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Subjects › Environment › ESA Salmon › Instructions for King County Federally Linked Project Assessment
King County Instructions for Federally Linked project Assessment

Instructions for King County Federally Linked Project Assessment

4/22/98

BACKGROUND: WHY FILL THIS OUT?

In February 1998, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) proposed listing the Puget Sound Chinook as threatened under the Endangered species Act. All King County projects that have a federal link are potentially be affected by this proposed listing. The Federal-Links Subcommittee of the County's ESA Core Response Team have been directed to develop a coordinated response for the county and provide assistance to all departments which are affected by the proposed listing.

If you have projects going to construction this summer and you receive wither federal funds, obtain federal permits or are operating under a federal mandate, you must participate in this process. You must participate also participate if you must encumber funds this year to keep federal monies and must complete environmental review as a prerequisite to having the funds released.

NMFS has requested that King County screen all their federally linked projects to determine if they "jeopardize" Chinook. A team of independent and County biologists will determine jeopardy on each project with the goal of quickly providing this information to NMFS.

THE PROCESS

  • Each Department fills out one form for each federally linked project
  • Forms will be reviewed by the ESA biological Committee made up of county and independent scientists. Additional follow-up information on projects may be requested for clarification.
  • Committee will sort projects as causing jeopardy or NOT causing jeopardy. Those projects likely to cause jeopardy will be packaged to submit for a conference with NMFS and federal partners.
  • NMFS will review the package with possibility of requiring a conference. Conference will include federal agencies issuing permits, or funding, and King County.

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS:

1) This form should be filled out for all projects which are both going to construction in 1998 and have a federal link. A federal link is a county project or program that has a federal permit, federal funds or a federal mandate. A form must be filled out for each project. If you want to ump projects together, please call one of the names below and ask before you do.

2) If you have questions about this form or the process, please call Luanne Coachman, KC DNR (296-8381) or Sue Kaufman, KCDNR (296-1989) or Kitty Nelson, KCDOT (296-8737) or Randy Sandin KC DDES (296-6778).

3)Please provide an adequate amount of project information in the form to prevent delays in requesting more information from your Department. Up front screening work now can prevent extensive time delays.

3) The forms are due to Luanne Coachman on May 7th, 1998. Please send or fax a hard copy to (206)296-0912 or MS 22, Gateway Tower, 22nd floor, Seattle, WA 98104.

SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS:

Project Number: This is your project number if you have one, for tracking purposes.

Priority: This is you agency's proirity for the project. High priority projects would include emergencies, high level public risk/safety, loss of funding if not constructed this year, etc. Low priority projects would be projects that can be deferred or delayed without significant program impacts.

2 and 5. This includes permits you are planning to apply for, permits you have applied for, and permits you have already received.

7. WRIA (Water Resource Inventory Areas) are watershed designations used by the state and federal government. Check the WRIA box and list the river system. Vashon Isalnd is in the Kitsap WRIA. Example Lake Washington WRIA 08, May Creek basin

9. Specify river mile to nearest 0.1 mile if you know it and identify right, left or both banks as applicable (looking downstream).

12. Aquatic Resources include water bodies (marine, freshwater , brackish), and associated wetlands and riparian areas. Impacts to the buffer areas, water, shorelines, banks, beds, sediments, etc should be included. Beneficial and harmful impacts should be included.

15. For a and b, describe the source of runoff including stormwater and method a method of collection, detention, treatment and disposal. Will runoff be discharged to surface water or groundwater?