PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Amendments to chapter 197-11 WAC, SEPA rules, relating to the process and forms used to conduct environmental analysis of plans, policies, regulations and programs (nonproject actions).
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Chapter 43.21C RCW, State Environmental Policy Act. RCW 43.21C.110 grants the authority for promulgation.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The SEPA rules direct agencies to integrate SEPA with agency activities at the earliest possible point to ensure that planning and decisions reflect environmental values, to avoid delays later in the process and to seek to resolve potential problems. The current rules do not provide a process for early integration, nor clear guidance on how to accomplish it. The purpose of rule changes would be to better accomplish the objectives contained in the directive stated above.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: All state and local governments are required to use the SEPA rules adopted by ecology for their actions, including nonproject actions. Rule development coordination will be accomplished through advisory committees, mailings, meetings, public meetings and hearings, as well as participation by specific agencies in the pilot rule-making process.
Process for Developing New Rule: Pilot rule making.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Marvin L. Vialle, Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600, fax (360) 407-6902, e-mail mvia461@ecy.wa.gov, phone (360) 407-6928.
March 8, 2000
Gordon White
Program Manager