This section contains the basic requirements that apply to the SEPA process. The county adopts the following sections as now or hereafter amended of Chapter 197-11 WAC by reference, as supplemented or modified in this section:
WAC 197-11-040
Definitions.
WAC 197-11-050
Lead agency.
WAC 197-11-055
Timing of the SEPA process.
WAC 197-11-060
Content of environmental review.
WAC 197-11-070
Limitations on actions during SEPA process.
WAC 197-11-080
Incomplete or unavailable information.
WAC 197-11-090
Supporting documents.
WAC 197-11-100
Information required of applicants.
WAC 197-11-158
GMA project review-reliance on existing plans and regulations.
WAC 197-11-210
SEPA/GMA integration.
WAC 197-11-220
SEPA/GMA definitions.
WAC 197-11-228
Overall SEPA/GMA integration procedures.
WAC 197-11-230
Timing of an integrated GMA/SEPA process.
WAC 197-11-232
SEPA/GMA integration procedures for preliminary planning, environmental analysis, and expanded scoping.
WAC 197-11-235
Documents.
WAC 197-11-238
Monitoring.
WAC 197-11-250
SEPA/Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) integration.
WAC 197-11-253
SEPA lead agency for MTCA actions.
WAC 197-11-256
Preliminary evaluation.
WAC 197-11-259
Determination on nonsignificance for MTCA remedial actions.
WAC 197-11-262
Determination of significance and EIS for MTCA remedial actions.
WAC 197-11-265
Early scoping for MTCA remedial actions.
WAC 197-11-268
MTCA interim actions.
(Ord. 1080 § 3 Preamble, 1984; Ord. 1157, 1998; Ord 1170B, 2000; Ord. 1170C § 1, 2001)
(1) 
For those proposals for which the county is the lead agency, the responsible official shall be the environmental review officer.
(2) 
For all proposals for which the county is the lead agency, the responsible official shall make the threshold determination, supervise scoping and preparation of any required environmental impact statement (EIS), and perform any other functions assigned to the "lead agency" or "responsible official" by those sections of the SEPA rules that were adopted by reference in WAC 173-802-020.
(3) 
The county shall retain all documents required by the SEPA rules (Chapter 197-11 WAC) and make them available in accordance with Chapter 42.17 RCW.
(Ord. 1080 § 3(B), 1984; Ord. 1080-A § 2, 1992; Ord. 1157, 1998; Ord. 1170B, 2000; Ord. 1367 (Exh. C), 2025)
(1) 
The department within the county receiving an application for or initiating a proposal that involves a nonexempt action shall determine the lead agency for the proposal under WAC 197-11-050 and 197-11-922 through 197-11-940; unless the lead agency has been previously determined or the department is aware that another department or agency is in the process of determining the lead agency.
(2) 
When the county is the lead agency for the proposal, the department receiving the application shall forward the application package and environmental checklist for the proposal to the environmental review officer who shall supervise compliance with threshold determination requirements and, if an EIS is necessary, shall supervise the preparation of the EIS.
(3) 
When the county is not the lead agency for a proposal, all departments of the county shall use and consider, as appropriate, either the DNS or the final EIS of the lead agency in making decisions on the proposal. No county department shall prepare or require preparation of a DNS or EIS in addition to that prepared by the lead agency, unless required under WAC 197-11-600. In some cases, the county may conduct supplemental environmental review under WAC 197-11-620.
(4) 
If the county or any of its departments receives a lead agency determination made by another agency that appears inconsistent with the criteria of WAC 197-11-922 through 197-11-940, it may object to the determination. Any objection must be made to the agency originally making the determination and resolved within 15 days of receipt of the determination, or the county must petition the Department of Ecology for a lead agency determination under WAC 197-11-946 within the 15-day time period. Any such petition on behalf of the county may be initiated by any county department.
(5) 
Departments of the county are authorized to make agreements as to lead agency status or shared lead agency duties for a proposal under WAC 197-11-942 and 197-11-944; provided, that the responsible official and any department that will incur responsibilities as the result of such agreement approve the agreement.
(6) 
Any department making a lead agency determination for a private project shall require sufficient information from the applicant to identify which other agencies have jurisdiction over the proposal.
(Ord. 1080 § 3(C), 1984; Ord. 1080-A § 3, 1992; Ord. 1157, 1998; Ord. 1170B, 2000; Ord. 1367 (Exh. C), 2025)
The following time limits (expressed in calendar days) shall apply when the county processes licenses for all private projects and those governmental proposals submitted to the county by other agencies:
(1) 
For nonexempt proposals, the DNS or final EIS for the proposal shall accompany the county's staff recommendation to any appropriate advisory body such as the planning commission or Hearing Examiner.
(2) 
If the county's only action on a proposal is a decision on a building permit or other license that requires detailed project plans and specifications, the applicant may request in writing that the county conduct environmental review prior to submission of the detailed plans and specifications.
(Ord. 1080 § 3(D), 1984; Ord. 1080-A §§ 4, 5, 1992; Ord. 1157, 1998; Ord. 1170B, 2000; Ord. 1170C § 2, 2001)