Environmental Review Process
Photo courtesy of the Port of Seattle
Where are we now?
Last year the proposed NTPs were reviewed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Surface transportation was the only environmental category that was identified as having a significant impact and will be mitigated. There were other impacts identified that were less than significant and did not require additional mitigation.
The next step is evaluating the proposed projects under the State Environmental Policy Act, or SEPA. To do this, we’re preparing a report, called an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to learn if these future projects will impact the environment beyond applicable standards.
What is SEPA?
SEPA is Washington’s environmental review law, designed to help decision-makers and the community understand how proposed projects may impact the environment. Under SEPA, lead agencies must make an initial determination of whether the project will have significant impacts. If that assessment shows that there are no significant impacts, or that impacts can be mitigated, the agency can issue a Determination of Nonsignificance (DNS). The Port voluntarily chose to go straight to the more involved EIS for the SAMP NTPs even when impacts could be mitigated.
The SEPA review process, led by the Port of Seattle, requires:
- Evaluating potential impacts to support Port decision-making
- Conducting public outreach and community engagement
- Identifying when impacts may need to be mitigated
Participating in SEPA ensures that state and local environmental concerns and community priorities are considered in the final plan.
Key steps in the SEPA process
SEPA environmental review identifies impacts between Action and No Action Alternatives, including:
- Defining the proposed projects and alternatives
- Conducting analyses for required environmental topics identified in SEPA
- Preparing a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)
- Providing opportunities for agency and public review and comment
- Reviewing and considering agency and public comments and preparing a Final EIS
What happens during the SAMP NTPs SEPA?
The SEPA EIS built on the earlier NEPA analysis and focused on areas where updated information or additional review was needed. The SEPA EIS evaluated potential impacts such as air quality, water quality, human health, environmental justice, movement of goods and people in and around SEA, and more.
The Port went beyond what is required under SEPA by examining:
- A more detailed air quality analysis, including human health risk assessment
- Qualitative human health noise literature review
- Qualitative literature review of particulate matter
- Environmental justice
- Cumulative impacts
SEPA review schedule
