Determine the scope of the geology and soils analysis
All projects require a geology and soils analysis. Review the Geology and Soils Discipline Report Checklist (PDF 276KB) to help identify the scope of the analysis needed for the project.
Contact Garrett Jackson, Garrett.Jackson@wsdot.wa.gov, for help creating a scope of work for the geologic and soils analysis.
DNR Authorization for geotechnical field exploration on, or over state-owned aquatic lands
Conducting geotechnical field exploration activities on, or over state-owned aquatic lands requires authorization from DNR. The 2025 WSDOT / DNR Drilling MOU (PDF 581 KB) was created to provide a streamlined process to grant WSDOT access to state-owned aquatic lands for the purpose of conducting geotechnical field explorations while ensuring environmental protection of state-owned aquatic lands. This process should be used when geotechnical data is needed within tidelands, shorelands, harbor areas, the beds of navigable waters and other waterways owned by the State and administered by DNR. See the DNR Drilling MOU Checklist (PDF 157KB) for more information about this expedited process. See the DNR Aquatics Districts and Land Managers Map webpage to find the appropriate aquatic land manager contact.
For questions or assistance with the DNR Drilling MOU or the DNR Drilling MOU Checklist, please contact:
Gary Dougherty, Local Environmental Permit Lead, Gary.Dougherty@wsdot.wa.gov
Marc Fish, State Engineering Geologist, Geotechnical Services Office Marc.Fish@wsdot.wa.gov
Document impacts
Affected environment
For the affected environment:
- Describe the geologic and soil properties.
- Identify risks to the project.
- Identify where the project will affect geologic and soils resources.
- Identify the rules and regulations that are specific to the project.
- Incorporate results of any specialized studies completed for the project.
For climate resiliency review the detailed information associated with the Climate Impact Vulnerability Assessment, provide the vulnerability rating, and discuss the problems associated with that rating and how future conditions may affect geologic or soil resources.
Consult with the leads on complementary disciplines, such as surface water, groundwater, wildlife, and wetlands to determine if there are properties of the soil or underling geologic formation that could affect their resource areas. Do not repeat information covered by other disciplines.
Impact assessment
Separate the assessment of construction and operations impacts. Adverse effects should be clearly called out and the significance conclusion explained. Depending on the project, adverse effects may also be further segregated between direct, indirect, cumulative, and inducing. The level of analysis should be the same for all alternatives including the No-Action alternative.
When preparing the Mitigation Measures section, NEPA requires avoidance and minimization of adverse effects before applying mitigation measures. With complex projects and competing resources its likely that not all impacts can be avoided. Residual impacts caused by geologic or soils hazards can be overcome with proper engineering techniques which is part of the overall WSDOT design process. Implementing these design processes are not mitigation measures but rather part of the project. If a potential adverse effect is going to be reduced by a standard process, identify that process. For example, soil erosion during construction is addressed as part of the Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan process which will result in development of a site-specific Temporary Erosion and Sediment Control Plan that will be implemented and inspected by certified personnel. Normally a specific technique is not identified, but rather WSDOT relies on the process and the experts implementing the process to reduce adverse effects to less-than-significant levels.
Checklist
Use the Geology and Soils Discipline Report Checklist (PDF 276KB) to verify that the necessary information has been collected and the required analyses completed.
Work with the Project Engineering Office to make sure that the design includes all the measures needed to reduce geologic and soil hazards that were identified and, were possible, the project design or alignment was altered to avoid to the maximum extent practicable resources such as prime farmland and wetlands. It is expected that as the design proceeds there will be changes in the temporary construction and permanent project footprints that may require updating of the analyses.
