Chapter 17.20 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

The city adopts this chapter pursuant to the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), Chapter 43.21C RCW, and the SEPA rules, Chapter 197-11 WAC. (Ord. 2786 § 1, 2000).

17.20.020 Purpose.

The purpose of this chapter is to set forth the city’s SEPA procedures and policies. The SEPA rules, Chapter 197-11 WAC, will be used in conjunction with this code, and in the interpretation hereof. (Ord. 2786 § 1, 2000).

17.20.030 Purpose and adoption by reference.

This section contains the basic requirements that apply to the SEPA process. It also contains uniform usage and definitions of terms under SEPA. The city adopts the following sections of the WAC by this reference:

197-11-040 Definitions.

197-11-050 Lead agency.

197-11-055 Timing of the SEPA process.

197-11-060 Content of environmental review.

197-11-070 Limitations on action during SEPA process.

197-11-080 Incomplete or unavailable information.

197-11-090 Supporting documents.

197-11-100 Information required of applicants.

197-11-700 Definitions.

197-11-702 Act.

197-11-704 Action.

197-11-706 Addendum.

197-11-708 Adoption.

197-11-710 Affected tribe.

197-11-712 Affecting.

197-11-714 Agency.

197-11-716 Applicant.

197-11-718 Built environment.

197-11-720 Categorical exemption.

197-11-722 Consolidated appeal.

197-11-724 Consulted agency.

197-11-726 Cost-benefit analysis.

197-11-728 County/city.

197-11-730 Decisionmaker.

197-11-732 Department.

197-11-734 Determination of nonsignificance (DNS).

197-11-736 Determination of significance (DS).

197-11-738 EIS.

197-11-740 Environment.

197-11-742 Environmental checklist.

197-11-744 Environmental document.

197-11-746 Environmental review.

197-11-748 Environmentally sensitive area.

197-11-750 Expanded scoping.

197-11-752 Impacts.

197-11-754 Incorporation by reference.

197-11-756 Lands covered by water.

197-11-758 Lead agency.

197-11-760 License.

197-11-762 Local agency.

197-11-764 Major action.

197-11-766 Mitigated DNS.

197-11-768 Mitigation.

197-11-770 Natural environment.

197-11-772 NEPA.

197-11-774 Nonproject.

197-11-776 Phased review.

197-11-778 Preparation.

197-11-780 Private project.

197-11-782 Probable.

197-11-784 Proposal.

197-11-786 Reasonable alternative.

197-11-788 Responsible official.

197-11-793 Scoping.

197-11-794 Significant.

197-11-796 State agency.

197-11-797 Threshold determination.

197-11-799 Underlying governmental action.

197-11-924 Determining the lead agency.

197-11-926 Lead agency for governmental proposals.

197-11-928 Lead agency for public and private proposals.

197-11-930 Lead agency for private projects with one agency with jurisdiction.

197-11-932 Lead agency for private projects requiring licenses from more than one agency, when one of the agencies is a county/city.

197-11-934 Lead agency for private projects requiring licenses from a local agency, not a county/city and one or more state agencies.

197-11-936 Lead agency for private projects requiring licenses from more than one state agency.

197-11-938 Lead agencies for specific proposals.

197-11-940 Transfer of lead agency status to a state agency.

197-11-942 Agreements on lead agency status.

197-11-944 Agreements on division of lead agency duties.

197-11-946 DOE resolution of lead agency disputes.

197-11-948 Assumption of lead agency status.

(Ord. 2786 § 1, 2000).

17.20.040 Additional definitions.

In addition to those definitions contained within WAC 197-11-700 through 197-11-799, when used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings, unless the context indicates otherwise:

(1) “Department” means any division, subdivision or organizational unit of the city established by ordinance, rule or order.

(2) “DNS” means determination of nonsignificance.

(3) “DS” means determination of significance.

(4) “Early notice” means the city’s response to an applicant stating whether it considers issuance of a determination of significance likely for the applicant’s proposal (mitigated determination of nonsignificance procedures).

(5) “EIS” means environmental impact statement.

(6) “Ordinance” means the ordinance, resolution or other procedure used by the city to adopt regulatory requirements.

