circulated unless required under WAC 197-11-625.
- (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: 1995 c 347 (ESHB 1724) and RCW 43.21C.110. WSR 97-21-030 (Order 95-16), § 197-11-502, filed 10/10/97, effective 11/10/97. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.21C.110. WSR 84-05-020 (Order DE 83-39), § 197-11-502, filed 2/10/84, effective 4/4/84.]