Revised Code of Washington
Chapter 43.21C - State Environmental Policy.
43.21C.030 - Guidelines for state agencies, local governments—Statements—Reports—Advice—Information.

RCW 43.21C.030
Guidelines for state agencies, local governments—Statements—Reports—Advice—Information.

The legislature authorizes and directs that, to the fullest extent possible: (1) The policies, regulations, and laws of the state of Washington shall be interpreted and administered in accordance with the policies set forth in this chapter, and (2) all branches of government of this state, including state agencies, municipal and public corporations, and counties shall:
(a) Utilize a systematic, interdisciplinary approach which will insure the integrated use of the natural and social sciences and the environmental design arts in planning and in decision making which may have an impact on the environment;
(b) Identify and develop methods and procedures, in consultation with the department of ecology and the ecological commission, which will insure that presently unquantified environmental amenities and values will be given appropriate consideration in decision making along with economic and technical considerations;
(c) Include in every recommendation or report on proposals for legislation and other major actions significantly affecting the quality of the environment, a detailed statement by the responsible official on:
(i) the environmental impact of the proposed action;
(ii) any adverse environmental effects which cannot be avoided should the proposal be implemented;
(iii) alternatives to the proposed action;
(iv) the relationship between local short-term uses of the environment and the maintenance and enhancement of long-term productivity; and
(v) any irreversible and irretrievable commitments of resources which would be involved in the proposed action should it be implemented;
(d) Prior to making any detailed statement, the responsible official shall consult with and obtain the comments of any public agency which has jurisdiction by law or special expertise with respect to any environmental impact involved. Copies of such statement and the comments and views of the appropriate federal, province, state, and local agencies, which are authorized to develop and enforce environmental standards, shall be made available to the governor, the department of ecology, the ecological commission, and the public, and shall accompany the proposal through the existing agency review processes;
(e) Study, develop, and describe appropriate alternatives to recommended courses of action in any proposal which involves unresolved conflicts concerning alternative uses of available resources;
(f) Recognize the worldwide and long-range character of environmental problems and, where consistent with state policy, lend appropriate support to initiatives, resolutions, and programs designed to maximize international cooperation in anticipating and preventing a decline in the quality of the world environment;
(g) Make available to the federal government, other states, provinces of Canada, municipalities, institutions, and individuals, advice and information useful in restoring, maintaining, and enhancing the quality of the environment;
(h) Initiate and utilize ecological information in the planning and development of natural resource-oriented projects.

[ 2010 c 8 § 7002; 1971 ex.s. c 109 § 3.]

Structure Revised Code of Washington

Revised Code of Washington

Title 43 - State Government—Executive

Chapter 43.21C - State Environmental Policy.

43.21C.010 - Purposes.

43.21C.020 - Legislative recognitions—Declaration—Responsibility.

43.21C.030 - Guidelines for state agencies, local governments—Statements—Reports—Advice—Information.

43.21C.0301 - Decisions not subject to RCW 43.21C.030.

43.21C.031 - Significant impacts.

43.21C.0311 - Final environmental impact statements—Expeditious manner—Time limit—Reports.

43.21C.033 - Threshold determination to be made within ninety days after application is complete.

43.21C.034 - Use of existing documents.

43.21C.035 - Certain irrigation projects decisions exempt from RCW 43.21C.030(2)(c).

43.21C.036 - Hazardous substance remedial actions—Procedural requirements and documents to be integrated.

43.21C.037 - Application of RCW 43.21C.030(2)(c) to forest practices.

43.21C.038 - Application of RCW 43.21C.030(2)(c) to school closures.

43.21C.0381 - Application of RCW 43.21C.030(2)(c) to decisions pertaining to air operating permits.

43.21C.0382 - Application of RCW 43.21C.030(2)(c) to watershed restoration projects—Fish habitat enhancement projects.

43.21C.0383 - Application of RCW 43.21C.030(2)(c) to waste discharge permits.

43.21C.0384 - Application of RCW 43.21C.030(2)(c) to wireless services facilities—Reporting requirement—Definitions.

43.21C.039 - Metals mining and milling operations—Environmental impact statements required.