(7) “SEPA rules” means Chapter 197-11 WAC adopted by the Department of Ecology.

(8) “WAC” means Washington Administrative Code. (Ord. 2786 § 1, 2000).

17.20.050 Designation of responsible official.

(1) For those proposals for which the city is the lead agency, the responsible official shall be the city’s director of urban services and permits.

(2) For all proposals for which the city is the lead agency, the responsible official shall make the threshold determination, supervise scoping and preparation of any required environmental impact statement (EIS), and perform any other functions assigned to the “lead agency” or “responsible official” by those sections of the SEPA rules adopted by reference in the ordinance codified in this chapter. (Ord. 2786 § 1, 2000).

17.20.060 SEPA information.

The city shall retain all documents required by the SEPA rules, Chapter 197-11 WAC, and make them available in accordance with Chapter 42.17 RCW, at the office of the director of urban services and permits. (Ord. 2786 § 1, 2000).

17.20.070 Lead agency determination and responsibilities.

(1) When the city receives an application for or initiates a proposal that involves a nonexempt action, the director of urban services and permits shall determine the lead agency for that proposal under WAC 197-11-050 and 197-11-922 through 197-11-940, unless the lead agency has been previously determined or unless the director of urban services and permits is aware that another agency is in the process of determining the lead agency.

(2) When the city is the lead agency for a proposal, the director of urban services and permits shall supervise compliance with the threshold determination requirements, and if an EIS is necessary, shall supervise preparation of the EIS.

(3) When the city is not the lead agency of a proposal, all departments of the city shall use and consider, as appropriate, either the DNS or the final EIS of the lead agency in making decisions on the proposal. No city department shall prepare or require preparation of a DNS or EIS in addition to that prepared by the lead agency, unless required under WAC 197-11-600. In some cases, the city may conduct supplemental environmental review under WAC 197-11-600.

(4) If the city or any of its departments receives a lead agency determination made by another agency that appears inconsistent with the criteria of WAC 197-11-922 through 197-11-940, it may object to the determination. Any objection must be made to the agency originally making the determination and resolved within 15 days of receipt of the determination, or the city must petition the Department of Ecology for a lead agency determination under WAC 197-11-946 within the 15-day time period. Any such petition on behalf of the city shall be initiated by the director of urban services and permits.

(5) The director of urban services and permits is authorized to make agreements as to lead agency status or shared lead agency duties for a proposal under WAC 197-11-942 and 197-11-944.

(6) When the director of urban services and permits makes a lead agency determination for a private project, he/she shall require sufficient information from the applicant to identify which other agencies have jurisdiction over the proposal (that is: which agencies require nonexempt licenses). (Ord. 2786 § 1, 2000).

17.20.080 Time limits applicable to the SEPA process.

The following time limits (expressed in calendar days) shall apply when the city processes licenses for all private projects and those governmental proposals submitted to the city by other agencies:

(1) Categorical Exemptions. The city shall identify whether an action is categorically exempt within seven days of receiving a completed application.

(2) Threshold Determinations. The city should complete threshold determinations that can be based solely upon review of the environmental checklist for the proposal within 15 days of the date an applicant’s adequate application and completed checklist are submitted.

(3) Complex proposals, where additional information is needed, and/or those proposals accompanied by an inaccurate checklist, may require additional time. Should additional time be required, or upon request by an applicant, the responsible official shall select a date for making a threshold determination and notify the applicant of such date in writing. In no event shall the responsible official unreasonably delay the threshold determination. (Ord. 2786 § 1, 2000).

17.20.090 Coordination of environmental review with city action.

(1) For nonexempt proposals, the DNS or final EIS for the proposal shall accompany the city’s staff recommendation to any appropriate advisory body.

(2) If the city’s only action on a proposal is a decision on a building permit or other license that requires detailed project plans and specifications, the applicant may request in writing that the city conduct an environmental review prior to submission of the detailed plans and specifications. (Ord. 2786 § 1, 2000).

