What is SEPA?

The Washington Legislature enacted the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) in 1971. The law helps state and local agencies identify environmental impacts that are likely to result from projects and government decisions. If initial governmental review of a proposed action indicates that the action will have probable and significant adverse environmental impacts, preparation of a detailed environmental impact statement (EIS) will be required. The procedural requirements governing this environmental review process are contained in detailed regulations enacted by the Department of Ecology in WAC Chapter 197-11.

What is an EIS?

An environmental impact statement, or EIS, is a document intended provide an impartial discussion of potential significant adverse environmental impacts, reasonable alternatives, and mitigation measures that would avoid or minimize adverse impacts associated with a proposed action.

An EIS is prepared when the lead SEPA agency determines a proposal is likely to have significant adverse environmental impacts. The EIS process is a tool for identifying and analyzing:

• Probable adverse environmental impacts
• Reasonable alternatives
• Possible mitigation

The EIS process:

• Provides opportunities for the public, local, state and federal agencies, and tribal governments to participate in developing and analyzing information.
• Improves proposals from an environmental perspective. Proposals are improved by identifying adverse environmental impacts, reasonable alternatives and potential mitigation measures that meet the objectives of a proposal.
• Provides decision-makers with environmental information. An EIS provides decision-makers and the public with a complete and impartial discussion of the proposed project as well as existing site conditions, probable significant adverse environmental impacts, and reasonable alternatives and mitigation measures to avoid, minimize, or counter adverse impacts.
• Provides necessary information for conditioning or denying a proposal. SEPA substantive authority allows an agency to: Deny a proposal when impacts cannot be reasonable mitigated; place conditions on the project to protect the environment; or approve the proposal without further mitigation.

What is the EIS process?

1. Threshold Determination
The County determined that the proposal will have a “significant adverse environmental impact.” An EIS is required.

2. Scoping
The purpose of scoping is to establish and confirm the focus of the EIS by seeking input from agencies, tribal governments, and members of the public on the content and emphasis (scope) of the EIS. Scoping also provides notice to the public and other agencies that an EIS is being prepared, and typically initiates their involvement in the EIS process. Scoping was conducted in December 2021 and January 2022. Click here to review the scoping summary.

3. Preparing the Draft EIS
A draft EIS is prepared and includes descriptions of potential significant environmental impacts associated with the proposed action and alternatives; and identifies mitigation measures that would avoid or limit adverse impacts. The draft EIS currently being prepared.

The EIS will evaluate the following three alternatives:

• Alternative 1 – Proposed Mining,
• Alternative 2 – Mining Operations Alternative, and
• Alternative 3 – No Action Alternative.

The EIS will analyze the following elements of the environment:

• Transportation (including Public Services – Emergency Response),
• Noise,
• Land Use (including Aesthetics, Parks and Recreation, and Relationship to Plans and Policies),
• Critical Areas (including Earth, Water Resources, and Plants and Animals),
• Cultural Resources, and
• Air Quality/Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

4. Draft EIS Comment Period
Once the Draft EIS is published, the public, tribes, and other agencies will be invited to provide written comment on the analysis and conclusions.

5. Preparing and Publishing the Final EIS
The County will review the comments received on the Draft EIS and provide a response to each comment in a Final EIS. The Final EIS may include additional analysis to supplement the information provided in the Draft EIS.

6. Permit Decision
A public hearing for the conditional use permit will be scheduled and the Hearing Examiner will issue a decision, considering the information in the Final EIS.

When can I provide comments?

There are two opportunities to provide comments during SEPA:

• The “scoping” period, where the public, tribal governments, and local, state, and federal agencies are invited to comment on the range of alternatives, areas of impact, and possible mitigation measures the EIS should evaluate. Skamania County began the scoping period for this proposal on December 8, 2021, and ended on January 10, 2022.
• The draft EIS review period, where comments are requested regarding the merits of alternatives and the adequacy of the environmental analysis. Skamania County anticipates releasing the draft EIS later in 2022.

Comments will also be allowed following the EIS process, during the Conditional Use Permit review.