Information on the SEPA Register

The SEPA Register contains a number of fields with information about a proposal. Each field is identified below with a brief summary of the information contained in the field.

County -- The name of the county where the proposal is located. If a proposal is located in more than one county this field will say "Multi Counties".

Lead agency -- The agency responsible for issuing the SEPA document. Multiple agency names will be listed if two or more agencies share co-lead agency status. Requests for information about a specific proposal or submittal of comments should be directed to the lead agency.

Lead Agency Contact -- Contact person at the lead agency who can answer questions or provide additional information about a proposal. A list of SEPA Lead Agency Contacts is available.

Lead Agency Phone -- The phone number of the lead agency contact person.

Lead Agency File # -- Proposal file number used by the lead agency. Reference this number when contacting the lead agency for more information.

Ecology File # -- SEPA file number used by the Department of Ecology for tracking and filing the SEPA document.

Document Type -- The following abbreviations are used for the types of SEPA documents. In addition, the words "revised", "withdrawn", "proposed", or "final" will occasionally be included with the codes.

DNS = Determination of nonsignificance -- The written decision by the lead agency that a proposal is not likely to have a significant adverse environmental impact.

ODNS/NOA = Optional DNS process/Notice of Application -- Counties and cities planning under the Growth Management Act may use the optional DNS process specified in WAC 197-11-355. A statement on the notice of application indicates the lead agency is likely to issue a DNS and that the comment period on the notice of application may be the only opportunity to comment on the environmental aspects of a proposal.

ODNS = Optional DNS -- DNS issued after reviewing any comments received on the notice of application. This DNS will usually not have a comment period. (See WAC 197-11-355 for more information.)

An "M" after any of the above codes means the DNS includes mitigation measures and is issued as a result of the process specified in WAC 197-11-350 (e.g., DNS-M, ODNS-M, etc.).

SCOPING = Determination of significance and scoping notice -- The scoping notice provides an opportunity for the public, other agencies, and tribes to comment on the proposed action, alternatives, and impacts to be discussed in the environmental impact statement that will be prepared for the proposal.

EIS = Environmental impact statement -- An environmental analysis of a proposal that includes reasonable alternatives and possible mitigation measures. A Draft EIS will normally have a 30-day comment period for the public, other agencies, and tribes to comment on the environmental analysis of a proposal. A Final EIS responds to the comments on the draft EIS. A Supplemental (draft or final) EIS adds analysis to either a draft or final EIS (WAC 197-11-620).

Adopt (DNS or EIS) = Adoption -- An agency may use all or part of a previously prepared environmental document to meet SEPA requirements for the current proposal (WAC 197-11-600 and 630).

Addend (DNS or EIS) = Addendum -- An addendum adds analyses or information about a proposal but does not substantially change the analysis of significant impacts and alternatives in the existing document (WAC 197-11-600 and 625).

NAT = Notice of action taken -- An optional public notice indicating a governmental agency has taken an action (e.g., issued a building permit, adopted an ordinance, etc.) that is issued under RCW 43.21C.080 setting a time limit for judicial appeals.

NEPA = National Environmental Policy Act -- NEPA documents are issued by federal agencies for federal proposals, projects needing a federal permit, or federal funding. NEPA documents received by the Department of Ecology are included in the SEPA Register.

NEPA, EA = NEPA environmental assessment -- A federal document that provides analysis for the federal agency to determine whether to prepare an EIS or a finding of no significant impact.

NEPA, FONSI = NEPA finding of no significant impact -- Documentation by a federal agency that a proposal will not have a significant effect on the environment.

NEPA, DEIS or NEPA, FEIS = NEPA draft or final environmental impact statement (see SEPA EIS).

NEPA, Scoping = NEPA notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement (see SEPA scoping).

Description -- A brief description of the proposal, including the proposal name, if any.

Location -- Address or geographic area where the proposal is location.

Applicant -- Name of the person, entity, or governmental agency proposing a project.

Issue Date -- Date the lead agency issued (or signed) the SEPA document.

Mail Date -- Date the lead agency mailed the document to the Department of Ecology. This is entered only if the issue date is more than four days before the postmark date.

Enter Date -- Date the document was entered into the Department of Ecology's SEPA database.

Comment Due -- Comment due date supplied by the lead agency. A blank indicates there is no comment period.

For further information, refer to the SEPA Handbook or the SEPA Rules, Chapter 197-11 WAC.

For further assistance, please send an email message to the SEPA Unit