17.20.100 Categorical exemptions and threshold determinations – Purpose and adoption by reference.

This section contains the rules for deciding whether a proposal has a “probably significant, adverse environmental impact” requiring an EIS to be prepared. This section also contains rules for categorical exemptions and rules for evaluating the impacts of proposals not requiring an EIS as well as the application of exemptions and flexible thresholds. The city adopts the following sections of the WAC by this reference:

197-11-300 Purpose of this part.

197-11-305 Categorical exemptions.

197-11-310 Threshold determination required.

197-11-315 Environmental checklist.

197-11-330 Threshold determination process.

197-11-335 Additional information.

197-11-340 Determination of nonsignificance (DNS).

197-11-350 Mitigated DNS.

197-11-360 Determination of significance (DS)/initiation of scoping.

197-11-390 Effect of threshold determination.

197-11-800 Categorical exemptions.

197-11-880 Emergencies.

197-11-890 Petitioning DOE to change exemptions.

(Ord. 2786 § 1, 2000).

17.20.110 Flexible thresholds for categorical exemptions.

(1) The city establishes the following exempt levels for minor new construction under WAC 197-11-800(1)(b) based on local conditions:

(a) For residential dwelling units in WAC 197-11-800(1)(b)(i): up to four dwelling units;

(b) For agricultural structures in WAC 197-11-800(1)(b)(ii): up to 10,000 square feet;

(c) For office, school, commercial, recreational, service or storage buildings in WAC 197-11-800(1)(b)(iii): up to 4,000 square feet and up to 20 parking spaces;

(d) For parking lots in WAC 197-11-800(1) (b)(iv): up to 20 parking spaces;

(e) For landfills and excavations in WAC 197-11-800(1)(b)(v): up to 500 cubic yards.

(2) Whenever the city establishes new exempt levels under this section, it shall send them to the Department of Ecology, Headquarters Office, Olympia, Washington, under WAC 197-11-800(1)(c). (Ord. 2786 § 1, 2000).

17.20.120 Use of exemptions.

(1) When the city receives an application for a license or initiates a proposal, the director of urban services and permits shall determine whether the license and/or the proposal is exempt. The determination that a proposal is exempt shall be final and not subject to administrative review. If a proposal is exempt, none of the procedural requirements of this chapter apply to the proposal. The city shall not require completion of an environmental checklist for an exempt proposal.

(2) In determining whether or not a proposal is exempt, the responsible official shall make certain the proposal is properly defined and shall identify the governmental licenses required (WAC 197-11-060). If a proposal includes exempt and nonexempt actions, the responsible official shall determine the lead agency, even if the license application that triggers the department’s consideration is exempt.

(3) If a proposal includes both exempt and nonexempt actions, the city may authorize exempt actions prior to compliance with the procedural requirements of this chapter, except that:

(a) The city shall not give authorization for:

(i) Any nonexempt action;

(ii) Any action that would have an adverse environmental impact; or

(iii) Any action that would limit the choice of alternatives.

(b) A department may withhold approval of an exempt action that would lead to modification of the physical environment, when such modification would serve no purpose if nonexempt action(s) were not approved.

(c) A department may withhold approval of exempt actions that would lead to substantial financial expenditures by a private applicant when the expenditures would serve no purpose if nonexempt action(s) were not approved. (Ord. 2786 § 1, 2000).

17.20.130 Environmental checklist.

(1) A completed environmental checklist (or a copy), in the form provided in WAC 197-11-960, shall be filed at the same time as an application for a permit, license, certificate, or other approval not specifically exempted in this chapter; except, a checklist is not needed if the city and applicant agree an EIS is required, SEPA compliance has been completed, or SEPA compliance has been initiated by another agency. The city shall use the environmental checklist to determine the lead agency and, if the city is the lead agency, for making the threshold determination.

(2) For private proposals, the city will require the applicant to complete the environmental checklist, providing assistance as necessary. For city proposals, the department initiating the proposal shall complete the environmental checklist for that proposal. (Ord. 2786 § 1, 2000).

17.20.140 Mitigated determination of nonsignificance (DNS).

(1) As provided in this section and in WAC 197-11-350, the responsible official may issue a DNS based on conditions attached to the proposal by the responsible official or on changes to, or clarifications of the proposal made by the applicant.

