WAC 463-60-535   Socioeconomic impact.  The application shall include a detailed socioeconomic impact analysis which identifies primary, secondary, positive as well as negative impacts on the socioeconomic environment in the area potentially affected by the project, with particular attention to the impact of the proposed facility on population, work force, property values, housing, health facilities and services, education facilities, governmental services, and local economy. The study area shall include the area that may be affected by employment within a one-hour commute distance of the project site. The analysis shall use the most recent data as published by the U.S. Census or state of Washington sources.

     (1) The analysis shall include:

     (a) Population and growth rate data for the most current ten-year period for the county or counties and incorporated cities in the study area;

     (b) Published forecast population figures for the study area for both the construction and operations periods;

     (c) Numbers and percentages describing the race/ethnic composition of the cities and counties in the study area;

     (d) Average per capita and household incomes, including the number and percentage of the population below the poverty level for the cities and counties within the study area;

     (e) A description of whether or not any minority or low-income populations would be displaced by this project or disproportionately impacted;

     (f) The average annual work force size, total number of employed workers, and the number and percentage of unemployed workers including the year that data are most recently available. Employment numbers and percentage of the total work force should be provided for the primary employment sectors;

     (g) An estimate by month of the average size of the project construction, operational work force by trade, and work force peak periods;

     (h) An analysis of whether or not the locally available work force would be sufficient to meet the anticipated demand for direct workers and an estimate of the number of construction and operation workers that would be hired from outside of the study area if the locally available work force would not meet the demand;

     (i) A list of the required trades for the proposed project construction;

     (j) An estimate of how many direct or indirect operation and maintenance workers (including family members and/or dependents) would temporarily relocate;

     (k) An estimate of how many workers would potentially commute on a daily basis and where they would originate.

     (2) The application shall describe the potential impact on housing needs, costs, or availability due to the influx of workers for construction and operation of the facility and include the following:

     (a) Housing data from the most recent ten-year period that data are available, including the total number of housing units in the study area, number of units occupied, number and percentage of units vacant, median home value, and median gross rent. A description of the available hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, campgrounds or other recreational facilities;

     (b) How and where the direct construction and indirect work force would likely be housed. A description of the potential impacts on area hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, campgrounds and recreational facilities;

     (c) Whether or not meeting the direct construction and indirect work force's housing needs might constrain the housing market for existing residents and whether or not increased demand could lead to increased median housing values or median gross rents and/or new housing construction. Describe mitigation plans, if needed, to meet shortfalls in housing needs for these direct and indirect work forces.

     (3) The application shall have an analysis of the economic factors including the following:

     (a) The approximate average hourly wage that would likely be paid to construction and operational workers, how these wage levels vary from existing wage levels in the study area, and estimate the expendable income that direct workers would likely spend within the study area;

     (b) How much, and what types of direct and indirect taxes would be paid during construction and operation of the project and which jurisdictions would receive those tax revenues;

     (c) The other overall economic benefits (including mitigation measures) and costs of the project on the economies of the county, the study area and the state, as appropriate, during both the construction and operational periods.

     (4) The application shall describe the impacts, relationships, and plans for utilizing or mitigating impacts caused by construction or operation of the facility to the following public facilities and services:

     (a) Fire;

     (b) Police;

     (c) Schools;

     (d) Parks or other recreational facilities;

     (e) Utilities;

     (f) Maintenance;

     (g) Communications;

     (h) Water/storm water;

     (i) Sewer/solid waste;

     (j) Other governmental services.

     (5) The application shall compare local government revenues generated by the project (e.g., property tax, sales tax, business and occupation tax, payroll taxes) with their additional service expenditures resulting from the project; and identify any potential gaps in expenditures and revenues during both construction and operation of the project. This discussion should also address potential temporal gaps in revenues and expenditures.

     (6) To the degree that a project will have a primary or secondary negative impact on any element of the socioeconomic environment, the applicant is encouraged to work with local governments to avoid, minimize, or compensate for the negative impact. The term "local government" is defined to include cities, counties, school districts, fire districts, sewer districts, water districts, irrigation districts, or other special purpose districts.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 80.50.040 (1) and (12). 04-21-013, amended and recodified as § 463-60-535, filed 10/11/04, effective 11/11/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 80.50.040. 92-23-012, § 463-42-535, filed 11/6/92, effective 12/7/92. Statutory Authority: RCW 80.50.040(1) and chapter 80.50 RCW. 81-21-006 (Order 81-5), § 463-42-535, filed 10/8/81. Formerly WAC 463-42-620.]