Environmental Manual | Manuals

Publication URL

Full Environmental Manual (PDF 3.4MB)

Publication Number

M 31-11

Publication Version

M 31-11.26

Publication Date

June 23, 2022

Manual Manager

Environmental Manual Coordinator: Barb Steusloff; 360-705-7304; barbara.steusloff@wsdot.wa.gov

Originator

Environmental Services Office, Engineering and Regional Operations Division

Subject

Environmental policies and procedures for department employees and consultants

The Environmental Manual M 31‑11 is a compilation of environmental policies and processes that is to be used as a guidance resource for the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and its environmental consultants. The Environmental Manual outlines WSDOT’s legal requirements related to environmental, cultural, historic, and social resources and is a keystone of WSDOT’s environmental compliance strategy.

The information contained in the Environmental Manual supplements the wide range of technical expertise among WSDOT Engineering, Environmental, Highway and Local Programs, and Planning staff, as well as local agencies and consultants. It provides consistent, current, and accurate guidelines for complying with federal and state environmental laws and regulations for all phases of project delivery. The guidance provided by the Environmental Manual assists WSDOT project proposals by encouraging early consideration and documentation of environmental issues during project scoping, alternative development, and preliminary design. It also provides guidance on complying with environmental requirements during the construction and maintenance phases of a project as well as addressing utilities and surplus property sales.

This manual includes information from many sources other than WSDOT, including a variety of state and federal agencies. Every effort has been made to make this information as current as possible. However, it is the user’s responsibility to ensure that any action taken to comply with the excerpted or referenced material is based on the most current information available from these outside sources.

Updating this manual is a continuing process, due to the ever‑changing status of environmental policies. Users are encouraged to submit the Feedback Form on page v to help guide future updates.