(2) An applicant may request in writing early notice of whether a determination of significance (DS) is likely under WAC 197-11-350. The request must:

(a) Follow submission of a permit application and environmental checklist for a nonexempt proposal for which the city is lead agency; and

(b) Precede the city’s actual threshold determination for the proposal.

(3) The responsible official should respond to the request for early notice within 10 working days. The response shall:

(a) Be written;

(b) State whether the city currently considers issuance of a DS likely and, if so, indicate the general or specific area(s) of concern that are leading the city to consider a DS; and

(c) State that the applicant may change or clarify the proposal to mitigate the indicated impacts, revising the environmental checklist and/or permit application as necessary to reflect the changes or clarifications.

(4) As much as possible, the city should assist the applicant with identification of impacts to the extent necessary to formulate mitigation measures.

(5) When an applicant submits a changed or clarified proposal, along with a revised environmental checklist, the city shall base its threshold determination on the changed or clarified proposal and should make the determination within 15 calendar days of receiving the changed or clarified proposal:

(a) If the city indicated specific mitigation measures in its response to the request for early notice, and the applicant changed or clarified the proposal to include those specific mitigation measures, the city shall issue and circulate a determination of nonsignificance under WAC 197-11-340(2).

(b) If the city indicated areas of concern, but did not indicate specific mitigation measures that would allow it to issue a DNS, the city shall make the threshold determination, issuing a DNS or DS as appropriate.

(c) The applicant’s proposed mitigation measures (clarifications, changes or conditions) must be in writing and must be specific. For example, proposals to “control noise” or “prevent storm water runoff” are inadequate, whereas proposals to “muffle machinery to X decibel” or “construct 200-foot storm water retention pond at Y location” are adequate.

(d) Mitigation measures which justify issuance of a mitigated DNS may be incorporated in the DNS by reference to agency staff reports, studies or other documents.

(6) A mitigated DNS is issued under WAC 197-11-340(2), requiring a 15-calendar-day comment period and public notice.

(7) Mitigation measures incorporated in the mitigated DNS shall be deemed conditions of approval of the permit decision and may be enforced in the same manner as any term or condition of the permit, or enforced in any manner specifically prescribed by the city.

(8) If the city’s tentative decision on a permit or approval does not include mitigation measures that were incorporated in a mitigated DNS for the proposal, the city should evaluate the threshold determination to assure consistency with WAC 197-11-340(3)(a) (withdrawal of DNS).

(9) The city’s written response under subsection (2) of this section shall not be construed as a determination of significance. In addition, preliminary discussion of clarifications or changes to a proposal, as opposed to a written request for early notice, shall not bind the city to consider the clarifications or changes in its threshold determination. (Ord. 2786 § 1, 2000).

17.20.150 Environmental impact statements (EIS) – Purpose and adoption by reference.

This section contains the rules for preparing environmental impact statements. The city adopts the following sections of the WAC by this reference:

197-11-400 Purpose of EIS.

197-11-402 General requirements.

197-11-405 EIS types.

197-11-406 EIS timing.

197-11-408 Scoping.

197-11-410 Expanded scoping.

197-11-420 EIS preparation.

197-11-425 Style and size.

197-11-430 Format.

197-11-435 Cover letter or memo.

197-11-440 EIS contents.

197-11-442 Contents of EIS on nonproject proposals.

197-11-443 EIS contents when prior nonproject EIS.

197-11-444 Elements of the environment.

197-11-448 Relationship of EIS to other consideration.

197-11-450 Cost-benefit analysis.

197-11-455 Issuance of DEIS.

197-11-460 Issuance of FEIS.

(Ord. 2786 § 1, 2000).

17.20.160 Preparation of EIS.

(1) Preparation of draft and final EISs and supplemental EISs is the responsibility of the director of urban services and permits. Before the city issues an EIS, the responsible official shall be satisfied that it complies with this chapter and Chapter 197-11 WAC.

(2) The draft and final EIS or supplemental EIS shall be prepared by city staff, the applicant, or by a consultant selected by the city or the applicant. If the responsible official requires an EIS for a proposal and determines that someone other than the city will prepare the EIS, the responsible official shall notify the applicant immediately after completion of the threshold determination. The responsible official shall also notify the applicant of the city’s procedure for EIS preparation, including approval of the draft and final EIS prior to distribution.

