What is an EIS?

Combined NEPA/SEPA environmental impact statement

To comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), the Co-Lead Agencies (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Whatcom County and Washington Department of Ecology), are preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS).  Environmental review under both NEPA and SEPA is required to provide federal, state, and local decision makers with objective information prior to making decisions on permit applications.

Both NEPA and SEPA require the disclosure of environmental effects of a proposed action and the alternatives under consideration.  An EIS is prepared when a proposed action is likely to have a significant environmental impact on the quality of the human environment.  Because this proposed action requires federal, state, and local decisions, the Co-Lead Agencies are preparing a combined EIS meeting both NEPA and SEPA requirements.  The EIS process includes three major milestones: scoping, draft EIS, and final EIS.  Because SEPA was originally modeled after NEPA, the policies and intent of the two laws are similar, making preparation of a single combined EIS possible.

Steps for a combined environmental impact statement

Scoping

The scoping process is used to determine what factors to analyze and what extent they are considered in the environmental impact statement (EIS).  The Co-Lead Agencies have asked the public, tribes, and other agencies to comment on what the EIS should analyze (comments were collected through January 22, 2013).  Verbal and written comments (including online submissions) were collected about what the EIS should study and suggestions for measures to avoid, minimize, and mitigate effects of the proposals.