43.21C.040 - Examination of laws, regulations, policies by state agencies and local authorities—Report of deficiencies and corrective measures.

43.21C.050 - Specific statutory obligations not affected.

43.21C.060 - Chapter supplementary—Conditioning or denial of governmental action.

43.21C.065 - Impact fees and fees for system improvements.

43.21C.075 - Appeals.

43.21C.080 - Notice of action by governmental agency—How publicized—Time limitation for commencing challenge to action.

43.21C.087 - List of filings required by RCW 43.21C.080.

43.21C.090 - Decision of governmental agency to be accorded substantial weight.

43.21C.095 - State environmental policy act rules to be accorded substantial deference.

43.21C.110 - Content of state environmental policy act rules.

43.21C.120 - Rules, ordinances, resolutions and regulations—Adoption—Effective dates.

43.21C.130 - Model ordinances.

43.21C.135 - Authority of local governmental units to adopt rules, guidelines and model ordinances by reference.

43.21C.150 - RCW 43.21C.030(2)(c) inapplicable when statement previously prepared pursuant to national environmental policy act.

43.21C.160 - Utilization of statement prepared under RCW 43.21C.030 to implement chapter 90.62 RCW—Utilization of chapter 90.62 RCW procedures to satisfy RCW 43.21C.030(2)(c).

43.21C.170 - Council on environmental policy.

43.21C.175 - Council on environmental policy—Personnel.

43.21C.210 - Certain actions during state of emergency exempt from chapter.

43.21C.220 - Incorporation of city or town exempt from chapter.

43.21C.222 - Annexation by city or town exempt from chapter.

43.21C.225 - Consolidation and annexation of cities and towns exempt from chapter.

43.21C.227 - Disincorporation of a city or town or reduction of city or town limits exempt from chapter.

43.21C.229 - Infill development—Categorical exemptions from chapter.

43.21C.230 - Development and adoption of plan under chapter 43.180 RCW exempt from chapter.

43.21C.240 - Project review under the growth management act.

43.21C.250 - Forest practices board—Emergency rules—Exempt from chapter.

43.21C.260 - Certain actions not subject to RCW 43.21C.030(2)(c)—Threshold determination on a watershed analysis.

43.21C.300 - Workshops—Handbook.

43.21C.400 - Unfinished nuclear power projects—Council action exempt from this chapter.

43.21C.410 - Battery charging and exchange station installation.

43.21C.420 - Comprehensive plans and development regulations—Optional elements—Nonproject environmental impact statements—Subarea plans—Transfer of development rights program—Recovery of expenses.

43.21C.428 - Recovery of expenses of nonproject environmental impact statements—Fees for subsequent development.

43.21C.430 - Certain fish protection standards exempt from compliance with chapter.

43.21C.440 - Planned action—Defined—Authority of a county, city, or town—Community meetings.

43.21C.450 - Nonproject actions exempt from requirements of chapter.

43.21C.460 - Environmental checklist—Authority of lead agency—Limitations of section.

43.21C.470 - Categorical exemption for structurally deficient bridges—Definition.

43.21C.480 - Repair or replacement of structurally deficient state bridges exempt from chapter.

43.21C.490 - Formation of community facilities districts exempt from this chapter.

43.21C.495 - Adoption of ordinances, development regulations, and other nonproject actions—Certain actions not subject to administrative or judicial appeals.

43.21C.501 - Certain project actions evaluated under this chapter by a city or town planning under RCW 36.70A.040—When exempt from appeals under this chapter.

43.21C.503 - Exempt projects—Environmental checklist not required.

43.21C.515 - Projects permitted pursuant to RCW 77.55.480—Not subject to RCW 43.21C.030(2).

43.21C.520 - Review of greenhouse gas emissions from a new or expanded facility.

43.21C.525 - Model ordinances created under RCW 70A.207.030—Certain actions not subject to the requirements of this chapter.

43.21C.900 - Short title.

43.21C.911 - Section headings not part of law—1983 c 117.

43.21C.912 - Applicability—1983 c 117.

43.21C.914 - Effective dates—1983 c 117.