(3) The city may require an applicant to provide information the city does not possess, including specific investigations. However, the applicant is not required to supply information that is not required under this chapter or that is being requested from another agency. (This does not apply to information the city may request under another ordinance or statute.)

(4) The following additional elements are part of the environment for the purpose of EIS content, but do not add to the criteria for threshold determinations or perform any other function or purpose under these rules:

(a) Economy;

(b) Cultural factors;

17.20.170 Commenting – Purpose and adoption by reference.

This section contains rules for consulting, commenting and responding on all environmental documents under SEPA, including rules for public notice and hearings. The city adopts the following sections of the WAC by this reference:

197-11-500 Purpose of this part.

197-11-502 Inviting comment.

197-11-504 Availability and cost of environmental documents.

197-11-508 SEPA register.

197-11-535 Public hearings and meetings.

197-11-545 Effect of no comment.

197-11-550 Specificity of comments.

197-11-560 FEIS response to comments.

197-11-570 Consulted agency costs to assist lead agency.

(Ord. 2786 § 1, 2000).

17.20.180 Public notice.

(1) Whenever the city issues a DNS under WAC 197-11-340(2) or a DS under WAC 197-11-360(3) the city shall give public notice as follows:

(a) If public notice is required for a nonexempt license, the notice shall state whether a DS or DNS has been issued and when comments are due;

(b) If no public notice is required for the permit or approval, the city shall give notice of the DNS or DS by at least one of the following:

(i) Posting the property, for site-specific proposals,

(ii) Publishing notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the county, city or general area where the proposal is located,

(iii) Notifying public or private groups which have expressed interest in a certain proposal or in the type of proposal being considered,

(iv) Notifying the news media,

(v) Placing notices in appropriate regional, neighborhood, ethnic or trade journals, and/or

(vi) Publishing notice in agency newsletters and/or sending notice to agency mailing lists (either general lists or lists for specific proposals or subject areas);

(c) Whenever the city issues a DS under WAC 197-11-360(3), the city shall state the scoping procedure for the proposal in the DS as required in WAC 197-11-408;

(2) Whenever the city issues a draft EIS under WAC 197-11-455(5) or a supplemental EIS under WAC 197-11-620, notice of the availability of those documents shall be given by:

(a) Indicating the availability of the draft EIS in any public notice required for a nonexempt license; and by at least one of the methods set forth in subdivisions (b) through (f) of this subsection,

(b) Posting of property, for site-specific proposals,

(c) Publishing notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the county, city or general area where the proposal is located,

(d) Notifying public or private groups which have expressed interest in a certain proposal or in the type of proposal being considered,

(e) Notifying the news media,

(f) Placing notices in appropriate regional, neighborhood, ethnic or trade journals; and/or

(3) Whenever possible, the city shall integrate the public notice required under this section with existing notice procedures for the city’s nonexempt permit(s) or approval(s) required for the proposal;

(4) The city may require an applicant to complete the public notice requirements for the applicant’s proposal at his or her expense. (Ord. 2786 § 1, 2000).

17.20.190 Designation of official to perform consulted agency responsibilities for the city.

(1) The director of urban services and permits shall be responsible for preparation of written comments for the city in response to a consultation request prior to a threshold determination, participation in scoping or reviewing a draft EIS.

(2) This person shall be responsible for the city’s compliance with WAC 197-11-550 whenever the city is a consulted agency and is authorized to develop operating procedures that will insure that responses to consultation requests are prepared in a timely fashion and include data from all appropriate departments of the city. (Ord. 2786 § 1, 2000).

17.20.200 Using existing environmental documents – Purpose and adoption by reference.

This section contains rules for using and supplementing existing environmental documents prepared under SEPA or NEPA for the city’s own environmental compliance. The city adopts the following sections of the WAC by this reference:

197-11-600 When to use existing environmental documents.

197-11-610 Use of NEPA documents.

197-11-620 Supplemental environmental impact statement – Procedures.

197-11-625 Addenda – Procedures.

197-11-630 Adoption – Procedures.

197-11-635 Incorporation by reference – Procedures.

