The State of Washington’s Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) process identifies and analyzes environmental impacts that are associated with private projects, constructing public facilities, or adopting regulations, policies, and plans.
The SEPA review process helps agency decision-makers, applicants, and the public understand how proposed projects could affect the environment.
ESA has a long history of providing SEPA evaluations for an extensive range of small- and large-scale projects, including housing developments; airports, commercial and industrial facilities; parks, trails, and recreational facilities; schools; arenas; marina and seaport developments and expansions; shoreline developments; road, bridge, and railroad improvements; wastewater treatment facilities; correctional facilities; and private development, as well as for programs such as Growth Management Act (GMA) subarea plans, town center plans, schools, and infrastructure programs. As a result, ESA brings expertise in all elements of the environment and can apply this knowledge when conducting an accurate assessment of impacts.
We also offer SEPA strategy services to clients and provide the full suite of SEPA documentation, including categorical exemptions, environmental checklists, determinations of non-significance (DNSs) or mitigated DNSs, and Environmental Impact Statements (EISs).
Our SEPA documents are backed by research and in-depth understanding of the intent and procedural requirements of SEPA, so they can withstand legal challenges. Our experience enables us to work with clients early in the process to identify key project issues, develop workable alternatives and mitigation, and complete the SEPA process in a timely and cost-effective manner.
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