Public scoping comments
For NEPA 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 section.
Identify prior studies that can inform your project-level analysis
Determine if a planning level study was completed for the project area. This 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 432KB) – 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.
Conduct Climate Change-Related Effects Analysis
Climate Change Resiliency
It is our policy that we discuss climate change in our major environmental documents for state transportation projects. Follow the Guidance for project-level climate change-related effects evaluation (PDF 860KB) to address the effects of climate change on your project and document those considerations in the project’s environmental document. For EAs and EISs, WSDOT’s policy is to document climate change resiliency considerations throughout the process, including the alternatives analysis, impact analysis, and identified mitigation measures. Depending on the project, you may want to address future climate conditions in additional sections, for example: Stormwater or floodplains if future flooding is a concern or 'Geology and soils' if the project’s landslide risk may be exacerbated by drought, fire, or intense rainfall. Document your results in the climate change sections. Supporting documentation can be compiled into a technical memo.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Information on identifying type of analysis and completing project level greenhouse gas evaluations is available on our Air quality, greenhouse gas and energy webpage. The greenhouse gas emissions are typically documented with the air quality and greenhouse gas section, although in some cases they are summarized in the climate change section as well.
Project final design may involve steps to ensure the resilience of the transportation facility. For information on addressing climate resilience in hydraulics work, see Chapter 7 of the Hydraulics Manual.
Manuals
Environmental Manual Chapter 415: Considerations of Climate Change (PDF 216KB) provides policy direction and important WSDOT guidance on considerations of climate change and climate change-related effects throughout the environmental planning, review, and design process.
Environmental Manual Chapter 425: Air quality, energy, and greenhouse gases (PDF 567KB) provides policy direction and important WSDOT guidance on air quality, energy, and greenhouse gas analysis.
Hydraulics Manual Chapter 7: Water Crossings (PDF 5.5MB) contains design-level guidance for project design teams to assist in their incorporation of climate change for more resilient crossing structures.
Guidance
Our Sustainability executive order (PDF 39KB) directs agency staff to improve energy efficiency, reduce pollution and enhance resilience. Understanding future climate change-related effects is essential for a safe and sustainable transportation system.
National Cooperative Highway Research Program’s WebResource: Considering Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate Change in Environmental Reviews (1.7 MB) provides approaches for NEPA project leads and analysts to address greenhouse gas emissions and climate change effect in transportation environmental reviews. It contains quantification and evaluation methods, disclosure tips, tools, and strategies to inform mitigation efforts and transportation decision-making.
Climate change information resources for WSDOT plans are provided in the Guidance for considering climate change-related effects in WSDOT plans and studies (PDF 432KB).
Project-level climate change information resources are provided in the Guidance for project-level climate change-related effects evaluation (PDF 860KB).
Tools
Climate Change Related Effects Tools and Resources Matrix (Under development - soon to be available)
Track & manage commitments
Environmental Manual Chapter 490: Tracking environmental commitments during design (PDF 183KB) - To track commitments.
Environmental Manual Chapter 590: Incorporating environmental commitments into contracts (PDF 182KB) - To manage commitments.
Commitment tracking system (CTS) web application - Track and manage environmental commitments. Find instructions on how to use CTS on the CTS help menu.