197-11-640 Combining documents.

(Ord. 2786 § 1, 2000).

17.20.210 Agency SEPA decisions – Purpose and adoption by reference.

This section contains rules and policies for SEPA’s substantive authority, such as decisions to mitigate or reject proposals as a result of SEPA. This section also contains procedures for appealing SEPA determinations to agencies or the courts. The city adopts the following sections of the WAC by this reference:

197-11-650 Purpose of this part.

197-11-655 Implementation.

197-11-660 Substantive authority and mitigation.

197-11-680 Appeals.

(Ord. 2786 § 1, 2000).

17.20.220 Substantive authority.

(1) The policies and goals set forth in this chapter are supplementary to those in existing ordinances, resolutions and plans of the city.

(2) The city may attach conditions to a permit or approval for a proposal so long as:

(a) Such conditions are necessary to mitigate specific probable adverse environmental impacts identified in environmental documents prepared pursuant to this chapter; and

(b) Such conditions are in writing; and

(d) The city has considered whether other local, state or federal mitigation measures applied to the proposal are sufficient to mitigate the identified impacts; and

(e) Such conditions are based on one or more policies in subsection (4) of this section and cited in the license or other decision document.

(3) The city may deny a permit or approval for a proposal on the basis of SEPA so long as:

(a) A finding is made that approving the proposal would result in probable significant adverse environmental impacts that are identified in a final EIS or final supplemental EIS prepared pursuant to this chapter; and

(b) A finding is made that there are no reasonable mitigation measures capable of being accomplished that are sufficient to mitigate the identified impact; and

(c) The denial is based on one or more policies identified in subsection (4) of this section and identified in writing in the decision document.

(4) The city designates and adopts by reference the following policies as the basis for the city’s exercise of authority pursuant to this section:

(a) The city shall use all practicable means, consistent with other essential considerations of state policy, to improve and coordinate plans, functions, programs and resources to the end that the state and its citizens may:

(i) Fulfill the responsibilities of each generation as trustee of the environment for succeeding generations;

(ii) Assure for all people of Washington safe, healthful, productive and aesthetically and culturally pleasing surroundings;

(iii) Attain the widest range of beneficial uses of the environment without degradation, risk to health or safety, or other undesirable and unintended consequences;

(iv) Preserve important historic, cultural and natural aspects of our national heritage;

(v) Maintain, wherever possible, an environment which supports diversity and variety of individual choice;

(vi) Achieve a balance between population and resource use which will permit high standards of living and a wide sharing of life’s amenities; and

(vii) Enhance the quality of renewable resources and approach the maximum attainable recycling of depletable resources.

(b) The following provisions of the Longview Municipal Code and other established policies of the city (the same constituting policies, plans, rules or regulations of the city) shall constitute the basis for the exercise of substantive authority pursuant to this section:

LMC Title 19, Zoning Code;

Chapter 16.02 LMC, Building Code;

Chapter 16.02 LMC, plumbing code;

Chapter 16.36 LMC, Mobile Homes – Mobile Home Parks;

Chapter 17.24 LMC, Flood Damage Prevention;

Chapter 17.60 LMC, Shorelines Master Program;

Longview Comprehensive Plan;

Longview Park and Recreation Plan;

Sewerage General Plan for the Kelso-Longview Urban Area;

Comprehensive Water Plan for the Kelso-Longview Urban Area.

(5) Except for permits and variances issued pursuant to LMC 17.60.010, adopting the Cowlitz County Shoreline Management Master Program, when any proposal or action not requiring a decision of the city council is conditioned or denied on the basis of SEPA by a nonelected official, the decision shall be appealable to the city council; provided, however, that for those actions involving a city sponsored project or city owned land, the decision shall be appealed to the hearing examiner. Such appeal may be perfected by the proponent or any aggrieved party by giving notice to the responsible official within 10 days of the decision being appealed. Review by the city council or hearing examiner shall be on a de novo basis. (Ord. 3364 § 1, 2017; Ord. 2786 § 1, 2000).

17.20.230 Notice/statute of limitations.

(1) The city, applicant for, or proponent of an action may publish a notice of action pursuant to RCW 43.21C.080 for any action.

