Public scoping comments
For SEPA EAs and EISs, the project team should examine comments submitted during public scoping. Any climate change-related effects that do not tie directly to project but may impact resources that are also affected by the project, should be addressed in the climate change state-level documentation.
Identify prior studies that can inform your project-level analysis
Determine if a planning level study was completed for the project area. There may be a locally developed plan or a WSDOT corridor study. Environmental Manual Chapter 200: Environmental considerations in transportation planning (PDF 274KB) explains how planning projects (any pre-NEPA plan) can consider environmental issues. If WSDOT conducted a planning effort, look to see if it contains a summary of climate change-related effects identified for the corridor. Guidance for considering climate change-related effects in WSDOT plans and studies (PDF 558KB) – this document provides direction on considering climate change-related effects during the transportation planning process, including Planning and Environmental Linkage studies. Refer to the Environmental guidance for planning studies webpage for more information on the transportation planning process and planning studies.
Identify any local or regional transportation plans, Growth Management Act comprehensive plans, climate change resilience plans, and natural hazard mitigation plans that relate to the project area.