An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is prepared as part of State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) review of a proposal when it has been determined by the lead agency that the proposal is likely to have significant adverse environmental impacts. The EIS process is a tool for identifying and analyzing probable adverse environmental impacts, reasonable alternatives, and possible mitigation. For more information about SEPA, visit the Washington State Department of Ecology's SEPA Unit page.

First a draft EIS, and then a final EIS were prepared in association with review of the proposed Brinnon MPR. The EIS contains characteristics of both a "non-project action" (such as legislative adoption of a plan) and a "project action" (such as administrative approval of new construction) under SEPA.

EIS Scoping for Proposed Brinnon (MPR)

• DCD EIS Scoping Letter to Proponent (PDF) June 13, 2006 - outlines scope of EIS based on staff analysis and public scoping comments
• Video of Public Hearing May 8, 2006
• Scoping Notice: EIS for MLA06-87 (PDF) published April 19, 2006
• Press Release: EIS Scoping for Proposed Brinnon MPR (PDF) April 13, 2006

Written comments concerning the scope of the EIS were accepted through May 19, 2006. The County and project proponent have worked to develop a Draft EIS since that time.

An extended public comment period opened when the Draft EIS (DEIS) was published on September 5, and comments were accepted until 4:30 p.m. on October 24. The Final EIS (FEIS) incorporates all public comments, as well as responses from the applicant.

Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)

Public Comment: Release of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) on September 5, 2007 opened a public comment period:

• Oral comments were heard at the Planning Commission public hearing 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 3, 2007 at the Brinnon Community Center
• Written comments were accepted by DCD on behalf of the Planning Commission until 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, October 24, 2007

After review of the DEIS, the Planning Commission and staff formulated recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC), which were presented on December 3, 2007, and December 6, 2007, dates during which a public hearing on the amendment application was also held. As mentioned earlier, the BoCC made its final decision on January 14, 2008.

Both the draft and final EIS documents address 9 issues and impacts including:

• Shellfish
• Water quality
• Transportation
• Public services
• Shorelines
• Fish and wildlife
• Rural character
• Critical areas

The documents are provided below in sections by chapter and appendix. (Note: the appendix is the same for both documents.)

Some duplication is to be expected, as the documents are intimately linked. Cross-referencing is ubiquitous throughout the FEIS, and should make navigating between the two documents easier. For changes between the DEIS and the FEIS, please note especially the Introduction, Chapter 3, Chapter 5 (new since the DEIS), and the public comment logs (also new since the DEIS):