(2) The form of the notice shall be substantially in the form provided in WAC 197-11-990. The notice shall be published by the city clerk, applicant or proponent pursuant to RCW 43.21C.080. (Ord. 2786 § 1, 2000).

17.20.240 Agency compliance – Purpose and adoption by reference.

This section contains rules for agency compliance with SEPA, including rules for charging fees under the SEPA process, listing agencies with environmental expertise and designating environmentally sensitive areas. The city adopts the following sections of the WAC by this reference:

197-11-900 Purpose of this part.

197-11-902 Agency SEPA policies.

197-11-916 Application to ongoing actions.

197-11-920 Agencies with environmental expertise.

197-11-922 Lead agency rules.

197-11-960 Environmental checklist.

197-11-965 Adoption notice.

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

197-11-980 Determination of significance and scoping notice (DS).

197-11-985 Notice of assumption of lead agency status.

197-11-990 Notice of action.

(Ord. 2786 § 1, 2000).

17.20.250 Fees.

The city shall require the following fees for its activities in accordance with the provisions of this chapter:

(1) Threshold Determination. The city shall not collect a fee for threshold determinations.

(2) Environmental Impact Statement.

(a) When the city is the lead agency for a proposal requiring an EIS and the responsible official determines that the EIS shall be prepared by employees of the city, the city may charge and collect a reasonable fee from any applicant to cover costs incurred by the city in preparing the EIS. The responsible official shall advise the applicant(s) of the projected costs from the EIS prior to actual preparation; the applicant shall post bond or otherwise insure payment of such costs.

(b) The responsible official may determine that the city will contract directly with a consultant for preparation of an EIS, or a portion of the EIS, for activities initiated by some persons or entity other than the city and may bill such costs and expenses directly to the applicant. Such consultants shall be selected by mutual agreement of the city and applicant after a call for proposals. The city may require the applicant to post bond or otherwise insure payment of such costs.

(c) If a proposal is modified so that an EIS is no longer required, the responsible official shall refund any fees collected under subdivisions (a) or (b) of this subsection which remain after incurred costs are paid.

(3) The city may collect a reasonable fee from an applicant to cover the cost of meeting the public notice requirements of this chapter relating to the applicant’s proposal.

(4) The city shall not collect a fee for performing its duties as a consulted agency.

(5) The city may charge any person for copies of any document prepared under this chapter, and for mailing the document, in a manner provided by Chapter 42.17 RCW. (Ord. 2786 § 1, 2000).

17.20.260 Environmentally sensitive areas.

(1) The city designates the following as environmentally sensitive areas. Maps illustrating these environmentally sensitive areas shall remain on file and can be examined in the office of the department of urban services and permits:

(a) Shorelines of city as mapped and defined by the Department of Ecology;

(b) One-hundred-year floodplains in the city as established by the Flood Insurance Study Guidelines and Specifications, Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, or the U.S. Geological Survey;

(c) Geological hazard areas within the city as identified and mapped by the Department of Natural Resources, Division of Geology and Earth Resources, and designated as follows:

(i) Areas probably stable, but which may become unstable if modified by man’s activities,

(ii) Areas of poor natural stability,

(iii) Areas of ancient landslide debris,

(iv) Areas of historical or recently active landslides.

(2) The activities listed in the following subsections of WAC 197-11-800 shall not be categorically exempt if the proposed activity is located in an environmentally sensitive area:

WAC 197-11-800 (1)

197-11-800 (5)

197-11-800 (6)(a)

All other categorical exemptions apply whether or not the proposal will be located in environmentally sensitive areas.

(3) The city shall treat proposals located wholly or partially within an environmentally sensitive area no differently than other proposals under this chapter, making a threshold determination for all such proposals. The city shall not automatically require an EIS for a proposal merely because it is proposed for location in an environmentally sensitive area.

(4) Certain exemptions do not apply on lands covered by water, and this remains true regardless of whether or not lands covered by water are mapped. (Ord. 2786 § 1, 2000).

17.20.270 Severability.

If any provision of this chapter or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of this chapter or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances, shall not be affected. (Ord. 2786 § 1, 2000).