State Environmental Policy Act
The State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), Washington State's most fundamental environmental law, was enacted in 1971 as chapter 43.21C RCW. SEPA's basic policy of maintaining and improving environmental quality is implemented primarily through extensive procedural requirements designed to insure that governmental agencies give proper consideration of environmental matters in making decisions on actions, whether proposed by private parties or the governmental entities themselves, that may impact the environment. 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 chapter 197-11 WAC.
Reference Sources
- Statutes
- Administrative Regulations
- Chapter 173-806 WAC (Model SEPA Ordinance)
- Court Decisions
- MRSC Inquiries
- State Environmental Policy Act, Department of Ecology, (includes SEPA Handbook).
Documents
- Bainbridge Island Municipal Code, Ch. 16.04 - Environmental Policy
- Bonney Lake Municipal Code, Ch. 16.04 - Environmental Policy Act
- Bothell Municipal Code, Ch. 14.02 - State Environmental Policy Act
- Chelan Municipal Code, Ch. 14.06 - Environmental Policies and Procedures
- Clallam County Code, Ch. 27.01 - Clallam County Environmental Policy
- Federal Way Municipal Code, Ch. 18, Art. II - Environmental Policy
- Kent Municipal Code, Ch. 11.03 - Environmental Policy
- Mount Vernon Ordinance No. 3012 - updating SEPA policies and regulations.
- Sultan Municipal Code, Ch. 17.04 - State Environmental Policy Act
- Sumner Municipal Code, Ch. 16.04 - SEPA Procedures and Policies
- Whatcom County Code, Ch. 16.08 - State Environmental Policy Act