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Introduction

Welcome to the on-line edition of the SEPA Handbook, which contains the same text as the 2003 paper edition of the SEPA Handbook, Ecology publication No. 98-114. We hope the on-line version adds to the accessibility of the information.

The focus of the handbook is to provide guidance on the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). We have provided explanations of the purpose and importance of each step in the SEPA process, and tips on how to best complete them. We have also included information on the history and purpose of SEPA and its relationship with other associated environmental laws. 

You may use the navigation bar on the left to move around in the document or you may wish to try the more detailed Table of Contents with chapter, section, and subsection headings. Additionally, there is a list of Acronyms and the appendices include sections on Frequently Asked Questions, SEPA-related Significant Court Cases, information on Additional Resources, and  Sample Letters and Forms.

The entire SEPA Handbook is also available for download as a single electronic file, arranged in the same form as the paper version in PDF format. Try this link for more information on electronic file formats. If you want to print some or all of the SEPA Handbook, this is the version to use.

Additional information regarding SEPA is available on the SEPA web site at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/sea/sepa/ including the SEPA Statute, (Chapter 43.21C RCW); the SEPA Rules, (Chapter 197-11 WAC); the SEPA Model Ordinance (Chapter 173-806 WAC); other guidance documents, and the SEPA Register.  See the Additional Resources section for more information.

We hope you find the format and content of the SEPA Handbook helpful in your work with SEPA, whether you are a responsible official, reviewing agency, applicant, concerned citizen, or tribal member. If you have additional questions (or comments you would like to make on this publication), please contact our office:

SEPA Unit
Washington Department of Ecology
PO Box 47703
Olympia WA 98504-7703
(360) 407-6922

Email address: sepaunit@ecy.wa.gov

You may also contact any of our Regional Offices, particularly for questions on SEPA documents currently under review.

Northwest Region, Bellevue: (425) 649-7000

(Island, King, Kitsap, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, and Whatcom Counties)

Southwest Region, Lacey: (360) 407-6300

(Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Pierce, Skamania, Thurston, and Wahkiakum Counties)

Central Region, Yakima: (509) 575-2012

(Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Kittitas, Klickitat, Okanogan, and Yakima Counties)

Eastern Region, Spokane: (509) 329-3550

(Adams, Asotin, Columbia, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla, and Whitman Counties)

The SEPA Handbook is intended to be used in conjunction with the State Environmental Policy Act (Chapter 43.21C RCW) and the SEPA Rules (Chapter 197-11 WAC). Should a conflict be found at any time between the guidance in this handbook and either the SEPA Rules or the RCW, it should be understood that this handbook is intended as guidance only, and does not have the legal standing of the RCW or the Rule.

 

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