The city of Snoqualmie, King County, Washington, adopts the ordinance codified in this chapter under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), RCW 43.21C.120, and the SEPA Rules, WAC 197-11-904.
This chapter contains this city's SEPA procedures and implements the purposes and policies of SEPA, RCW 43.21C.010 and 43.21C.020, which are adopted by reference.
The ordinance codified in this chapter adopts many of the statewide SEPA rules by reference. The SEPA rules, Chapter 197-11 WAC, should therefore be referred to in conjunction with this chapter.
(Ord. 546 § 2, 1985)
The city adopts the following sections or subsections of Chapter 197-11 WAC by reference:
197-11-040
Definitions.
197-11-050
Lead agency.
197-11-055
Timing of the SEPA procedures.
197-11-060
Content of environmental review.
197-11-070
Limitations on action during SEPA process.
197-11-080
Incomplete or unavailable information.
197-11-090
Supporting documents.
197-11-100
Information required of applicants.
(Ord. 546 § 2, 1985)
In addition to those definitions contained within WAC 197-11-700 through 197-11-799, when used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings, unless the context indicates otherwise:
A. 
"Department"
means any division, subdivision or organizational unit of the city established by ordinance, rule or order.
B. 
"SEPA rules"
means Chapter 197-11 WAC adopted by the Department of Ecology.
C. 
"Ordinance"
means the ordinance, resolution, or other procedure used by the city to adopt regulatory requirements.
D. 
"Early notice"
means the city's response to an applicant stating whether it considers issuance of a determination of significance likely for the applicant's proposal (mitigated DNS procedures).
E. 
"Director"
means the director of community development, or equivalent position.
(Ord. 546 § 2, 1985; Ord. 1198 § 23 (Exh. E), 2017)
For those proposals for which the city is the lead agency, the responsible official shall be the director. For these proposals, the responsible official shall make the threshold determination, supervise scoping and preparation of any required EIS, and perform any other functions assigned to the "lead agency" or "responsible official" by those sections of the SEPA rules that are adopted by reference in this chapter.
(Ord. 546 § 2, 1985; Ord. 1198 § 23 (Exh. E), 2017)
A. 
The department within the city receiving an application for or initiating a proposal that involves a nonexempt action shall determine the lead agency for that proposal under WAC 197-11-050 and WAC 197-11-922 through WAC 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.
B. 
When the city is the lead agency for a proposal, the department receiving the application shall determine the responsible official who shall supervise compliance with the threshold determination requirements, and if an EIS is necessary, shall supervise preparation of the EIS.
C. 
When the city is not the lead agency for a proposal, all departments of the city shall use and consider, as appropriate, either the DNS or the final EIS of the lead agency in making decisions on the proposal. No city 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 city may conduct supplemental environmental review under WAC 197-11-600.
D. 
If the city 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 resolve within 15 days of receipt of the determination, or the city must petition the Department of Ecology for a lead agency determination under WAC 197-11-956 within the 15-day time period. Any such petition on behalf of the city may be initiated by the city planning official.
E. 
Departments of the city 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 agreements must approve the agreement.
F. 
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 (that is: which agencies require nonexempt licenses).
(Ord. 546 § 2, 1985)
For any proposal for a private project where the city would be the lead agency and for which one or more state agencies have jurisdiction, the city's responsible official may elect to transfer the lead agency duties to a state agency. The state agency with jurisdiction appearing first on the priority listing in WAC 197-11-936 shall be the lead agency and the city shall be an agency with jurisdiction. To transfer lead agency duties, the city's responsible official must transmit a notice of the transfer together with any relevant information available on the proposal to the appropriate state agency with jurisdiction. The responsible official of the city shall also give notice of the transfer to the private applicant and any other agencies with jurisdiction over the proposal.
(Ord. 546 § 2, 1985)
The following time limits (expressed in calendar days) shall apply when the city processes licenses for all private projects and those governmental proposals submitted to the city by other agencies:
A. 
Categorical Exemptions. The city shall identify whether an action is categorically exempt within 15 days of receiving a completed application.
B. 
Threshold Determinations.
1. 
Further Clarification of 15-Day Period for Threshold Determination. The city should complete threshold determinations that can be based solely upon review of the environmental checklist for the proposal within 21 days of the date an applicant's adequate application and completed checklist are submitted.
2. 
When the responsible official requires further information from the applicant or consultation with other agencies with jurisdiction:
a. 
The city should request such further information within 15 days of receiving an adequate application and completed environmental checklist;
b. 
The city shall wait no longer than 21 days for a consulted agency to respond;
c. 
The responsible official should complete the threshold determination within seven days of receiving the requested information from the application or the consulted agency.
3. 
When the city must initiate further studies, including field investigations, to obtain the information to make the threshold determination, the city should complete the studies within a reasonable time of receiving an adequate application and a completed checklist.
4. 
The city shall complete threshold determinations on actions where the applicant recommends in writing that the EIS be prepared, because of the probable significant adverse environmental impact(s) described in the application, within 30 days of receiving an adequate application and completed checklist.
C. 
Environmental Impact Statements. Environmental impact statements shall be completed within a period to be set by the responsible official not to exceed 180 days, unless the city and the proponent of the action agree in writing to a longer time. The time period allowed for preparation of the environmental impact statement shall be included in the determination of significance.
(Ord. 546 § 2, 1985; Ord. 769 § 36, 1996)
A. 
For nonexempt proposals, the DNS or draft EIS for the proposal shall accompany the city's staff recommendation to any appropriate advisory body, such as the planning commission.
B. 
If the city'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 city conduct environmental review prior to submission of the detailed plans and specifications. The point at which environmental review may be initiated for specific permits or other licenses requiring detailed project plans and specifications shall be determined by the planning official, depending upon whether he deems the detailed plans necessary to assess the impact of the proposed action.
(Ord. 546 § 2, 1985)