§ 77.85.100. Work group -- Evaluation of mitigation alternatives
(1) The departments of transportation, fish and wildlife, and ecology, and tribes shall convene a work group to develop policy guidance to evaluate mitigation alternatives. The policy guidance shall be designed to enable committees established under RCW 77.85.050 to develop and implement habitat project lists that maximize environmental benefits from project mitigation while reducing project design and permitting costs. The work group shall seek technical assistance to ensure that federal, state, treaty right, and local environmental laws and ordinances are met. The purpose of this section is not to increase regulatory requirements or expand departmental authority.
(2) The work group shall develop guidance for determining alternative mitigation opportunities. Such guidance shall include criteria and procedures for identifying and evaluating mitigation opportunities within a watershed. Such guidance shall create procedures that provide alternative mitigation that has a low risk to the environment, yet has high net environmental, social, and economic benefits compared to status quo options.
(3) The evaluation shall include:
(a) All elements of mitigation, including but not limited to data requirements, decision making, state and tribal agency coordination, and permitting; and
(b) Criteria and procedures for identifying and evaluating mitigation opportunities, including but not limited to the criteria in chapter 90.74 RCW.
(4) Committees established under RCW 77.85.050 shall coordinate voluntary collaborative efforts between habitat project proponents and mitigation project proponents. Mitigation funds may be used to implement projects identified by a work plan to mitigate for the impacts of a transportation or other development proposal or project.
(5) For the purposes of this section, "mitigation" has the same meaning as provided in RCW 90.74.010.
[2000 c 107 § 100; 1998 c 246 § 16. Formerly RCW 75.46.120.]
Sections: Previous 77.85.020 77.85.030 77.85.040 77.85.050 77.85.060 77.85.080 77.85.090 77.85.100 77.85.110 77.85.120 77.85.130 77.85.135 77.85.140 77.85.150 77.85.160 NextLast modified: April 7, 2009