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Department of Ecology News Release - May 5, 2008
08-105
OLYMPIA - The Department of Ecology (Ecology) is seeking to clarify how climate change and greenhouse gas emissions are addressed when state and local jurisdictions conduct environmental reviews.
Under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), state and local agencies must consider possible environmental impacts that may result from governmental decisions.
These decisions may be related to issuing permits for private projects, constructing public facilities, or adopting regulations, policies or plans by state agencies, counties, cities, ports, and special districts such as a school and water districts.
Information gathered can be used to change a proposal to reduce likely impacts, or to condition or deny a proposal when adverse environmental impacts are identified.
In a letter to more than 1,000 state and local jurisdictions, Ecology Director Jay Manning says he is launching a public process addressing climate change to head off future legal concerns for those making decisions and those with proposals coming under environmental review.
“Across the country, many local and state governments are developing regulations and guidance to address climate change in their environmental review processes,” Manning said. “Some are doing it because they failed to address climate change and were challenged in court. I believe it is in our best interest to act now to clarify our state’s SEPA rules and help prepare guidance regarding climate change.”
Manning said if Ecology does not act soon, “We could face a similar ‘policy by litigation’ scenario here in Washington – and that’s not a path to go down if we want to make sure that our policies, regulations and guidance for climate change are as useful as possible to everyone.”
State and local agencies must already consider the environmental effects of climate change and air emissions that may result from their decisions. However, Manning said that the existing rule needs to be clearer to better address climate change and greenhouse gas emissions during environmental reviews.
As part of the state Climate Action Team’s work this year, Manning said a SEPA working group will be established to help clarify SEPA rules and prepare important guidance information.
Participants will include Climate Action Team members and representatives from other government, business, and environmental entities.
Depending on the working group’s recommendations, Ecology could begin rulemaking in early 2009 to amend existing SEPA rules to address climate change.
Manning said Ecology will involve local and state agencies in developing guidance and updating the rule.
According to the worldwide Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, increased levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are most responsible for triggering global climate change. Transportation systems, power generation, homes and commercial buildings are major sources of greenhouse gases in Washington.
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Media Contacts: Curt Hart, media relations, 360-407-6990; cell,
360-480-7908 (char461@ecy.wa.gov)
Seth Preston, media relations, 360-407-6848; cell 360-584-5744
(spre461@ecy.wa.gov)
Joye Redfield-Wilder, media relations, 509-575-2610; cell, 509-961-6277
(jred461@ecy.wa.gov)
Brenden McFarland, Shorelands and Environmental Assistance Program,
360-407-6976 (bmcf461@ecy.wa.gov)
Hedia Adelsman, executive policy advisor, 360-407-6222
(hade461@ecy.wa.gov)
Ecology’s Climate Change Web site: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/climatechange
To review a copy of Jay Manning’s letter and to read how other jurisdictions are considering climate change: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/sea/sepa/climatechange
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
