DDES is seeking public comment on the proposal before it is transmitted to the County Council. Go to: http://your.kingcounty.gov/permits/codes/legnews.aspx for information on how to submit comments and for more details about the proposal. Comments are due by Friday, September 12, 2008, 4:30 p.m.

See the Daily Journal of Commerce article at County moves toward stricter SEPA rules for industry comments.

King County's action is likely to have statewide implications. The Department of Ecology is simultaneously taking steps to clarify how climate change and greenhouse gas emissions are addressed when state and local jurisdictions conduct environmental reviews and there is wide expectation that the King County proposal will have great influence on that process.

Under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), state and local agencies must consider possible environmental impacts that may result from governmental decisions.

These decisions may be related to issuing permits for private projects, constructing public facilities, or adopting regulations, policies or plans by state agencies, counties, cities, ports, and special districts such as a school and water districts.

Information gathered can be used to change a proposal to reduce likely impacts, or to condition or deny a proposal when adverse environmental impacts are identified.

Ecology Director Jay Manning launched a public process addressing climate change to head off future legal concerns for those making decisions and those with proposals coming under environmental review.

"Across the country, many local and state governments are developing regulations and guidance to address climate change in their environmental review processes," Manning said. "Some are doing it because they failed to address climate change and were challenged in court. I believe it is in our best interest to act now to clarify our state's SEPA rules and help prepare guidance regarding climate change."

Manning said if Ecology does not act soon, "We could face a similar ‘policy by litigation' scenario here in Washington - and that's not a path to go down if we want to make sure that our policies, regulations and guidance for climate change are as useful as possible to everyone."

State and local agencies must already consider the environmental effects of climate change and air emissions that may result from their decisions. However, Manning said that the existing rule needs to be clearer to better address climate change and greenhouse gas emissions during environmental reviews.

As part of the state Climate Action Team's work this year, Manning said a SEPA working group is working to help clarify SEPA rules and prepare important guidance information. In addition the Climate Action Team is addressing transportation, green building and energy efficiency, and waste reduction within other working groups and is an active participant in the Western Climate Initiative seeking to negotiate a "Cap and Trade" system.