WAC 365-195-610   State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA).  Adoption of comprehensive plans and development regulations are "actions" as defined under SEPA. This means that SEPA compliance is necessary. When a complete new plan is being written, in most instances, the preparation of an environmental impact statement (EIS) will be required prior to its adoption. SEPA compliance should be considered as part of the planning process rather than as a separate exercise. Indeed, the SEPA analysis and documentation can serve, in significant part, to fulfill the need to compile a record showing the considerations which went into the plan and why one alternative was chosen over another. SEPA compliance for development regulations should concentrate on the impact difference among alternative means of successfully implementing the plan. Detailed discussion of SEPA compliance is contained in Department of Ecology Publication No. 92-07, "The Growth Management Act and the State Environmental Policy Act, A Guide to Interrelationships."



[Statutory Authority: RCW 36.70A.190 (4)(b). 92-23-065, § 365-195-610, filed 11/17/92, effective 12/18/92.]