Draft Environmental Impact Statement
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Draft Environmental Impact Statement Washington State’s Draft Rule on Wetland Mitigation Banks WAC 173-700 Wetland Mitigation Banks November 2002, Revised March 2009 Publication no. 01-06-022 Publication and Contact Information This report is available on the Department of Ecology’s website at www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/0106022.html For more information contact: Publications Coordinator Shorelands and Environmental Assistance Program P.O. Box 47600 Olympia, WA 98504-7600 E-mail: [email protected] Phone: (360) 407-6096 For more information about mitigation banking in Washington State, contact Kate Thompson in the Shorelands and Environmental Assistance Program, Department of Ecology, Olympia, phone (360) 407-6749, e-mail: [email protected] or visit our web page at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/sea/wetlands/mitigation/banking Recommended Bibliographic Citation: Driscoll, Lauren, K. Thompson, and T. Granger. 2009. Draft Environmental Impact Statement. Washington State's Draft Rule on Wetland Mitigation Banks. Shorelands and Environmental Assistance Program, Department of Ecology, Olympia, WA. Washington State Department of Ecology - www.ecy.wa.gov/ o Headquarters, Olympia (360) 407-6000 o Northwest Regional Office, Bellevue (425) 649-7000 o Southwest Regional Office, Olympia (360) 407-6300 o Central Regional Office, Yakima (509) 575-2490 o Eastern Regional Office, Spokane (509) 329-3400 If you need this publication in an alternate format, call Publications Coordinator at (360) 407- 6096. Persons with hearing loss can call 711 for Washington Relay Service. Persons with a speech disability can call 877-833-6341. Cover illustration: Tim Schlender Draft Environmental Impact Statement Washington State’s Draft Rule on Wetland Mitigation Banks WAC 173-700 Wetland Mitigation Banks by Lauren Driscoll, K. Thompson and T. Granger Shorelands and Environmental Assistance Program Washington State Department of Ecology Olympia, Washington 98504-7710 This page is purposely left blank Fact Sheet Title: Washington State's Draft Rule on Wetland Mitigation Banks. Description: The proposal is to develop a rule and certification program for wetland mitigation banks that provides a unified, predictable and efficient process for the approval of ecologically successful and sustainable wetland mitigation banks. Proponent: Shorelands and Environmental Assistance Program, Department of Ecology. Proponent Contact Person: Kate Thompson SEPA Lead Agency: Shorelands and Environmental Assistance Program, Department of Ecology. SEPA Responsible Official: Gordon White, Program Manager Shorelands and Environmental Assistance Program Department of Ecology P.O. Box 47600 Olympia, WA 98504-7600 Lead Agency Contact Person: Kate Thompson Action Required: Finalize Environmental Impact Statement. Adoption of a statewide wetland mitigation banking rule and certification process under the authority of RCW 90.84 Revised DEIS Editors: Kate Thompson and Lauren Driscoll Date DEIS Issued: March 18, 2009 Date DEIS Public Comments Due: 5 p.m., April 23, 2009 Public Hearings: April 8, 2009 Workshops: 2:00 p.m. & 6:00 p.m. Hearings: 3:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m. Spokane, WA iii April 9, 2009 Workshop: 6:00 p.m. Hearing: 7:00 p.m. Lacey, WA April 15, 2009 Workshops: 2:00 p.m. & 6:00 p.m. Hearings: 3:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m. Mount Vernon, WA April 16, 2009 Workshops: 2:00 p.m. & 6:00 p.m. Hearings: 3:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m. Seattle, WA Subsequent Environmental Review: Individual wetland bank proposals will require additional SEPA review. The site-specific effects of the construction of a wetland bank and its operation will need to be addressed separately during the bank certification process. Location of EIS Information: Shorelands and Environmental Assistance Program Department of Ecology 300 Desmond Drive Lacey, WA 98503 Persons desiring to view the DEIS information files are encouraged to make an appointment by telephoning (360) 407-6749 or sending an e-mail to [email protected] Incorporations by reference: Refer to reference section at the end of the document. These materials are incorporated by reference and copies of these materials may be viewed at the Department of Ecology, Shorelands and Environmental Assistance Program. iv Table of Contents Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................... vii Introduction to the Document .......................................................................................... viii Summary ............................................................................................................................ ix 1.0 Introduction ....................................................................................................................1 1.1 Wetland Mitigation Banking ..............................................................................1 1.1.1 Historical Background ........................................................................2 1.1.2 Definition of Wetland Mitigation Banking ..........................................3 1.1.3 Use of Wetland Mitigation Banks ........................................................4 1.1.4 Types of Wetland Mitigation Banks ....................................................4 1.1.5 Existing Wetland Mitigation Banks in Washington ............................5 1.1.6 Future Wetland Mitigation Banks in Washington ...............................8 1.2 The Legislation Regulating Wetland Mitigation Banking--RCW 90.84 .........10 1.2.1 The Need for Legislation ...................................................................10 1.2.2 Objective of the Draft Rule ................................................................11 1.3 The Rule Being Proposed to Guide Implementation of the Law .....................12 1.3.1 Development of the Draft Rule .........................................................12 1.3.2 Overview of the Rule-WAC 173-700 ................................................15 2.0 The Effects of Mitigation Banking ..............................................................................19 2.1 Concerns Regarding the Environmental Effects of Wetland Banking ............19 2.1.1 Increased Wetland Impacts ................................................................19 2.1.2 Wetland Resource Tradeoffs ..............................................................20 Off-site Compensation ......................................................................21 Distribution and Location of Wetland Functions ..............................22 Out-of-Kind Compensation ..............................................................25 2.1.3 Large-Scale Failures ..........................................................................28 2.2 Beneficial Effects of Wetland Banking ...........................................................31 2.2.1 Benefits for Watershed Restoration ...................................................31 2.2.2 Sustainable Wetland Systems ............................................................34 2.2.3 Addressing Cumulative Effects .........................................................36 2.2.4 Reducing Temporal Losses ................................................................48 2.2.5 Higher Success Rates .........................................................................39 2.2.6 Benefits to Salmon .............................................................................41 2.2.7 Efficient Use of Agency Resources ...................................................43 2.2.8 Streamlined Process ...........................................................................44 2.3 Future Actions to Mitigate Adverse Effects ....................................................46 3.0 The Draft Rule: Approach, Certification Process and Operational Requirements ...........................................................................................47 3.1 Approach Used in the Rule: Flexible Versus Prescriptive ................................47 3.2 Wetland Bank Certification Process and the Roles of Participants ..................48 3.2.1 Role of Ecology ................................................................................48 3.2.2 Role of Local Jurisdictions ...............................................................50 v 3.2.3 Role of Federal Agencies ..................................................................52 3.2.4 Role of Tribes ...................................................................................53 3.2.5 Role of the Public ..............................................................................54 3.3 Operational Requirements ...............................................................................56 3.3.1 Financial Assurances ........................................................................56 3.3.2 Site-Specific Monitoring ...................................................................58 3.3.3 Tracking ............................................................................................61 3.3.4 Use of Credits ...................................................................................62 3.3.5 Compliance .......................................................................................66 3.3.6 Incentives ..........................................................................................68 4.0 The Draft Rule: Technical Requirements ....................................................................71 4.1 Geographic Extent of the Service Area ...........................................................71